By Guest Bloggers Winona & Fred Jacobsen
Thank you so much for the words of condolence for my husband, Fred Jacobsen. We are so pleased that many family members and friends chose to honor him by making donations in his memory, and our family would be honored to have his name included in the Parks Everlasting Society. Below are a few of the memories that Fred had shared with us about his days at Sunrise on Mount Rainier. Although we lived for a long time with a spectacular view of Mount Rainier from our home in Bonney Lake, it was never enough. Each summer we went to the mountain to revel in its beauty and magnificence. I hope it gives you a better idea of how Fred felt about The Mountain. – Winona
In the summer of 1957, Fred Jacobsen was able to get a job working in Mount Rainier National Park at Sunrise. He was still in high school and had never been away from home for any length of time. He worked in the kitchen at the restaurant, but was sometimes required to lend a hand in other areas as well. Fred had never been to Sunrise before, so it took a few days for him to become accustomed to the altitude. Before long he was running up and down the trails and going on long hikes. It was a time of personal growth and marked the beginning of a life-long respect for the environment and a love affair with The Mountain.
Fred related many stories of his two summers on the mountain. Some of the more entertaining ones included bear encounters. With the employees housed above the restaurant, many thought they didn’t have to be concerned about keeping their windows open on a warm summer night. Once, Fred was first on the scene and found a bear climbing up the outside of the old wooden building toward an open window. He grabbed the fire hose and washed the young bear off the wall with a cascading stream of water and wasted no time in scampering off. Another time Fred was up very early to start the fire in the stove in the kitchen. Hearing some noise downstairs where the ice cream counter was located, he went to inspect and found a bear had broken in and was enjoying the variety of ice cream toppings that were meant for two-legged visitors.
Late one afternoon, Fred and one of his friends at Sunrise headed out on a hike up Burroughs Mountain. It was beautiful and, as day melted into evening, the boys laid down and soon drifted off to sleep. They awoke several hours later to the sky ablaze with dancing green and pink lights. They had never experienced such a sight of the night sky ablaze with moving colors. It was beautiful but frightening. The boys immediately headed back to the Sunrise lodge, where it was explained to them that they had witnessed one of earth’s incredible sights.
Sunrise at Mount Rainier always held a treasured spot in Fred’s heart. Every summer Fred would return to the mountain, feeling a sense of renewal. It became a family tradition, often going up during August in order to see the Pleiades meteor shower. Amazing how it was possible to see Mount Rainier even in the darkest part of the night. And then the glorious transformation that would occur when the sun would start peeking over the horizon and touching the crest of the mountain. Pink and purple, orange and red, and soon the colors faded and she was dressed in snowy white. Not only the display of kaleidoscopic colors, but the unexpected views of wildlife were always a thrill. Deer and elk cavorting in the meadows, bears lumbering up the mountain, and the startling vision of a mountain lion leaping across the road in front of the car was absolutely electrifying.
Fred’s Sunrise at Mount Rainier became an annual tradition not only for Fred, but for his family and many friends as well. We may no longer have Fred with us, but Mount Rainier will always allow us to remember him with love and appreciation.