The majestic Cascade Mountains serve as the centerpiece for the Northwest’s renowned beauty, with their rugged, snow-capped peaks drawing thousands of visitors to their flanks each summer. Several of the region’s national parks are centered on these mountains, including North Cascades National Park, Mount Rainier National Park, and Crater Lake National Park.

Underlying their elegance, however, is the disquieting fact that the range’s major peaks are potentially hazardous volcanoes. On average, two eruptions occur per century. In the last century, explosive eruptions at Lassen Peak and Mount St. Helens left onlookers in awe.

This easy-to-understand book provides residents and visitors with a good understanding of each peak’s distinctive nature and how the volcanoes are linked by their geologic underpinnings. Accessible prose by award-winning science writer Richard L. Hill, paired with clear illustrations and photographs, show each peak’s individual characteristics, as well as the plate processes at work beneath them.