The Mountain Is Out Mount Rainier is a majestic otherworldly presence that towers over Seattle. With cloudy days outnumbering sunny days, it's often obscured; but on a clear day, most everyone — even TV weather forecasters — talks about "the mountain being out today," as if it were the sun. Linda Wertheimer asks people on the street about their relationship with the mountain, as a landmark, as inspiration, as a higher being. We also hear the poetry of Seattle poet Denise Levertov, who wrote about Mount Rainier in many of her collections.

The Mountain Is Out

May 16, 200112:00 AM ET

Heard on All Things Considered

The Mountain Is Out

Audio will be available later today.

Mount Rainier is a majestic otherworldly presence that towers over Seattle. With cloudy days outnumbering sunny days, it's often obscured; but on a clear day, most everyone — even TV weather forecasters — talks about "the mountain being out today," as if it were the sun. Linda Wertheimer asks people on the street about their relationship with the mountain, as a landmark, as inspiration, as a higher being. We also hear the poetry of Seattle poet Denise Levertov, who wrote about Mount Rainier in many of her collections.