After doing some extensive web research last night I have found a few interesting details that I would like to share.

1. This summer has not been unusually hot (as reported) at the glacial altitudes, and there has been excess cloudiness (although no rain) therefore there should be no excess melting. Some people are even referring to it as a relatively cool summer.

2. I heard from a person who had hiked the glacier earlier this summer and found that the cracks in the glacier were larger at the bottom, than on the top, indicating to me that the 'warming' is possibly coming from below. Also, statements have been made about never having seen so much cracking in the glacier before.

3. People in the area have been hearing rumblings, yet no earthquakes are reported on the standard earthquake sites. You can check the webicorders for the USGS and they show activity.

4. Several people reported that when they heard the initial news broadcast of the lahar warnings, that the newscaster at King 5 news interviewed a geologist who mentioned that Mt. Ranier had been put on level two alert status (meaning possible eruption in 30-90 days). This was mentioned only once on one broadcast, and then never mentioned again. Sources have been unable to verify this alert status, as the usual sites which list the status of Active Volcanoes have either been taken down, or the status of Ranier is mysteriously 'absent'.

5. There has been at least one 'supposed' geologist state the the mountain is 'definitely warming up'.

6. Persons who live in the area have said the rivers that feed from Rainier are murkier and darker than they can ever remember.

7. The local emergency management team was put into action.

8. Mt. Hood was also put on flash flood alert for glacial melting.

This all 'smells' to me like a downplaying of events similar to what happened with Mt. St. Helens.