Mt. Rainier (6/8/15 – 6/10/15)
- Vaca Russ
- Topix Expert
- Posts: 809
- Joined: Mon Aug 16, 2010 3:12 pm
- Experience: Level 4 Explorer
- Location: The Nut Tree
Mt. Rainier (6/8/15 – 6/10/15)
I just got back from my trip up to the summit of Mt. Rainier. I made the climb with Alpine Ascents out of Seattle. We drove from Seattle to Paradise Inn (at 5400 feet) where we gathered our gear and headed up the trail to Camp Muir.
There were 8 clients and 4 guides. We slowly made our way up the trail to the Muir snowfield. This is a picture looking down at the Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center.
We finally reached Camp Muir (10,188 feet) after several hours of climbing. There are several buildings at Camp Muir including this five star accommodation for the guide services.
These are the wooden bunks used by the clients for their first night on the mountain. This is a picture looking directly in the door of the guide shelter.
This is a shot of me standing outside of the guide shelter.
Here is a shot of Camp Muir, the Cowlitz Glacier, the Cowlitz Cleaver and the Beehive.
The guides also had set up and five star dining facility.
The gentleman sitting on the right is Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa. I’ll write more on him later.
The next day we climbed over the Cathedral Rocks to the High Camp on the Ingraham Glacier (over 11,000 feet).
This is looking up the Cowlitz Glacier and Disappointment Cleaver to our route the next morning.
Lhakpa is busy setting our dining facility for the day.
We awoke around midnight and set off on our summit climb. Two of the clients and one guide returned to high camp after making it above Disappointment Cleaver. The climb was in the dark so I waited to take pictures while climbing down from the summit.
This is a picture on the summit crater. This is the crescent moon over the Columbia Crest. The sun is just starting to rise over the horizon.
To be continued…
There were 8 clients and 4 guides. We slowly made our way up the trail to the Muir snowfield. This is a picture looking down at the Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center.
We finally reached Camp Muir (10,188 feet) after several hours of climbing. There are several buildings at Camp Muir including this five star accommodation for the guide services.
These are the wooden bunks used by the clients for their first night on the mountain. This is a picture looking directly in the door of the guide shelter.
This is a shot of me standing outside of the guide shelter.
Here is a shot of Camp Muir, the Cowlitz Glacier, the Cowlitz Cleaver and the Beehive.
The guides also had set up and five star dining facility.
The gentleman sitting on the right is Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa. I’ll write more on him later.
The next day we climbed over the Cathedral Rocks to the High Camp on the Ingraham Glacier (over 11,000 feet).
This is looking up the Cowlitz Glacier and Disappointment Cleaver to our route the next morning.
Lhakpa is busy setting our dining facility for the day.
We awoke around midnight and set off on our summit climb. Two of the clients and one guide returned to high camp after making it above Disappointment Cleaver. The climb was in the dark so I waited to take pictures while climbing down from the summit.
This is a picture on the summit crater. This is the crescent moon over the Columbia Crest. The sun is just starting to rise over the horizon.
To be continued…
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
"...Or have you only comfort, and the lust for comfort, that stealthy thing that enters the house a guest, and then becomes a host and then a master?"
Kahil Gibran.
Kahil Gibran.
- Vaca Russ
- Topix Expert
- Posts: 809
- Joined: Mon Aug 16, 2010 3:12 pm
- Experience: Level 4 Explorer
- Location: The Nut Tree
Re: Mt. Rainier (6/8/15 – 6/10/15)
Six Clients and three guides set off for the Columbia Crest.
We reached the Columbia Crest just as the sun was rising.
We had fun on the summit but the day was only half done. We had to climb back down to Paradise. I caught these pictures between the summit and High Camp.
Rainier is quite a mountain. The size is really quite massive. Pictures do not do it justice.
Google Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa. He is one awesome climber. He is recognized by the Guinness World Records as having done the fastest climb of Mt. Everest from Base Camp to the summit.
I had a great time and would highly recommend the trip. Be sure to train!
Thanks for reading my post.
-Russ
We reached the Columbia Crest just as the sun was rising.
We had fun on the summit but the day was only half done. We had to climb back down to Paradise. I caught these pictures between the summit and High Camp.
Rainier is quite a mountain. The size is really quite massive. Pictures do not do it justice.
Google Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa. He is one awesome climber. He is recognized by the Guinness World Records as having done the fastest climb of Mt. Everest from Base Camp to the summit.
I had a great time and would highly recommend the trip. Be sure to train!
Thanks for reading my post.
-Russ
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
"...Or have you only comfort, and the lust for comfort, that stealthy thing that enters the house a guest, and then becomes a host and then a master?"
Kahil Gibran.
Kahil Gibran.
- maverick
- Forums Moderator
- Posts: 11841
- Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:54 pm
- Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Re: Mt. Rainier (6/8/15 – 6/10/15)
Very cool Russ. What is the cost of a guided trip up Rainer?
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer
I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
- The Other Tom
- Founding Member
- Posts: 970
- Joined: Mon Dec 19, 2005 6:06 pm
- Experience: N/A
- Location: Upstate South Carolina
Re: Mt. Rainier (6/8/15 – 6/10/15)
Very cool. We were there mid May but the mountain was socked in but we caught a glimpse when the clouds parted. You're right, it's massive and pictures don't do it justice. Saw a sign in the visitor's center...record low snow last winter (21 feet). Yes, 21 feet. If only the Sierra could get some of that.....
- maverick
- Forums Moderator
- Posts: 11841
- Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:54 pm
- Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Re: Mt. Rainier (6/8/15 – 6/10/15)
TOT wrote:
Wow, that is a lot. Sounds like the possibility of a great wildflower show up there this year!Saw a sign in the visitor's center...record low snow last winter (21 feet). Yes, 21 feet.
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer
I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
- Wandering Daisy
- Topix Docent
- Posts: 6689
- Joined: Sun Jan 24, 2010 8:19 pm
- Experience: N/A
- Location: Fair Oaks CA (Sacramento area)
- Contact:
Re: Mt. Rainier (6/8/15 – 6/10/15)
Congrats! It is a big climb. Rainier was my first big mountain I climbed when I was 17 years old. It was a weekend trip and I returned 1AM on Monday. Next day of school I nearly fell asleep in class and was so stiff I hobbled down the stairs! We did a less dramatic but easier route on the other side. It was my first time at higher altitudes. I felt great going up, but stupidly ate a can of sardines and some mandarin oranges on top and felt a bit sick on the way down. Nevertheless, I became hooked on climbing.
- KathyW
- Founding Member
- Posts: 414
- Joined: Thu Aug 26, 2010 6:19 pm
- Experience: N/A
Re: Mt. Rainier (6/8/15 – 6/10/15)
Congrats on Rainier - that is a big mountain.
I did the same climb with Alpine Ascents the first year they were allowed to guide that route on Rainier. Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa was also one of our guides. He is such a humble man for all he has accomplished. For that matter, all of the guides were very accomplished climbers, but more important they were great guides. That trip was a great experience for me and I learned so much.
I did the same climb with Alpine Ascents the first year they were allowed to guide that route on Rainier. Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa was also one of our guides. He is such a humble man for all he has accomplished. For that matter, all of the guides were very accomplished climbers, but more important they were great guides. That trip was a great experience for me and I learned so much.
- artrock23
- Topix Acquainted
- Posts: 95
- Joined: Sat Jun 01, 2013 2:18 pm
- Experience: N/A
- Location: Laguna Beach, CA
Re: Mt. Rainier (6/8/15 – 6/10/15)
Very nice TR and photos, Russ. Congrats!
I'm planning to climb Mt. Rainier (Emmons Glacier route) next year.
I'm planning to climb Mt. Rainier (Emmons Glacier route) next year.
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: Bing [Bot] and 107 guests