At 4,394 meters Mt. Rainier is the highest mountain in the state of Washington
and the most heavily glaciated peak in the lower 48 states.
2008 Trip Report
In the spring of 2008 I signed up for an 8 day mountaineering course with Alpine
Ascents International which is based in Seattle. The course consisted of 8 days
climbing and camping on the mountain while practicing various mountaineering skills
including winter camping, self arrest, walking and breathing techniques, rope work,
glacier travel, crevasse rescue, and ice climbing.
Thursday July 10, 2008
The class met at the Alpine ascents office in downtown seattle at around 6am. After
getting to know one another a little we had a brief gear check. We went over the gear
list to make sure everyone had what they needed, and pared down our packs a little by
sharing some equipment like tents, stoves, and cookware. Then we divided the team
gear between our packs. This included fuel, ropes, shovels and pickets.
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Gear check |
After the gear check we loaded up our packs into the van and headed out to Mt. Rainier
National Park. We took highway 410 around the north and west sides of Rainier to the
White River Campground (4300') where we unloaded our gear and registered with the park
rangers. Leaving the van in the parking lot we began up the trail which follows a feeder
of the white river east to toward glacier basin (5900'). Parts of the trail were washed
out because of spring flooding along the river and so we had to climb over piles of trees
that had been uprooted and tossed into piles due to extreme river bank erosion.
Just before glacier basin is a small camping area where we stopped and set up our tents
for the night. A short walk down a steep bank to the river gives easy access to water. You
have to be careful about leaving food in your packs in this area because of bears and mice
so after dinner we hung our packs on the tall poles that have been installed in the camp
area for this purpose.
Friday July 11, 2008
Snow school and hike to Winthrop.
Saturday July 12, 2008
Crevasse rescue.
Sunday July 13, 2008
Crevasse rescue.
Monday July 14, 2008
Ice climbing.
Tuesday July 15, 2008
Hike to camp Sherman.
Wednesday July 16, 2008
Summit day.
Thursday July 17, 2008
Hike out.
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