Mt. Rainier is one of the most beautiful places I know. This National Park has so much to offer in terms of outdoor activities.

Once we checked in with RMI we were on a very specific time line for the next 4 days. The first 2 days were orientation and then snow skills on the slopes around 7,000 ft. On the morning of the third day, we did a final gear check and then slowly hiked our way upwards towards our goal of reaching Camp Muir. You go from tourist friendly Paradise Lodge to the paved roads upwards passing many families out on a stroll. As we got higher we encountered less and less people, and the landscape began to change. The lush meadows were so full of color and life that you could only stop and view in amazement. The alpine region slowly receded, and then gave way to the beginning of the snow fields somewhere around 6-7,000 ft which we would climb for the next few hours.

There are boot paths going up and our skills in breathing and stepping came into play. The air slowly gets thinner and you may notice at this time that its a bit harder to breath normally. We take breaks about once an hour, but still maintain our rigid schedule of getting to Muir by the early afternoon. Around 1 or 2 p.m. we could faintly make out the small buildings on Muir way up on the ridge and knew that relief was a short time away.

Once at Muir we had a summit briefing and then were allowed to retire and get rest for our midnight wake-up. Most of us claimed spots in the sardine shack and then proceeded to get as comfortable as we could for the next 6-8 hrs. Some folks actually slept as I could hear faint snoring, while others listened to their ipods. I was so anxious that I could not sleep at all (most people dont) and was feeling the mild effects of altitude.

Our wake-up came around midnight and we had one hour to eat and prepare ourselves for the weather and increasingly hostile conditions the higher we got. I was geared up, roped in, and a little chilly, but took time to look up and notice how brilliant the night sky was. We stepped off in teams of four (roped together with harnesses) into the glacier field with our crampon’s on our feet (special metal spike plates that attach to your boots to make you stick into the side of ice slopes.) It was dark and the only light was the illumination from our headlamps on our helmets. The only sound was the crunch-crunch of our boots as we snaked our way up. Nobody said a word- as you can imagine what was going through our heads.

We took a break every hour and were encouraged to consume calories and drink a few ounces. We had to quickly pull out our puffy down parka’s every break to keep our body temp warm. The temperature was getting colder and the wind was starting to howl. At every break we were starting to loose people to the cold and effects of higher elevations. The extra guides would break off and start taking the returning hikers back to relative safety at Muir.

The wind was whipping so furiously now that it became increasingly harder to stand and at rest stops things would blow out of your hands if not careful. You could not have your gloves off for long, otherwise numbness would quickly set in. We took another break at 12,300 ft. and the guides checked us one by one. They said “if you don’t have 3/4 of a tank in you in terms of energy..it may be a good idea to turn back now. Beyond this stop its the point of no return.” At this point, I was forcing myself to swallow a bite of a frozen Snickers bar and knew I was in trouble. My head was pounding and I was delirious from lake of sleep. That’s when I made the heart wrenching decision to turn back and not jeopardize the safety of the rest of the team. What made the decision even harder was the fact that I could clearly see the summit, but it was still a few hours away. I was exhausted and beaten for the time being but we truly had done our best.

So we did not summit Rainier, but made it higher than any other mountain in Washington. At 12,300 we were clearly higher than the rest of the surrounding mountains including Adams, Hood, and St. Helens. The trip down was slow and one guy on our team had terrible altitude sickness and was vomiting. He never once said a word. I was just trying to enjoy the spectacular views and make sure this guy doesn’t stumble off the ledge and take us with him. Slowly the sun came up and I realized how precarious some of the trails had been with 2 or 3 feet next to a drop that was several hundred feet down. Or a small jump across a crevasse only to realize that it was 100 ft. straight down (kind of like jumping from one building to another..but close) and a misstep would have been disastrous.

I would highly recommend this climb to anyone. It was worth every cent and was unlike anything I’ve ever done in my life. Climbing mountains and hiking is real fun and a great sport too. Of the 18 who started out at base camp on Mt. Rainier only 8 can say that they reached the top.

Marty and I doing a final pack and gear check before setting off to Mt. Rainier. It was a very nice day in the Seattle area. We could see the mountain the whole time during our 2.5 hour drive to basecamp.

From just about anywhere in Seattle this is how Mt. Rainier looks on a clear day.

We all spent a day in the Seattle downtown area and went to a tourist favorite spot called Pike Place Market. It’s an open market area with all kinds of food and freaky people and music. Its the place where they famously throw fish around and has been on t.v. many times. The first Starbucks opened here in 1971 and is still in operation. As usual, it was a madhouse inside. We all had a great time, and finished off the afternoon with a team lunch.

With almost military precision the team sets off towards high camp at Muir.

What a great view! This picture is nice and also shows a distant Mt. Adams in the background.

Marty at Camp Muir (elevation 10,200 ft.)

Camp Muir and the small surrounding area. This was our home for a few days and was a pretty rugged place. The basic accommodations for acclimatization were about as comfortable as a sardine can. The black shack on the left was where they stuffed 18 of us prior to the summit attempt- 3 rows high and 6 across. They did however, have solar port-o-potties and small propane jets to boil water. Most people just quietly talked and sat facing out on the rocks enjoying the view. Believe it or not, we had weak Verizon cell coverage at the small table in the center.

Throughout the day, people came to Muir in waves as they completed their day hikes. It took about 6 hours one way to reach this altitude.

http://s222.photobucket.com/albums/dd224/beakhlassylady/M4M%20Send%20Off%20Event%20August%2012%20%202010/

We had a fantastic send off at “The Club.” Everyone showed up and all the kids got to have a great time. There was a rock wall to climb, snow cones, Bethlehem Fire & Police showed up in force. It was a special time for the kids. A few words were said and then the kids ran to their respective favorite spots.

I have mixed feelings about the send off for this climb. I’m happy for the folks who have become very close to me and this event, yet sad that we must all move on a bit. I hope that in the future we can all still try to contribute one way or another.

Mt. Rainier-Mountains for Mark 4 Day climb schedule

Aug. 16, 2010
3:00 – 6:00 p.m.: Meet at Rainier BaseCamp.
We begin our Pre-Trip Preparation and Training with a welcome and introduction of team members and guides. Throughout the afternoon your guides will provide a focused introduction to a variety of topics. This includes a detailed personal equipment discussion and gear check, an introduction to safety practices including use of helmets, harnesses, and avalanche transceivers, and instruction regarding Leave No Trace practices and environmental considerations.

Aug. 17, 2010
8:15 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Meet at Rainier BaseCamp.
Arrive at Rainier BaseCamp dressed for hiking, packed with your Mountaineering Day School gear, and ready to go at 8:15 a.m. Guides will offer final packing and clothing suggestions. We depart BaseCamp immediately following our initial morning preparation. Transportation is provided between BaseCamp and Paradise in a private shuttle. The entire day is spent training on the lower snow slopes of Mt. Rainier, just above Paradise between 6,000 and 6,600 feet.
Our Mountaineering Day School offers participants an overview of various techniques which help meet the challenges set forth by this magnificent mountain. It serves as a great introduction or as a refresher if you haven’t been in the hills for a while. Our guides are excellent teachers relaying this information to you in an easy to understand manner. On this day you will be introduced to a number of skills, from the basic techniques of efficient mountain travel (rest-stepping and pressure breathing) through cramponing, roped travel, and ice axe arrest practices.

Aug. 18, 2010
8:15 a.m.: Meet at Rainier BaseCamp.
Day 3: Check-in at Rainier BaseCamp. Team assembles in preparation for the trip to Camp Muir. After a short team meeting, the shuttle departs for Paradise, and our Summit Climb begins.
The Summit Climb takes place over the course of two days. On the first day we hike to Camp Muir, and on the second day we make the attempt on Mt. Rainier and return to Rainier BaseCamp.
The hike from Paradise (5,400′) to Camp Muir (10,060′) is nearly 4.5 miles, and will take us most of the day. The hike travels through the spectacular alpine zone and onto the Muir Snowfield, named after John Muir who climbed the peak in 1888. The Snowfield is climbed for some 3,000 vertical feet, opening up grand vistas of the wooded lowlands and flanking glaciers. Groups typically climb for about an hour or so and then break for 10 to 15 minutes.
Once at Camp Muir, the climb leader will address the specifics regarding the rest of the climb, including route conditions, food, equipment, clothing recommendations, and any further questions you might have. Accommodations at Muir consist of a small mountain hut with bunks and sleeping pads. After dinner we will retire to our sleeping bags to rest for the upcoming summit attempt.

Aug. 19, 2010
Day 4: Early in the morning we don ropes, crampons, helmets, and grab our ice axes. The Muir hut is locked during the climb, so items not needed for the summit bid may be left behind. The route on the upper mountain changes continually but typically begins with a rising traverse across the Cowlitz Glacier and then ascends the pumiced switchbacks of Cathedral Gap. This allows us to gain the mighty Ingraham Glacier, from which we will then access either the Ingraham Glacier or Disappointment Cleaver routes; the actual route choice will be determined by many factors and will be left to the professional discretion of your guides. The steeper Ingraham Headwall or Disappointment Cleaver will be the physical crux of the route. The remaining slopes and hours are whittled away as we zig and zag through the crevasses of the upper mountain. It is truly a spectacular climb, and one that you will remember for a long while to come. As we make our ascent, we climb steadily for one to two hours at a stretch, and then break for 10 to 15 minutes.
The summit of Mt. Rainier is spectacular. A large crater dominates the summit, with steam rising out of the cavernous summit vents. The bare ground near the summit can be warm to the touch. At 14,410 feet, Mt. Rainier is the highest point in Washington. After spending some time on top (depending on the weather), we begin the descent to Camp Muir. This takes about half the time of the ascent, and also requires significant effort. (Be sure that your training specifically includes preparations for descending. This will help ensure that your ability to safely descend is not compromised.) Once back at Camp Muir, the group will take a break and pack for the final hike down to Paradise. Our shuttle then takes the team down to Rainier BaseCamp. Plan on arriving back in Ashford in the late afternoon or early evening.
The duration of the climb depends on many variables including snow conditions, the time of year, the route conditions, the weather during our climb, the temperature, etc. Those variables often affect our arrival time to Ashford, which might vary dramatically from climb to climb.

We expect to arrive at the summit between 7am-9am PST (Remember it will be 10am-12 Noon on the East Coast) on Aug.19th. Marty and Chris will be carrying a satellite phone which has no limits in terms of coverage. We expect to make brief phone calls with weather permitting.

We did a 30 mile ride towards Easton. It was good to have Holly and Drum along to keep up the pace. I wanted to test the video capability of my Droid and also see how it looks posted on this site. I was filming as I was riding….good thing I kept my balance.

Today I did a 60 mile bike ride- the most I’ve ever done with Bob Simons. Around mile 15 or so, my rear tire blew out. This is not uncommon considering the amount of miles that these bikes have travelled. Luckily we had a rapid patch kit and small frame mounted pump. In no time at all we were back on the trail. We rode along the Bethlehem towpath until hitting Easton, then turned south. We rode another 15 miles beyond that point somewhere down near Upper Black Eddy. It was drizzling a little and it was a welcome relief in a small way. We turned back and completed the loop before parting ways on Sand Island back in Bethlehem.

Naturally, I’m tired…but not in an excessive way. My legs feel good and strong and I have no complaints really. Today I felt very ready.