CLIMB FOR THE COMMUNITY TIMELINE AND OVERVIEW
Sunday, July 5 Pre –Trip Orientation
On this day climbers will meet at the Rainier Base Camp in Ashford, WA. Pre-trip preparation and training will occur. Throughout the afternoon guides will provide a focused introduction to a variety of topics which will include 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.
Monday, July 6 – Mountaineering Day School
The entire day will be spent training on the lower snow slopes of Mount Rainier, just above Paradise between 6,000 and 6,600 feet. RMI Mountaineering Day School will give climbers an overview of various techniques which help meet the challenges. Climbers 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.
Tuesday, July 7 – Hike to Camp Muir
The summit climb takes place over the course of two days. On the first day climbers will hike to Camp Muir, and on the second day they will make the attempt on Mount Rainier. The hike from Paradise (5,400') to Camp Muir (10,060') is nearly 4.5 miles, and will take most of the day. The hike travels through the 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.
Wednesday, July 8 – SUMMIT DAY (weather permitting)
Early in the morning (approximately midnight) climbers will don ropes, crampons, helmets, and grab their ice axes. 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 climbers to gain the mighty Ingraham Glacier, from which climbers 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 the 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 the climbers zig and zag through the crevasses of the upper mountain. As the climbers make their ascent, they will climb steadily for one to two hours at a stretch, and then break for 10 to 15 minutes.
The summit of Mount 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, Mount Rainier is the highest point in Washington.
