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I've been invited to join a group of guys who are keen to climb Mount Rainier over in Washington state. Somewhere between 40-60% of those who attempt it, make it to the summit. Having seen the conditioning and equipment of those climbing Mt St Helens, I'd take that figure at face value.
Has anyone on here climbed it?
I've never climbed with the guys before, my climbing experience is limited to hill walking in Scotland and scrambling up Curved Ridge on the Buchaille in summer.
The site below states that I need to gain some winter climbing skills. Where would I look to in Scotland for individual training in these fields?
http://www.summitpost.org/so-you-want-to-climb-mt-rainier/507227
That's Mt Rainier in the distance from the crater rim on Mt St Helens
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Brother in law did it last year or 2011, they live in Tacoma. Proper mountaineering he said, basically due to some steep slopes with exposure, altitude and crevasse risks. He's summited Mt Kenya and Kilimanjaro before. I've only hiked around the glacier edges from Sunrise and Paradise and I'd be envious of anyone who gets the chance to give it a go. Any of the Scottish mountain winter training courses should be more than enough I'd have thought, except for the glacier and crevasse risk, can you run to a local guide or managed party?
I was there in June 2011 had to call it a day up on the Ingraham glacier due to scitatic nerve acting up.
I was so lucky to be on a guides trip where one of the guides was George Dunn. (you will come across that name if you start researching climbs on Mt Rainier)
What route you doing?
The Camp Muir, Dissapointment cleaver route is not really technical but you need glacier travel skills, so know how to travel when roped up and how to arrest with an ice axe etc.
and some crevase rescue is also a good thing to know.
Best place "close" to go for some training would be the Alps.
I love the place and want to get back there.
here is some pictures
[url= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3218/5870770595_28c469c53f.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/83246699@N00/5870770595/ ]flats camp[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/83246699@N00/ ]msh_sco[/url], on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/83246699@N00/sets/72157626993789150/
If I recall correctly, the highest wind speed ever recorded on land was at the top of Mt Rainier, so I should pack a kite... 😉
A lot of the people who don't summit is due to the wind being to strong to make it safe.
Great pictures Mikkel.
The only planning so far is to attempt it in 2014, for my fiftieth birthday.
We have no route planned yet, but I anticipate it would be the least technically challenging route. Full on ice climbing isn't on my to do list before I die at 50.
I will certainly look into getting a guide.
The guys are local, mostly from Seattle, one a Scot with Alpine experience.
I've read too many Joe Simpson books lately, the feeling the fear.
Highest wind in the US?
231 mph on Mt Washington NH.
http://www.mountwashington.org/about/visitor/recordwind.php
have a look at www.mountainguides.com they are a fantastic bunch of guides.
Still in touch with more of them.
PS the buffalo meatloaf at the Paradise Inn is amazing :0)
Thanks mcm, I hadn't bothered to look it up, I just relied on my increasingly erratic memory. I knew it was a big, pointy bit of real-estate in the Pacific North-West... 😀
CZ, it was the Mount Washington over in New Hampshire on the east coast. That surprised me too.