Ascent of Mount Rainier

On August 14, I set out with three companion to summit Mount Rainier. At 9:15 am yesterday, August 15, we reached the summit crater.

The climb was well-documented with a digital camera, but here are some snapshots I took with my iPhone.


Mount Rainier seen from Muir Snowfield


Summit crater of Mount Rainier


Me, Ryan, and Tim (left to right) on Columbia Crest looking northwest toward Seattle.


Me on Columbia Crest with Mount Adams in background

Comprehensive post to follow.

Mount Rainier Weather Forecast

I've been refreshing this page continuously for the past few days. If the forecast is correct, the summit should be warm and relatively calm. I'll have my four thermal layers nevertheless, but I feel the need to post the current forecast (below the break).


Mount Rainier, August 22, 2009

Mount Rainier Climbing Information

Here are some Mount Rainier climbing resources if you're interested.

Climbing information

Climbing routes (look for Paradise Routes - this is the best topographic map of the route to summit)

Route information

Equipment checklist

Weather forecast

To Climb Mount Rainier

The stars have aligned such that I might be a part of a three or four person rope team to attempt a summit of Mount Rainier on the weekend of August 13 - August 15. If all goes according to plan, we will reach Mount Rainier's 14,400 ft summit crater by approximately 10am Sunday morning.

A detail plan will come out of a meeting between the climbers tomorrow evening. We will follow the Disappointment Cleaver route. This is a two-day climb from the trailhead at Paradise to high camp at Camp Muir (10,100 ft) on a ridge between Cowlitz and Nisqually Glacier on Rainier's southern face. Early the next morning, we'll rope up and cross Cowlitz glacier and Ingraham flats toward Disappointment Cleaver, a rock formation dividing Emmons and Ingraham Glaciers. Once we reach the top of this formation, we'll proceed over snow up toward the crater rim, and from there to Columbia Crest (summit ridge) if weather permits.

I hope it permits.

Update:

Follow Mount Rainier's weather forecast http://www.atmos.washington.edu/data/rainier_report.html.

.THURSDAY...SUNNY. FREEZING LEVEL 14000 FEET. 
.THURSDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR. FREEZING LEVEL 15000 FEET.
.FRIDAY...SUNNY. FREEZING LEVEL ABOVE 15000 FEET. 
.FRIDAY NIGHT...CLEAR. FREEZING LEVEL ABOVE 15000 FEET.
.SATURDAY...SUNNY. FREEZING LEVEL ABOVE 15000 FEET.

.SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY...CLEAR NIGHTS AND SUNNY DAYS. FREEZING
LEVEL ABOVE 15000 FEET.

That appears to be ideal climbing weather.