Mt. Rainier TR: Denied once again

Last June I got to within 600 ft of the summit before having to turn back from a huge storm. This year, high avalanche danger prevented us from even leaving high camp for the summit. Oh well, I'm headed back in August to try again, and I'll keep going back until I stand atop the summit crater.

We flew in from Denver Thursday night and hiked up to camp Muir Friday morning.

The rental car we got was a PT Cuiser, so needless to say, Scott and I didn't exactly feel like studs comming out of the car.
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...0with%20PT.JPG

Rainier from the Parking lot... What a beautiful mountain
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...er%20close.JPG

Scott comming up
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...g%20up%7E0.JPG

At high camp
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...igh%20camp.JPG
And more pics at high camp
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...e%20clouds.JPG
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...g%20clouds.JPG
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...unrise%7E1.JPG
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...eet%20view.JPG
It gets a little boring waiting out a storm so I had to amuse myself.
"Rainier.... I'll soon be your daddy!"
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...pics/Vader.JPG
Mt. Adams
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...pics/Adams.JPG
It dumped over a foot of snow on us and there were avalanches sliding everywhere. We decided not to go for the summit, and everyone who did had to turn back. The rangers said that the routes wouldn't be safe for 2-3 days, so we headed down.
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...%20leaving.JPG
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...ing%20down.JPG
Checking out the Nisqually glacier
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...0Nisqually.JPG

After we got down Scott went to the airport and I went to Olympic National Park

http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...%20Olympus.JPG

Deer looking at Hurricane ridge
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...%20olympic.JPG

Sweet views on the summit of Hurricane hill (a very easy hike)
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...ne%20ridge.JPG

The Hoh Rain forest
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...rainforest.JPG

Well, thats were I've been the last week and hopefully in August we'll get good weather and summit. It's good to be back to Colorado though.

Nice TR. Third times the charm?

Rainier is a huge mountain and very conditions dependent. I've spent a fare share of time sitting in tents on that pig. And have had three sufferfest slogs to the summit on various routes. I always say "I'm never coming back". But have three times.

What route were you on?

Awesome MF. Next time ...

Cool pix! Chat soon.

:FIREdevil HyRUPz

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In 1944, Anne Scheiber retired from the IRS with Social Security benefits based on her $4000 a year salary, and $5000 in savings. By consistently investing and reinvesting, she managed to leave a $22 million estate to Yeshiva University by the time she passed away in 1995.

sweet pics

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Cool pix! Chat soon.

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I've got a lot more to tell you about. Sounds good dude! The hardest thing was seeing the weather clear, and having to go down. The question we asked ourselves was, "If Grays Peak had the same avy danger as Rainier does now would we climb it?" Of course not, so we headed back... It still sucks though. Ahhhh well. I only have to wait about a month and a half before I'm back there.

Cool TR!
Any interest in actually going to Columbia Crest, or is just the Summit Crater good enough for you?

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Originally Posted by Mountain Freak

"If Grays Peak had the same avy danger as Rainier does now would we climb it?" Of course not, so we headed back...

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Reminds me of something I read earlier today on another message board:

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More than his (Ed Viestur's) many climbing accomplishments, I have always admired his safe and patient approach to climbing, turning aside from a potentially dangerous situation even when he was so close to a summit...his example is what I think of when I am on the brink of doing something potentially hasty and ill-thought out: "What would Ed Viesturs do?"

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Nice Pics! Don't give up. Best of luck next time.

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Any interest in actually going to Columbia Crest, or is just the Summit Crater good enough for you?

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Definately Columbia Crest.

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Reminds me of something I read earlier today on another message board:

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I live by Viesturs quote, "Getting to the summit is optional, getting down is mandatory"

Thanks for all the encouragement everyone. There will be a successful TR, it may be August or a few years from now. I really want to reach that summit, but I'm not going to be stupid about it.

sweeet pics. too bad you guys didn't have skis for the slide down... freshiez!!!!

Great pictures. Thanks for the summer stoke. Was that a 4x4 Crusier?
http://www.kokotele.com/sunrise7E1.jpg

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You forgot your skis.

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I know I know. With everything we brought we didn't have room for skis. next time I'll drive and bring them.

Best of luck for the next attempt. I climbed Rainier a few years ago in August on the Emmons route. MASSIVE crevasses, most snow bridges long gone that time of year. Makes for cool scenery and a ton of circuitous roped travel.

Have Fun!

CAW! CAW!!

Wow!

Beautiful pics Mountain Freak! :cool:

Sorry to hear the conditions didn’t cooperate but there is always next time.

And yeah…you gotta take your skis…errr splitboard next year. Walking down mountains is for the birds. :biggrin:

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Originally Posted by Bullet 2

You forgot your skis.

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what he said.

you could have slipped over to the turtle snowfield (in your second pic it's the large snowfield on the lookers left of the Nisqually glacier) for a little tour.

edit: I was denied once on the Emmons (3 days tentbound in nuclear winds) and was fortunate to knock it off the next year. It's worth the trip.

You'll get it next time out MF. There are some nice photos in there. Looks like a fun trip regardless of the outcome.

Nice work, your patience and level headed approach will be rewarded, if not in this lifetime, then the next.

"After the ecstasy, the laundry." Zen saying

Nice pic. Which route were you attempting? DC? Ingraham Direct? And which one will you be on in August? I will probably lead a party of students up Emmons in 2 1/2 weeks, and will likely do a more technical climb in August. That is, if it's accessible. Not much snow this year :( And the weather has been crap: I've been snowed in on the way to Forbidden, hailed on at Liberty Bell :( Each time had to bail out, 'cause rock climbing under snow / hail is not great, safety wise.

drC




drC

Nice TR, better luck in August. I'm anticipating a trip to Ranier around the same time, however no plans to summit. Looking forward to a succesful TR the next time around, good luck.

nice.
love the photos