Showing posts with label Mount Rainier. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mount Rainier. Show all posts

Friday, May 26, 2017

Guides for Glaciers

Climate change is making mountains more dangerous and threatening the prosperity of the guiding profession. This spring a historic mass of ice broke off from Colfax Peak, sweeping across the standard ascent route for Washington State's Mount Baker climb.
Photo: Kel Rossiter

Recently, Guides for Glaciers (G4G) was established, with a mission to address the issues of the changing mountain environment and its impacts on the guiding profession. G4G intends to mount an educational campaign to bring together common stakeholders in order to influence public policy and preserve the longevity and economic sustenance of the mountain guiding profession globally. The longevity of the entire guiding profession hinges on guides’ ability to advocate for climate change policy and preserve our mountain environments well into the future.

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

What is Above Knows What is Below--A Reflection on the Rainier Season

Climbers on Rainier's crater rim.
This season on Rainier has been like the line of an EKG—valleys and summits, sadness and elation, life and death, reminding me of what it means to be here—to be doing what I'm called to do.

Monday, September 16, 2013

Mount Rainier, summer wrap-up

This past Labor Day weekend I finished up my guiding season on Mount Rainier.  It was a typical year for weather and conditions, sometimes it was cold, windy and snowing and other times there was blazing hot sunshine.  Spectacular settings and strong clients will be the dominant memories of the summer.  

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Testing Out the Mammut Sphere Sleeping Bag and Light Pump Mat on Rainier's Wilder Side

It seems that the "blue bubble" may have finally arrived in Washington.  After a largely damp and gray May and June, we hit a blue streak last week.  Under clear skies I headed out with a team to explore "Rainier's Wilder Side"--the Emmons Route.  By the numbers, about 70% of Rainier aspirants climb via the Muir/DC Route, 20% climb via the Emmons Route, and 10% climb via other routes. So Rainier's Emmons Route tends to be a quieter, wilder way up the mountain.  


At ~13,800', nearing the summit via the Emmons Route.

A few of the reasons that the Emmons Route is quieter than the Muir/DC Route are:

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

The Mount Rainier Summer Summit Season Begins (Sort Of!)


After a springtime of climbing and guiding in Alaska/Denali and an enjoyable stint back in Mammut & my home-base state of Vermont, I arrived back in the Pacific Northwest this past week for a series of Rainier climbs with Rainier Mountaineering Incorporated (RMI). As chance would have it, my climb was slotted to be the first climb of the summer season—apparently though, nobody had shouted to the sky that it was about to be summer. Or, if they had, the sky wasn't listening.
Practicing self-arrests during the training.