The Climb:

As I searched for a mountain to climb, one that would be my first, I learned more and more about the people who had pioneered the climbing industry in search of safe routes for amateur climbers.  For me, the proper choice would be one that was challenging, but also would provide ample instructions and allow for the chance to reflect on what I was doing, as I was doing it.  It couldn’t be too overwhelming, but had to be demanding.  Clearly the choice for beginners was Mt Rainier, and the guiding company I would choose was RMI (Rainier Mountaineering Inc.).  I began my workout regimen, scheduled time off of work, reserved my spot on the team to climb the Emmons Glacier Route, and began purchasing my gear. 

As time progressed and my body grew stronger, the doubts that I could conquer such a mountain were losing ground.  I stayed focused and finally the day came to pack up everything that I had gathered for the climb, travel to the airport, board the plane, fly to Seattle, pick up my rental car, then drive to Ashford to check in with the rest of the team. The fact that I didn’t know any of the team, was a genuine concern….how could I expect a stranger to protect me, or save my life, if the opportunity presented itself?  As the team introduced themselves, it became very apparent that they were there for the same reason I was, and also had similar concerns.  Learning about one another, and trusting strangers, is the real test; it’s not so much of climbing the mountain.

The first day was focused on sorting gear, setting up tents, climbing the simulated ice/rock wall, and fueling our bodies with lots of calories and carbs.  Most of us discovered that our gear selection was somewhat deficient; thankfully a fully stocked retail store was nearby.

The second day we finally got to see the lower slopes of Mt Rainier.  We practiced basic mountaineering skills for a few hours, and then we returned to RMI Headquarters.  The rest of the day we listened to presentations of what to expect during the upcoming climb, checked in with the park service, and ate high calorie and carb foods once again.  Our lead guide, Casey Grom, had just returned from a two month long Mt Everest Expedition, which he was very happy to share with our team of beginner climbers.  I think this was meant to gear us up for what would be, for most of us, our first real mountain climb.

Finally day three arrived and we set off for the Emmons Glacier. As we entered the park we were greeted with an abundance of wildlife, including Black Bear, Squirrels, and Rabbits. The first part of the trek to the lower mountain was through a dense forest.  When we finally began seeing white for the first time, the temperatures began to noticeably get colder.  After a five or six hour hike to about 6,300 ft. above sea level, we strolled into Glacier Basin; this would be our first camp site.  We unpacked our 65 lb. packs, set up camp, and settled in for a quiet team dinner.  We were all nervous about the climb and what we would see the next day, but we kept it to ourselves.

The next day came; we broke down camp, threw our packs on, roped up, and set off.  Our first obstacle, a steep headwall, seemed impossible, but with crampons and hard work we accomplished it within a few hours.  As we crested the top, we finally got to see the lower portion of the Emmons Glacier.  It was so massive and spectacular, and as we approached it from above, we could see every crevasse, large and small.  The final push for the day was to ascend another thousand feet to Camp Schurman, situated at 9,500 ft.  Again, we settled in by setting up our tents, eating and drinking, and finally saying goodnight.

The next day came earlier than expected….midnight.  At midnight most of us still hadn’t even thawed out yet, but we were out of our warm sleeping bags, getting ready to climb to the summit of Mt Rainier.  We prepared ourselves as best we could, filled our water bottles, gathered lots of Snickers bars, roped up, and then set off toward the top.  I was really cold during break time, but would warm up as we climbed. After about six hours and forty five minutes, we were standing on the top of Mt Rainier….Columbia Crest.  The views were unbelievable, and we could see for miles and miles.  It was cold and breezy, but well worth the hard work.  After about a half an hour on top, we began our descent.  It was much hard than I had anticipated; my legs were sore for three days after the climb was complete.  We stopped at Camp Schurman for a few hours then packed up camp, descended back to the edge of the forest, set up camp, ate dinner, then went to sleep.

We awoke to perfect temperatures, ate breakfast, packed up, and set off toward the trailhead.  Most of the final few hours of the hike out were quiet; our entire team made the summit and we did so with style, or so we thought.  We approached the trailhead, pinpointed our van, headed directly toward it, loaded the trailer with our packs, jumped in, and all of a sudden the conversations began.  We were all so excited to be finished and couldn’t wait to tell our families what we had just accomplished.  It was a truly great feeling, one that I will never forget.