My birthday adventure at Mt Rainier
So this year for my birthday I decided to attempt to climb Mt Rainier. For my non Seattle friends, this mountain stands at 14410 feet is the is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S.A. I thought it would be a unique experience to share in, and here in Seattle those activities are very accessible.
I booked this climb last year in September with a guiding company as I had no mountaineering experience and wanted a glimpse into this fascinating world.
I have been training for this for the past 9 months, weighing in at 103pounds and training with 35 to 45 pounds on my back, this was a fun challenge.
On Wednesday morning 9.30am, we started our ascent to camp Muir one of the base camps. Our group reached base camp at 2.30pm, about 5 and half hours of hiking with heavy packs. I loved the fun banter, making new friends and that feeling of the unknown,
We rested, ate dinner, and slept at 6pm to wake at 11pm so we could start the summit climb at 12am.
In the dark, we geared up, ice axes, crampons, avalanche beacons, wearing 2 of the 5 base layers, roped up team of 4 we started. There were 3 groups of 4.
Making our way across the Cowlitz glacier, crossing over a few small cravesses, seeing these only with headlamps does not do it justice. Heading up the rocky Cathedral gap, you get a sense that there are steep drops but you don't really see it and making our first break at 11200 feet at the flats looking out onto the Ingraham glacier all was well.
Starting up the Disappointment cleaver was when you see glimpses of huge cravesses, shining your headlamp into the never ending drop is beautiful yet scary. At 12300feet we completed the cleaver and took a break.
It was at this point, I was starting to feel a little nauseous and dizzy. I was advised this is normal, and to eat and drink something and rest for about 10 minutes. I felt a little better and decided to push on.
We started up again, and somewhere between about 12600 and 12800 feet ( about 25 minutes later, my dizziness got worse, and out of nowhere I felt like I had “less 20% in the tank” at this point I “called it” and knew I couldn't continue safely. I looked at my watch at the elevation said 12681 ( but another members watch said a higher number )
Another 2 team members decided to turn back too, we swapped rope teams and started our way back. Once through the ice, at time time of year it is dry exposed loose rock with patches ice in some areas.
In the dark you don't realize heights you are at, once daybreak hit, I saw a landscape that words cannot describe. It was like something out of a movie, amazing blue inside crevasses, a mixture of ice, cracks over time gave the landscape a look like a puzzle slowly pulled apart.
Coming down in the light I could really see how narrow and steep drops actually were!
At one steep rock step, as I landed my right leg I rolled my ankle with my crampons and just felt pain.
Luckily this area had about 2 feet worth of space, hence I did not end up disappearing into nothingness. That scared the krap out me!
This was around 12000feet, nothing I could do but continue down slowly, my dizzy nauseousness was replaced with a painful ankle.
As we were returning you could hear ice falls and we had a rock fall just around one corner. We passed huge boulders suspended by ice which is melting, moving as quickly as we could past those areas.
At camp Muir I rested, in my little space I initially felt pretty disappointed, but was absolutely grateful to experience nature in this way, I just smiled recalling the incredible beauty of this mountain.
Hiking back to the paradise parking lot around 5000feet with this ankle was self inflicted torture.lol. I glissaded allot of the way with my team mates giving me company on my slow descent, thank you Matt, Joe and Chris!! The first thing we did at the Paradise Inn was a cold beer, whoo that felt like heaven
Needless to say a pretty cool crazy experience, a one to remember forever.
To the folks who have summitted this mountain, bloody well done to you!! I admire your strength both physical and mental as this mountain tests you in ways you never imagined!!
Well, now to plan my next adventure, my crystal ball is seeing a moonlight beach, my fishing rods and sipping on a whiskey by a nice fire
I booked this climb last year in September with a guiding company as I had no mountaineering experience and wanted a glimpse into this fascinating world.
I have been training for this for the past 9 months, weighing in at 103pounds and training with 35 to 45 pounds on my back, this was a fun challenge.
 |
| Pre-dinner meal |
On Wednesday morning 9.30am, we started our ascent to camp Muir one of the base camps. Our group reached base camp at 2.30pm, about 5 and half hours of hiking with heavy packs. I loved the fun banter, making new friends and that feeling of the unknown,
We rested, ate dinner, and slept at 6pm to wake at 11pm so we could start the summit climb at 12am.
 |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
In the dark, we geared up, ice axes, crampons, avalanche beacons, wearing 2 of the 5 base layers, roped up team of 4 we started. There were 3 groups of 4.
It was at this point, I was starting to feel a little nauseous and dizzy. I was advised this is normal, and to eat and drink something and rest for about 10 minutes. I felt a little better and decided to push on.
We started up again, and somewhere between about 12600 and 12800 feet ( about 25 minutes later, my dizziness got worse, and out of nowhere I felt like I had “less 20% in the tank” at this point I “called it” and knew I couldn't continue safely. I looked at my watch at the elevation said 12681 ( but another members watch said a higher number )
Another 2 team members decided to turn back too, we swapped rope teams and started our way back. Once through the ice, at time time of year it is dry exposed loose rock with patches ice in some areas.
In the dark you don't realize heights you are at, once daybreak hit, I saw a landscape that words cannot describe. It was like something out of a movie, amazing blue inside crevasses, a mixture of ice, cracks over time gave the landscape a look like a puzzle slowly pulled apart.
Coming down in the light I could really see how narrow and steep drops actually were!
At one steep rock step, as I landed my right leg I rolled my ankle with my crampons and just felt pain.
Luckily this area had about 2 feet worth of space, hence I did not end up disappearing into nothingness. That scared the krap out me!
This was around 12000feet, nothing I could do but continue down slowly, my dizzy nauseousness was replaced with a painful ankle.
As we were returning you could hear ice falls and we had a rock fall just around one corner. We passed huge boulders suspended by ice which is melting, moving as quickly as we could past those areas.
At camp Muir I rested, in my little space I initially felt pretty disappointed, but was absolutely grateful to experience nature in this way, I just smiled recalling the incredible beauty of this mountain.
Hiking back to the paradise parking lot around 5000feet with this ankle was self inflicted torture.lol. I glissaded allot of the way with my team mates giving me company on my slow descent, thank you Matt, Joe and Chris!! The first thing we did at the Paradise Inn was a cold beer, whoo that felt like heaven
Needless to say a pretty cool crazy experience, a one to remember forever.
To the folks who have summitted this mountain, bloody well done to you!! I admire your strength both physical and mental as this mountain tests you in ways you never imagined!!
Well, now to plan my next adventure, my crystal ball is seeing a moonlight beach, my fishing rods and sipping on a whiskey by a nice fire
Comments
Post a Comment