Quite frankly, if anyone is going to solo the mountain then they should've climed it at least once just to know the territory, peferable more than once. Rainier can throw some real sh*t at you on ANY route due to the many alpine variables not experienced anywhere else in the lower 48. If you don't recognize this up front you are in troble from the start. I agree with the former advice that if you have to ask, don't try.