Earth N sky

I'll look into that book and the hikes in the North Cascades. That Sol Duc River / Seven Lakes loop looks totally awesome though. I agree about being toast the day after the climb. Most of my doings that day will likely be mechanized hiking to get photos of Rainier.

I'll be in CO for almost a week. I check to see if I have time for Longs Peak. I'd like to get the state HP.

well, as far as conditioning goes, I am very fit. I backpack everyweekend and can handle a heavy load. Most of my hikes I maximize elevation gain, and despite the low elevation of the mountains in the east, you can still compound elevation change. The harder the hike the more I like it. When I hike I do a lot of 15-20 mile days and I have hiked over 30 miles in a day. I will continue to condition myself for Rainier. I intend to be in the best physical shape of my life leading up to this climb. I definitely apreciate the difference between Rainier and Elbert. My reason for climbing Elbert in CO is strictly the Altitude. I want to make sure I can handle 14,000 feet. The highest mountains I have been on are the 6,000 footers in the east like Mt. Mitchell and Mt. Washington. $$ constraints won't allow me a test trip on Rainier before July, but I was able to score a RT plane ticket to Denver for $143 from Baltimore... Pretty sweet deal! My plan is to arrive in Seattle on Friday night the 13th of July. Some of my other friends will be arriving on Saturday the 14th. I'm not sure what I will do Saturday yet, depends on everyones plans, but I hope to stay somewhere in the Rainier vincinity, as we need to be at RMI's base camp by 8am on the 15th. The 15th is RMI's climbing school. The 16th we climb to Camp Muir and the 17th we summit and then descend back to base. I think the 18th I may do some leisurely dayhikes in RMNP and stay in or near the park that night or head to the Olympic National Park area and stay there that night. The 19th, I will dayhike in Olympic, I like the sound of the 7 Lakes hike some of you suggested. I'll probably car camp that night in the park. The 20th, I might do another smallish dayhike in Olympic, check out the coastline and in the PM, I want to check out some Seattle. I mainly post on www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk .. some of you have already started calling me ENS, I wonder if you know me from TT. lol or if that's the default nickname. here is the trip planning page on TT: http://thebackpacker.com/trips/trip/1005.php Anyway, thanks for the info! I really appreciate it! As far as the hike around 7 Lakes, looks like the mileage is around 18 or so.. anyone have an idea? Looks pretty rugged too.. My kind of hike. thanks again! PS: The Elbert Trip is a trip amongst its own rite.

I booked my trip for July 15th-17th. What are the coolest dayhikes in Olympic NP? Anything 10-15 miles is good, loops best.

With all the backpacking and hiking I do, I feel that physically, I am ready for Rainier. I am not sure how I will handle the altitude yet. That is why I am going to Colorado. Unfortunately, I won't have the opportunity to get up to Muir before the climb starts off. thanks for your advice though.

My Rainier trip actually won't be my first trip to the west either, in April I am planning to climb Mt. Elbert in Colorado. Although not technical, it'll give me a chance to be at altitude.

I am from Southeastern Pennsylvania. You all probably would consider me a flatlander. I am pretty experienced though and I am generally out backpacking the most rugged trails I can find every weekend. Those endeavors lead me up and down the east coast from the Smokies to the Adirondacks, Whites and Katahdin. I've never been higher than Mount Mitchell, highest mountain east of South Dakota and that mountain's loftiness stops short at 6,684 feet. None the less, the mountains in the east, even though not as high as those in the west, still provide immense amounts of challenge and one can still get their proverbial ass kicked out here. I've never been out west. I have long wanted to climb Mount Rainier. The summer of 2007 I am going to do it. Four of my friends, all very experienced here in the east have signed up with RMI to get our first real taste of mountaineering. Actually, not completely true. One of the dudes in our group has climbed several 20k peaks down in South America. We're completely stoked. I'll probably be stopping here for info, but wanted to make my introduction. I plan on making a full week trip out to Washington. In addition to hopefully getting to the Columbia Crest, I'd like to see other sites in and around RNP. I also want to do some hiking in Olympic and check out some sites in Seattle. It'd be cool to meet some of you. I unfortunately found this board through the tragic events that unfolded on Mt. Hood. I appreciate in advance, any insight you all can provide me. thanks, Rob ENS