jostewart

Two of us headed up Emmons July 23rd weekend looking for one or two others to share a rope.

thanks for book rec. just ordered from amazon.

AWESOME feedback, one and all. Thanks again. Glad I registered and signed on. That crevasse Alasdair posted is just nuts. One heck of a pothole. Glad things turned out alright. I am taking the fitness and preparation advice to heart. I'll be very fit by July and I feel confident but I want to be humble. Also getting extra glacier training, just not on Rainier. Part of the mind game, for me, is knowing that I'm minimizing risk so its good to hear the various perspectives. I really like the idea of being in the Ing Flats on summit day but will happily trade a longer trudge from Schurman to avoid DC risk. And I will take the advice of others and get to base camp with an extra day in the bank. But we will probably go for it if weather permits and save the extra day in case we get turned back for whatever reason. Why do guides favor the DC route so much? It's like 4 to 1. Is it simply proximity to all the Paradise facilities?

cool, that's consistent with some stuff i am reading online. sounds like little extra vert and length probably a good trade off for safer, less technical route (at least for a first timer with only one shot at peak for a long while).

thanks for feedback.

Heard Emmons is least technical, primarily because Disappointment Cleaver can be hairy if snow has receded substantially. But DC route is 1,000 feet closer and has higher camp (especially if camping in Ing Flats). For first climb in July I'd like to maximize odds of a successful summit. Anyone have strong opinion?