posielski

Expert mountaineers with the most expensive gear die in the mountains. If the mountain truly wants to kill you it will find a way. In reality we have no control. The mountain is letting us summit. In taking the first few steps we are giving all control over to the mountain. People don't understand this. Climbing is not a sport. It is a spiritual journey where we physically and mentally give everything we have and hope the mountain allows us to summit.

I have been climbing for the past 4 years, just never anything technical like Mt. Rainier. I have climbed many of the Cascade glaciers, including Adams, St. Helens, Shasta as well as Whitney. I have done these all multiple times so the next logical step is Mt. Rainier. I would hire a guide, but it is insanely expensive and I cannot afford it. I spoke with the rangers and they recommended that we have a rope and harnesses. Luckily I have found a friend who is willing to let me borrow his. And I am well aware of the objective dangers inherent when climbing mountains but I am willing to risk it. Because that is what mountaineering is truly about. It is about putting yourself at the mercy of the mountain. If it wants to kill you it will find a way, no matter how much experience or gear you have. I am planning to stay a full day at Muir so I can learn how to use all the gear properly before summiting. I spent a day at Muir talking to other climbers and I got some good advice last weekend. It seems like the most difficult part of the climb will be having enough energy to make and not getting altitude sickness. I hope I have the mental and physical willpower to make it. Wish me luck!

Does anybody know where I could rent ropes and harnesses to climb Mt. Rainier?

Does anybody know where I could rent ropes and harnesses to climb Mt. Rainier?

I am looking to climb Mt. St. Helen's on August 10. Would you recommend I take the Monitor Ridge route or the Worm Flows route? I climbed it earlier this year in July and I did the Worm Flows route. Are there still people using it or is everyone going up Monitor Ridge? Also what can I expect in terms of snow and general conditions?

Thanks for the quick reply and good info. I'm glad you made it to the summit. I'm heading up on Wednesday July 13 with a couple friends of mine. I'm not worried about myself because I have quite a bit of experience on snow and ice but my friends don't. I will see how it goes.

So I am looking to climb Mt. St. Helen's on July 13. I have climbed the mountain a few times in the past but never this early in the season. What should I expect in terms of snow? Also according to the NFS website the Climber's Bivouac is closed. Is there an alternate route because of this? Thank you for answering my questions, the NFS website has very little information.