soloing gib ledges

[jorvack]

I have soloed other cascade mountains and other 14eers. I am confidant about soloing the actual ledges and ice. I have heard that the cravass danger is fairly obvious on the upper part of the mountain (i.e. huge cravasses that you can avoid). Would it mean instant death to solo the route early season or doable?

[Alex_Mineev]

You'd have to get this permit: http://www.nps.gov/mora/climb/solo.htm

[jorvack]

Thanks for the tip, I am aware of the permit.

[DPS]

I fell the entire rope length into a crevasse on the upper part of Gib Ledges. I had no idea I was even on a snow bridge when it collapsed.

[John Frieh]

Would it mean instant death to solo the route early season or doable?

 

I don't think this is early season anymore. If anything the season on gib is almost over...

[jorvack]

ok, so success cleaver is the safest route to solo. If i climb it in june which is the best route to descend?

[dlofgren]

Safest in what way?

Solo, safe from crevasses - retrace your route up.

If you value safety from crevasses over a "pure" solo climb, solo the route on a weekend, and ask a party at the top to allow you to tie in with them for the descent.

There is no "safe" way to descend any of the glaciers of Rainier in June. Nasty surprises (like DPS above)can kill you, and most everyone who has spent much time on The Mountain has been surprised at least once.

[wally]

Descend the DC its comparable to a main drag minus the traffic lights.