Jump to content

Camp Muir


campinggirl711

Recommended Posts

Hello--How is everyone? This is my first posting. Has anybody hiked to Camp Muir? I just started training this week & am giving myself 1 yr. to get into great shape.

 

What's the climb like? I have been reading both positive & negative accounts of Camp Muir, especially the snowfield. I worry because I have 2 little ones--ages 7 & 8 mos., but this is something I want to do. How risky is it? What equipment/clothing should I have? I read that "cotton kills."

 

I'm not brave enough to summit--yet--but hiking to Muir would be a big achievement for me. (I live in Indiana--not much action here!)

 

Also--I've been reading about crevasses on the snowfield & also read a really creepy article about iceworms, their venom & devouring hikers.....yikes!

 

My husband & I plan on going in July 2007 (when you have kids, you have to plan in advance), so no rush on the advice, I've got time;)

 

Happy Holiday to all,

 

Campinggirl

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 28
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

read "freedom of the hills" cover to cover. (after that book, there are other ones too) You got the time. If you aren't commited enough to read the book, then maybe you aren't commited enough to be out there. Then you should be able to make up your own determination of risk which is specific for everyone. You will also learn about equipment. (another very specific set for different people)

For me. when the weather is nice, it is a very safe place to be. But people die up there in bad weather. People slide out of control on the snow and crash into rocks. People manage to get themselves into all kinds of trouble.

It is a good goal though. Read up, get in shape, come out here, and have a backup plan if the weather turns foul.

But no need to fear about ice worms devouring people, they are vegetarians.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If your just looking for elevation gain and an excellent

hike you might consider Mt. Adams as a back-up plan.

Just so you know theres no such thing as Ice Worms that devoure people if they exist at all.If they do exist they would be larvea from some insect. (floaties, they make the melted snow and ice you drink taste better) smile.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If your just looking for elevation gain and an excellent

hike you might consider Mt. Adams as a back-up plan.

 

Mt. Adams is no less serious than Camp Muir.

 

If you're worried about the hazards (white out, etc), I'd recommend places like Granite Mountain, Dickerman, Mailbox Peak, 3-Fingers etc - beginning in May or June. But you can get hurt (or killed) on these peaks too.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

White-out is by far the most dangerous thing encountered on the trail to/from Muir... besides those Hoary Marmots! wink.gif IN any event, read Freedom of the Hills and make sure you know how to use a map and compass. The climber's registry office has maps with bearings already drawn in when you get to the mountain.

 

BTW, what kind of training are you doing? If you're in northern IN then there are only 2 elevations: corn and soybeans. If you're in southern IN it's a different story!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree that white out is by far the worst problem you'll face. In good weather you can do the hike to Muir with no problem; all you have to do is be in good cv shape. If the clouds role in navagation is fairly hard.

 

Muir gets used a lot, so as Dru notes there is the potential for lots of nasty stuff in the snow you might melt for water, however if you are going to Muir as a day trip you shouldn't have a problem carying enough water for yourself.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for all of the advice. I am seriously thinking of hiring a guide.

 

As for training.........we have things besides corn & soybeans....there's cow tipping, watermelon seed-spitting & eating roadkill....then again, being from Indiana, I probably don't have the teeth to chew the roadkill, so I'll just starve. wink.gif

 

But, really, I'm strength training 4x per week and doing a ton of cardio, walking & we have some good-sized hills for me to practice on in southern Indy--of course, not like there are in WA, but it will have to do for now.

 

I will also get that book you guys keep mentioning and read it "cover to cover".

 

Does anybody have any recommendations for hiring a local guide to take us to Muir? We do plan on this being just a day hike.

 

Thanks..........

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Does anybody have any recommendations for hiring a local guide to take us to Muir? We do plan on this being just a day hike.

Don't waist the money. I would just post in the Climbing Partners section here a few weeks prior and there will likely be several folks that would be happy drag you up there for free...or for a case of beer or something. bigdrink.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for all of the advice. I am seriously thinking of hiring a guide.

 

You don't need a guide. Just find someone who's been up there before and go with them.

 

I will also get that book you guys keep mentioning and read it "cover to cover".

 

You just need to know how to dress properly (layered, no cotton), keep hydrated and have map and compass skills. That's about 10 pages of Freedom of the Hills.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Quote:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

...I have 2 little ones--ages 7 & 8 mos...

"Neat trick."

 

Good job reading that much into my posting. I think it's time to get out of your parents' basement--you seem to have a lot of time on your hands.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree, don't bother with the guide. With a little knowledge you can do it yourself.

 

BTW, if you're near Bloomington, the Hilly 100 is great training! I think I rode that the first time when I was 7 or 8 (well, the first day anyway) so maybe your 7-year old would like it!

 

Also a note of caution - once you see "The Mountain" you will probably NOT want to go back to Indiana... I know I didn't!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi CraigClimber,

 

I lived in WA, on McChord AFB for a few years with a perfect view of The Mountain & immediately I was smitten. I hiked the Skyline Trail with my husband & also the Nisqually Glacier trail & always wanted to go to Muir, but was pregnant at the time, so it didn't seem like a good idea....but, now I'm ready, so I'm giving myself 1 yr. to condition.

 

I love Brown County--my Grandma was born there & we go camping in Nashville, Indiana, quite often. smile.gif Plus, when I was a student, IU was a great place to party!

 

(Ball State Alumni, here!)

 

CampingGirl

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No need to hire a guide.

Follow a crowd.

If you get in whiteout conditions, stay one the trail and wait for someone to come along and bail you out. If it's a Saturday you'll probably get trampled.

For training, run up the hills.

Each time you do (over weeks), push it a little harder until you are sprinting up them.

You need to get the oxygen transfer system working (lungs to legs) properly.

That will be overkill but you won't care about getting winded on Rainier.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wouldn't worry about hiring a guide. You should have plenty of time to get into good physical shape as well as read up on hiking and snow travel to be completely competent on your own. Camp Muir is a non-technical (but physically exhausting) snow hike so I wouldn't get hung up on reading Freedom of the Hills if you never plan to do any technical climbing. A good website for information on Rainier climbing, including conditions for the Camp Muir route, is www.mountrainierclimbing.blogspot.com. It is not an official NPS site but it is maintained by the lead climbing ranger at MORA. Good luck!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My favorite quotes:

 

1) "Don't grab me like that. Don't grab me til I got balance!"

 

2) "This... This... This is REAL. This is a crevasse."

 

3) "I can't tell the size of it." (talking about a deer 10 feet away)

 

4) "That icicle looks like a tongue."

 

5) "Can you see it?" "Dude it's right down there."

 

Seriously though, throwing a glow-stick down a crack is way not cool. thumbs_down.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for all of the advice. I am seriously thinking of hiring a guide.

 

You don't need a guide. Just find someone who's been up there before and go with them.

 

I will also get that book you guys keep mentioning and read it "cover to cover".

 

You just need to know how to dress properly (layered, no cotton), keep hydrated and have map and compass skills. That's about 10 pages of Freedom of the Hills.

 

Nah, more like 62 pages if you just look at compass skillz and threads... Not mention the other chapters in between like camping, and food etc...

 

But yeah, whatever... HCL.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.




×
×
  • Create New...