Novice Prepin' 4 Winter Rainier Climb

[cuattop]

Where should I climb in Southern CA to prepare for a winter climb of Mt. Rainier? I need to develop skills in all areas . I have never snow camped before. I plan on hiking with Rainier Mountaineering Inc. but yep, need to gain some skills.

 

Any suggestions? Anyone else in LA area wanting to do the same?

[cj001f]

to the top of a Langer's on Rye with Russian

[Mark_Husbands]

Mt. Shasta. I-5 North.

 

There is really no snow left in the Sierra at this point, but spring in the Sierra is good. You could try Dana Couloir or something like that.

[sampdx1]

From what I hear, Shasta doesn't have much snow this year. I suggest checking conditions before heading there.

[ericb]

Where should I climb in Southern CA to prepare for a winter climb of Mt. Rainier? I need to develop skills in all areas . I have never snow camped before. I plan on hiking with Rainier Mountaineering Inc. but yep, need to gain some skills.

 

Any suggestions? Anyone else in LA area wanting to do the same?

 

Apologize for unrequested advice, but Rainier in winter is a major undertaking, and my guess is that the odds of a weather window are pretty slim relative to say, July. I'd be hesitant to

throw down ~$1,000 bucks for RMI, and another $1,000 for air-travel, gear rental etc. and be locked into a climbing window with little or no flexibility given what winters are like around here.

[Cobra_Commander]

I would fill a hot tub waist-deep with cold molasses and wade around in it for about 6 hours while breathing through a straw.

[JackY]

 

You can learn to winter camp on your trip, you are paying them to teach you these skills. However, you can increase your chances of enjoying the trip by having the right gear to stay warm. You also need to eat and hydrate to stay warm. If they are providing the food I would bring some goodies that you enjoy. A snickers bar at bed time (after a HUGE dinner of course) will help keep you warm. Bring a positive attitude and be prepared to work hard and you should enjoy the trip and learn lots.

[counterfeitfake]

RMI doesn't take noobs up Rainier in the winter, do they?

[dbconlin]

You can learn to winter camp on your trip, you are paying them to teach you these skills. However, you can increase your chances of enjoying the trip by having the right gear to stay warm. You also need to eat and hydrate to stay warm. If they are providing the food I would bring some goodies that you enjoy. A snickers bar at bed time (after a HUGE dinner of course) will help keep you warm. Bring a positive attitude and be prepared to work hard and you should enjoy the trip and learn lots.

 

Ditto. Add to that just be in good shape and you will enjoy it more.

[mrd]

There are no places in SCA to really prepare for the winter climbing on Rainier right now; simply it's a summer time. If you going with guides you are fine anyway; you don't have to do much thinking. However, keeping in physical and mental shape is important. For this you can do backpacking of some 14rs in the Sierra, especially in bad weather conditions. Find any remains of reasonably steep snow/ice fields/glaciers and practice crampons and ice-ax (ice-tools) skills (e.g. U and/or V notch). The best way, however, is to do winter (Dec-Jan-Feb) climbing in the Sierra, for example, Mt Whitney. The bad or at least diverged weather is almost guaranteed. The best way to prepare for mountaineering is mountaineering.

[Drederek]

Spend as much time above 10k as possible. RMI will herd you up Rainier like livestock so you just need to be in good shape to enjoy it.

[Frikadeller]

I would fill a hot tub waist-deep with cold molasses and wade around in it for about 6 hours while breathing through a straw.

 

Thats cold....

 

 

Cold as ice.

 

 

[Jens]

It can get pretty ganrly on top in winter. My advice is to give yourself a good chunk of time so you can drink beer at the Highlander in Ashford and them jump on a high pressure window when it arrives. Bring skis.