Water Posted July 24, 2012 Posted July 24, 2012 Trip: Mt. Rainier - Emmons-Winthrop Date: 7/22/2012 Trip Report: Not a terribly different rehash of the report posted two weeks ago. Having had plans to do this since early June and skunked by weather on multiple weekends and schedule conflicts, we finally went for it before the summer slipped by. On friday the forecast went from sunny and freezing level at 13k to cloudy and showers freezing level 9k. on the approach.. Turned out to have great weather other than some pretty ferocious wind from about 12,500 up. Not so bad going into it other than the extra work. Coming down it was kicking up ice pellets that really stung the back of the legs. Lots of traffic on Saturday when we got to Schurman but by Sunday it cleared out and perhaps only 5 or so teams really went for a summit bid out of camp. Left camp around 2:50? summit around 9am? back at camp around 2pm? approximate rememberings. Laid down in the tent for a bit and relaxed, then packed up and headed down into and under the cloud deck to get drizzled on from camp curtis onward. After a few years climbing this was for the most part my first significant roped up glacial travel experience, having mostly stuck with rock or snow routes that didn't require ropes. Had a great time of it. Really glad to finally get up a new mountain/route/views. Gym work over the last few months and then being diligent with pace on the way up and I was performing way above my self-expectations. Thought that this has got to be one of the most scenic and complete climbs I've ever done as far as how it felt. I am so glad we went for Emmons having gone up to Muir and a bit beyond from Paradise on prior occasions. There was something magic about the range of environs from summit to car, the smells of being in a cloud, getting back to the subalpine flowers, all misted nicely, with fleeting glimpses of the hillsides and basically no-one around, smelling the forest, the open sections, the dark cedar groves, all the little crystal clear creeks, then the camp fires of the white river camp ground. Very complete feeling, full circle type experience. Makes me realize just how jarring my usual Hood forays are with the ski lifts, lights, cars, and beep beep beep snowcats backing up, etc. Gear Notes: crevasse rescue gear 30m rope maximum sun protection hydrate till it hurts just the tent fly + footprint was nice make sure to ask the climbing rangers how the weather will be 'tomorrow'. I'm pretty sure its their favorite question Approach Notes: didn't rope up on the way to schurman but it seems prudent. We did on the way back until we got to around camp curtis since we were all setup for it. glissade on the interglacier on the way down. Quote
YocumRidge Posted July 24, 2012 Posted July 24, 2012 Very nice TR, Matt! Congrads on your first Rainier summit. Quote
justcallmegary Posted July 25, 2012 Posted July 25, 2012 Great photos! I was up there a week ago and also bagged my first Rainier summit. That icefall / serac area was kinda cool.. any sketchy crossings one week removed? Quote
tcweiskopf Posted August 5, 2013 Posted August 5, 2013 Reading through your TR's! Your pictures are awesome! What kind of camera do you use? I'm also in PDX, so cheers! Quote
dougd Posted August 5, 2013 Posted August 5, 2013 Enjoyed the pics and write up Water. Thanks for posting it. d Quote
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