vendul Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 Hi we are going to be in the area from the the last week of september and first of october. We were thinking of trying out Mt Raineir, we have allways be arround mountains but are not real alpinists, so we were looking for the easyest route and wanted to do one ore two more mountains, wich would you reccomend??? Thank you in advance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Lewis Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 Are you at least in good shape? That is the very minimum for you to climb Rainier. Any route up the mountain requires glacier travel which it is very much advised that you know that. This time of year has all sorts of crevasses open on the mountain making it a little trickier for beginners. Personally I would recommend the North Cascades area if your wanting to see some of the best of Washington. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvashtarkatena Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 (edited) Rainier's pretty crevassed and icy this time of year, so familiarity with crampons, ice axe, climbing roped, and crevasse rescue is recommended. Weather can be tricky, too. If you want to nab a volcano, St. Helens and Adams have non-glaciated routes. All the pleasures of climbing steep, deep moon dust with none of the inconvenience of reduced gravity. You might consider a backpack/scrambling trip through some of our lesser known but still incredible areas on the eastern slopes, which have both better weather (in general) and larches (which will be in full color). The Oval Peak area of the Sawtooth/Chelan Wilderness, or the Shell Rock area of the Pasayten WIlderness (Osceola, Monument Peaks, etc) are two areas you may want to check out. Both are accessible from the towns of Twisp and Winthrop on Highway 20. The Cathedral Peak area of the Pasayten also makes for a fine loop trip with plenty of high scramble peaks along the way. The Entiat River area (Cardinal, Emerald, Saska, Pinnacle peaks) is also a nice eastern slope destination with plenty of larches and moderate summits. More popular but still full of larches and high scramble peaks: The Mt. Maude, Lyman Lake area from the Phelps Creek trailhead. The Goat Rocks wilderness, just south of Mt. Rainier, would be a decent west side choice for a multiday trip, weather permitting. None of these require permits (except St. Helens), although you'll probably want to buy or borrow a Northwest Forest Pass for parking your vehicle to avoid an international incident. Topo maps are available for the Pasayten, Sawtooths, Goat Rocks, and Mt. Adams Wilderness areas. St. Helens has its own map, too. Otherwise, its Green Trails or USGS maps. REI carries all of them, but call to check stock - they run out this time of year. Edited September 12, 2012 by tvashtarkatena Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wayne Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Men, go right to the heart of the beast! West ridge of Macmillan Spire or East ridge of inspiration, or East ridge of Forbidden! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layton Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 you'll feel right at home in leavenworth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vendul Posted September 13, 2012 Author Share Posted September 13, 2012 First of all thank you very much for your replyes. We are fit, but I wouldn't call us athlets, I usually hike 2000 vert. meters in just over 3 hours and run 12 k in 65 minuts. I did a few glaciers here in the Alps, so I'm familiar to glacier travel, know the basic manuvers, but still, I would't call myself an expert. I'll look up some of the names you posted here, and if anyone is arround Seattle, Portland or Leavenwoth from the 25th on We'd love to get together for a beer and some beta. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvashtarkatena Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Layton posts from prison, so you'll have arrange that visit in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montypiton Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Rainier is a more technical endeavor this late in the year than it would be in early summer with greater snow cover. If you're glacier-savvy, and competent on moderate ice, it's good fun, but it has a record of surprising even very experienced alpinists... Leavenworth offers world-class cragging, bouldering, hillwalking, alpine mountaineering, whitewater boating, fishing -- pretty much anything you can do in the mountains - plenty of walk-up and scramble opportunities in the Stuart Range. also, a decent brewery, a decadent chocolate shop operated by an internationally acclaimed chef, and "cute" decor. Haireball's home on Hobo Gulch has always been open to adventurers - we're active hosts with Couchsurfers and Warmshowers (a bicycling network). and we're used to Euros - a brother-in-law from Traunstein, now in Heidleburg. "For a good time, call 509/433-6401". The Winthrop/Mazama area is another great "basecamp" spot from which to access more of North America's premiere alpine terrain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvashtarkatena Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 (edited) HOLY AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, BATMAN: Lynyrd Skynyrd at the Toyota Town Center on Sep 26th! Also, THE AUTUMN LEAF FESTIVAL that weekend!!!!!! I'm thinking you two aren't going to have much time leftover for any alpine fun. TIME TO GET YOUR GOLDWINGS ON. Edited September 13, 2012 by tvashtarkatena Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vendul Posted September 13, 2012 Author Share Posted September 13, 2012 HOLY AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, BATMAN: Lynyrd Skynyrd at the Toyota Town Center on Sep 26th! Also, THE AUTUMN LEAF FESTIVAL that weekend!!!!!! I'm thinking you two aren't going to have much time leftover for any alpine fun. TIME TO GET YOUR GOLDWINGS ON. Translation please.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvashtarkatena Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 (edited) Lynyrd Skynyrd is a Neil Young tribute band that performs American Civil War reinactments inwhich the South wins. If your command of English isn't very good, you'll fit right in with the audience. "The benefits of socialism" would be a great conversation starter. Many in the audience will be riding Goldwings (if they haven't left the PT Cruiser at home, that is). A Goldwing, made by the Honda Corporation, is an oversized form of geriatric scooter with enough luggage capacity for portable life support equipment. In other words, you'll have a chance to meet lots and lots of real Americans in Leavenworth and surrounding area that weekend. Edited September 13, 2012 by tvashtarkatena Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genepires Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 with advice like that, no wonder the world thinks unkindly of americans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvashtarkatena Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 I never apologize for America, Gene. Seriously, stay the hell away from Leavenworth during Autumn Leaf Festival if you can. The traffic alone will make you want to kill yourself. Great place otherwise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt_warfield Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Do the Cascadian Couloir on Mt. Stuart and you will experience a true sufferfest this time of year. Seriously, you are getting good advice. But I also favor non glaciated destinations this late in the season to avoid too much hunting and pecking. You may need a translation for that too which would be hunting/gathering. Stick with minimal glacier travel and embrace the rock or solid scrambling. If you go to Leavenworth and do Classic Crack, Givler's Crack, and Midway you will experience no snow but plenty of company. Google and Mountainproject.com are a climber's best friend in unknown locales. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvashtarkatena Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Best friends next to this: NOAA Forecasts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt_warfield Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 I just noticed my posts are at 666 and I am too frightened to give any more advice at present. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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