Climb / Trip Schedule

From Jenothy:

Several folks have asked about our trip / climbnig schedule, so I have copied it from the RMI web page.  This way you can see what we are doing and when!  Thank you all for your prayers and support!

Day 1: Pre-Trip Orientation

3:00 - 6:00 p.m.: Meet at Rainier BaseCamp.
We will meet at 3:00 p.m. at our Rainier BaseCamp facilities in Ashford, WA. Please dress casually and bring your climbing equipment and clothing.  Note: Whittaker Mountaineering Rental Equipment is available for pickup after 12 p.m.
We begin our Pre-Trip Preparation and Training with a welcome and introduction of team members and guides. Throughout the afternoon your guides will provide a focused introduction to a variety of topics. This includes a detailed personal equipment discussion and gear check, an introduction to safety practices including use of helmets, harnesses, and avalanche transceivers, and instruction regarding Leave No Trace practices and environmental considerations.
Please make your own arrangements to stay in the Ashford area this evening.

Day 2: The Mountaineering Day School

8:15 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Meet at Rainier BaseCamp.
Arrive at Rainier BaseCamp dressed for hiking, packed with your Mountaineering Day School gear, and ready to go at 8:15 a.m. Guides will offer final packing and clothing suggestions. We depart BaseCamp immediately following our initial morning preparation. Transportation is provided between BaseCamp and Paradise in a private shuttle. The entire day is spent training on the lower snow slopes of Mt. Rainier, just above Paradise between 6,000 and 6,600 feet.
Our Mountaineering Day School offers participants an overview of various techniques which help meet the challenges set forth by this magnificent mountain. It serves as a great introduction or as a refresher if you haven't been in the hills for a while. Our guides are excellent teachers relaying this information to you in an easy to understand manner. On this day you will be introduced to a number of skills, from the basic techniques of efficient mountain travel (rest-stepping and pressure breathing) through cramponing, roped travel, and ice axe arrest practices.
Our first priority is the safety of all team members. During the School you will be asked to demonstrate that your fitness will allow you to climb safely, and that you are able to perform the new climbing skills proficiently. We will continue to assess each team member throughout the course of the training and the climb.
Following the day of training, the shuttle takes our group back to Rainier BaseCamp.

Please make your own arrangements to stay in the Ashford area this evening.
Training during the Mountaineering Day School

Days 3 & 4: The Summit Climb

8:15 a.m.: Meet at Rainier BaseCamp.
Day 3:  Check-in at Rainier BaseCamp.  Team assembles in preparation for the trip to Camp Muir.  After a short team meeting, the shuttle departs for Paradise, and our Summit Climb begins.
The Summit Climb takes place over the course of two days. On the first day we hike to Camp Muir, and on the second day we make the attempt on Mt. Rainier and return to Rainier BaseCamp.
The hike from Paradise (5,400') to Camp Muir (10,060') is nearly 4.5 miles, and will take us most of the day. The hike travels through the spectacular alpine zone and onto the Muir Snowfield, named after John Muir who climbed the peak in 1888. The Snowfield is climbed for some 3,000 vertical feet, opening up grand vistas of the wooded lowlands and flanking glaciers. Groups typically climb for about an hour or so and then break for 10 to 15 minutes.
Once at Camp Muir, the climb leader will address the specifics regarding the rest of the climb, including route conditions, food, equipment, clothing recommendations, and any further questions you might have. Accommodations at Muir consist of a small mountain hut with bunks and sleeping pads. After dinner we will retire to our sleeping bags to rest for the upcoming summit attempt.
Hiking up to Camp MuirThe Hut at Camp Muir
Day 4: Early in the morning we don ropes, crampons, helmets, and grab our ice axes. The Muir hut is locked during the climb, so items not needed for the summit bid may be left behind. The route on the upper mountain changes continually but typically begins with a rising traverse across the Cowlitz Glacier and then ascends the pumiced switchbacks of Cathedral Gap. This allows us to gain the mighty Ingraham Glacier, from which we will then access either the Ingraham Glacier or Disappointment Cleaver routes; the actual route choice will be determined by many factors and will be left to the professional discretion of your guides. The steeper Ingraham Headwall or Disappointment Cleaver will be the physical crux of the route. The remaining slopes and hours are whittled away as we zig and zag through the crevasses of the upper mountain. It is truly a spectacular climb, and one that you will remember for a long while to come. As we make our ascent, we climb steadily for one to two hours at a stretch, and then break for 10 to 15 minutes.
Beginning the climbReaching the top of the mountain

The summit of Mt. Rainier is spectacular. A large crater dominates the summit, with steam rising out of the cavernous summit vents. The bare ground near the summit can be warm to the touch. At 14,410 feet, Mt. Rainier is the highest point in Washington. After spending some time on top (depending on the weather), we begin the descent to Camp Muir. This takes about half the time of the ascent, and also requires significant effort. (Be sure that your training specifically includes preparations for descending. This will help ensure that your ability to safely descend is not compromised.) Once back at Camp Muir, the group will take a break and pack for the final hike down to Paradise. Our shuttle then takes the team down to Rainier BaseCamp. Plan on arriving back in Ashford in the late afternoon or early evening. We celebrate our adventure with a presentation of certificates.
The duration of the climb depends on many variables including snow conditions, the time of year, the route conditions, the weather during our climb, the temperature, etc. Those variables often affect our arrival time to Ashford, which might vary dramatically from climb to climb. For this reason we do not recommend scheduling an airline flight before midnight on the last day of your program.