Just left the park and seeing that peak I have found my new challenge. Hoping to summit that beast within the next 3-5 years.
I live in Alaska and my backyard has 2 6500 ft peaks just a couple miles from me. The training and building the baseline if skills needed for Rainer is not a worry of mine at all.
Just looking to hear about everyones experience.
Please note I did talk to one of the guides yesterday and he mentioned that one of the routes up Ingraham Glacier might not be offered soon in the future depending on how fast the glacial melt in one fo the crevasses is.
I summited a few years ago with RMI. It was a good experience. Very little technical skill required. Other than disappointment clever, it is just a very long slog. Normally you will summit on the low side of the creator. Make sure you take the time to walk to the other side for the true summit. Most of our group just sat in the creator and waited for us to return.
I summited a few years ago with RMI. It was a good experience. Very little technical skill required. Other than disappointment clever, it is just a very long slog. Normally you will summit on the low side of the creator. Make sure you take the time to walk to the other side for the true summit. Most of our group just sat in the creator and waited for us to return.
I did about 10yrs ago with RMI guides. 2 day trip with the first as an easy hike thru snowfield to a camp. Early rise the next morning and summit in the morning. As already said, not technical, but is cool to cross and weave around crevasses and a couple roped and laddered sections. Make sure to go to the true summit to sign the logbook. Very cool trip, awesome mountain.
I summited a few years ago with RMI. It was a good experience. Very little technical skill required. Other than disappointment clever, it is just a very long slog. Normally you will summit on the low side of the creator. Make sure you take the time to walk to the other side for the true summit. Most of our group just sat in the creator and waited for us to return.
My dad and I did it about 20 years ago with RMI. It was a fantastic experience. Turned around 2 days later and hiked up Mt. St. Helens too. We had amazing weather for both. I was in swimming shape, not hiking shape, but still did just fine. We did a bunch of smaller hikes and climbed Mt. Shasta first to get more crampon experience while training. My dad did way more hiking than I did since I was in college (flat Midwest) and swimming. Since we did it with RMI, we did their training day first, then a 2 day climb.
My husband and a friend of his took 3 tries to summit. They did it without guides and did a different route. They finally made it.
I summitted last month with RMI. It was really tough. Mostly due to altitude sickness. I didn’t think it was high enough to worry about but, I was wrong. Also, you’re on a rope team so there’s no stopping unless the guide stops. And they don’t stop often. The pace is also pretty quick. To me the toughest part was climbing up Disappointment Cleaver, which is all rocks, in crampons.
Although it was tough, I had a blast and a memorable experience. Highly recommended.
Can’t add much beyond what others have said, but happy to answer any questions.
I’ve only ever climbed it as a private party with friends/family, but fairly familiar with the guide outfits and differences between their programs. Just did Kautz last weekend with a few friends and did a few laps on the DC last summer. My DC climbs have ranged from 3-days to 11 hours round trip.
