Days 1 - 5: Our Program
8:00 a.m.	Meet at Rainier BaseCamp.

Day 1: Check-in at 8:00 a.m. Team assembles in preparation for the day. Please arrive dressed for hiking, packed with your gear, and ready to go!

Rainier BaseCamp facilities in Ashford open at 7:00 a.m. Climbers may register with Rainier Mountaineering, Inc., pick up rental equipment and purchase last minute items from Whittaker Mountaineering during this time. Pre-ordered trail lunches and meals may also be picked up at Whittaker Mountaineering.

We begin the morning with a welcome and introduction of team members and guides. Guides will offer some final packing and clothing suggestions, and answer any questions.

We depart BaseCamp immediately following our initial preparation. Transportation is provided between BaseCamp and Paradise, where our climb begins.

The hike from Paradise (5,400’) to Camp Muir (10,060’) is nearly 4.5 miles, and takes us most of the first 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 and then break for 10 to 15 minutes.

By late afternoon we reach the small mountain hut at Camp Muir that serves as our base for the week. It rests at the edge of several of Mt. Rainier’s glaciers. Views of the impressive Cowlitz, Ingraham, Nisqually and Paradise glaciers are inspiring, and the setting is unmatched as an instructional arena. During the evenings we can forget about the wind, wet and cold, and enjoy the basic comforts of the hut.

Days 2 - 4: Some of our itinerary is determined by such factors as the weather and route conditions, but much of it is also chosen in consideration of the climbers’ interests. We learn and practice various mountaineering skills throughout the week. This starts with ice axe use and cramponing techniques, and moves on to more advanced skills such as anchor placements, various self and team crevasse rescue techniques, steep technical ice climbing, belays, rappelling, knots, route finding and fixed rope travel. Evening lectures include group discussions on mountain weather, medicine for mountaineering, altitude wellness, equipment and any requested topics that spark your interest. We intentionally keep the itinerary flexible and guarantee you that there is far more to teach than there is time to teach it!

On summit day we don ropes, crampons, helmets, and grab our ice axes. 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.

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.)

The duration of the ascent and descent depends on many variables including snow conditions, the time of the year, the route conditions, the weather during our climb, the temperature, etc. However long the climb takes, we enjoy returning to high camp and being contentedly exhausted!

Day 5: On the final day of the program we return to Rainier BaseCamp sometime in the early afternoon. After all the group gear is unpacked and checked in, we celebrate our adventure with a presentation of certificates.