We wanted to see what it was like to climb Rainier in September. So we chose a date, made plans and drove to Paradise. There was a menacing cloud cap over the mountain threatening to change our plans! We made it up to Camp Muir later that day in good weather.
We were very pleased when we got up at midnight and started our summit bid under clear skies!
There is nothing like watching the sunrise from 13,000 feet!
The storm that almost stopped us left beautiful ice formations all over the upper mountain.
These palm sized formations were all over the crater area.
This 5 foot tall icicle was found inside the steam caves that are under the snow and ice in the crater.
A blue light illuminates the upper portion of the caves.
The view looking down one of the caves. Farther down the cave, it is completely black.
The view looking up from farther down in the cave. These caves go down hundreds of feet and all the way across the crater.
Disappointment Cleaver.
The view looking up from farther down in the cave. These caves go down hundreds of feet and all the way across the crater.
Dave, Doug, Mark and Jim on the top. We were blessed with awesome weather on our summit day!
More ice figurines on the way down.
The long traverse back to
Disappointment Cleaver.
The mountain is a jumbled mass of crevasses and seracs in the fall.
This part of Disappointment Cleaver is made up of crumbly red "rock."
We made it home later that day. As always, we were a little dehydrated, famished, sunburned and tired. But it was well worth it!
