Mark and Doug made an attempt on the Edmunds Headwall on the Mowich Face of Mt. Rainier. We have been waiting 4 years for the right conditions to climb this route.
Tina dropped us off at Mowich Lake. We would have to get to the White River Campground, one way or another, where another car was parked, for the drive home.
The route that we were planning to climb.
Wildflowers and heather on the lower slopes
The sun setting behind the Olympic Mountains
Mark checking out the route and weather conditions. The Edmunds Headwall is a steep, carry-over route and very hard to descend, so you carry all of your gear over the top and descend an easier route. The weather up there was not improving. The wind was blowing pretty hard and there were warnings about strong winds and possible whiteout conditions on the upper mountain. The last thing we wanted to do was get trapped at 13,000' in 40 mph winds with an air temp of 30 degrees, no visibility and no good way down. That is more risk than we are willing to take, so we called it off :(
Doug by a large crevasse on the Carbon Glacier. We would have to cross the Russell Glacier, Carbon Glacier, Curtis Ridge and Winthrop Glacier to get to Glacier Basin and the White River Campground.
A large herd of mountain goats.
"Far better it is to dare mighty things....."
