Mt. Rainier, Emmons Glacier (attempt) 8/12/18

Our summer climb on the Emmons Glacier ended up being more like a fall climb.  It was icy, heavily crevassed and we were treated to 2 hours of snow and freezing rain at high camp. Our tents got covered in ice. 

We started for the top at 1:30 am and wasted a lot of time looking for a way through a giant maze of crevasses in the dark. We were way behind a safe schedule and still had a lot of route finding between us and the top, so we decided to turn around at about 11,000'. 

That's the way it goes. Spending a couple of days with friends in an amazing part of creation is never a total loss.

Jim, Dan, Chris, Joe, Ron and Doug setting out on our adventure.

 A lenticular dome over the mountain as we approached Camp Schurman.

An alpine sunrise

Not many people get the chance to watch the sunrise from a point above the clouds and surrounded by huge crevasses!

  Working our way back down the icy glacier through the maze of crevasses.

 Doug, Ron, Dan, Joe and Chris almost back down to high camp.

A steep snowfield and ice cave near the Inter Glacier.

Mt. Adams 7/14/18

The weather for our climb was great, except for the tent shaking wind on Friday night.

 Dennis, Dan, Ron and Chris going up the slope that we call Widowmaker.

 Heading up the South Face on Saturday morning.

 On the False Summit, looking down at Lunch Counter, with Mt. Hood and Mt. Jefferson in the distance.

 Doug, Dan, Chris and Ron on the summit.

Mt. Rainier and the Goat Rocks.

Chair Peak 6/23/18

We made another attempt on Chair Peak and got close to the summit, but did not get to stand on top of it.  I think that it is time to throw away the route description and go on a clear day!  We did get to see a black bear on the hike in!  No picture though, it was running too fast.

 Ron, Chris and a neat cairn.

 Crossing Denny Creek.

 Chair Peak is somewhere up there in the clouds.

 The heather was blooming.

Doug with crystal clear Upper Melakwa Lake in the background.

Farewell To A Friend 9/9/17

A bunch of us went for a hike on Cleman Mountain to the spot where our friend, Pete, passed away a few weeks ago. The group consisted of family, friends and co-workers from 6 different states. It was good to share memories and find the answers to some lingering questions.

Rest in peace, Pete.  See you on the other side.

Lake Stuart 8/26/17

We took a break from climbing mountains and went for a family hike up to Lake Stuart.

 Jim, Linda, Doug, David, Susan, Tina (and Ron) crossing Mountaineer Creek on a log bridge.

 Lake Stuart with Mt. Stuart in the background.

Relaxing and having some lunch on a large boulder.

Ron taking in the view.

8/12/17

 

Mt. Rainier, Emmons Glacier 7/29/17

We had some really nice weather for this Mt. Rainier climb!

 The Emmons Glacier on the NE side of the mountain.

 It was completely calm at our camp on the Inter Glacier.  

 Sunrise from 12,000'

A big beautiful crevasse high on the mountain. 

The upper mountain was covered in penitentes.  They were pretty tall in the crater.

Doug, Chris, Troy, Tim, Tate, Emmet, Ron and Tucker on the summit.  

Mt. Adams, South Climb 7/15/17

We had clear skies and great views for our annual climb up Mt. Adams.

 The Steepest part of the climb is this ridge that we like to call Widowmaker.  A good boot track makes it like going up a steep set of stairs.

 Enjoying the nice evening and eating some good food at our camp at Lunch Counter.

 Climbers heading up the south face under the morning sun.

Looking down on Lunch Counter, Trout Lake, Mt. Hood and Mt. Jefferson from the false summit.  We could even see Three Sisters from the summit.

 A father and daughter having some fun on the summit!  Mount St. Helens on the right.

Some more climbers on the summit, including a husband and wife with their son and daughter.  The strong wind made it a little cold up there.

 A father and son on top.

A father and 3 sons on top.

It's good to get away from everything and spend time with friends going on adventures in remote and beautiful parts of God's creation.

Mt. Rainier, Edmunds Headwall (attempt) 7/7/17

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....."