About the Trip
Summit Route - Day Five (are we nuts?)
First, let me note that I will be sharing this adventure with my friend, long time squash nemesis, and fellow
sexagenarian Bill Read. Bill is taking a break from his annual pursuit of silver in the Newport-Bermuda yacht
race to relive his younger days of trekking around the Colorado Rockies. We will be training together when
schedules permit and might even try playing as partners rather than adversaries on the squash court. My
goal is to make sure Bill builds enough strength and endurance to help get me to the summit and keep me
mobile as we descend.
You should note that Bill will be using this excursion to raise funds for the Riverbend Environmental Center
in Gladwyne, PA. See www.riverbendeec.org for more information on this very worthwhile organization.
While my last hike, Pike’s Peak, was a significant effort (13 miles, 8,000’ altitude gain to 14,010’), this trip is an
EXPEDITION! The only way an amateur can attempt a summit of Mt. Rainier is with a professional guide. For
our trip, we will be part of an eight man, “five day excursion” with RMI Guides from August 20-24. A bit late for
peak wildflowers at lower levels, but hopefully before any serious storms. A short version of the itinerary is
below. Details of the trip can be found by clicking here. You can also see a neat SHORT VIDEO by clicking
here.
Day One afternoon – Check in, check equipment and be checked out by the guides. They make it clear that
they have the right to kick anyone off the team if they don’t appear to be ready, so I guess the belly has to go
before August.
Day Two is “mountaineering training” at about 5-8,000’. This is a crash course on the use of ropes,
crampons, ice axe, etc. It also gives the guides a chance to evaluate us and be sure we are fit for the next
three days.
On Day Three, we will hike to Camp Muir at about 10,000’. The starting point is the Paradise Visitors Center
which is at about 5,000’. WE must pack about 50 lbs. for this hike including our share of the team supplies. I
may have more depending upon how much photography equipment I bring.
Day Four will be more training and acclimating to higher altitudes, and final preparation for the summit attempt.
Day Five is the “killer.” Weather permitting, we will begin our final summit attempt shortly after midnight. The
objective is to reach the summit in about eight hours. After a short time at the summit, we begin our decent
back to Camp Muir and then on to Paradise. This will be the real test for my knees. It will be 15+ hours of
strenuous hiking for which we are told to be in the “best shape of our lives.” In my case, that means the “best
shape by a quantum leap!”
…I’ll see you at the fitness center… or Valley Forge… or Wissahocken Park… or the Pocono’s…
Summit Route - Day Five (are we nuts?)
First, let me note that I will be sharing this adventure with my friend, long time squash nemesis, and fellow
sexagenarian Bill Read. Bill is taking a break from his annual pursuit of silver in the Newport-Bermuda yacht
race to relive his younger days of trekking around the Colorado Rockies. We will be training together when
schedules permit and might even try playing as partners rather than adversaries on the squash court. My
goal is to make sure Bill builds enough strength and endurance to help get me to the summit and keep me
mobile as we descend.
You should note that Bill will be using this excursion to raise funds for the Riverbend Environmental Center
in Gladwyne, PA. See www.riverbendeec.org for more information on this very worthwhile organization.
While my last hike, Pike’s Peak, was a significant effort (13 miles, 8,000’ altitude gain to 14,010’), this trip is an
EXPEDITION! The only way an amateur can attempt a summit of Mt. Rainier is with a professional guide. For
our trip, we will be part of an eight man, “five day excursion” with RMI Guides from August 20-24. A bit late for
peak wildflowers at lower levels, but hopefully before any serious storms. A short version of the itinerary is
below. Details of the trip can be found by clicking here. You can also see a neat SHORT VIDEO by clicking
here.
Day One afternoon – Check in, check equipment and be checked out by the guides. They make it clear that
they have the right to kick anyone off the team if they don’t appear to be ready, so I guess the belly has to go
before August.
Day Two is “mountaineering training” at about 5-8,000’. This is a crash course on the use of ropes,
crampons, ice axe, etc. It also gives the guides a chance to evaluate us and be sure we are fit for the next
three days.
On Day Three, we will hike to Camp Muir at about 10,000’. The starting point is the Paradise Visitors Center
which is at about 5,000’. WE must pack about 50 lbs. for this hike including our share of the team supplies. I
may have more depending upon how much photography equipment I bring.
Day Four will be more training and acclimating to higher altitudes, and final preparation for the summit attempt.
Day Five is the “killer.” Weather permitting, we will begin our final summit attempt shortly after midnight. The
objective is to reach the summit in about eight hours. After a short time at the summit, we begin our decent
back to Camp Muir and then on to Paradise. This will be the real test for my knees. It will be 15+ hours of
strenuous hiking for which we are told to be in the “best shape of our lives.” In my case, that means the “best
shape by a quantum leap!”
…I’ll see you at the fitness center… or Valley Forge… or Wissahocken Park… or the Pocono’s…
| . |
| A Journey in Support of Pathways PA |
| Pathway to Ranier |
| ggggg |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| . |
| A Journey in Support of Pathways PA |
| Pathway to Rainier |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| ggggg |
