May 28-30 Team summits!

After a week of snowy, windy conditions and resulting in high avalanche danger, teams are once again summiting Rainier safely.  The May 28-30 team experienced windy conditions at our high camp at Ingraham Flats, but was still able to summit in the morning on May 30th. Congratulations! 

May 26- 28 Entire Group Summits!

The May 26-28th climb saw the whole team summit! The climbers managed to summit in a weather window before another low pressure system moved in on Monday.The group enjoyed a celebration meal together before heading back to Seattle, with good times enjoyed by all. Congratulations to everyone on your hard work and success.

Evening at muir

Some of the Rainier crew relaxing in the AAI weatherport after a big meal and a fun day of learning skills and a climb of the Cowlitz Ridge

6-day Cascades Mountaineering Course checks in

The second Cascades mountaineering course checked in via satellite phone yesterday. The group has been learning and practicing skills in Cascades spring conditions- a mix of rain and snow throughout the last few days at about 5000 ft.The team will be in Boston Basin until Friday morning, and hopefully will enjoy a break in the weather to take in the breathtaking scenery before the course finishes.

6-day Mountaineering Course Returns

Our first 6-day mountaineering course returned this afternoon from a great time in the Boston Basin area. The team practiced mountaineering skills, enjoyed sunny weather, and put their new skills to the test in a successful summit bid of Sahale Peak. Congratulations climbers!

Second 3-day Rainier Climb Summits

May 18-20 climbers leaving the Paradise parking lot today at the start of the climb, with the Alpine Ascents van in the foreground.

Just after the team hiked out of view, the upper mountain was revealed momentarily.

The May 16-18 climb saw another successful summit bid, led by Michael Horst, Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa, Peter Moore, and Sam Hennessy. Congratulations climbers! Above are photos from the May 18-20 climbing group starting the hike up to Camp Muir.

First Alpine Ascents summits of the season!

Update: The first Alpine Ascents Rainier team checked in and a group was able to summit today! Guides reported firm snow conditions on the upper mountain and a great day to climb!

Summer Rainier Season underway

The first 3 day Rainier trip is currently underway! The team moved from Camp Muir to high camp yesterday. Weather conditions call for partly sunny skies and a high of 12 degrees on the summit today. Check back later for an update on today's summit attempt. 

2012 Guides Training

 The group in the distance making their way up the Muir snowfield.

 Matt Hegeman and Jonathon Spitzer heading over to the weather port site.

 Getting all the pieces put together correctly can be a challenging task after months of storage.

The group pauses after efficient work of getting the weather port set-up in beautiful weather

Lhakpa Gelu tries out Camp Muir sledding!

On April 28th, a group of aspirant Alpine Ascents guides headed up to Camp Muir, loaded down with food and gear for eight days, as well as supplies needed for the upcoming Rainier season. Guide Trainers Pete Athans and Matt Hegeman spent the week to teaching the Alpine Ascents curriculum, practice Search & Rescue and crevasse rescue techniques, lead a successful summit bid, and get the weatherport set up for the season. The pictures above are from the first couple days of the training under blue bird skies and calm winds. The weather turned early in the week and the variability of Rainier weather and conditions was as good a training as any in being ready for anything up on the mountain.