100% Success on the Emmons

The July 28-31 Emmons climbers all successfully summitted in the early morning yesterday! The route is reported to be in good shape and still pretty straight forward. There is a brush fire south of the mountain, and the smoke has drifted up around Rainier as well, clouding some of the view. All the climbers made it safely down the mountain, and are happily back in Seattle. Congratulations to the entire team.

6-day course doing great on Baker

Lead guide Stuart Robertson called to check in and let us know that the 6-day mountaineering folks are doing well. They plan to make a summit attempt today, in advance of a weather system that may move through the area tomorrow. Most likely we won't hear back from them before they head out to the trailhead on Friday, and no news is good news!

Summer traditions

We like to celebrate our cultural differences at Alpine Ascents. The guide team shared the classic American tradition of watermelon in the summer with guide Tom Chambers who is studying for his citizenship exam. 

Watermelon never tasted so good as at 10k feet. Thanks Nick for carrying it up!

Also the smoke from the forest fires in the area make for some crazy vistas!

July 27-29 Rainier climb summits

The trend continues with another successful Rainier climb this weekend! The team is down off the mountain and heading back to Seattle this afternoon. Cooler temps are expected this week, which will be a nice change for traveling up the snowfield.

beautiful summit!

July 25-27 climb summits on a beautiful day

The July 25-27th climb successfully reached the top of Washington State. Thanks to Garrett Madison for the photo below, and congratulations to the team!

Fred Hutch Climb for Breast Cancer takes on the Squak glaicer!

We were lucky enough to have TWO Fred Hutch CLIMB to Fight Breast Cancer groups climbing with us this past weekend. Guides Eric Salazar, Dylan Cembalski, and Pete Lardy took a group of enthusiastic climbers up the Squak glacier route to the summit of Mt. Baker, with 100% success. The altitude may have gotten to the guides though, as seen in their summit photo-

Mt. Baker Fred Hutch climb

A report in from Devin Bishop this weekend...."100% success on our Hutch Easton Glacier summit climb! We summited Friday at 2:20 pm with stupendous views of the North Cascades, Rainier, Mt. Olympus, the Puget Sound and British Columbia. After a casual hike down this morning, we're headed to Concrete for pizza!"

3-day Rainier climb braves the warmth

Guide Pete Moore reported very warm temperatures on the hike up to Camp Muir yesterday. As the team ascended the snowfield, the warmth was more easily tolerated, and the sunshine afforded great views. The team is now at high camp and will hopefully have great success reaching the summit in the next 24 hours!

7/23 Emmons team summits!

Nick, Eitan, Mike, Laurie, and Sean topped out the Emmons glacier around 0740. We left camp around 0140 and climbed through the sunrise. It was a warm and sunny summit. After chilling up there for a bit we made the descent to Schurman where we are lounging in the rocks, enjoying the sunshine. 

July 23-25th Rainier team summits!

Perfect weather prevailed for the summit of Mt. Rainier! Congratulations to the team. The group is heading back down to Paradise and then on to Seattle.

On the way to the Emmons

We woke up this morning at our lovely secluded camp at 8k feet on the inter glacier.

The plan today: head up and over the ridge and off to Camp Schurman.

July 21-23 Rainier climb summits!

The July 21-23rd  Disappointment Cleaver climb was successful and summitted in the late hours yesterday afternoon with a full moon rising in the distance!

July 19-21 Rainier 3-day climb Summits

 Many, many people are taking advantage of the stable summer weather and climbing the DC route over the weekends. Camp Muir was full on Saturday night, and the upper mountain saw at least 200 people on Sunday. Lots of people getting out climbing!

Heading up to Camp Muir under blue skies

The team returning safely to high camp from the summit

Photos from the 10-day course...team now on Rainier

 Looking up at the East Ridge on a gorgeous day

Being watched over during breakfast in Marblemount before heading to Seattle

Tropical Mount Rainier

With freezing levels going up to over 15,000 ft it feels downright tropical here on Mount Rainier. Unfortunately, the team forgot our bikinis so in lieu of working on our tans I guess we will climb the mountain!

It is an honor to be leading a team of climbers who are raising money for the Fred Hutch cancer research institute to fight breast cancer. It is a joy to be climbing in a beautiful place for a good cause.

3-day Muir climb heading up under sunny skies

8-day mountaineering course returns after successful summit

The July 11-18th Rainier mountaineering course returned from the Emmons yesterday. The team successfully summitted on July 17th, after waiting out a passing electrical storm and climbing during the day. The route is still in good shape, and the climbers had a beautiful day for the summit. Everyone is back in Seattle safely after a very full week on Mt. Rainier.

10-day course checks in from sunny Eldorado

Lead guide Michael Horst called to check in and let us know the whole group is doing great. After an electrical storm two nights ago (which was not very close and therefore pretty cool to experience), the entire team successfully summitted yesterday during the day. The team is camped at 7,500' and enjoying the ideal weather in the heard of the Cascades. The group returns to Seattle on Saturday to sleep in a bed for one night before heading to Mt. Rainier for a summit attempt on the Kautz.

High camp

Folks are at high camp and we plan to climb in the wee hours of the morning.

Feasting at Muir

The whole team made it up to camp Muir yesterday in good time and good spirits. We then proceeded to eat a huge meal, sleep 11 hours, and then eat again. Soon we will start snow school and prepare to move up to high camp.

Mt. Adams Climb enjoys a beautiful summit!

Thanks to Tom Chambers for the photos from the successful Mt. Adams climb on July 15-15th. Looked like a beautiful time to climb. Congratulations to all members of the team.

To high camp!

After snow school, we make our way to high camp where we chill out and enjoy the sunny glacier! Tonight, al cumbre!

Headed up cathedral gap.

R&R at high camp.

July 13-15th Rainier Climb 100% success

Alpine Ascents had another highly successful weekend with 100% of climbers summitting on July15th. There are many independent climbers as well as guided climbers on the DC route these days, and leaving from Ingraham Flats instead of Camp Muir is a nice way to have a jump on the crowds in the early morning hours. Great job, climbers!

Rainier Climb Summits via new variation

The July 11-13th Rainier climbers successfully made use of a new route variation on the upper mountain above Disappointment Cleaver. The team enjoyed beautiful weather and views from the summit before heading back down to Paradise.

July 11-13 Mt. Baker Climb Summits!

Thanks to Lead guide Devin Bishop for his awesome photos from the Mt. Baker climb this weekend. Everyone summitted and the clouds held off enough to afford some great views as well. Congratulations to all the climbers!

Looking ahead and behind on the Railroad Grade

 Summit plateau with packs abandoned for photo oppotunities

New variation on the DC

Worried about how long the route we have been using would last, Jangbu and I put in new fixed lines and chopped a path up a new route scouted by our friends at RMI. We are all tucked into bed looking forward to climbing the new variation in the morning. Wish us luck!

Jangbu installing a fixed line.

High camp from up on the cleaver.

Kautz climb summits!

Despite windy conditions, the Kautz climbers were able to get a later start and climb as the winds began to die down in the early morning. Guide Pete Moore reports the route is in great condition, the chute is in good shape, and the wind kept the snow on the upper mountain a bit firmer than we've seen in the past week, making for good cramponing conditions. The group is all safely off the mountain, well fed after a stop in Ashford, and headed back to Seattle.

July 9-11 DC climb summits!

The July 9-11th 3-day Rainier climb successfully summitted in the morning of the 11th. We're seeing a pretty typical summer weather pattern with lots of sun and high pressure for extended periods of time. It's a great time to get out and climb!

July 9-12 Kautz climb checks in

Lead Guide Matt Nightengale just called to check in from high camp on the Kautz. The team is camping at around 11,200' in preparation for an early morning start to their summit attempt tomorrow. The group is in good spirits and enjoying the sunshine.

July 7-10 Emmons climb- 100% Summit success!

Lead guide Seth Timpano called to check in and say that they all successfully summitted the Emmons. The route was straightforward and the weather was great, leading to a very enjoyable time. The team is off the mountain and grabbing a celebration lunch before heading back to Seattle. Nice job climbers!

View from 8,500' on the Inner Glacier 

Looking up from Camp Schurman

Thanks for the pics Carrie and Vince!

July 7-9th Rainier team summits!

The team summitted in the early hours yesterday, and made their way back down to Ingraham Flats safely. The upper mountain is changing rapidly with the warm temps and sunny weather, making the route interesting above the Cleaver. Congratulations to the team!

Mount Rainier Fit

After a great day on the snowfield:

It's important for guides to stay fit. Here Kirah, Sam, and Peter do the 5 minute camp Muir work out. In the summer months it's important to keep the abs toned, the arms ripped and ensure we maintain buns of steel!

Summer is Here on Rainier

The Strong high pressure system over WA seems to have settled in for the summer. Warm temps and clear skies make for in forgettable summits! Here we are crossing the crater headed for Columbia Crest yesterday 7/5.

July 3-5 Rainier team

The July 3-5 DC climb enjoyed burritos at Camp Muir last night (see pic), and is celebrating July 4th eating pancakes, practicing glacier & snow travel skills, and traveling up to Ingraham Flats high camp.

June 1-3 Rainier Climb Summits!

Thanks to guide Pasang Sherpa for her photo from the early morning summit.

Another great day on the July 1-3 DC

People are really excited and we are planning our ascent of The Mount Rainier for the wee hours of the morning!
-seth

8-day Mountaineering course enjoying the sun

Guides Phil Marino and Devin Bishop called to touch base from the Winthrop Glacier on Mt. Rainier today. Phil reported the group is doing well and basking in the summer sunshine. They spent the day "in cracks" practicing crevasse rescue and anchor building skills. Tomorrow they will move up to Camp Schurman in preparation for a summit attempt on the Emmons route on July 4th.

10-day climber summit the Kautz!

Guide Micah Lewkowitz sent in a quick e-mail noting the success of the 10-day mountaineering course climbers climbing the Kautz today. The team is headed back to Seattle tomorrow after a celebratory meal on the way. Congratulations climbers!

Up on Rainier on the first of July

Folks are enjoying a nice warm evening here at 10000 feet on MT Rainier. Everyone, is stoked and in good spirits!!!!

June 29- July 1st Rainier climb summits!

The June 30- July 1 team was able to summit yesterday in very warm and sunny conditions. The upper mountain saw a lot of activity by groups heading up for the first time in a number of days after recent snowfall and snow conditions prevented safe summit attempts. The route is getting kicked back in, and climbers are once again reaching the summit and getting back down safely.