Thanks USAF

Almost three months into this adventure, we have all realized that the costs are really more than what we expected. Obviously there was the money that we dropped on the actual guide service for the climb itself, which was probably the most anticipated. Once that was paid for we all figured there would be a few hundred dollars each person would have to spend on gear. How wrong we were.

There really is no set amount or even estimate that each person is going to spend on gear. It all depends on how much stuff one wants and how fancy that stuff has to be. There is also the possibility of renting items as well to keep cost down.

After going through my gear a few times, I realized that I really had hit the jackpot. It took me several times perusing through my garage and man cave to actually realize what I have. Each time I went through my stuff I came across a new item that I had somehow acquired in the past. Ive even found extra items that I was able to loan out!

Once I started gathering all this stuff up I realized that I really made off well when I got out of the military. All of the items (with a couple exceptions) on the gear list for Mt Rainier that I already have and don't have to purchase, came from the USAF. I left there with easily over a thousand dollars of gear. It took a few trips to REI and frequent surfing on backcountry.com to realize that I am saving a lot of money thanks to the military.

Some items I wont be purchasing because of the Air Force: Gortex jacket and pants (2 sets of each, desert and woodland: Ill be rocking the desert), fleece jacket and full zip fleece pants, down sleeping back with compression sack (rated to -50), gortex boots (still need mountaineering boots), summit bag, glacier glasses, basic climbing hardware to include webbing, prussiks, rope, beaner, long underwear, a couple MRE's and my backpack (although I wont be using my military issued pack).

I've always told people when asked about the military, that it was the best decision I have ever made; this is just one more reason why it is. A big thanks to the United States Air Force.

Down sleeping system with configurations for temps from 30 to -50

Boots

Waterproof pants and jacket

"See America First"

I picked up a few books to read when this adventure all started and I'm currently working on The Challenge of Rainier by Dee Molenaar. I caught something the other night that really stuck with me. I was reading about the history of how the park came to be and the efforts put forth to get Rainier nationally recognized. It was during the late 1800's that the railroads coined the term "See America First" in an effort to get the American people to head west and see all the beauty their country had to offer.

Lets face it, America has a lot of bad ass places to go; like Mt Rainier. There is no doubt that Rainier has unmatched beauty and is a gem to the Pacific North West. Before the "See America First" slogan ever came to be, Vermont Senator George Edmonds had described in the Portland Oregonian the splendor of Rainier. He had been all through the Alps and said you cant compare even the best of what the Alps have to what he has seen while on the approach to Mt Rainier.

I believe Seattle mountaineer Edward S. Ingraham said it best: "It is un-American to visit other shores when our own country contains so many places of interest".

Should have packed the rain boots...

Pat and I started out on what we thought was going to be an early Sunday morning snow shoe adventure up to Lake 22 and back January 29th. FedEx had finally dropped off the new shoes I ordered through Costco and my brother Cliff had a pair that I was able to borrow for Pat. Having worked the night before, I felt it was necessary to swing in to the mini-mart that morning to pick up some much needed beverages for the trip. A quick rendezvous at the house and we would be off.

Mountain beverages

With the gear quickly loaded up in the truck we were off to the Mt Loop Highway. A simple 30 minute drive takes you from my front door, through two roundabouts and the only 4 way stop in Granite Falls, over a bridge and past a few random trailers and chalets to the Baker-Snoqualamie National Forest. Its pretty nice living so close to a bad ass outdoor shit.

Not three minutes went by after passing the Verlot Ranger Station that it had become apparent that both Zeus and Jupiter decided to have a water fight over our heads (later found out via Jeff Renner that there was 1.7" of rain that day). Looking at each other with the same "you serious Clark?" look on our faces we both knew we were going to get wet.

We got geared up in the truck and hit the trail head towards Lake 22. The snow on the ground was very wet and we quickly noticed that it couldn't have been any colder then 40 degrees outside. About and hour into the hike, we hit a clearing and met some hikers coming down that were completely drenched (not as if we were dry) and had mentioned that they wished they had snow shoes because it would had made it much easier. What a perfect opportunity to try ours out!

The shoes definitely made a difference. Of course by this time my Gortex boots had met their match and were starting to soak through (Pats leather boots had reached the same point 15 steps past the trail head). Starting up the last set of switch-backs leading to the lake, we realized that this trail just traverses back and forth over 22 Creek. By this point every step we took ended up with our foot submerged in water. The heavy rain and melting snow made the entire mountain face a river with compact snow over it.

Wading through this mountainous pool, we weren't 15 minutes from our destination when Pat noticed his boot had become detached from the sole! In the blink of an eye, Pats leather boots turned into nothing more then house slippers... our trip was over. Good thing he is becoming a medical professional though, because he did have medical tape that we were able to use to secure his boot and sole together for the way down.

Yes, that is a waterfall behind Pat

The way down proved to be even wetter then the way up; although by this point we just didn't care. The snow shoes helped make the trip faster but they didn't seem to keep us from falling into the creek several times. One of the foot bridges we went over on the way up was almost impossible to find on the way down because it to had become a river and was engulfed with running water. By the time we hit the truck our hands had the same texture as they would after 3 hours in a hot tub.

The good part about this trip was it truly tested our gear for water proofing. Trust me when I say there aren't going to be conditions any wetter than this without wearing flippers and a mask. The pants that I had just bought kept me dry for the most part with just some dampness around the zippers and seams. The boots, as I had mentioned aren't meant for all day submersion. However they actually held water out, and on the flip side of that, held water in. I think they got wet because of the water that was running down between my pants and gators. My military issue waterproof coat kept me dry. I was very happy to find this out. I bet I could wear that baby in the shower and not get wet (pretty much what we just did). The Marmot Gortex jacket I loaned Pat stopped wicking water after a while on the outside and looked a little damp on the inside. We will have to do more testing on that again to see if the Gortex isn't holding up (it's 15 years old) or if that dampness was from Pats sweat and water running down the neck and sleeves. The skin type long underwear did exactly what it was supposed to and pulled all the moisture off my body and onto my middle layer fleece. The wool socks stayed warm even when drenched.

Pouring the water out of my shoe

All in all a good day. Miserable and wet, but good. Next time we will pack shit-kickers and umbrellas instead of snow shoes and beanies.