MSP to SEA

Because I can't simply throw my gear in the car, jump on I-5 and end up at Paradise, I thought I'd show how I packed my gear for the flight from St. Paul to Seattle.

Knowing that I would fly in for the climb, I decided to rent a fair bit of gear. This allowed me to travel light and I packed the following:

Frame pack
Soft-shell jacket/pants
Hard-shell jacket/pants
Base layers (2x)
Gloves, balaclava
Headlamp
Water bottles (2x), water reservoir
Sleeping bag w/ thermolite liner
Sleeping pad
Socks (and liners) (3x)
Camera + otter-box
Pack rainfly
Trekking poles
Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills

I also knew that I would go on one last training hike (Heather Lake) and then relax at Suncadia Resort after the climb, so I packed my convertibles, hiking boots, reefs, some casual clothes, and my trusty MacBook Pro.

All of these items fit into my REI Mars 85 and North Face Surge daypack. Couldn't have done it without heavy-duty compression sacks. Also, my business unit approved casual Fridays for the summer (as though we needed anyone's blessing). Using this to my advantage, I wore my hiking boots and casual wear to work to cut down on my luggage.

Sent a flurry of emails to wrap up loose ends, set up my away message and snuck out of work @ 3 pm. Got a ride to the airport from a friend (Thanks Mary!) and avoided paying for parking. I used my North Face bag as a carry-on and checked my frame pack for $25. I put the frame pack in a military surplus duffel; I didn't want the straps or belt to get caught in any of the baggage handling equipment. Drank coffee on the flight and re-read the chapters on glacier and snow-field travel. Unfortunately, I had an isle seat and I was sitting between the wings so I wasn't able to see Rainier on the flight in. However, I did get a nice view from Sea-Tac, and even from US 2 in Everett. Always amazing just how big that mountain really is. Can't wait to hit the trail.

Now I'll be watching the Rainier recreational forecast....

Gear check #1

A whirlwind 36 hrs has brought me from AK to Ballard, by way of my younger bro Will's HS graduation, in order to pack for Mt Rainier this week!!

Hard to believe the time has come; seems just last week we were talking about Spirit Quests and Lime Kiln Trail.

Here's my state of living:

-Patrick

Forecast: Promising

Let's hope Jeff Renner is better at forecasting the weather than congress is at forecasting the budget

Want to Climb Something?

Well, I don't mind if i do!!!

When this whole venture started, Pat and I thought that the information about climbing, gear, Mt Rainier, weather conditions and mountaineering was way too scattered across numerous websites. We wanted a single source for climbing information specific to what we were doing: Summiting Rainier in early Summer.

And Climb Something was born.

We bought the website shortly after and decided we had to come up with a logo, as well as what we wanted to achieve with this project. Luckily Pat is talented with Photoshop. We put our heads together and formed our new logo. We decided to order a flag, the first product of our barely established organization.

Cant wait for the picture at the top with this!

Dreaming of the summit

The lead guide for our trip next week, Matt Hegeman, led a group of climbers up the Emmons glacier to the summit yesterday. The Alpine Ascents website said that they did so in adverse conditions. This has me excited because I'm glad we're going to have a guide with the cojones to make a strong go at it.

We should make a Build A Sign with just the word "Cajones" on it for the summit. Badass.

Found this link awhile back, it shows all the Mt. Rainier Paradise webcams in one convenient page. Plus, you can link out to all sorts of other webcams from Stevens Pass to Old Faithful in Yellowstone. Unfortunately the Muir cam is still out, but it sure is interesting seeing Paradise now compared to when Cody and I went snowshoeing in the winter.


-Patrick

One Week Out

This time next week we will be spending our first night at 10,000 at Camp Muir. Last minute details are getting worked out and I know I've personally packed and unpacked my bag at least 5 times already, trying to cram everything in like a puzzle piece.

The weather hasn't been favorable lately but I have faith in the mountain and ourselves...

See you at the top!

Mt. Rainier Snowpack (update)

Looks like the wind and precipitation from last week increased avalanche risk on the upper mountain. Most guides have been reluctant to venture up above 1200'. Recently, however, it's been drier so that top layer of garbage should be either melting or making its way downhill (as I predicted earlier). Hopefully things stay nice and dry through the next two weeks.

--Patrick