InsertHere - Sep 10, 2007 5:40 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 1999
Will be back
1st attempt, didn't make it past the cleaver. That was a long time ago, will be back for sure.
jvarholak - Sep 4, 2007 5:32 pm Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2006
DC route
beautiful mountain...perfect weather...crowded route (but what did I expect....still loved it
Clodhopper - Sep 3, 2007 8:40 pm Date Climbed: Aug 6, 2007
Modified route.
Couldn't climb onto the cleaver, too late in the season. We climbed down around the nose of the cleaver and up the Emmons Glacier. Very windy, but clear skies.
seth@LOKI - Jul 30, 2007 1:18 am Date Climbed: May 31, 1998
Great "warm up" for damn cold
Though my 1983 overstuffed 15 degree Marmot Pocket Gopher (that I still use!) worked well with a bit of help from a reflecto warmer. We had light loads on ready for Liberty Ridge...maybe nest time Dirky.
Sue and I attempted the DC route during a week of truely shitty weather. After giving up on any sort of attempt we skipped dinner on our last night and decided to wait to eat a good meal the following day after descending from Muir. That night the weather cleared and we left at 1:00 AM with little energy, improper hydration and lack of will. We ascended to 14K before exhaustion and a spasm in Sue's back before turning around. No problem about not summiting as I was more concerned about a safe traverse back before the Cleaver of our two-person rope team but made it back safe and sound. Better a responsible climber than a liability to others in our book.
Jim Carr - Jun 15, 2007 4:06 pm Date Climbed: Jun 30, 1998
2nd Attempt
Weather drove us down the first time, but rolled right up on the second try.
1mvertical - May 7, 2007 1:47 pm Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2006
did not disappoint
Great weather, great day. Had the summit to ourselves, and only saw a couple of RMI teams. Looking to Tahoma Glacier the next time.
Hotfeet - Mar 26, 2007 3:24 am Date Climbed: Aug 13, 2006
Awesome!
Absolutely fantastic! I had the time of my life!!!
lukic - Feb 20, 2007 10:58 pm Date Climbed: Jun 17, 2003
First summit
After a couple of trips to the top of the cleaver with friends who couldn't make it, this time we did.
Wallylongridge - Feb 15, 2007 10:36 pm Date Climbed: Aug 14, 1982
DC route
What a great climb. I think the key was getting up early and beating the RMI people up the route. Saw the sun come up on the Summit, that was a real treat.
ascendingzion - Feb 1, 2007 9:06 pm Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2005
My First Glacier
My first glacier climb, and second overall after Shasta. We had great weather after a storm the first night followed by my first whiteout in the morning. Summitted on my first try with no guides! Thank God for good weather!
MtnAv8r - Jan 13, 2007 7:03 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2000
I'll Be Back
Whiteout and windy. Didnt go above Muir. Will be back.
lalpinist - Nov 4, 2006 2:28 pm Date Climbed: Jun 18, 2005
Fresh Tracks
Nobody had summitted in a week and noon had attempted DC in recent memory, perhaps not for the season, even. The ice was loosening up in the mid-morning warm-up. We rushed to get off the glacier.
Fractal Maniac - Sep 7, 2006 6:41 am Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2006
Amazing!
Most interesting mountain I've ever climbed. Photo trip report:
http://www.geocities.com/cactus2clouds/rainier.html
Didn't you puke blood mitch. . . it was exceptionally hot when we climbed the summer of 2004. . . needed more water than usual.
Mike N - Aug 31, 2006 4:52 pm Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2006
DC Route
This route is well wanded and there is a good path to follow. RMI does a great job at making easy for everyone. I'm sure that's why it so popular. Beware of all the objective hazards such as rockfall and weak snow bridges. Stick to RMI path and move fast and should be no problem. Technically easy. Basically just a snow walk, scree scramble on the cleaver. Nothing steep. Just beware all the hazards that are out there.
Lubos - Aug 20, 2006 3:21 am Date Climbed: Jun 7, 2006
DC route
Best time to climb is May through June. It is nice to go up over the Ingraham glacier and return over the DC. Ingraham flats is a good area to stay over night. Solo climb.
I've summited via the DC 3 times, but my best performance on it was when we turned around at the top of the cleaver (12,500) in blowing wind and rapidly decreasing visibility.
It was a 4th of July climb about 1997 or 1998. I had my 2 daughters and a bunch from OSAT on the climb. We spent a night at Muir, and another at Ingraham Flats. Weather was a bit unsettled, with lenticular clouds now and then. The morning of our summit attempt I remember seeing the RMI light streams come around Cathedral Gap as we were getting on the lower part of the cleaver. We turned around without regrets at the top of the cleaver, and by the time we got back to Camp Muir and looked back, most of the mountain above 11,000 was in a cloud. But I found out RMI turned around at the base of the cleaver, and told my fellow climbers to remember this as the climb when they got 1000 feet higher than RMI.
Left camp Muir at 2am and topped DC to see the most beautiful sunrise. A snow bridge just above it had collapsed and we had to step over about 4 feet. We returned down the Emmonds and cut across the bottom of the cleaver. Absolute perfect weather no wind and a few wisps of clouds.
gimpilator - Jun 28, 2006 5:11 pm Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2005
Cowlitz Glacier Avalanche
Only one white-out on the way to Muir and mild wind all day Sunday. We missed a giant avalanche on the Cowlitz Glacier by about a half hour. It looked like it came down from Cadaver Gap. One rock was the size of a house. Above Ingaham Flat, before dawn on summit day, it was like a four lane highway. So many RMI rope teams... Eleven of our party of thirteen summited.
InsertHere - Sep 10, 2007 5:40 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 1999
Will be back1st attempt, didn't make it past the cleaver. That was a long time ago, will be back for sure.
jvarholak - Sep 4, 2007 5:32 pm Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2006
DC routebeautiful mountain...perfect weather...crowded route (but what did I expect....still loved it
Clodhopper - Sep 3, 2007 8:40 pm Date Climbed: Aug 6, 2007
Modified route.Couldn't climb onto the cleaver, too late in the season. We climbed down around the nose of the cleaver and up the Emmons Glacier. Very windy, but clear skies.
seth@LOKI - Jul 30, 2007 1:18 am Date Climbed: May 31, 1998
Great "warm up" for damn coldThough my 1983 overstuffed 15 degree Marmot Pocket Gopher (that I still use!) worked well with a bit of help from a reflecto warmer. We had light loads on ready for Liberty Ridge...maybe nest time Dirky.
Brad Marshall - Jul 23, 2007 7:48 pm Date Climbed: Jul 20, 2007
DC RouteSue and I attempted the DC route during a week of truely shitty weather. After giving up on any sort of attempt we skipped dinner on our last night and decided to wait to eat a good meal the following day after descending from Muir. That night the weather cleared and we left at 1:00 AM with little energy, improper hydration and lack of will. We ascended to 14K before exhaustion and a spasm in Sue's back before turning around. No problem about not summiting as I was more concerned about a safe traverse back before the Cleaver of our two-person rope team but made it back safe and sound. Better a responsible climber than a liability to others in our book.
Jim Carr - Jun 15, 2007 4:06 pm Date Climbed: Jun 30, 1998
2nd AttemptWeather drove us down the first time, but rolled right up on the second try.
1mvertical - May 7, 2007 1:47 pm Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2006
did not disappointGreat weather, great day. Had the summit to ourselves, and only saw a couple of RMI teams. Looking to Tahoma Glacier the next time.
Hotfeet - Mar 26, 2007 3:24 am Date Climbed: Aug 13, 2006
Awesome!Absolutely fantastic! I had the time of my life!!!
lukic - Feb 20, 2007 10:58 pm Date Climbed: Jun 17, 2003
First summitAfter a couple of trips to the top of the cleaver with friends who couldn't make it, this time we did.
Wallylongridge - Feb 15, 2007 10:36 pm Date Climbed: Aug 14, 1982
DC routeWhat a great climb. I think the key was getting up early and beating the RMI people up the route. Saw the sun come up on the Summit, that was a real treat.
ascendingzion - Feb 1, 2007 9:06 pm Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2005
My First GlacierMy first glacier climb, and second overall after Shasta. We had great weather after a storm the first night followed by my first whiteout in the morning. Summitted on my first try with no guides! Thank God for good weather!
MtnAv8r - Jan 13, 2007 7:03 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2000
I'll Be BackWhiteout and windy. Didnt go above Muir. Will be back.
lalpinist - Nov 4, 2006 2:28 pm Date Climbed: Jun 18, 2005
Fresh TracksNobody had summitted in a week and noon had attempted DC in recent memory, perhaps not for the season, even. The ice was loosening up in the mid-morning warm-up. We rushed to get off the glacier.
Fractal Maniac - Sep 7, 2006 6:41 am Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2006
Amazing!Most interesting mountain I've ever climbed. Photo trip report:
http://www.geocities.com/cactus2clouds/rainier.html
scotthall - Sep 5, 2006 3:25 am
DC RouteDidn't you puke blood mitch. . . it was exceptionally hot when we climbed the summer of 2004. . . needed more water than usual.
Mike N - Aug 31, 2006 4:52 pm Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2006
DC RouteThis route is well wanded and there is a good path to follow. RMI does a great job at making easy for everyone. I'm sure that's why it so popular. Beware of all the objective hazards such as rockfall and weak snow bridges. Stick to RMI path and move fast and should be no problem. Technically easy. Basically just a snow walk, scree scramble on the cleaver. Nothing steep. Just beware all the hazards that are out there.
Lubos - Aug 20, 2006 3:21 am Date Climbed: Jun 7, 2006
DC routeBest time to climb is May through June. It is nice to go up over the Ingraham glacier and return over the DC. Ingraham flats is a good area to stay over night. Solo climb.
osatrik - Aug 15, 2006 5:47 am
The Guide RouteI've summited via the DC 3 times, but my best performance on it was when we turned around at the top of the cleaver (12,500) in blowing wind and rapidly decreasing visibility.
It was a 4th of July climb about 1997 or 1998. I had my 2 daughters and a bunch from OSAT on the climb. We spent a night at Muir, and another at Ingraham Flats. Weather was a bit unsettled, with lenticular clouds now and then. The morning of our summit attempt I remember seeing the RMI light streams come around Cathedral Gap as we were getting on the lower part of the cleaver. We turned around without regrets at the top of the cleaver, and by the time we got back to Camp Muir and looked back, most of the mountain above 11,000 was in a cloud. But I found out RMI turned around at the base of the cleaver, and told my fellow climbers to remember this as the climb when they got 1000 feet higher than RMI.
SkydiveKen - Jul 13, 2006 10:15 pm Date Climbed: Sep 5, 2005
1ST visitLeft camp Muir at 2am and topped DC to see the most beautiful sunrise. A snow bridge just above it had collapsed and we had to step over about 4 feet. We returned down the Emmonds and cut across the bottom of the cleaver. Absolute perfect weather no wind and a few wisps of clouds.
gimpilator - Jun 28, 2006 5:11 pm Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2005
Cowlitz Glacier AvalancheOnly one white-out on the way to Muir and mild wind all day Sunday. We missed a giant avalanche on the Cowlitz Glacier by about a half hour. It looked like it came down from Cadaver Gap. One rock was the size of a house. Above Ingaham Flat, before dawn on summit day, it was like a four lane highway. So many RMI rope teams... Eleven of our party of thirteen summited.