IMG Rainier Fuhrer Finger Route Itinerary
This itinerary is approximate and subject to change due to conditions.
Day 1: Your orientation begins at 2 pm at IMG Headquarters in Ashford, WA on Day 1. Your lead guide will take you through a gear check and training session. If you need to rent any gear, it can be taken care of during this portion of the program, no need to reserve in advance. Your lead guide can help make decisions about your gear and will ensure each team member has everything needed for the climb without carrying unnecessary weight. During the training session, you will cover Leave No Trace Principles, the Mission of the National Park Service, crampon adjustment, and packing up together. Day 1 will wrap up by 6 pm and the team will be free for the evening. Note that lodging is not provided for the night of Day 1.
Day 2: Day 2 will start at 8 am at IMG HQ in Ashford. After splitting group gear and packing up, the team will depart Ashford in the IMG van and drive to Paradise. The team will hike up from Paradise and towards the Nisqually Glacier. After crossing the lower Nisqually Glacier, you'll arrive at the base of the Wilson Chute and climb to the Wilson Bench. Continuing along the Wilson Glacier, the remote feel of this climb comes into focus as you look back across the Nisqually to the crowds you left behind at Paradise. After a long day, you'll make camp at The Lower Castle and enjoy dinner and a spectacular sunset.
Day 3: On Day 3 we will pack up camp and cross the Wilson Glacier to the base of the route at approximately 8,500 feet. We will take time to scout the Finger and plan our strategy for the climb to come.
Day 4: On Day 4 we may choose, depending on conditions, to move camp up the Finger at first light and establish a new campsite at the top of the Finger, approximately 11,500 feet. Otherwise, the team will train, climb, and acclimatize in the vicinity of camp. We'll have an early dinner and hold a team informational meeting to discuss our summit climb strategy.
Day 5: Day 5 is the primary summit day. If a high camp is established, we will depart at first light for the summit. The round trip will take approximately 8 hours. If we climb from low camp, the team will depart well prior to first light and will take approximately 10-12 hours round trip. Throughout the day, the guides will be directing their rope teams, providing safety feedback and hands on training of safe climbing skills. We'll ascend glacier terrain to the summit and spend an hour on top, weather permitting. The descent normally takes half the time of the ascent.
Day 6: After a restful night's sleep, breakfast is served and we begin to pack up camp on the morning of Day 6. Descending our ascent route, we retrace our steps down the Wilson Glacier and Chute, across the Nisqually, and back to the lush meadows of Paradise until we arrive at our waiting van for the drive back to Ashford. Here you can return rentals and share in a closing ceremony with your guides.