IMG Rainier Denali Seminar Itinerary
Day 1 — Meet at IMG Ashford Headquarters (directions) at 8:00 a.m. This pre-climb meeting of 4-5 hours is instrumental in getting the team outfitted, informed, packed and educated prior to departure. Topics to be covered include an introduction of the entire team, an introduction to Mt. Rainier National Park, its mission and ecology as well as a safety briefing. Review personal clothing and equipment. Review food and gear and sort loads. Demonstration of rigging and loading sleds and expedition packs. Practice basic knots and construct prussik slings. Practice self rescue with both prussiks and mechanical ascenders. Learn standard operation of avalanche transceivers. Review of additional critical climbing skills. After completing this orientation, the team will depart IMG HQ and head to Paradise and venture into the field.
Day 2 — Training day. Your guides will determine the curriculum for the day based on current conditions. A few examples may include ice axe arrest, cramponing, and glacier travel. As weather allows, today may also be used as a carry day, meaning you may carry a load higher on the mountain to where your next camp will be, leave the load there, and move to that camp the following day. The exact location of this camp is highly variable and will be determined by your guides based on current conditions.
Day 3 — Training day. Your guides will determine the curriculum for the day based on the terrain & the previous lessons earlier in the week. Examples include crevasse rescue, fixed line ascension, anchor construction and the use of running belays. As weather allows, today may also be used as a carry day, meaning you may carry a load higher on the mountain to where your next camp will be, which could be as high as Camp Muir.
Day 4 — Pack up and descend to Paradise. During the descent the group will practice navigation including map and compass and gps. The party will hope to return to Ashford Headquarters by 2:00-4:00 p.m. but weather and snow conditions may effect our return time.