May 16, 2011 Q: Can I wear my contacts in the mountains? A: Absolutely. A lot of our guides wear contacts in the mountains without issue. You’ll have to be careful when putting them in and will need to keep the solution container close to your body to keep it warm. Cleanliness can be a […]
March 31, 2011 With the Rainier season just around the corner we’re getting “the boot question” more and more frequently so here’s a snapshot of our thinking… When to use plastic boots: * Early season (May and June) and winter * If you are a First time climber, you should rent them * If you […]
July 4, 2010 We get this question quite frequently… The answer depends on your goals and objectives. For additional experience on glaciated peaks that get you a few thousand feet higher than Rainier, consider the Mexican Volcanoes, the Ecuador Volcanoes, Mt Elbrus (Russia), Classic Climbs in the Alps, and our Alaskan Ascents in Wrangell/St. Elias […]
June 30, 2010 You asked for it… so here it is! The Buff is one of the most functional pieces of clothing on any gear list. If you’re facing some windy conditions on “The Top of the Cleaver”, some harsh sun at the South Col or some dusty conditions on Aconcagua the Buff sure […]
May 6, 2010 The short answer is yes. The long answer is: if you have a good hat system (wool hat, balaclava, and a buff) you can get by without it on Mt. Rainier. But go anywhere else outside of Mt. Rainier (Aconcagua, Ecuador, Kili, Bona, Denali, etc.) and you’ll absolutely need a hood. My […]
December 17, 2009 Nobody likes colds hands in the mountains (or anywhere else for that matter) so we had Phil Ershler explain his glove system… Having been on Denali over 30 times and Vinson (Antarctica) 15 times you might say Phil is a bit of a cold weather expert. Check out what he has to […]
November 19, 2009 IMG Partner Phil Ershler breaks down some layering options for the alpine environment. Check it out and compare it to what you’ve got in your pack. Tye Chapman Operations Manager
A: Mild altitude illness, also known as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), is not uncommon among people climbing Mt. Rainier. Typical symptoms tend to include headache, loss of appetite, nausea, shortness of breath, fatigue, restless sleep, and an increased heart rate and increased respiratory rate. There are many things you can do to help prevent altitude […]
The average pack weight for our Rainier climbers is roughly 35-40lbs for our 3.5 day climbs via Camp Muir and the Disappointment Cleaver and roughly 50-55lbs for our Emmons or Kautz Climbers. Below are a few techniques and tips that will help you shave some weight from your pack. A lot of people ask if […]
On most of our climbs we take care of your breakfast and dinners so all you’re in charge of is providing your lunch snacks throughout the day. Keep in mind that there is typically no actual sit-down lunch hour, unless you’re on one of our treks where lunch is incorporated into the daily schedule. On […]
