Monday, September 26, 2011

Mt. Rainier National Park, Mother Nature Wins 9/26/2011

The lodge at Sunrise, typically you can see Mt. Rainier looming right behind it.



Snow level down to 6500'......Just a misting but it is pretty early in the season for the snow level to be so low.


The park service have already put up the snow markers, this one was being tossed around in the wind. This viewpoint looks south, you would normally be able to see the Tatoosh Mountain Range. On really clear days you'd be able to see Mt. Adams.


Weather on my first time down the mountain. I thought it would maybe clear as the sun started to peak through the clouds on my way back home. So, I turned around and went back to the trailhead just in case.

Blue Grouse

Headed out on the Sourdough Ridge Trail. I had planned to go to Skyscraper Mountain but the weather turned out to be too bad. The wind at 50-70mph was almost blowing me off trail and the weather system seemed to be following my intended direction.

View back towards Sunrise parking lot.

Not many hikers out today.

Despite the fact that the rain and wind never stopped, the sun did grace me with its presence a few times. The result being double rainbows!! Definitely made fighting the weather worth the trip.

Sourdough Ridge Trail headed toward Frozen Lake. Normally Mt Rainier would be accompanying you on your journey.

View towards Dege Peak.

View back towards Sunrise parking lot after my unsuccessful hike.

Today I headed back up to Sunrise at Mt. Rainier National Park as I knew it would be one of the last days I could do so before the road closes. Unfortunately for me the weather was terrible. I had checked both the nps and the weather channel predictions prior to leaving but they differed greatly on their views of the weather system. So I decided to head up just in case the weather turned out decent. Needless to say next time I will go with the national park service  (nps) weather prediction as it seemed to be accurate. It was 31 degrees F when I arrived at the sunrise parking lot and the snow level was down to that elevation. It was just a light dusting. There was heavy rain and the wind ranged from 50-70mph. I had intially decided to turn back home but on the descent down the sun started to make brief appearances, even though the rain did not slow. I thought the weather might turn around so I headed back up toward the trailhead. Once at the top I suited up in my rain gear and headed out. I did not make it very far but it was worth the experience. Oh, and the double rainbows from occasional sunburst were incredible and worth braving the storm.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Book Review: "The Ledge" by Jim Davidson and Kevin Vaughan

On September 11, 2011 I got the chance to meet Jim Davidson. I purchased a copy of his book, " The Ledge: An adventure story of friendship and survival on Mount Rainier."

This book is a true survival story. It tells the story of a tragic accident that occurred while two best friends, Jim Davidson and Mike Price were climbing Mt. Rainier in 1995.

This story is unique in that it makes extreme mountain climbers appear human, mere mortals such as ourselves. In the book Jim Davidson recounts his childhood and the ways he learned basic climbing techniques from working with his blue collared father. He recounts how he and Mike Price became friends and worked for years honing their mountaineering skills in preparation of the Mt. Rainier hike.

Their fateful trip to Mt. Rainier began without incident. The pair had made it to the summit and were on their way down to celebrate when Jim Davidson steeped on a snow bridge that collapsed under his weight. Jim Davidson fell approximately 80 feet into a crevasse dragging his climbing partner down with him. Mike Price died almost instantly after landing on the icy ledge below. Leaving Jim Davidson to attempt escape alone.

This book is very well written and leaves the reader understanding the weight of the situation without feeling  it has been over dramatized or is artificial. It gives a realistic glimpse into the life of a mountaineer.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Mt. Rainier National Park, Skyline Loop Trail 9/11/2011

"...the most luxuriant and the most extravagantly beautiful of all the alpine gardens I ever beheld in all my mountain-top wanderings." -John Muir, conservationist, 1889

Started the paved trail of the skyline trail....don't worry ii is not all paved!

James and Mt. Rainier

Me and Mt. Rainier

Wildflowers were in bloom in the meadows.

James and Jennifer


First of many snowfields!

James and I taking in the scenery!

Beautiful waterfall on Mt. Rainier. (left in above picture)

Ah, such beauty!

James and Jennifer admiring the views.

"Steep & Icy Trail Conditions"


We headed down the snowfield from that upper ledge.


Crossing the snowfield.

It was steep coming from the above ledge but quickly mellowed out.


This was the snowfield we just crossed.

Marmot.....I assume it was trying to cool off as it was over 80 degrees F today.


Perfect spot for a snack.


From this part of the trail you could view Little Tahoma.




Proof anything can happen on the trail. I took a fall after loosing my footing on some scree on the way down the hill.


Even with the sting of pain from my recently acquired wounds I'm still smiling......because it's so beautiful out here it's hard not too!


Last view of Rainier for the day.
After an amazing morning at the Rainier Mountain Festival my friends and I decided to enjoy a hike. We had already agreed upon hiking the Skyline Loop Trail in the Paradise area of Mt. Rainier National Park. Although the weather was quite warm the scenery was beautiful. I did take a fall with approximately a mile and a half left to hike. It was painful but not unbearable and I was able to hike the rest of the way without assistance. Once we got back to the car I cleaned my wounds and provided basic first aid until I could get home. When we left the park we stopped for dinner and some delicious Blackberry pie. Despite my minor injuries it couldn't have been a more perfect day.

Click on link to check out my blog from earlier in the day at the Rainier Mountain Festival.


Start time: 1:59pm
End time: 5:49pm
Total time: 3 hours 50 minutes
Distance: 5.69 miles
Speed: 1.4 miles/hour
Peak Elevation: 6,789 ft
Elevation Gain: 1,258 ft
Total Ascent: 2,487 ft
Total Descent: 2,583 ft

* Please note, I started my GPS a bit after I started hiking so the trail is actually a bit longer. WTA estimates it at 6 miles. All information posted is based off my GPS.


Directions: From Tacoma, drive east on State Route 7 to Elbe, then veer left onto SR 706 to enter the park at the Nisqually Entrance near Ashford. Continue east along the Nisqually Road to the Paradise Lodge parking area. Park in the large parking lot and find the trail near Paradise Lodge.

Links:
http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/skyline
http://www.rainierfestival.com/

Rainier Mountain Festival 9/11/2011 (Best day ever!)

Yep, that's right.......Me and Jim Whittaker (First American to reach the summit of Mt. Everest; May 1, 1963.)

Jim Whittaker autographing a copy of his autobiography for me. Its inscription reads: "To Cheryl- Good Luck on Mt Rainier! Jim Whittaker".  He said to me, "now that's it written you have to complete it." Well, I promise Mr. Whittaker I will summit Mt. Rainier. Also pictured is Jim's wife, Dianne.

Today was an amazing day......It was the annual Rainier Mountain Festival in Ashford, Wa. I met several highly regarded mountaineers. But, I was most star struck by Jim Whittaker (although it is quite difficult to tell him apart from his twin brother Lou, who is also a highly regarded mountaineer.) Jim Whittaker autographed a copy of his autobiography and a poster for me. We briefly discussed the Portland Marathon (as I was wearing my 2010 Portland Marathon Shirt) and mountaineering. He asked me if I was going to climb Rainier and I said "I hope to someday." He inscribed my copy of his book "To Cheryl- Good Luck on Mt. Rainier!" Then he said, "now that it's written you have to complete it."

I also had the pleasure of meeting Jim Davidson, a mountaineer, who recently wrote a book entitled "The Ledge: An Adventure story of survival and friendship on Mount Rainier." I will be reviewing this book as I have already finished reading it. It is a truly captivating read.

I will also review Jim Whittaker's autobiography "A Life on the Edge: Memoirs of Everest and Beyond" when I finish reading it.

After meeting mountaineering legends it seemed only natural to go for a day hike in Mt. Rainier National Park. My friends James and Jennifer accompanied me on that hike, we took the Skyline Loop Trail from Paradise (click on the link for my blog of that hike).


Links:
http://www.rainierfestival.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Whittaker
http://jimwhittaker.altrec.com/jimwhittaker/edge/
http://www.speakingofadventure.com/the-ledge/