Trip Report: Mt. Rainier Intermediate Mountaineering Seminar Becomes Vantage Climbing

Night climbing is fun and challenging!

They say that when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. That's what our nine climbers found out when they attempted to climb Mt. Rainier during the July 21-24 Intermediate Mountaineering Seminar. The team, ably led by Shakers Ryan and TQ and advised by Movers Pat and Ray, planned to hold a glacier school and summit the mountain's northeast flank via the Emmons Glacier and Camp Schurman, repeating the itinerary of previous years, However, the difficulties began almost immediately; the team was unable to get a permit the team was delayed a day and stayed overnight at the Tobin's in Greenwater, then was turned back by foul weather at Glacier Basin. The team made the right call; conditions on the mountain (rain, snow, poor visibility, and high winds) were so poor that the three guide services cancelled their climbs, and few if any private parties reached the summit the rest of the week. That night, the entire park lost power as a lightning storm lit up Rainier.

With the climb scrubbed, the climbers had several options. They could attempt another peak like Mt. Aix or Mt. Stuart, or go climbing at Frenchman Coulee, better known as Vantage. The team opted for the latter. Though the team had ropes, harnesses, and safety equipment, Mark was generous enough to make the 4-hour drive to drop off proper footwear. After arriving and scouting out the area, the team settled in for the night.

Over the next two days the group climbed a variety of tricky routes, mostly around the Sunshine Wall. The columnar basalt at the site proved challenging, but everyone got a chance to lead, clean, and practice their ropework. Weather was generally good, interrupted only by the occasional thunderstorm. The night of the 23rd, several of the climbers rigged routes before dark, then climbed by starlight. The next day the group got an early start, did a few more routes, and was out before noon. After a delicious pizza lunch in Ellensburg the team headed back to Seattle to debrief, clean up, and prepare for their next adventures.

- I.B.