South of Mount Rainier National Park, in a dry, sunny pocket of Cascade forest, the town of Packwood has always had top-tier outdoor recreation: fishing in Packwood Lake, skiing at White Pass. Because this is the Cascades, the heated pool (different from a hot tub, though they have that too) is heavenly year-round. The woodsy, modest compound offers a variety of hotel styles, like lofts with kitchens and a wheelchair-accessible cabin. Located on Highway 410 on the northeast corner of the park, Alta Crystal Resort sees both heavy winter use (it’s a short drive to Crystal Mountain) and summer popularity thanks to its proximity to Sunrise. Position yourself right outside the industrial home of Cole Street Brewery and you’ll catch a view of the mountain over your Cascadian Rye pint. Down the block, Bridget’s Boutique (36), with its embroidered blouses and trendy jumpsuits, feels lifted straight from Portland’s Eastside. Its well-preserved downtown includes the shaggy but lovable bookstore Sequel Books and Espresso (36), whose shelves are crammed with pulpy western series and Agatha Christie, but also a robust Native American section and vintage Émile Zola. The burg of Enumclaw has long teetered between charming mountain gateway and no-pretense farm town. 3. Shop a Classic Main Street in Enumclaw While it’s long been home to bear exhibits and 435 open acres hosting bison, elk, and mountain goats, this is a fitting time for Northwest Trek to expand skyward. On August 3 the Eatonville-area wildlife park run by Metro Parks Tacoma opens its brand-new Eagle Passage aviary, a walk-through grove surrounded by mesh where visitors can see the birds up close. Though they may be majestic creatures, canny hunters, and America’s patronus, some bald eagles are also unable to live in the wild due to injury. Camp Muir is a great hub for climbers on the mountain to meet and hear stories.Image: Courtesy Northwest Trek Wildlife Park 2. One of the great things about climbing this route is meeting incredible mountaineers as it's very popular. Rainier as a training ground for bigger high altitude climbing in the Himalayas, South America and Denali. The climb is a great challenge and is very rewarding. Traveling in a rope team takes more effort and time so be prepared to travel slower than the usual speed. From Camp Muir onward, rope up in your rope team for glacier travel. We started the climb before midnight as it was a particularly warm week. Many guide services have their own private huts for their clients on Camp Muir.Īs the weather warms it's important to get an early alpine start as rock and ice falls are one of the dangers one needs to consider as the weather warms up throughout the day. If not then make sure to bring your own tent to pitch on the snowfields. If you want to be guaranteed a spot in the huts, arrive earlier. If mountaineering is not for you the hike to Camp Muir is a great day trip and does not require any technical skills just be prepared to hike in snow with the proper footwear.Ĭamp Muir is a popular base camp for climbers with huts for climbers to stay in.

The trail is traveled frequently enough so it's easy to follow foot tracks. Once the trail disappears in the snow, look out for flags that will help guide your way. The beginning of the route starts on asphalt and is easy to follow. Most climbers break the climb into 2-3 days.ĭay 1: Climb from the trail head at Paradise (5,400ft) to Camp Muir (10,080ft)ĭay 2: Climb from Camp Muir (10,080ft) to the summit (14,411ft), return to Camp Muir and pack out or stay an extra nightįrom Paradise, follow the Skyline Trail to Camp Muir. The Disappointment Cleaver trailhead starts in Paradise, Washington, located at approximately 5,400ft above sea level on Mt. Wilderness permits for camping on the mountain and climbing permits to summit Mt. Take time to go over crevasse rescue procedures with your climbing partners before heading up the mountain so that everyone is on the same page in the event that someone falls into a crevasse. Previous glacier travel and crevasse rescue experience is necessary. Rainier's Disappointment Cleaver is a very doable climb without guides. With good weather and previous mountaineering experience, Mt.

It is not a mountain to learn mountaineering unless you hire a guide service who will help guide you up the mountain. Rainier is a technical climb on all routes and is covered with glaciers all four seasons.

This is considered the best mountaineering/climbing in the lower 48 states. Rainier, the most glaciated volcano in the contiguous United States, reaching the summit of the highest peak in the Cascades at 14,411ft.

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