Anastasia
climber
InLOVEwithAris.
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jul 6, 2012 - 02:58pm PT
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Bill is off to Mt Rainier via the Liberty Ridge route. Please share any information about this climb. I would love to hear what makes it interesting plus... For those of you in that corner of the woods, if you bump into them, hear/see anything, post up! Plus if something bad happens and you hear it, just let me know. I can handle more than most even though I won't like it.
For those of you who haven't seen the kiddo, this is what's waiting for him at home.
AFS
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nature
climber
SoSlo, CO
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Oh he's so gunna.....
have fun!
This time of year that's a pretty reasonable though still technical route to pick.
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rockermike
Trad climber
Berkeley
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From what I remember from 30 years ago, for me it was kind of anti-climatic. We had maybe 20' of vertical ice / bergschrund to climb but otherwise hour after hour of 45 degree frozen snow and soft ice. The real heart of the game was dealing with the altitude and carrying heavy packs over the top. YMMV
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
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Great name! Beautiful kid.
Did you read Michael Ybarra's account of his bad weather ascent of Liberty Ridge on the other thread? Epic.
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fattrad
Mountain climber
GOP Convention
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AFS,
I had the same experience as rockermike, the bivy view from ThumbRock was nice. As long as he has good weather, it's not that difficult.
TheTool
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pc
climber
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The weather up here is terrific. Hope he brought good sunscreens. Should be a great time.
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TripleS_in_EBs
climber
Poulsbo, WA
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The website for Rainier route conditions, etc. is:
http://mountrainierclimbing.blogspot.com/
The link to use for weather forecasts for the mountain:
http://www.atmos.washington.edu/data/rainier_report.html
High pressure is currently in the area. Mid-70's (at sea level) and clear. The weather is stable and expected to remain so through the weekend, even into early next week. Summer has apparently arrived in the Pac NW. Good time to be up there. Maybe a tad warm, but presumably they will climb early in the day.
Typically early July is a good time to go. Usually better chance of stable weather, and the snow conditions are normally better than later in the summer.
As said above, the route requires good fitness because it's just plain hard work. As in all mountaineering, though, by the time they get home, all memories of the toil will have been replaced with the afterglow of the experience.
Hope they have a great time.
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Anastasia
climber
InLOVEwithAris.
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 6, 2012 - 03:38pm PT
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Thanks Kris, I have not read Michael Ybarra account. I am still shocked over his death, chewing on it, trying to digest that reality. Since I need to avoid weaving Michael's death into my thoughts on Bill and Chris. I'll be reading it after they come home. I'm weird that way.
Smiles,
Anastasia
P.S. TripleS_in_EBs SUPER THANKS! I love the sites you gave me. Now I have something to look at when I start wondering. He loves hard work so the route should be perfect for him. Sincerly, HappyAnastasia
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Just tell him not to step into any holes in the snow and he'll be fine.
Liberty Ridge is the Snake Dike of Mt Reindeer. If you get caught by
weather on it then you don't take it very seriously.
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JBC
Trad climber
Portland, OR
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Liberty Ridge is a great route. If the weather is good there is no better place to be on Rainier - just fantastic. Conditions are supposed to be pretty much ideal right now. They should have a great trip!
It has been over 25 years since I did Lib. Stunning climb, great position and views, but what I still remember the best is seeing my wife and young daughter coming up the trail above Paradise as we came off the mountain!
Jim
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Anastasia
climber
InLOVEwithAris.
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 6, 2012 - 03:50pm PT
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Jim, I would love to be there but since Ari is only three months old and our dog Loki doesn't do well being left behind, well... I'm home. Luckily I have tons to do here.
How are the snow conditions at Liberty Saddle? Can they do that part in July?
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Apart from possible weekend crowds, they probably couldn't have picked better conditions. Weather forecast for the next week stable. Still lots of snow from the winter = crevasses filled in, less ice. The one challenge, especially lower down, may be soft snow, especially later in the day. That and of course the usual subjective hazards of avalanches and rock and ice fall. Let's hope they have a fun, safe adventure!
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Darwin
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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what mighty hiker said.
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JBC
Trad climber
Portland, OR
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How are the snow conditions at Liberty Saddle? Can they do that part in July?
Should be fine. I was up at Camp Schurman last weekend and it is pretty much still spring (June) conditions on the mountain. They should have no trouble crossing the saddle. I don't think they could have picked a better time this year to be up there - pretty much ideal.
A report from the climbing rangers from an ascent last weekend pretty much says conditions are ideal: http://mountrainierconditions.blogspot.com/2012/04/liberty-ridge-2012.html
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Anastasia
climber
InLOVEwithAris.
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 6, 2012 - 06:40pm PT
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Looks Peachy! :D
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Lot's of snow this Spring, crevasses should be nicely covered, Bill should have smooth sailing......!
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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big mountain feel in the lower 48...
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Anastasia
climber
InLOVEwithAris.
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 7, 2012 - 11:21pm PT
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Thanks Folks for all the help! You guys are wonderful.
Bill called and said it's heating up and there is rock fall. I hate that he mentioned rock fall.
I'm grumpy tonight.
AFS
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