14,410’, South Cascades Grade II Mountaineering Reference & Data • • • • Jurisdiction: Mt. Rainier National Park • Ranger Station: Paradise Ranger Station / 360-569-2211 x2314 • Equipment: Standard Glacier gear, flukes and pickets. • USGS Maps: Mt Rainier East, Mt Rainier West • Other Map: Mount Rainier National Park. • Beckey: Cascade Alpine Guide I, 3rd Edition, pp 96-98. Time Elevation gain/loss Mileage • Seattle to TH 2.5 hrs 5,400’ 100 • TH to Camp 6 hrs +4,680’ • Camp to Summit 7 hrs +4,330’ • Summit to Cars 5 hrs -9,000’ Approach • • • • • • • • • • • Take I-5 S to exit 142. Exit to State 161 and drive south until exiting at State 512W. Travel 2-3 miles and get off at Puyallup exit (Mt. Rainier sign). Drive via Eatonville and State 706 to the Nisqually entrance to Mt. Rainier National Park (approximately 80 miles from Seattle). Pay entrance fee and drive 19 miles to Paradise, 5,400’. From Paradise, hike the Skyline Trail to Panorama Point. Contiinue up, crossing Pebble Creek, then up the Muir Snowfield to Camp Muir, 10,050’. Climbing Route • • • • • Ascend western edge of the Cowlitz Glacier below the Cowlitz cleaver. Pass beneath the Beehive and cross the cleaver through a notch to reach the base of Gibraltar Rock. Follow obvious ledge system, placing pickets as necessary to protect from exposure. Ascend ice chute, crux, between Gibraltar Rock and upper Nisqually ice cliff to the saddle between Gibraltar Rock and the final summit slopes. Continue for a long 2,000’ to the east crater rim. Cross crater to true summit. Descent • • • • • • • • • • • Descend via the climbing route. Alternatively, during periods of high rockfall, one could descend the Ingraham Glacier and then pass through Cadaver Gap of Cathedral Rocks to return to camp. Comments • • • • • • • • • This climb can only be recommended during winter months due to extreme rockfall and icefall on the ledges. Beware of rockfall and icefall during mid-day warming. A direct and straightforward route. A $30 climbing fee is required.