Mount Rainier/Gibraltar Ledges

Trip

Intermediate Alpine Climb - Mount Rainier/Gibraltar Ledges

actual trip date may vary

  • Intermediate Mountaineering Climb
  • Challenging
  • Mileage: 13.5 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 9,010 ft
  • Pace: Moderate

Discussed via email.

Please acknowledge that you have read these notes when requesting permission to register. Thank you!

1. The posted trip date is only approximate. The actual trip date may be sometime between April and mid-May. We will monitor the conditions during the month leading to the climb, and we will jump at the opportunity whenever a good weather window and likelihood of favorable route conditions presents itself, which could be several weeks earlier than the posted date. This will be preferably on a weekend, but if that's unlikely, we may have to consider a mid-week window. Please be flexible.

2. You must be prepared to climb in challenging weather conditions, with temps in low single-digits Fahrenheit and/or in excess of 20mph winds at the summit, with sub-zero Fahrenheit wind chill values, etc. You must be able to secure climbing gear adequate for the conditions, including 4-season mountaineering boots suitable for winter climbing, a sturdy four-season tent or other comparable shelter adequate for the conditions, a warm sleeping bag (ideally rated to 0F, or combined with a bag liner), sleeping pad combo adequate for winter camping (ideally one inflatable, one non-inflatable), etc.

Please do not sign up on the assumption you can sleep in a public shelter at Camp Muir. The shelter is not guaranteed to be open to the public, and may be reserved for emergencies only. You must be able to spend the night at Muir comfortably with only the gear that you will be carrying on your back.

3. Although we will be moving at moderate pace, you must be in condition to carry four-season overnight gear to Muir on day 1, tag the summit and descend back to the parking lot on day 2. We will not be spending a second night at muir on the descent. Please make sure you are adequately conditioned.

The leader will organize several winter trips in the months prior to the date of this climb to give ourselves the chance to get in shape. Please consider signing up for these or other trips, or otherwise plan to stay active during the winter.

4. Due to high chances of weather not being suitable for this climb, we will need to have backup options. The leader will make best effort attempt to organize a backup trip of a comparable level of difficulty. This might require driving long distances (e.g., to Mt. Hood in Oregon). Please be flexible and willing to put in the effort to make sure that we can agree as a group on a viable backup option and follow through to make it happen.

5. Alpine Ice is not required (although recommended), but everyone must have completed Intermediate glacier travel and crevasse rescue, and have experience winter overnight camping. Additionally, you must be familiar with and competent in two-person glacier travel and crevasse rescue (please review these notes, and please consider signing up for a practice clinic if you have never actually practiced these procedures - please do let me know if you need one, I'be happy to set one up on a weekday evening in the Seattle program center).

The rest to be communicated via email. Please feel welcome to reach out anytime if  you have questions about the trip.

Route/Place

Mount Rainier/Gibraltar Ledges



  • Green Trails Mt Rainier West No. 269

    USGS Mt Rainier West

    USGS Mt Rainier East

    Green Trails Mt Rainier East No. 270
  • See full route/place details.
Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

By default, assume gear for winter overnight mountaineering in challenging and cold conditions, glacier travel and crevasse rescue, and climbing steep hard snow slopes  that may turn out to be icy depending on the trip date and the weather during the weeks leading to the trip. Details to be discussed via email closer to the trip date.

Trip Reports