GCC RAINIER CLIMB: EMMONS
GETTING THERE
Take SR l69 south from Renton to Enumclaw. Turn left (south) on SR 410. Reach the entrance to Mount Rainier National Park in 34 mi. Drive 5 mi and turn right on road to Sunrise. Sign in for climb at the White River Entrance Station. Drive 5 mi to turnoff for White River Campground (gravel road left at the White River bridge). Park at White River Campground (2 mi).
ASCENT / APPROACH ROUTE
A 10,000-foot glacier climb on the 2nd most popular east side of Mount Rainier (originally known as Tahoma). The hike to camp passes through Glacier Basin, site of mining activity up through the 1930's. The route, including the climb up the Inter Glacier, can get icy by late July, increasing the difficulty.
From White River Campground (4,400 ft), hike 3.5 mi to Glacier Basin (5,935 ft). Continue on way trails for another mile to base of the Inter Glacier (7,000 ft). Rope up here.
Ascend 1,500 feet up the middle of the Inter Glacier, bearing slightly southeast to reach the glacier rim (9,000 ft) at Camp Curtis. Do a traversing descent to the Emmons Glacier and ascend the Emmons to Camp Schurman (9,500 ft) at the base of Steamboat Prow. Arrive early for a good campsite (hut is for emergencies only).
From Camp Schurman, follow a smooth snow slope called "The Corridor" slightly east, to about 12,000 ft. Here the glacier becomes heavily crevassed and offers many variations in routes to the crater rim. The usual routes go straight up and left, or bear right and across to the saddle between the true summit, Columbia Crest, and Liberty Cap.
The actual summit (14,411 ft) is on the far west side of the crater rim. The summit register is just below at a large boulder.
Time: 6-7 hrs TH to camp, 6-9 hrs camp to summit
http://mountrainierclimbing.blogspot.com
TRIP PROFILE
TH – WR CAMPGROUND – 4400’
CAMP – SCHURMAN – 9500’
MT RAINIER SUMMIT – 14,411’
TRAILHEAD TO CAMP
TIME – 6-7 HRS
ELEVATION GAIN – 5,100’
CAMP TO SUMMIT
TIME – 6-9 HRS
ELEVATION GAIN – 4,911’
SUMMIT TO CAMP – 3-4 HRS
CAMP TO TH – 3-4 HRS
KEEP CLIMBING MOUNTAINS & DON'T SLIP!!