Image Description
I've had better luck on Mt. Rainier than Denali. I've
climbed Rainier (14,411 feet, 4392 m) by several different routes, including
a couple of winter ascents. I took this shot of Little Tahoma
(11,117 feet, 3388 m), an erosional subpeak left from an earler, larger
Rainier, during one of my winter ascents of Rainier. Little
Tahoma is also a great winter climb, which Ann and I have done. In
most states, Little Tahoma would be a National Park; in Washington, it's
just a bump on the side of Rainier.
The first year I lived in Seattle I headed for Rainier at
least two weekends a month. Given the generally bad weather
of northwest winters, it probably took me ten tries before I got my first
winter ascent. However, I always had fun and got a lot of experience
in building igloos (which are much better than tents during a storm) and
evaluating avalanche conditions. I now feel perfectly at home
in—even enjoy—a good mountain storm. I seek to
experience nature in all her moods; going for the summit is just an excuse
for getting outdoors.
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