Mount Rainier Prep Course (5-days)

GALLERY

DETAILS

Join Us on 5 Days Mount Rainier Prep Course

This course is for those who would like to climb Mount Rainier without a guide. Routes this course prepares students to climb are the Disappointment Cleaver (DC) and Emmons-Winthrop routes. For those interested in more complex climbs, take a look at our Alpine Ice Leadership Course. Over 5 days, your instructor will cover skills such as expedition planning, glacier travel as part of a rope team, crevasse rescue, hazard assessment and much more. This Mount Rainier Courses includes a climb of Mt. Baker, which is a large glaciated peak with crevasses, ice falls, and other terrain that is comparable to Mount Rainier.

This Mount Rainier Courses contains a substantial amount of information and skills practice. Skills are perishable, and they should be practiced frequently by students hoping to participate in an independent climb of Mount Rainier. In addition, fitness is a key component of mountaineering, and developing a high level of fitness should be a priority in the months leading up to your climb.

Skills covered during the Mount Rainier Courses:

Logistics and planning for a climb of Rainier
Estimating travel time
Selecting equipment & clothing
Physical training for a climb of Mt. Rainier
Camp set-up
Camp cooking
Techniques for adapting to high altitude
Keeping warm on cold weather expeditions
Leave-No-Trace Principles
Navigation in mountain terrain
How to assess and mitigate mountain hazards
Techniques for glacier travel
Snow walking techniques with and without crampons
Rope management principles
Basic Crevasse Rescue: Self rescue and partner rescue
Self-arrest as part of a rope team
Self-arrest with and without an ice axe
How to shorten and lengthen the rope
How to place snow protection
Knots and hitches used in glacier mountaineering

Duration

5 days - 4 nights camping

Gear check

Required

Passport

Not required for Americans

Minimum Age

Activity

Mountaineering and Instruction

Accommodation

Tents

PRICE BASIS

PRICE INCLUDES

Guide and Instruction Services
Pre-trip Planning/Information Session on packing and gear
Backpacking, mountaineering and general outdoor safety skills
Group climbing equipment
Stoves/Cook kits
Tents

PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE

Gratuities for Guides
Transportation (We will help arrange carpools)
Parking or entry fees
Meals/Snacks/Drinks

ITINERARY

Day 1 :

We will start day one with introductions, a gear check, and distribution of group gear. Then we head to the trailhead. Once we get to our camp, we’ll go over camp selection and set up our tents. Next, we’ll do skills practice until it’s time for dinner. The group will talk about plans for the next day and then head to bed.

Day 2 :

This day will be a full day of instruction. On this day, the group will cover key foundational skills for glacier travel including walking techniques, rope management, knots & hitches, glacier rope set-up, and self-arrest. We’ll cover additional topics as time permits.

Day 3 :

This will be another day of instruction. Today the team will cover travelling as a rope team, self-arrest while on a rope team, how to place and pass running protection, crevasse rescue, and additional topics as time permits. The team will go to bed early in preparation for a summit attempt.

Day 4 :

The team will wake early on day 4 to attempt a summit, return to camp, and rest. Once everyone is adequately rested the group will do a partial skills day on remaining topics.

Day 5 :

This will be a partial day of instruction. Students are encouraged to ask remaining questions.and refine skills as needed with instructor feedback. Then the team will break down camp and head back to the trailhead.

FAQs

General FAQ's

Testimonials

I was part of a group that summitted Mt. Baker in early August this year. Overall, it was a great experience. I went into it not knowing what to expect from a guided climb (my past few had been unguided) and was pleasantly surprised. I was concerned that I'd be bored, but was happy to find that they did a great job juggling our group's varying skill levels, and I walked away feeling like I had learned and progressed as a climber. Ben and Anthony are both very knowledgeable (you can always learn from guides, it just depends how much time they have to teach!) and I found myself getting a bunch of new experiences even just in the 24 hours that we climbed. I was also impressed by their abilities to read us and judge when clients needed encouraging or advice. They did a great job managing us, and I remember the moment that my attitude turned from "this isn't going to happen but it's still experience" to "holy crap, we have a shot!" After toughing it out through some rain, blustering winds, and low visibility, the skies cleared up and we had our chance. Thanks to Ben and Anthony for the positive attitudes and guidance that weekend! I'd definitely join them again in the future.
Eve Jakubowski
What an awesome experience to go on climbing Mt. Rainier with Miyar Adventures. Sandeep and his team of guides ( Kirk, Alexis, Joe, Ben, Chris, Jasmin ) did an awesome job to lead the multiple rope teams trough snow skill preparations and guiding through safely on glacier journey. The amount of efforts put into multi-month preparation, pre-trip meetings, accessibility to gears for rent and attention to details with food/weight/personal gears were all instrumental in almost all of us (in a group of 24) able to summit Mt. Rainier and have wonderful memories. We knew we were in best company and safe hands with prior experience with Miyar Adventures led climb to Mt. Baker and few other preparation trips. And guides calibrated their approach from novice climbers to experienced climbers to push enough to have an enjoyable experience. I highly recommend to go with Miyar Adventures on amazing trips they have lined up around the Puget Sound Area and internationally.
Harshit Shah
This was my first time technical/glacier climb under great guides assistance & summited Mt. Baker & can't wait for more to come, see you soon ;)
Zuzana Svitek
If you are interested in doing any climbing or hiking but need a guide , I highly recommend Miyar Adventures...Sandeep is a wonderful person and you will actually learn (and practice ) climbing and crevasse rescue techniques in addition to the trip/climb ...it is definitely beyond a just a "get you to the summit" experience. He genuinely cares and brings in other excellent guides for bigger groups. My husband and I recently successfully made it to the summit of Mount Baker with Sandeep, two other guides and a group of friends and we had a fantastic experience. He and the guides he works with are very knowledgeable so I had confidence in their abilities to lead us but they are also very friendly and fun so that overall trip was enjoyable. I will definitely climb with Miyar Adventures again!
Monica Henry
I've climbed Rainier and Baker (+several other training hikes) with Sandeep and other guides from Miyar Adventures. The climbs were made super fun, safe, and informational. With Sandeep's detailed prior planning, extensive know-how of the mountaineering practices, and long climbing experience, you know the climb is going to be safe with great chances of summit. Before all big climbs, Sandeep does an indoor session to discuss the itinerary and answer any concerns. You'll definitely learn a lot whenever you spend time with Sandeep. He has expertise in all forms of climbing: mountaineering, rock and ice. So it also makes it easy to try other activities because you already know the guide well. I've taken instructions from few other guides as well and I wouldn't doubt to state that Sandeep is the best guide I've climbed with! He'll keep you motivated and answer your questions with patience. He'd have fun stories to tell from his rescue ops, first ascents, or other hard climbs. He is ready to make adjustments based on the preferences of the group which is a key in making the trip not only successful but also enjoyable. I can't recommend Miyar Adventures enough! Give them a try and you'll be glad you did.
Prateek Sharma