Any party considering climbing should note that at this time the guide services have ceased operations on the upper mountain, and as such have removed all route adjuncts including ladders and handlines. While the boot pack previously used is still quite visible on the mountain, it will lead you to places where these adjuncts were previously in place, and where the crossings are no longer viable as such. This significantly increases the technicality of moving through this terrain, and travel on the mountain, more than ever, will require independent route finding and assessment. Alongside this ..read more

 Thanks everyone for a wonderful climbing season. The following is an update on the route and expected closure for Camp Schurman: The Changing Of The Seasons:  Temperatures are beginning to cool, moisture is in the air, and snowfall is once again arriving on the upper mountain. Fall weather patterns are settling in with more frequency and Labor Day Weekend has come to pass. The main climbing season is wrapping up here on Mt. Rainier. What does that mean for the Emmons-Winthrop?   Nobody has successfully summited via the Emmons-Winthrop in several weeks and there is n ..read more

An interesting lenticular cloud from the top of the Cleaver on 8/26 This blog is maintained by the Mount Rainier National Park Climbing Ranger team for use by recreational non-guided climbers. Use these reports as a baseline, but plan for changing conditions. Within the past week, Rainier put on a weather show closer to the Fall season than a "typical" late August. Stormy weather and colder temperatures resulted in fewer climbers at Muir, however, with the anticipated sunny skies/calmer winds this week, numbers have steadily increased.  Raven perched on boulder with ..read more

  This blog is maintained by the Mount Rainier National Park Climbing Ranger team for use by recreational non-guided climbers. Use these reports as a baseline, but plan for changing conditions. A few climbing teams have been making it to the top of Mount Rainier despite the unseasonably cold weather and stormy skies.  The first snow flurries fell last week along with some major lightning storms adding to the wintry vibe. The Muir Snowfield has been in great condition this August - no visible cracks have opened up and though the snow has been slick and consolidated with many melt/fr ..read more

  August 12th, 2024 This blog is maintained by the Mount Rainier National Park Climbing Ranger team for use by recreational non-guided climbers. Use these reports as a baseline, but plan for changing conditions. Since the last route update on 8/2/24 Mount Rainier has experienced seasonably warm temperatures with a brief spell of rain up to 12,000 feet on 8/9/24. There has been little that has changed on the route other than that existing snow bridges are continuing to thin. Additionally, there are now two boarded ladders above Ingraham Flats. There is a section with fixed rope leading to ..read more

Overview: Approximate line of the Emmons-Winthrop Route as of 8/4/2024 As of 8/4/2024, the Emmons-Winthrop Glacier route still follows the general path of the 7/30/24 route update, Mount Rainier Climbing: Emmons-Winthrop Route Update 7/30/2024, however this week's heat has started taking its toll and conditions are quite dynamic along the standard route. Climbers attempting the Emmons side of the mountain should expect a higher technical bar for successful climbs and be prepared for: Belayed rope techniques for steep snow/ice and marginal crevasse-bridge crossings, incl ..read more

July 30th 2024  This blog is maintained by the Mt. Rainier National Park Climbing Ranger team for use by recreational non-guided climbers. Use these reports as a baseline, but plan for changing conditions.  Overview: Precipitation will be winding down today as a high pressure ridge enters the area. Freezing levels on the mountain will climb from 11,000 feet to 16,000 feet by mid-week and into the weekend. Check out the Mt. Rainier Recreational Forecast for more info. The Emmons-Winthrop route remains climbable and the route conditions are average for this time of year. With weat ..read more

 This blog is maintained by the Climbing Ranger team for use by recreational non-guided climbers. Use these reports as a baseline, but plan for changing conditions. Leave No Trace on Rainier LNT is a term almost all backpackers and climbers are familiar with (if you have yet to hear of it, you have now, and I recommend doing some further research to dial your systems to meet its principles). This set of seven principles people follow in the backcountry to leave where they go looking as untouched as possible for future generations to enjoy the same wilderness experience. A n ..read more

 July 28th, 2024  This blog is maintained by the Mount Rainier National Park Climbing Ranger team for use by recreational non-guided climbers. Use these reports as a baseline, but plan for changing conditions.  In recent weeks Mt Rainier has had overcast skies and slightly lower than average temperatures followed by clear skies and near normal temperatures. Snow levels are at about 7,600 feet and the wildflowers are in full effect in the subalpine meadows. There have been a few fires to the east and to the north, yet the air quality and upper mountain views have remained rela ..read more

This blog is maintained by the Climbing Ranger team for use by recreational non-guided climbers. Use these reports as a baseline, but plan for changing conditions. Overview The guided route up the Disappointment Cleaver continues to change. The guide services worked all day yesterday to establish a route that goes through to the summit without traversing below and through the recent ice fall on the Ingraham Glacier. The route currently travels straight up from the Cleaver. There is a handline through a steep pitch of snow. Expect this section to change rapidly and potentially require a ladder ..read more