We will hike approximately 30-45 minutes from Paradise Meadows to our training area in Edith Creek Basin at 5,600 feet. Northwest Alpine Guides will provide you with a detailed PreClimb departure book upon registration, including a gear list specific to your trip, meeting location and driving directions. Our alpine guides will meet you for team introductions, gear check, and group gear distribution. Meet 9:00 am at Paradise Inn (front patio area) in Mount Rainier National Park, WA. Our climbing route – which requires ropes, ice axes and crampons – begins just beyond it.

Camp Muir is set on the edge of the Cowlitz Glacier. We take a final break on the snow slopes just below Camp Muir. We continue to kick steps up the snowfield to our third break at roughly 8,600 feet, and our fourth break at Moon Rocks at 9,200 feet.

We ascend to Pebble Creek at 7,200 feet at the base of the Muir Snowfield, then to our second break near Split Rock (7,600 – 7,800 feet). On the lower trail, late-season snow can persist well into July.

Trail synopsis: We follow a well-established trail that gains elevation gradually from the Paradise Meadows Visitor Center to the base of Panorama Point at 6,400 feet, where we take our first break with spectacular views of the Nisqually Glacier.

Camp Muir to Summit to Camp Muir: 9 miles round trip, 10+ hours.

Camp Muir to Summit: 6+ hours, 4300 ft.

3 Day Smith Rock Intro to Sport Climbing.

5 Day Mount Baker Glacier Mountaineering.

Mou t rainier expeditions