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u/estesparq

r/MtRainier r/Mount_Rainier r/14ers
▲ 2 r/Mount_Rainier

Camp Muir snowfield conditions currently?

Camp Muir snowfield conditions week of 8/17?

Headed to the park this coming weekend of Aug 22 and planning on hiking to Camp Muir. We’ve been monitoring mountain forecast and see chances of showers on Saturday so may bump it to Sunday/Monday when clearer. But my biggest concern is just in regard to current conditions on the snowfield.

I did read a WTA report from 8/15 that just said the snowfield was crappy and slushy with some blue ice, but didn’t mention any crevasse crossings. However, I haven’t found much else than that and am wondering if this time of year is just not a good time to go for hikers with relatively less experience assessing snow/ice conditions, given that reports/reddit posts from late August 2021-2024 show it being more sketchy?

We will be starting super early so the snowpack is relatively solid. We have crampons/poles/gps and feel comfortable with walking on the snowfield but are otherwise not super experienced mountaineers (have not practiced crevasse rescue, serious self arrests idk) so not sure if we should wait until next year for conditions to be better, or if we are OK To go as long as it’s a bluebird day.

Any thoughts appreciated!

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u/estesparq — 19 hours ago
▲ 2 r/MtRainier

Camp Muir snowfield conditions week of 8/17?

Headed to the park this coming weekend of Aug 22 and planning on hiking to Camp Muir. We’ve been monitoring mountain forecast and see chances of showers on Saturday so may bump it to Sunday/Monday when clearer. But my biggest concern is just in regard to current conditions on the snowfield.

I did read a WTA report from 8/15 that just said the snowfield was crappy and slushy with some blue ice, but didn’t mention any crevasse crossings. However, I haven’t found much else than that and am wondering if this time of year is just not a good time to go for hikers with relatively less experience assessing snow/ice conditions, given that reports/reddit posts from late August 2021-2024 show it being more sketchy?

We will be starting super early so the snowpack is relatively solid. We have crampons/poles/gps and feel comfortable with walking on the snowfield but are otherwise not super experienced mountaineers (have not practiced crevasse rescue, serious self arrests idk) so not sure if we should wait until next year for conditions to be better, or if we are OK To go as long as it’s a bluebird day.

Any thoughts appreciated!

reddit.com
u/estesparq — 20 hours ago
▲ 61 r/14ers

Pics from my second 14er - Quandary 8/2!

Beautiful day to be out on Quandary! My second 14er (did Sherman Fri) and it was much tougher than expected but I still had a blast. Parking lot (reservation only) mostly empty when I arrived at 4:05 am and honestly the trail was pretty quiet all day. I did take 5 hrs to summit taking lots of breaks but how could you not with views like this!

u/estesparq — 18 days ago
▲ 175 r/14ers

First 14er - Sherman

Long-time lurker, first-time poster—always loved to hike, but after first learning of the Colorado 14ers during my first visit to RMNP and hatching this inside joke with my friends that we would summit Longs with no experience, I became obsessed with 14ers (in CO and beyond), mountaineering at large, etc.

I hope to hit Quandary while I’m visiting from the east coast!

Actual trip report (will also post on 14ers dot com):

Left Breckenridge at 3:45, arrived at Four Mile 4:30ish then spent 30 min on the dot on the 11mi to the trailhead. Doable in a rental suv with AWD/off road capabilities, I thought I’d need a jeep or something. Parked 0.3mi from trailhead even though there was space so I could avoid some ditches.

Ascent: TOUGH FROM THE START! I had been training with treadmill walks with incline on max and wearing a 15 lb pack but coming from sea level it sucks no matter what. Definitely contemplated turning around, then it leveled out for a bit. I enjoyed the mining ruins and the fun rock climbs/seeing the steepness of what lay ahead. I find it interesting that Sherman is sometimes called an ugly 14er because I thought it was gorgeous, but maybe it was just an exceptionally beautiful day to be out, not a cloud in the sky :)

Started to tire of all the loose rock and take more breaks before the narrow ridge, pictured #3. People online sometimes make this sound worse than it is? Idk but I’m a scaredy cat and thought it was totally fine, not that steep or narrow. The “false summit” after it is a nice place to chill before making a mostly flat walk to the summit, very spacious with people taking pics and relaxing.

Descent and all that rock killed me, poles were a must.

Overall I found this one so interesting with all the mining history, fun (in the beginning) rocks, and the ridge. Took about 5h total. Starting super early was the move, it was gorgeous.

I don’t think I’ll ever have the courage to try for a Capitol or Longs but I can’t wait to explore more!

u/estesparq — 20 days ago