Little Tahoma Seminar Typical Itinerary
One fundamental aspect of all of IMG's training seminars is that the itinerary varies from course to course. The guides will determine the exact route and camp placement prior to the seminar depending upon the weather, conditions, ability of the group, and skills they want to highlight. There is real opportunity to get away from the crowds and enjoy a unique experience on Mt. Rainier's glaciers. The seminar progresses up the mountain moving from camp to camp, putting the team in position for a summit attempt at the end of the program. Most days will be centered on training and skill exercises, lectures, and informal discussions at camp, but camps will be moved to give participants hands on experience in establishing safe, sheltered and well constructed camps as well as experience in the day to day skills required for extended expedition camp life.
Day 1: Your orientation begins at 2 pm at IMG Headquarters in Ashford, WA on Day 1. Your lead guide will take you through a gear check and training session. If you need to rent any gear, it can be taken care of during this portion of the program, no need to reserve in advance. Your lead guide can help make decisions about your gear and will ensure each team member has everything needed for the climb without carrying unnecessary weight. During the training session, you will cover Leave No Trace Principles, the Mission of the National Park Service, crampon adjustment, and packing up together. Day 1 will wrap up by 6 pm and the team will be free for the evening. Note that lodging is not provided for the night of Day 1.
Day 2: Meet at IMG HQ at 8:00am and prepare to depart for the Fryingpan Creek trailhead. Please eat breakfast before arrival. From the Frying Pan Creek Trailhead, we hike four miles on trails through forest to Summerland (6,000 feet) before continuing up higher to the snow slopes of Meany Crest and our first camp at 7,500 feet. Just below camp we will stop for some initial training kicking steps up and down steeper slopes and climbing efficiently on snow.
Day 3: After a casual breakfast, the team will continue skills training with ice axe, crampons and rope in preparation for navigating higher up the glacier. After training, the team will break camp, rope up and head up the Fryingpan Glacier to the 9,000 foot notch that leads to the Whitman Glacier. We'll camp a second night somewhere in this vicinity and continue training in the afternoon. This camp will be situated to take maximum advantage of nearby crevasses and glacier slopes for training.
Day 4: Start with an alpine start, just at dawn with a hot drink and instant breakfast. After our team is roped up we'll make our way up the ever steepening Whitman Glacier to a first rock step at 10,500 feet. We'll stop here for some additional instruction in rock climbing and a tight belay from the guides then scramble up this first loose rock step. From here, the going is easier, 3rd class rock scrambling up to the very exposed summit pinnacle. From the top we'll have one of the best views of nearby Mt. Rainier in the area. After spending time at the top, we'll retrace our steps back down the route to camp.
Day 5: After breakfast, the team will break down camp and begin travelling towards Camp Muir via the Ingraham and Cowlitz Glaciers, traversing over to Camp Muir which will operate as the base camp for the Mt Rainier portion of the program. Training and instruction will continue at Camp Muir in the afternoon and the day will be wrapped up with a delicious meal with the guides. We will spend the night in tents at Camp Muir overlooking the Nisqually and Cowlitz glaciers and the rugged Tatoosh range to the South.
Day 6: Pancake breakfast with bacon and French press coffee will be served at 8 am sharp on Day 6. After breakfast, you will put learned skills into action, making the two hour climb up and over Cathedral Gap to Ingraham Flats (11,000') nestled in the Ingraham Glacier. At "The Flats", dinner and hot drinks are served early and we head to bed soon thereafter to rest and prepare for our summit push early in the night.
Day 7: On Day 7, you will wake up early to make your summit push. After leaving the Flats, you will climb to the top of Disappointment Cleaver (12,300') before continuing onto the upper mountain and climbing the Ingraham Glacier to the summit. Snap some summit photos and enjoy the views before we descend. Upon reaching The Flats, the team will pack up camp and continue descending to Camp Muir and then to the waiting van at Paradise. From there we travel back to IMG HQ in Ashford together. Here you can return rentals, make retail purchases, and share in a closing ceremony with your guides.