July 15, 2014

For over 40 years now JanSport has had a presence on Mt. Rainier, and this year is no different! The annual JanSport climb is in full swing right now with one team over on the Emmons Route and the other on the DC route.

Austin Shannon is at the helm of the Emmons team and after a nice (hot) day on the Inter Glacier yesterday, they decided to wake up nice and early today to beat the heat. They did and are already at Camp Schurman. They’ll enjoy some R &R for the next few hours, eat an early dinner, then get to bed. They’ve got a long day ahead of them tomorrow. Camp Schurman sits at 9500ft which makes for a ~5000ft uphill summit day… and if you’re doing the math right that’s ~5000ft downhill as well!

On the other side of the mountain is the DC team led by none other than George Dunn. These guys enjoyed a couple nights at the Paradise Inn, a mountain day school yesterday and a nice buffet breakfast before putting the packs on this morning for their hike up to Camp Muir. George reports from the Muir Snowfield that all is well. Once at Camp Muir they’ll have one of the best burritos on the planet in the IMG Weatherport, then get a good nights sleep. Tomorrow they’ll move up to the flats and summit from there on Thursday.

If all goes as planned both teams will arrive here at IMG Thursday afternoon for a celebratory Rainier Beer with JanSport founder Skip Yowell!

Tye Chapman

July 9, 2014

All this could be yours (photo: Eric Remza)

Likely, especially if you live in Washington. Summer is officially in full swing and as luck would have it, we have a few spaces available on prime dates in July! Have a look at our website for a complete listing of all available dates throughout the 2014 season!

July 6, 2014

Descending Mt. Rainier With Little T in the Background (Photo by Mike Hamill)

Right on schedule, summer has truly arrived on Mount Rainier.  The weather forecast for the next few days is outstanding with freezing levels hovering around 16,000 feet.  The weather synopsis states that:

“…NO SIGNIFICANT WEATHER SYSTEMS ARE EXPECTED TO AFFECT THE PARK IN THE WEEK AHEAD.”

It’s all smiles around the headquarters here as three teams prep to head out the door.  Austin Shannon will be steering the ship for the Kautz climb, Eric Remza on the Disappointment Cleaver and I’ll be on a Little Tahoma Seminar.

Let’s not forget about Mark Allen and team over on the Inter Glacier this evening.  Mark said there was just enough breeze to keep the team cool on their way up to camp today.

Mike Haft and crew are up at the flats camp prepping for their summit attempt tonight, let’s wish them luck!

Luke Reilly