Spring Training

Arlington Ashby attends to a mock patient

The climbing ranger team has been busy this spring with a number of trainings. We kicked it off with a highly productive week of rope rescue instruction led by Leo Loyd of Rigging for Rescue. The following week we focused on EMS ( emergency medical services ) skills, with one day of instruction from Remote Medical International followed by a day of training with Pearce County Fire EMS. Returning lead climbing ranger Glenn Kessler who gave us a day of rescue training geared towards professional avalanche rescue. Tucked into this busy schedule was a highly enlightening half day presentation by Mike Moore of the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center on mountain weather. We are all looking forward to getting out of the classroom and climbing on the upper mountain with the first available weather window. Training is great but climbing is better.

DG

Climbing Reservations, Facts and Tips

Reservations for climbing and wilderness permits opened on March 15th. By April 1st, we had a stack of over 1000 forms to process. We're not complaining, and keep them coming, but know that we are processing these ASAP and it is likely that your confirmation letter is or will be in the mail shortly. If we are unable to make your reservation due to camps being full, you will receive a letter giving the reason and you will not be charged for climbing passes or the reservation fee. Some common problems that will slow processing of your request are: not attaching the supplemental form if you have already purchased climbing passes, leaving out dates or camps, illegible credit card numbers, or omitting your credit card's three-digit security code, now required on the new version of the form (if you have an old form, please enter the three-digit code after your card number).
If the dates of your trip can be flexible you will be more likely to get your requested camps. Also if you can be flexible with the requested campsites, it allows us to modify your itinerary to accommodate your trip. While desirable for requests made for trips during midweek, these two options help considerably on the weekends.

For forms and more Info go to:

http://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/wilderness-reservation-information.htm

Rainier After the Storm!

After receiving nearly 8 ft. of snow over the past week at Paradise,

the mountain is looking particularly PHAT!

(View from the Tatoosh)

Getting into the Season

The seasonal climbing ranger staff is back after a great winter of climbing (check out these photos), ski patrolling (shredding locally), tending bar (stop by), and even studying (learn to forecast here).

With all of the recent spring snow we've been getting (and needing!) visitors have been out skiing almost everyday. Avalanche conditions have been varying a lot lately, so make sure to check out conditions before dropping in. Use the "weather" link to the right to see the most recent info.

We'll be updating all of the routes for 2010 and adding logistical information (where to get your permit, when the ranger stations are open, when roads are scheduled to open, etc.) in the next couple of days. Check out the previous years posts on the "Updated Route Condtions" blog for early season route conditions from 2009.

See you on the mountain soon!