I almost never drive around with a gas can in my car…in fact, I can’t think of a single time.  Yesterday I put one in planning to fill it on the way home last night (my lawnmower is out of gas).  Didn’t stop - so I left the can in my car.  Today I ate lunch with my friend and coworker, Brent. After lunch, no more than 5 feet out the door, a guy stopped me and asked if I had a gas can…that he had just run out of gas. Vegas anyone?!?!

 Saturday I wrapped it up with the stain.  With my new airless sprayer (well worth the cost) it took 2.5 hrs and 15 gallons to stain both sides of a 300′ fence — that’s 3600 sq ft! 

So…after 5 months, several trips to Lowes, 1000 pickets, 2 gates, 15 gallons of stain, and 300 linear feet of fencing…the project is finally complete.  My neighbors must be happy it’s over.  Just a few photos for those of you who have asked…

I think I was 12 when I saw Mt. Rainier for the first time. It made me feel so small…so insignificant…and at the same time I wanted to see the top of it with my own eyes. I played in CO a year or so later…then when I was 25 I worked there as a guide (well, actually, I was “staff”). My love for the mountains, their grandeur, and their escape from the busy-ness of life continued to lure me. In February of 2006 I decided I would get a group together for a summit attempt on Mt. Rainier. So I threw a line and got a surprising number of responses. A year and a half later I had a solid group of 8 at the foot of the mountain. We flew out separately from one another but convened Saturday July 21st at the flagship REI in Seattle. We stayed in the Travelodge that night and packed for the big trip. Sunday we drove to the mountain and hiked in to our first (of two) camps at Glacier Basin. It was raining - surprise, surprise - after all, it’s SEATTLE! Of course it was raining!!! Monday we strapped on our packs (less the tents) and had a ropes and crevasse school of sorts. Ashley and Brad taught us how to walk on the snow & ice in our crampons, techniques of self arrest, and even crevasse rescue in the even one of our team were to fall in. The next day we geared up (with everything) for an ascent to Emmons Flatts, a glacial campsite on the mountain where we would spend 3 nights. After arriving we carved 3 flat spots out of the mountainside for tents where we crashed soonafter. Wednesday we rested, ate lots, and rehydrated our bodies for the big climb. That night (actually Thursday morning) we left at 1:30AM for the summit of Rainier. It was SO steep of a climb that was 99% UP with very little flat or down to rest. At 9AM we reached our summit, 14, 410′, and stood proud having accomplished such a feat.

Elev & Distances: White River Campground (4,400′) to Glacier Basin Camp (6,000′) was a distance of 3.3mi. We then climbed to Emmons Flatts (9,800′) over the course of (x)mi. Then (x)mi. to the summit at 14,410′. A total elevation ascent of 10,010′ and one-way distance to the top of 18mi. That’s like climbing Mt. Elbert (Colorado’s hightst) TWICE in one day!

Many thanks to God (for a healthy body), family, friends, and the guys at Cumberland Transit for helping make my dream a reality.

Brad, Becky, Wil, Jon, Erick, Brett, Ashley…thank you for joining me as I crossed a life-goal off the list. I am SO grateful for such good friends. May God bless you all as your adventure continues.

-Greg

Pictures: Hit the Photo’s button at the top of the page or just click here.

Videos from the trip: The Summit | The Bear | The Rockslide

The last couple of days have been nearly heartwrenching as I’ve seen rain move in to Mt. Rainier National Park.  This trip has been in the works since February 2006 and the only thing that could really ruin this trip would be weather.  I knew all along this would be possible…but based on past averages was not probable.  When I woke up this morning I checked the weather again…and it looks as if the skies are going to clear just in time.  I hope when I look back and read this it’s followed by pictures of the top!

Today’s forecast for Rainier…

http://www.atmos.washington.edu/data/rainier_report.html

 .SYNOPSIS…A CHANCE OF SHOWERS WILL REMAIN IN THE FORECAST TODAY AS
AN UPPER LEVEL LOW OFF THE NORTH OREGON COAST WEAKENS AND MOVES
INLAND. THE WET PATTERN WILL CONTINUE AS ANOTHER FRONT BRINGS MORE
RAIN TO THE AREA FRIDAY…WITH A WEAKER SYSTEM EXPECTED OVER THE
WEEKEND. A RETURN TO DRIER WEATHER IS EXPECTED NEXT WEEK.

In just 24 days I will be standing at the foot of one of our country’s most coveted mountains. Sure, I’ve been up 14ers in Colorado which take you from the base to summit in about 4,500′, but Rainier is a monster in its own right. Rainier’s height from base is twice as high giving our team an ascent of 9,010′. Our team… In February of 2006 I began to assemble a team that is now at the solid number of 8 (Brad and Becky Davidson, Jon Waldron, Erick Waldron, Brett Harrison, Ashley Tuggle, Wil Watkins, and myself). All have purchased airline tickets, bought gear, and train appropriately. Speaking of training…what must one do to prepare for a trip like this?? Well the standard answer to the question “how to prepare to hike in an upward fashion with a full pack”…is to “hike in an upward fashion with a full pack.” I’ll put the pack on with a treadmill at full incline about 2 weeks before the trip…as for now, it’s all about physical fitness. I hate lifting so I’ve become quite creative with exercises that replicate activities on the mountain. Chin-ups (to pull myself out of a crevasse), stairs (obvious), and push-ups are just a few. As for coordination - I give most of the credit to Ashley Tuggle. She spent 40 days on a NOLS course last summer in the Himalayas on glaciated terrain mostly above 14,000′. I “commissioned” her to coordinate and organize the trip. It’s been hard letting go of the reigns but she has done an outstanding job planning for the actual climb.

So why would I want to take a chance of falling in a crevasse, being blown off the top of a volcano, or sliding off the side of the glaciated mountain you might ask. The adventure has been calling since I saw this mountain at the age of 12. I have longed to play on such a mountain and done maximum planning to remove as much risk as possible. So join me (in whatever capacity) and wish me well as I set forth to enjoy a week on the mountain.