[ Mt Rainier ] Day 3: Muir to Ingraham Flats

June 19, 2003 - Slept well at Muir and packed everything up for the hike to Ingraham Flats. We roped up and left at 9:30am during clear skies. After crossing the Cowlitz Glacier, we scrambled over Cathedral Rocks and under Cathedral Gap. At 11:00am we arrived at Ingraham without incident.

We set up camp and relaxed while avoiding the sun, sharing stories, and listening to reports from teams descending the mountain. About 5 or 6 parties descended the Ingraham Direct and Disappointment Cleaver routes that afternoon. Teams reported the Direct route was in good shape and had some sporty snowbridges.

The afternoon was spent melting water for drinking and dinner. This proved to be difficult as the wind and snow flurries picked up as the afternoon progressed. Around 5pm we ran out of fuel and had to use the remaining luke warm water to moisten our freeze dried dinners. Yummy.

Tonight was an early night after unpacking gear not needed for the summit attempt. We had a good hour on most teams leaving from Muir so we decided to take an extra hour of sleep and set the alarms for 2am.

Camp Muir Tent Site
Breaking down camp. Camp Muir shelter in the background.

RMI Huts
RMI client and guide huts at Camp Muir

Looking Good
An amazing view of Adams, Hood, and St Helens from Muir, and then there's me

Cathedral Cleaver
Roped travel across the Cowlitz, and then under and across Cathedral Cleaver

Ingraham Glacier
Hiking onto Ingraham Glacier from Cathedral Gap

Ingraham Glacier Direct Route
The planned route of ascent and descent

Disappointment Cleaver
The alternate/late summer route to the summit from Ingraham Flats

Ingraham Camp
Ingraham Flats camp at 11,000 feet.

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