The Washington Experience: The Byron Version

In the words of Byron:

We arrived at Mt. Rainier National Park Friday morning and checked in with the Rangers to verify our permit.



We then drove down to the lower parking lot and readied ourselves for the climb ahead.





The snow was heavy enough this year, that we started immediately on snow right at the visitor center. I was surprised with the weight of my pack, but even more surprised that I actually felt good carrying it. All of my training must have paid off.









Our goal for the first day was the Muir Snowfield. This was about 1000 feet lower than Camp Muir, but not as crowded and a good place to give ample space for all our training.





Adam trained us how to self-arrest, using our ice axes to stop ourselves in any position. We learned how to rope together, walk roped together, and how to stop a team mate if he falls. Finally, we were taught to do a crevasse rescue and how to use snow anchors to save lives if someone fell.





It was an impressive crash course on mountaineering. It was at this point that we heard an enormous sound coming from the mountain. The mountain began cracking and we watched a huge portion of glacial ice break free and slide down the mountain. What a sight!





Saturday morning, we were up with a quick bite to eat, a little more training, and then off to Camp Muir. Once at the camp, we were surrounded by a chaos of hikers all scurrying around. Tents were set up for those climbing to the peak, along with a couple of Ranger huts and even some bathrooms! There were day climbers all over the place.
















Camp Muir is a destination for a lot of day climbers who then turn around and head back down. Some even ski down, which looked like fun. We set up camp and then relaxed for the rest of the day.





We ate an early dinner and tried to be in bed by 7:00 PM. Sure. It was barely getting dark in Seattle at 10:00 PM. This wasn't going to be easy. I managed to fall asleep around 8:30 PM or so,

only to have to get back up at 11:00 PM and get ready for the summit bid. We put on much lighter packs now, but needed to be roped together, equipped with headlamps, helmets, and crampons, with our ice axes in hand.

Our ascent began officially on Sunday morning, just after midnight. With headlamps on our heads, we separated ourselves with 35 feet of rope. Adam leading the group, me following, and Brent, his brother Layne, and Adam's friend, Jack, watching over the group in the very back. As we climbed along the foot wide path, each step was timed just as the rope pulled taught in front of me. This kept the pace steady. We took our first break just on the ridge above Muir. Looking back down, I could see all the headlamps of the other climbers on the trail behind us, and even those back down at camp. After resting, we left this point and it wasn't much longer until we fell behind a group leaving a higher camp point, Ingraham Flats. The group was slow, and Adam decided we were strong enough to pass them. It was now or never, and so we went for it. Talk about pushing it with all that you have! We made the pass, but it took everything from me, and I really had to push. Luckily, there was a flat section to rest on soon after. We crossed the Ingraham Glacier and onto what is called Disappointment Cleaver. This was a more technical rock section up the ridge of the mountain. As I was climbing, I soon realize how steep the mountain is. I look down to the side of me, and the beam of my headlamp becomes lost in the darkness, because it is shining straight down into very steep nothingness! It was also at this point that waves of nausea of coming over me. Altitude sickness was setting in and continued to stay with me for the next 1,500 vertical feet. I felt absolutely terrible during the next break we take, but I know that if I quit, the whole team has to quit. That's just not fair to anyone!



Adam assured me that I must eat and drink something, and just keep going, the sickness would pass. And so, I continued onward, even having to jump 2 crevasses. At the next stop, my body finally expelled my stomach contents, the nausea passes, and I felt much better.



On the next push, the whole mountain turned a beautiful red glow with the sunrise.


There was one more crevasse jump to encounter before reaching the summit. Adam took a look back at me and said, "You've made it! You just climbed Mt. Rainier! We are on the crater!"

Emotions flowed freely from the wear of the altitude sickness, elated from what I had just accomplished, and knowing that now I have joined my father in climbing Mt. Rainier. My eyes swelling with tears all from emotion and pride, I gave Adam a big hug! "Thank you!" I exclaimed to him.



We all hugged in celebration of our accomplishment, and then left our packs for the short walk to the other side of the crater to reach the 30 foot higher real peak.























I felt joy...excitement...tired...weak...beauty...cold. This one was for Dad.


Thanks to Brent, Layne, and Adam for allowing us to add their pictures to our story!

The Washington Experience: The Sommer Version

I'm sure you all know by now (those who are on Facebook with me) that the main purpose for going up to Washington state was for Byron to fulfill a life long dream of climbing Mt. Rainier, in the footsteps of his father. But I had my own purpose: VACATION BABY!!!!!!! So this is my version of the trip, or the Seattle related activities that may or may not have involved my amazing mountain climbing husband. Byron will be contributing to the next post, all about his climb up Mt. Rainier.

Wyatt had three main goals for Seattle: picking and eating Uncle Bill's raspberries,

















playing with Hailey the dog,

and seeing Esther's baby. Goal number three is going to have to be postponed. Before our trip, Wyatt just couldn't seem to understand that the baby has not been born yet and it still in Esther's tummy. As soon as he saw her cute little tummy, he figured that out. My goal for the trip was to not gain all the weight back I just spent 6 months trying to take off, but to still enjoy the flavors of Seattle, which boy, oh boy, did I. I believe my diet was over the moment we hit the tarmat, because we didn't even make it to Adam's house before a stop at Top Spot doughnuts.
It was all I could do not to stuff the entire bavarian cream doughnut into my pie hole. I made Byron eat half of it. I've noticed its kind of hard to be on a low carb diet when you are eating with 3 to 4 tall, skinny men preparing to climb an enormous mountain. So the pasta was bountiful.









Wyatt and I made it a point to eat seafood at almost every meal possible.













Then, there was Trophy Cupcakes.
Listen...can you hear the choir of angels singing just at the mere thought of this wonderful place? Esther and I practically planned a day around going to this bakery. It was delightful! We couldn't decide on what to get, so we ended up buying 4 and sharing all of them! It was lovely! To counteract all this food, I unknowingly entered the Esther Christoffersen Power Walking Boot Camp. She kept me in line with my workouts! Who can pass up a walk through a green country club with views of Mt. Rainier and Lake Washington? So we start out the walk so peaceful and serene, and then...we reach THE HILL. The dreaded hill that rivals any San Fransisco hill, I'm sure. And I'm pushing up a 37 pound 4 year old in a cheap Kmart stroller! Oye! But I did it...several times. And I still jogged in the mornings too! I lost a pound and a half! Cha-Ching! It was awesome!

Though I didn't buy a ton, this trip involved a lot of shopping. Scrapbook stores, looking for souvenirs, and oh, did I mention 4 HOURS AT REI? I can't complain, I wanted to go.
This was the Mega REI, and I was interested in seeing it, but good heavens, 4 hours? Thank heavens for the play area! We were there so long that Wyatt went though at least 3 groups of "friends." The men were very fortunate enough to have Adam, Byron's cousin, walk them through each department of the store and show them exactly what they were going to need for that climb. I don't know of any other guide that would put the time and effort in like Adam did. He sent detailed lists of supplies the guys should get before they came. He sent practically a "How to Climb Mt. Rainier" manual that he wrote based on everything he knew. Before heading to REI, Adam spent at least 2 hours checking every one's supplies, so he'd know exactly what they still needed to buy. After all that, Adam still had to pack for himself. While the men all went to bed around 11:30 pm, Adam was still packing until at least 1 AM. What an amazing guy, and we are so lucky to have him as a cousin and a friend.

Our days spent with Esther were relaxing and good for our bodies and our spirits, just the way we all needed them to be! Good exercise, window shopping, sunning ourselves on the banks of Lake Washington,


leisurely naps in the afternoon, crafts with Wyatt,
and simple delicious meals on the patio. Esther was leaving town for work on Sunday and we were so sad to see her go, but so happy that we got to spend some time with her.

Sunday was a fun, quick paced, and very long day. I hadn't slept well that night before at all, because I knew Byron would be climbing all night long (more on that in Byron's post) and I kept waking up thinking about him and hoping he was ok. The last time that happened was when Byron was putting an all nighter at the Extreme Makeover build. When I realized this, I then said to myself, "Why is it the last 2 times I have a sleepless night worrying about Byron, Brent Wright is involved?" In case you didn't know, Byron's friend Brent was his partner in crime on this adventure and I do officially blame him for having me worry about my husband. Just joking! Kind of. More on Sunday...so Aunt Kathy picked Wyatt and I up bright and early to go to the Pacific Science Center. What a great place! Our little museums try, but I would love to have a place like that here in Vegas. I would buy a pass and Wyatt and I could spend hours in a different section every week! You name it, they've got it...dinosaurs, and planetarium show, butterflies (which I seemed to be a magnet for, 2 landed on me), mole rats (huh?), a tide pool, and so much more.




It was great, but boy did it tire me out, and Wyatt was very close to a breakdown. Time to exit, stat...after Aunt Kathy tries the high wire exhibit. I'll let that video speak for itself.


The afternoon consisted of hamburgers, chocolate shakes and a movie on the couch, and waiting, waiting, waiting for Byron to come home. Finally, there he was. He and the rest of the boys looked so very very tired. I had never seen them so haggard. But they had made it to the summit, and all got down safe! That's all I cared about.

We took the last 2 days easy, for Byron's sake, but still got some sightseeing in, and one more visit to Uncle Bill, to feast on some more raspberries, and give him a scoop of Baskin Robbins Strawberry ice cream as payment. Thinking that Adam would be dog tired after taking the men on that climb for the weekend, and then turning around and going to work at 8:30 Monday morning, he surprised us by wanting some Thai food and showing us some of Grandpa Chris's old stomping grounds at the University of Washington.













Our last day was taking in the sights, sounds and tastes of the Public Market Center, where Pike's Fish Market and the flying fish call home. With a stop at a map store to buy a map of Mt. Rainier, and a seafood lunch at Athenian Seafood (I had no idea of the "Sleepless in Seattle" connection) we headed back to Adam and Esther's to catch out flight home.


















We flew incredibly close to Mt. Rainier and had the perfect view for Byron to show us the "route" he took and share some more experiences. We said goodbye to all its splendor with a promise for Byron to come back and try it again, just because he can.