Mt. Rainier Summit Climb
"Day One!" My 18-year-old son George said to me last Monday as we hopped back in the car.
For him, it actually was Day One. We'd just climbed Wilderness Peak, elevation 1,595, with 35 lb. packs on our backs, training for our summit attempt on Mt. Rainier on June 26th. George just graduated from high school, and is headed for UW. It's been a crazy, hectic ride at the end of his senior year. Now, finally, with all that behind him, he's ready to focus on the next big hurdle--Mt. Rainier.
To state the obvious, I'm not 18, I'm 50. His Day One was my Day One Hundred. I'd been working up to this moment over long, arduous months, ever since we signed up with RMI Guides. I'd thought I had gotten into decent shape, what with the jogging, the bicycling, the yoga, the hiking. This morning, I'd felt ready when we'd reached the trailhead to Wilderness Peak, like I'd come a long way, like my son and I would chat happily together as we cruised down the trail. Within minutes, he'd left me in the dust. I didn't see him again till I got back to the car.
So we're climbing Mt. Rainier this week, a young colt of a kid and an old mare of a woman. Earlier, I'd imagined I would blog my training, my thoughts, my aspirations. But there just wasn't time. I thought at least I'd blog this week starting June 15 (Day One). But I've learned there's a reason hikers don't write all that much -- they're out there in the woods, hiking!
Instead, here's our last training week, an atypical one, to say the least. I felt like we were on a backpacking trip while living out of our house. Monday we climbed Wilderness Peak, Tuesday we climbed West Tiger, then George was sick of being held up by his mom, so Wednesday I hiked Coal Creek Trail alone (he went jogging). Thursday, we climbed Mt. Si and that's all the more we could do--we haven't been out hiking since, because they tell you to rest up, to store your energy for the big ascent. Today (Sunday), I take Vivian to Cle Elum for horse camp. Tomorrow, George and I head out to Rainier. Think of us Thursday morning, early! Hopefully, we'll be above it all, at 14,410 feet, gazing out over the planet.
Just to let you know, there's about a 50-percent chance we won't even get to go, based on capricious mountain weather. So keep your fingers crossed for sunny skies, and we'll let you know how it went when we return.
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