2:00 p.m. Gear Check Day Before Climb Begins
Meet at the Alpine Ascents Office at 1:45 p.m. for a mandatory gear check beginning at 2:00 p.m. the day before your climb is scheduled to begin. This gear check will last about 1-1.5 hours. You are required to attend this meeting. Please review the Gear Check information and come prepared.
Getting to Seattle
If you are flying into Seattle, SeaTac is the closest airport to our office. You are responsible for transportation between the airport and your hotel.
Getting from the Airport to the Office
Our office is 30-50 minutes from the airport (depending on traffic). Most climbers take a Lyft, Uber, or taxi directly from the airport.
Other options are taking Shuttle Express or the Light Rail (public transit) from the airport station to Westlake Station, followed by a Lyft/Uber/taxi the last 1.8 miles to the office. The Light Rail is $3 for this one-way trip.
6:00 AM Departure Day 1 of Climb
Meet at the Alpine Ascents Office at 5:45 a.m. for a 6:00 a.m. shuttle departure. Please be on time. Alpine Ascents provides transportation to and from Mount Rainier.
Parking
Free long-term parking is difficult to locate in the vicinity of Alpine Ascents. Parking options include 2-hour metered street parking, pay-by-day lots, or limited 72-hour free parking (4-6 blocks away). If you live locally or plan to rent a vehicle, we recommend parking your car at your home or hotel and commuting to our offices via taxi or app-based transit.
Due to our location in the heart of Seattle, Alpine Ascents does not offer parking for climbers. Please allow sufficient time to park your vehicle if driving to our office for Gear Check.
Evening Return Day 3 of Climb
You will return to the Alpine Ascents Office between 5:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. on the last day of the climb.
Air travelers are strongly advised against booking flights out until the day after your climb concludes. Trip schedules will not be adjusted to accommodate return flights booked on the same day your climb concludes.
In Seattle
We recommend booking a room for the night before your climb and for the night your climb concludes. We will return to our office late on Day 4, between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m., and you can return to your hotel. We strongly advise against flying out until the day after your climb concludes. Trip schedules will not be adjusted to accommodate return flights booked on the same day your climb concludes.
Recommended Hotel
The MarQueen Hotel: One block from our office and often able to offer a discount for our climbers. They are helpful and familiar with our programs. Please book early as Seattle hotels can be fully booked in summer months.
Reserve by phone: (206) 282-7407 (888) 445-3076. Mention you are with Alpine Ascents to get a discount, if available.
Reserve online: The Marqueen Hotel. Use promotional code “Alpine” to get discount.
We are located in lower Queen Anne, downtown Seattle, and are a short walk or taxi ride away from many other hotels. You may elect to stay in any one of the numerous hotels in the area. You will be responsible for getting to our office for your gear check the day before your climb and morning departure on Day 1 of the climb.
Other Hotels Nearby:
Mediterranean Inn
(206) 428-4700
The Maxwell Hotel
(877) 298-9728
2:00 p.m. Gear Check (Day Before Climb Begins)
Meet at the Alpine Ascents Office at 1:45 p.m. for a mandatory gear check beginning at 2:00 p.m. This takes place the day before your climb is scheduled to begin. This meeting will last approximately 1-1.5 hours.
You are required to attend this meeting, so we can distribute and fit rental gear, do a thorough check of your gear, provide packing instruction, check personal lunch items, review the climbing route and trip itinerary, and answer any questions you may have.
You may attend the gear check in your normal street clothes. We have storage for reasonably sized luggage while you are on your climb, so please bring a duffel bag/suitcase to store any personal items you do not wish to take on your climb. This luggage can be dropped off the morning you depart for the mountain.
What to Bring: Please bring all of your gear to gear check. Note that you do not need to pack carefully, as we look at every item together. Rental gear will be picked up at the gear check. You are responsible to bring all gear on the gear list except what you rent from Alpine Ascents.
Gear List
Link back to your gear list:
Check out this video for our 3 Day Muir Climb, which talks through many items on the gear list. The 4 Day Kautz Climb requires additional gear not shown here, but the video should give you a basic understanding of much of the gear you will need for Mount Rainier.
Packing for your Climb
Oftentimes when packing for a trip it’s easy for the extras to pile up and weight to quickly build.
Read our blog post on How to Downsize your Pack to help with those critical item considerations for your upcoming climb!
Tents, Stoves, & Group Gear
We will be packing in everything we need for our four days on the mountain. Tents, stoves, and group food will be provided by Alpine Ascents and carried by everyone on the team. Please be aware that you will need space in your pack for these items. At gear check, climbers usually pair up to share a tent/stove to reduce individual pack weight.
Climbers will also help carry some of the group equipment, such as pickets, so make sure there is additional room in and on your pack for these items.
Menu Planning
You are required to bring your own lunches. On-mountain breakfasts and dinners are provided on the climb. If you have any food allergies or requirements, please notify us in advance. Your climber application features a place to input this information, or we are always happy to speak with you directly.
Overview
Food is one of the basic pleasures of wilderness travel. There are countless options for putting together healthy and delicious meals for your trip. For most climbs in the alpine environment, we eat approximately every hour during brief rest breaks. This constant intake is the most efficient way to fuel our bodies and meter our energy output as we climb. We do not stop for long “lunch breaks.” Your lunches should not require the use of a stove while on the mountain.
Basic Principles
A climbing or backpacking outing in the wilderness requires higher energy expenditure on a daily basis than what you may be used to. Eating well and frequently not only sustains energy levels but also boosts morale and attitude. In addition, mountains often challenge climbers with inclement weather. It is important that caloric intake be high and regular to help avoid hypothermia and other cold weather or altitude-related problems.
- Your food should consist of a well-balanced selection of food groups. It is best to plan most meals with high levels of complex carbohydrates to provide the most efficient long-term energy production.
- Refined sugars and simple carbohydrates, found in candy and other items, provide quick, short-term energy.
- Proteins are necessary for good health, but not in the quantities that most eat. On a short trip (3–4 days) lower protein intake levels do not cause problems.
- Fats require much more oxygen and time to metabolize (especially at high altitudes) which can be an important consideration.
Consider foods which are light and compact. Balance this consideration with nutritional needs and packing foods which taste good to you. Packaging should be minimal, but without sacrificing good organization and weather-protection.
Alpine Ascents provides breakfasts, dinners, soups, and hot drinks for summit climbs. You will be responsible for providing your own lunches for 4 days. Listed below are sample lunch menus and a packing list for your climb. It is extremely important to bring the listed calorie amounts, though the exact items you bring may vary according to your preferences.
4 Day Climb Daily Menu Sample
Here is a sample of the types of things people bring with them for their daily lunches.
Day 1: Climb from trail head (4,300–5400′) to our first camp (~8,500′)
Plan to bring approximately 1000 calories of lunch food for this day.
• Cold pizza or fresh sandwich
• Bagel with meat & cheese
• Your favorite candy bar
• Piece of fresh fruit
• Cold drink mix for your water
Day 2: Climb to high camp (~10,000′)
Plan to bring 600-800 calories of lunch food for this day.
• Bagel with meat & cheese
• Your favorite candy bar
• Some hard candies or chocolates
Day 3: Summit day (14,411′) & descent to camp (~10,000′)
Plan to bring approximately 1200 calories of lunch food for this day.
• 4 energy bars
• 2 energy gels
• Your favorite candy bar
• Canister of Pringles
Day 4: Descent from camp (~10,000′ to the trail head ~5,000′).
Plan to bring approximately 500 calories of lunch food for this day.
• Bagel with meat & cheese
• 2 energy gels
• Your favorite candy bar
Sample Lunch Packing List
This list is intended as a sample packing/shopping list to create a complete “lunch bag” suitable for a 4-day climb. These items can be used in conjunction or as a substitute for the above menu sample.
Jerky (Beef, Turkey, or Soy) 8–10 oz Bag
Trail Mix 2 cup
Salty Snack Mix 3/4 qt
Energy Bars 2 Bars
Corn Nuts 1 Packet
Large Cookies 2 Packs
Candy Bars 2 Bars
Granola Bars 2 Bars
Crackers (Peanut butter or Cheese 2 Packages
Bagels (1 per day) 3 Bagels
String Cheese 2 sticks
Cheddar Cheese Squares 2 Squares
Mini Cheese Rounds 2 Rounds
Mixed Dried Fruit 1/4 qt Bag
Hard Candy 1/4 qt Bag
Cold Drink Mix (w/ electrolytes) 3 Packets
Energy Gel 1 Packet
Gallon Zip-lock Bag 2 Bags
Caloric info: www.whatscookingamerica.net/NutritionalChart.htm
On the Mountain
All Nights of Climb
Sleeping arrangements: 2-3 per tent (at both low and high camp).
Bathroom: blue bags only (pack it out).
Cell coverage: Sporadic service with Verizon, working text messages and occasional phone service.
Please note: There is not good cell service is Ashford, where we have our post-climb dinner.
Leave No Trace
Alpine Ascents International practices Leave No Trace principles on all expeditions. We believe that given the proper information most people will do all they can to help protect and maintain the environment. Before your climb, please become familiar with Leave No Trace:
7 Principles of Leave No Trace
As guides, we spend time teaching the environmentally appropriate Leave No Trace principles and practices. There is nothing more rewarding than working hard to get high into the mountains, reaching a pristine campsite, witnessing incredible views, and having the feeling that no one has been there before.
Conversely, there is nothing more disheartening than working hard to climb a mountain, reaching a site and encountering trash, food waste, and toilet paper. Please read the seven LNT principles, and call the office if you have any questions about what you can do to plan ahead.
Tipping
Guides are permitted to accept and greatly appreciate tips. Your guide team is composed of four guides. They will pool all tips received. An average tip for the full guide team is $140-200.
Please be aware that we are unable to process tips by card. You are welcome to tip your guides with cash or via mobile payment such as Venmo or PayPal.
The expedition was amazing. The guides were great and encouraging along the way and helpfully. We always knew what to expect as a group and the next objective ahead. The guides were provided helpful tips along the way.
