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.
You can also take 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 and is easy to navigate from the airport.
6:00 A.M. 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
Due to our location in the heart of Seattle, free parking can be difficult to locate in the vicinity of Alpine Ascents. Most parking is 2-hour metered street parking, and you may need to find a spot several blocks from our office. Please allow sufficient time before your gear check to park your vehicle.
While you are on your climb, parking options include pay-by-day lots or limited 72-hour free street parking 4-8 blocks from our office. If you live locally or plan to rent a vehicle, we recommend parking your car at your home or hotel and commuting to our office via taxi or app-based transit.
Getting to Mount Rainier
Transportation from our office in Seattle to Mount Rainier is provide and we expect all climbers to ride in our shuttle.
Evening Return Day 3 of Climb
You will return to the Alpine Ascents office between 6:00 p.m. and 11:00 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 3, between 6 p.m. and 11 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.
Reserve online at this link: The Marqueen Hotel. Or use promotional code “Alpine” to a get discount, when available during checkout.
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 recommended 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. Prior to your arrival, you will receive pre-gear check materials designed to prepare you for your climb. Expect the gear check to 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, 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 before this meeting, as we look at every item together. Rental gear will be picked up at gear check. You are responsible to bring all gear on the gear list except what you rent from Alpine Ascents.
How to pack for your 3-Day Climb:
Gear List
Link back to your gear list:
This video will give you a basic understanding 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!
Double Boots or Single Boots?
If you are climbing in May, June, or September, you will wear double boots.
If you are climbing in July or August, you will wear single boots.
Note: Certain mountain conditions may require you to use double boots during July or August. If this is the case, you will be notified at your gear check and be able to rent double boots at that time.
Food Planning
You are required to bring your own lunches. On-mountain breakfasts and dinners are provided on the climb. Guides melt snow for water and there will be water resupply at Camp Muir and High Camp. If you have any food allergies or requirements, please include this information in your registration paperwork.
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. All team members will help carry a portion of the group food up to camps on the climb. You will be responsible for providing your own lunches for 3 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.
3 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 trailhead at Paradise (5,400’) to Camp Muir (10,188’)
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: Training Day at Camp Muir & ascent to Ingraham Flats (11,100’)
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 the trail head (5,400’)
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
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) 2 oz Bag
Trail Mix 1 cup
Salty Snack Mix 1 cup
Energy Bars 1 Bar
Corn Nuts 1 Packet
Large Cookies 1 Pack
Candy Bars 1 Bar
Granola Bars 1 Bar
Crackers (Peanut butter or Cheese 1 Package
Bagels (1 per day) 3 Bagels
String Cheese 2 sticks
Cheddar Cheese Squares 1 Square
Mini Cheese Rounds 1 Round
Mixed Dried Fruit 1/8 qt Bag
Hard Candy 1/8 qt Bag
Cold Drink Mix (w/ electrolytes) 2 Packets
Energy Gel 1 Packet
Gallon Zip-lock Bag 2 Bags
Caloric info: www.whatscookingamerica.net/NutritionalChart.htm
On the Mountain
Night 1 at Camp Muir
Sleeping arrangements: Private hut with dormitory-style bunking
Bathroom: Pit toilets available
Cell coverage: Sporadic 4G service with Verizon at Camp Muir, working text messages and occasional phone service. No service with other cell providers.
Night 2 at Ingraham Flats High Camp
Sleeping arrangements: Tents (2-3 climbers per tent)
Bathroom: Blue bags only
Cell coverage: 4G service with AT&T. No service with other cell providers.
Please note: There is no working cell service is Ashford, where we will 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 $150-225.
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.
I had an excellent expedition. The guides were awesome, super fun, funny, interesting, and focused on providing a great experience for everyone on the trip. The food was great, accommodates great (considering we are on a mountain!). We had a near perfect experience.
