Mount Rainier: A Climbing Guide

by Mike Gauthier, b/w Illustration (Illustrator)

Now climbers can get away from the crowded dog routes and experience a wide array of Rainier's most fun, challenging, and complex routes. Mount A Climbing Guide features 39 of the mountain's best routes, complete with details on the approach, the climb, and the descent, as well as elevation gain, difficulties and hazards, and season. Also covered are the latest in permit and park regulations, preparation, the high camps and bivvy sites, summit day, and winter climbing. Safety information includes weather and climate considerations, objective hazards, altitude illness, cold weather concerns and other medical problems, safety tips, and what to expect in a rescue situation. With 50 b&w photos (35 with route overlays) and 3 maps, this is the most comprehensive climbing guide to Mount Rainier.

Genres: Climbing, Mountaineering, Nonfiction, Reference, Outdoors, Sports, Nature

192 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1999

Reviews

[Andy Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, a disclaimer, I am not objective about this book. The author, Mike Gauthier, was the lead on the rope last August that got me to the summit of Rainier. It was one of the greatest(and hardest) experiences of my life.

The introduction by Bruce Barcott sums up my impression of Gauthier from the book and my climb with him. The introduction quotes Alex Lowe saying:"There are two kinds of climbers--those who climb because their heart sings in the mountains and all the rest."

Gauthier's love of Rainier is apparent from the book. This is not a dry read or technical manual but a lively book interspersed with human stories from the mountain's history. And while there is a love of the climb, there is also a healthy caution that addresses safety, weather, required physical conditioning, preparation, altitude sickness, mountaineering equipment and clothing. You get the best of both worlds in this book the needed respect and preparation for the climb that allows your heart to sing.

I highly recommend this to climbers and non climbers alike

[Pooja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading in preparation for my upcoming Rainier trek! Felt informative but sort of outdated with information that probably has not stood the test of time (such as NPS phone numbers). Still a useful read! And fairly well written too

[Colleen Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as Jon and I prepare to sign up to climb the highest peak in Washington state in 2015. This is an excellent guidebook, though probably more than I'll need since we will be part of a guided group for our summit bid. The author covers the basics about when to climb, what to bring, how to be safe -- all very important to me of course -- and he includes a section about the geography of the mountain that I found somewhat interesting. I especially enjoyed the accounts of groundbreaking climbs and other history surrounding Ranier.

[Oleg Melnikov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite a useful book. Obviously this should not be your fist book on mountaineering - it provides very brief info on altitude sickness, on equipment selection, on mental aspects of the climb preparation or strength training.
But it gives a very good description of different (or should I say all possible) climbing routs to the Mt. Rainier.
Well organized, easy to read. Lot of bookmarks (read - useful info).

[Mihai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent information guide for climbing Rainier.

[Mjohnstondmd Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great info for novice climber like myself. We will see if it prepared me... I am stoked for this May!

[Chrisbaker811 · Rating 5 out of 5]

very valuable when selecting your own route.