Winter Climbing School, rope, ice, rock and snow climbing

Winter Climbing School, rope, ice, rock and snow climbing

 
 
News of our recent expedition: Winter Climbing School
 
8 of us spent a week doing the www.WinterGlacierSchool.org . It was very fun. Everyone met at the leader's house and some people slept on couches and floors, while others got a local motel room. After a delicious team breakfast, we spent a day checking our individaul and group gear and went to local mountain shops to rent or buy what we needed. There are so many mountain shops here, so there were a lot of choices. We went up to the mountain and set up our tents in the snow, rigged our harnesses, practiced roped glacier travel techniques, avalanche beacon location, snowshoeing and skiing. After the class we came down the mountain and had a nice dinner together, a beautiful ocean boatride, and a big bonfire on the beach. It was fun to meet everyone, to hang out, to climb together, and make new friends.

Please join our next winter Glacier School and please check out our Summer Glacier School too: www.SeattleGlacierSchool.org .
 

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8 January -

We practiced crevasse rescue technique with prussics and ascenders in the rock gym. It was good to learn how to handle the ropes and tie all of the necessary knots. Afterward we checked out local wildlife such as seals, seagulls, and jellyfish, and then had a big celebration bonfire.

Team traverses the mountain. Murphy Osborne Photo. Murphy and Jason searching for avalanche beacons in deep snow.

 

 Dan Mazur enjoys a blizzard during the Winter Glacier School. Murphy Osborne Photo. Eric, Austin, Dan and Marshall enjoying a delicious meal after the glacier school. Murphy Osborne Photo.

Hanging stove in the doorway of a tent with ropes and Louisa in winter glacier camp. Heron on logs on a foggy day in Olympia. Murphy Osborne Photo. Crevasse rescue practice using prussics in the gym, during the Winter Glacier School.

7 January - 

During the night a huge storm blew in and we decided to leave the mountain in high winds. A ranger met us in the car park and escorted us down the road to the main gate, which was locked. Apparently, we were the only people in the park.

Jason belays Sujata and Estelle belays Marshall during ropes training. Jason Craddock and Dan Mazur climbing up during the Winter Glacier School. Murphy Osborne Photo. 

 

 Louisa Lakos in a quiet moment in the tent. Murphy Osborne Photo.  Jason high speed snowshoeing. Murphy Osborne Photo.

 

  Louisa and Dan talking to Ranger Rick. Murphy Osborne Photo.Louisa Lakos and Austin Leischer enjoying winter. Murphy Osborne Photo.

Louisa and Ravi packing for the winter glacier school. Murphy Osborne Photo. Louisa and Sujata enjoying the campfire after the Winter Glacier School. Photo by Murphy Osborne

Louisa packing in the parking lot. Look at the  snowbanks. Louisa, Austin, and Dan heading up hill. Murphy Osborne Photo.

 Louisa practices crevasse rescue technique using a petzl ascender in the gym. Marshall and Jason practicing roped glacier travel in a blizzard.  Murphy Osborne Photo.

Marshall Trautman takes a break. Murphy Osborne Photo. Marshall Trautman wearing a headtorch and carrying a backpack during Winter glacier school. Murphy Osborne Photo.

Team preparing their harnesses. Valerie enjoys a snowstorm from inside her warm tent.

 

Valerie snowshoeing around our camp. 

6 January -

We awoke early and cooked breakfast in our tents, then set up our harnesses. After lunch we practiced locating avalanche beacons, then learned roped travel techniques. This afternoon a blizzard ensued and we received a lot of snow.

Murphy Osborne snowshoeing around camp during the Winter Glacier School. Louisa Lakos Photo. Sea gulls and seal on logs in Olympia. Murphy Osborne Photo.

Seal on logs in Olympia. Murphy Osborne Photo. Team packing up. Murphy Osborne Photo.

 

Erik Morfin enjoys snowshoeing. Murphy Osborne Photo. Valerie practices belaying during a snowstorm.

 Valerie Carpenter watches the snowstorm during the Winter Glacier School. Murphy Osborne Photo.  Murphy Osborne climbing during the winter Glacier School. Louisa Lakos Photo.

5 January - 

Today our team ventured up to the mountain and set up camp on a ridge high above the glacier. Conditions were excellent, with good dry weather and consolidated snowpack.

 
Celebration campfire after the Winter Glacier School. Photo by Murphy Osborne. Cormorants on log on a foggy day in Olympia. Murphy Osborne Photo.

Checking personal gear.  Preparing the 4 season tents.

  

Looking at the big Everest boots at Feathered Friends.  Renting and hiring boots and crampons at 2nd Ascent. Trying the big Everest suit at Feathered Friends.

Studying the Mount Rainier map at REI. Team enjoys a delicious breakfast at a local cafe.

4 January -

Today our team met at Winter Glacier Glacier School Headquarters and then went out for a delicious breakfast at a local café. After we that we checked the members gear and our group gear and made a shopping list. Then we drove up to Seattle and did our mountain shopping, renting, hiring, and purchasing everything we needed at Second Ascent, Feathered Friends, and REI. We enjoyed the ambience of Seattle, then returned to our HQ and packed up for tomorrow's journey to the mountain. Everyone is very excited! Back to Top

 
closeup of the upper mountain seen yesterday.  Dan checking out the mountain prior to www.WinterGlacierSchool.org
 
Here is how the mountain looks from glacier school headquarters. mountain at sunset
 
Overhead view of the plastic model of the mountain. plastic model of the mountain.

31 December -

Tomorrow our www.WinterGlacierSchool.org begins. Everyone is very excited. Yesterday we went up to the mountain to check out conditions. They are excellent. Lots of snow!!

Tomorrow all of the members arrive. Happy New Year and Welcome to the Team!!!

Team Roster -

  • Daniel Mazur
  • Eric M.
  • Valarie C.
  • Austin Leisher
  • Marshall T.
  • Jason C.
  • Louisa L.
  • Murphy O.Back to Top