You definitely feel the extra effort required from the 14k of elevation.

Didn't see any fish. The lake was still 99% frozen over.

Depends on conditions, but generally speaking earlier is better as the snow is firmer.

@@BHarker75 I decided not to attempt after making it to lower boyscout lake the day prior. And I’m happy with that decision cause 2 people fell to their death above the notch. Not sure I want to be up there when it is that icy!

Sounds like you made a really good decision. It can be difficult to make the decision to bail but it's better to regret bailing than to regret sending it.

@@BHarker75 one of my favorite aspects of mountaineering, it humbles you. Makes you realize not everything is in your power or your control. I haven’t made a summit all spring but I hope I summit rainier here in a month

@@Foxyfreedom I climbed Rainier for the second time last year (DC route). It's a big, tough mountain! Good luck!

It's a beautiful mountain with great views. You can't help but appreciate the majesty of it.

A beautiful area and so many cenotes to cool off in.

Thanks.

Thanks! Smart to do Kili first. May you get good weather for Aconcagua.

It was a guided trip with Ko'oX Moto.

A climber dropped their glove. It is very steep!

Thanks. I took diamox but my body just wasn't up for the altitude this time.

Thanks!

Thanks!

I used RMI. My advice is to work your way up to Aconcagua. Rainier, Orizaba, Kili, then Aconcagua. Altitude is a butt kicker and you won't know how your body responds until you start testing it.

@@BHarker75 Thanks for responding! I did Kili a few years ago, I managed to get to the summit (but it was very exhausting and I was slow). Have you heard of the guide companies AMG, Inka Expedition or Acomara? I was leaning towards them.

I am not familiar with those companies. Sorry.

Thanks for watching!

Also just realized yours was the last climb he guided. I recall watching his posts on Strava. RIP Luke.

Yeah, I heard the sad news when it happened. Super Luke was a joy to be around and I feel lucky to have met him.

did you find a group yet? if you want to do it on June 10th , let me know

Ixta kicked my butt, to the point I was having serious doubts about Orizaba coming up 3 days later, but I bounced back and had a great day on Orizaba. So just take each day separately. Have a great trip!

Thanks! I'm very fortunate to live in the PNW. I climbed a few dozen peaks this past season including El Dorado, Sahale, and Rainier (for the 2nd time).

Thanks

My channel isn't monetized and I film with a cell phone and a hiking pole so I've never been especially worried about the permit rules. That being said, I was curious what the current guidelines were as the National Park Service lost a court case on this issue in 2021. As of Oct, 2022 it appears a higher court has overruled the lower court so the onerous filming permit requirements are back in place. I understand and support the permit requirement for a film crew with all the gear and people but to push these permit requirements on KZbinrs recording with a cell phone is just absurd. drivinvibin.com/2022/09/17/filming-national-parks/ www.nps.gov/aboutus/news/commercial-film-and-photo-permits.htm

@@BHarker75 I see. Well just to clarify, the permit indicates that video monetized in any way is still illegal. For example, even though you are not generating personal revenue from your video, KZbin still is which makes this video breach the permit rules.

As they say, it's better to regret turning around than to regret not turning around.

RMI was the guide service I used.

Yes! Thank you!

Thanks 👍

Thanks!

I just climbed Rainier again a few weeks ago with a couple friends and here's what we did. Regarding gear, the main stuff (tents, pads, bags, stoves) stay at camp. Within the team, however, we want some emergency gear so we bring up 1 foam pad, 1 sleeping bag, 1 emergency bivy, and 1 stove (enough to survive an unplanned overnight). Every team member is carrying crevasse rescue gear (cords, carabiners, microtraxion, tibloc, picket, etc.). We only used crampons after Camp Muir - we didn't use any traction going up the Muir snowfield. On my Aconcagua trip we had one guy in his early seventies who turned around at camp two (18,400ft) where we got weathered in for 4 days. We also had one guy in his sixties who turned around with me at 21,000ft. For both of them, this was their second attempt. Aconcagua is a big, tough mountain. Thanks for the comments and questions!

@@BHarker75 Thank you very much for your comprehensive reply. I'm not too concerned about the altitude--we just went form sea level to 14, 440 in Colorado the next day. But my legs and feet do start to hurt a bit. Thanks again.

I couldn't agree more - the Enchantments is spectacular. Thanks for the comment!

Thanks for the comment. I used a DJI Osmo action camera for this video.

Thanks for noticing the different video angles! It's not always easy to set them up but worth it in the end. I'm always amazed at how fast conditions can change when the weather warms up.

Hey, thanks for the question. Not sure why it doesn't show through in the video but any time we're roped up we also have an ice axe in hand (and often a trekking pole too).

Thanks! I'm a gear junkie who has tried too many tents over the years. I like to pull all my gear inside leaving only my shoes in the vestibule. For me, a 2 person tent is my 1 person tent. A 1 person tent is just too small and the weight savings doesn't make the cramped quarters worth it. My favorite right now is the TarpTent Double Rainbow Li which only weighs 29 ounces including stakes, guylines, etc. This is the tent I used on Mount Shasta and which I have used all over the PNW. The Double Rainbow Li is either semi-free standing (no trekking poles) or, with a pair of trekking poles, totally free standing. It has a hybrid design that is 50% single wall and 50% double wall and this arrangement handles condensation shockingly well. If you're looking for something a little cheaper (and heavier) it's hard to beat a Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2. It's a pound heavier than the Double Rainbow Li but is an excellent tent. When the approach is a little shorter so I don't mind the extra pound and I want to save the wear and tear on my Double Rainbow Li this is the tent I bring. We're about the same size so both of these tents will work for you too. Happy tent shopping. The mountains in the Cascades & Olympics are spectacular. I've climbed about 120 of them now.

@@BHarker75 Thanks for taking the time Brandon, that's great information. There's no way I'm going back to a 1 person shelter although I have a, Zpacks Altaplex which is marketed as 1 person, but it's liberal in length and width and weights less than a pound. I've never owned a Big Agnus product but I see the one you mentioned is on sale. I haven't been out of the country as you, but I've been many places in the states and am going on a pack rafting trip in the Arctic this August. After that, and even though I'm in PA I've really settled on spending as much time as I can in the PNW in my later years (I'm 58 & married). Getting close to booking a trip next spring on Mt Shuksan. With all your experience in the area, I'd really appreciate being able to DM you or to chat even though I'm not really all that boned up Social. Are you on another media where that would be possible if you're agreeable to it?

Nice! I saw my truck camper in the parking lot in your video and i think I saw us coming down as you were almost to the summit. That was beautiful weather we had for sure. Congrats!

Thanks. I agree, Shasta was a lot of fun.

Agreed. Argentina was absolutely fantastic to me and my team.

Thanks for the kind comments and good luck on your upcoming climb!

Thanks and go get it!

Thanks for looking out for me. I transition to using my ice axe when the terrain warrants it.

I agree. I've learned a lot about mountain cardio since climbing Kili. Zone 2/3 training is your friend.

Hi Alex, Mount Saint Helens is the easiest of our volcanoes. Adams is second easiest. You don't need a guide for either one as there's no crevasse risk on the main routes, but you do need to know how to use an ice axe to arrest a fall. If you're interested in learning the skills to get out in the mountains check out the Mountaineers organization based in Seattle. You can take courses to learn the skills to climb our mountains without a guide. Specifically check out the scrambling course and the basic alpine course. After taking the scrambling course you'll be able to climb Adams and Helens with the club. As part of the basic alpine climbing course you'll likely get the opportunity to climb Baker and/or Rainier with your class. I can't recommend the Mountaineers enough if your goal is to learn how to get out in the mountains safely without guides. In the interest of full disclosure, I'm an active member of the Mountaineers and I lead scrambles for the club. Since joining The Mountaineers I've climbed over 100 separate peaks in the PNW. If you love the mountains you're going to love it here. Congrats on the upcoming move!

It worked surprisingly well combined with a big Anker battery bank. I think the 21W size was the key.

Thanks for watching!

Thanks. You can find the water bottle holder at zpacks.

Thanks. It's a fun hobby.