The FIFTY - Mt. Rainier - From Giant Surf to Giant Mountains

[@ludvigyttergren4928]

Let us just agree that The FIFTY series should win some awards. Loads of them. Forever. And the some.

[@CodyTownsend]

Well this super biased guy agrees with ya...;)

[@derekmurrow5665]

Agreed. I think more important than awards will be a number of lives potentially saved. The number of people getting into the backcountry is sky rocketing. I for one have watched this series and have learned a ton of valuable safety information. I have goals of someday knocking off this type of mountaineering but it is clear how much training and mentorship would be required to do it safely. I came into this sport from mountain biking and wasn't aware of the huge delta in safety precautions required between MTB (relatively straight forward) and backcountry skiing.

[@joeh651]

@@derekmurrow5665 same here! Bikes = easy to break bones and lose skin. Skiing = easy to die. Be humble is my take home from all this. Massive props to Cody for documenting the turnarounds and the reasoning why.

[@ferrisbueller4607]

Totally

[@yaaaeet1962]

20 episodes in and this is the best snow sports video series. Of all time. FOTY. GOAT!

[@CodyTownsend]

Why thank you sir.

[@NigelStryker]

"I ride what the mountains let me ride" is now on a sticky note by my avy airbag. Great reminder to pay attention to the signs.

[@PaulBeiser]

Cody and Bjarne, I got up early to watch this and as always it was fantastic. Thanks for this Christmas present :-). I loved Cody's "that's the beauty of skiing, you may fail on your objective but you still get to go skiing" - WAHOO! Merry Christmas to you and families. Paul. PS. Maybe you can get Ian to do a traverse with you :-) :-)

[@frannguyen]

ECTP 12 @↓20cm... Yikes! Thank you for including the decision making and rescue procedures involved! Such an important topic that doesn't always get enough attention.

[@Trish.Norman]

frannguyen 100% agree. That’s what I love about the series as well. It’s real!!! The decision making.

[@CodyTownsend]

Yeah, that was my thought when he said it. Pretty much knew it was a slim chance we’d make it up.

[@ibrahimcetindemir7511]

I bumped into the boys on Denali. You could tell they were having a blast.

[@josephregan1007]

Here I was thinking this was Mediocre Amateurs and was like when did they get so professional lmao.

[@kodycoggin]

Joseph Regan mediocre amateurs are legends

[@CodyTownsend]

We’re just Mediocre Amateur Posers. In real life we’re quite professional

[@kodycoggin]

Cody Townsend cough cough it would be sweet for a collab at some point even if it wasn’t apart of the fifty project. oh by the way you are pretty rad too ;)

[@aaronhawley4123]

I thought the exact same thing and I was looking through mediocre amateur videos trying to find the sick scene at 8:18

[@GoodLifeMedicine]

It is interesting how much more comfortable I feel when Cody is talking than when Ian is talking. Cody has vast experience in mountain conditions and knows how to push the limits safely. Ian is clearly nervous and it comes through in his hesitancy. He would be well advised to tackle multiple smaller mountains before taking on the highest peaks. The reverse would be true in his element, of course -- that being big wave surfing. I'll bet he reads the situation masterfully there, and with supreme calmness. Michael Jordan learned quickly that brilliance on the basketball court did not translate to the baseball field. Humility is key here.

[@katatat2030]

Yeah, I was honestly surprised that they took him on Rainier after just learning some basics. But I guess Cody thought he was enough of an all around athlete to adapt, and a little fear is ok. An average person should definitely prepare more though

[@muley180]

It was mentioned in this video that Rainier is a "warm up peak". Don't be fooled, Rainier is a very challenging and dangerous peak to climb. Many people have lost their lives on that mountain due to many different factors. I have lived in the shadow of Rainier my entire life and though I have not climbed to the summit, I have heard countless news stories of those who have perished since the first ascent in 1870. I really enjoyed your video as the highest peak I have personally climbed is Mount Adams at 12,281 feet in 1985. Thank you.

[@brandonb.5304]

Outside of Denali and some more remote Alaskan peaks, Rainier is probably the most difficult climb in the Western U.S. Avalanche risk, whiteout risk, giant crevasses, altitude. It's no joke. I think it's called a "warm up peak" because people who train to climb Denali and some of the Hemalayan peaks use Rainier as a training ground, knowing they're in for serious climbing and danger and Rainier provides great experience for those risks.

[@welike2ski]

Would love to see a bonus episode that includes all the footage from what you were teaching Ian!! Always fun to see the technical/safety side of things!

[@Scottsglobaladventures]

Growing up in Washington and having only climbed to Camp Mier, this was awesome Cody. Thank you for making me even more homesick... I've gotta get back and climb the top for sure! Thanks Dude, The Fifty has been Epic so far...

[@Cosmosrat69]

Thanks Cody this series seriously is the bee's knees and has me itching to be outside again! This series is one of if not the best I've watched in years I've been glued to these videos for hours!

[@willitascend8595]

"How did you sleep?" "I don't know. I don't think I slept much." Classic mountain top response. I'm thinking of doing Rainier in 2 years. What would be your top pieces of advice?

[@ADAMJWAITE]

I've been fortunate enough to make three attempts, two summits up Rainier. I'd still consider myself a novice, although one of the successful trips was up Fuhrer Finger. I wouldn't recommend a guide service like RMI being that you're stuck with a large group of people you don't know, with various abilities, resulting in a limited chance of success. Your best chance is to go with a small group of known abilities and experience, including the proper guide. Preceding the trip, get some good uphill training in, at elevation if possible, such as the day hike up to Camp Muir. Although I haven't done it yet, as a first attempt, I'd consider the Emmons route as well as the popular Camp Muir/Disappointment Cleaver route. Less traffic and possibly dangerous conditions. As mostly first timers or with inexperienced climbers in our party, we took an extra day to complete the trip. Hiked to Muir the first day, spent the second teaching & practicing essential mountaineering skills & safety procedures and went to bed early to make the summit & descent on the third day. Hope this helps! I'm sure others with more experience can lend their advice.

[@theopinson3851]

@@ADAMJWAITE I did the Emmonds’s Route this July. If you’re skiing, know that it’s a LONG hike in with skis on your back. Go light if possible, and start very early. Definitely second the acclimation recommendation…I came from the Midwest and the elevation really got to me on the second day. Still had a blast!

[@pnwmotocross]

Best Christmas present!! New upload from the 50 project and it’s NW based, and features a kid who I’ve looked up to since the 90’s when we used to surf Pavils and Ho’okipa daily sharing the lineup.

[@lionelubc]

Stoked to see a 50 project with a turnaround, good decisions seems like the theme 👌👌👌

[@CodyTownsend]

This is actually the third episode showing a turn around. We're definitely very cognizant of trying to make the best decisions in terms of safety.

[@bikerdude923]

I was up there 15days after you were!!! We couldn't make the summit due to snow conditions on the upper glaciers, rule #1 Make it home alive.

[@justinsellers1327]

Ha... I thought he was going to cut his hair not his long johns. I guess the longs make more sense

[@paghal11]

I thought exactly the same thing, and immediately thought....NOOOOO !!! Don't do it !! The locks are the source of your legendary ski mountaineering skills. Glad he didn't.

[@CodyTownsend]

My wife may have preferred the opposite trimming.

[@MrChristianArguello]

That was sick! I'm planning a Rainier attempt in 2024, and we'll ideally bring skis, so this was interesting to watch. Congrats to Ian for hitting his Denali objective!

[@briandoolittle3422]

Those cap clouds are super common on Mt Rainier in the spring and early summer.

[@PerfDayToday]

Did that Clever route decades ago, Emmons rte mid 2000’s. Never had crevasses (needing ladders) like those. That mountain keeps changing.. more open crevasses for sure! Wow.

[@ADAMJWAITE]

Did the route in the late 90's a couple times and ladders were standard practice. Time of the year and various snow conditions/seasons made a bigger difference.

[@sbeutler]

Mt. Rainier is in my backyard. I spend a lot of time in all 4 corners of the park. Riding down from Camp Muir is always fun. I have never gone any higher than that. Weather conditions change so fast here with the unique pattern, very unpredictable.

[@patdaggett]

Cody, let me know when you come to do Silver on Buffalo. My place is ski-in ski-out from that trail head.

[@cascaderiders]

"Keep Going Until It Doesn't Make Sense Anymore!" words to live by for sure!

[@trashmasterT]

Cody going with the Michael Scott Survivor man aesthetic at 4:15! Also thanks for this series Cody! As someone who is just starting to get into the backcountry it's super great to see all of your guys' prep and decision making while you do these lines.

[@TJ-id6ee]

So awesome to see you guys climbing in my area! Merry Christmas Cody and family.

[@Trish.Norman]

“Schooled.....Ropes, spikey stuff, and dangly things.” I’m enrolling.

[@jonathanweinberger7880]

Liking the Hyperlight bag!

[@nolantwky]

Great stuff. Keep up the good work 👍🏽

[@SplitPhotography]

Love these series! Keep em coming 😀😁

[@gregluesink7195]

Please do a collaboration ascent and descent of one of The 50 with Mediocre Amateur! I would love to see two great ski mountaineering groups do a peak together!

[@FlagadaJohn]

Love that series, thanks!

[@samohtw1]

Yay Hyperlite Mountain Equipment. I own two of them. Love your videos. Maneiac

[@pringlized]

Soooooo good! Ive climbed Shasta. Didn't dawn on me the ride down. I'm totally doing that on Rainier.

[@nickhoyt]

that was rad, love livin in washington, nice push!

[@toddcourant1524]

Big Thanks!

[@ImaPROgamer1314]

Back at it with another banger, Keep it up, buddy! You're fuckin killen it!

[@grizzkid795]

When pulled out the knife and reached for his hair, I thought, "Wow, he must be really hot!"

[@Mechagnomics]

Super cool to see you go from having not done much skimo to being the guy taking other people up.

[@AuroraBoarder1]

When I lived in Seattle 20 years ago, I wanted to climb My. Rainier. I spoke with Ron Warfield, who used to be a guide there. He told me the climbing season ran June through September. Early season brought more storms; late season brought more crevasses. Personally, I prefer storms! I was in no shape to climb back then, but I'm working on it, so maybe I'll climb it someday. P.S. Check out Ron Warfield's poster, "Cloud Dance"!

[@kirkhwaltz]

Merry Christmas buddy! Another great one!

[@kpotter78]

Love your vids, Cody! Thanks also for showing the clip of Ian reaching his goal! Awesome! Does he have a KZbin channel we can follow as well?

[@staticalphabetsoup637]

I’ve had my eyes on Denali for years now, it’s my long long term goal in climbing.

[@joeybennett1491]

Love those Maven optics! 👊

[@kosycat1]

dude...sooo stoked he made it to the top of Denali and down

[@anonymousfox345]

the skiing looked fun

[@zacharyrhodes5157]

The splitboard is rad !

[@3stooges0]

It's pretty impressive that 3 weeks after not knowing basic glacier travel skills and having not been above ~11,000ft he climbed Denali. I sincerely hope he wasn't just dragged up by a guide.

[@CodyTownsend]

You mean like 90% of the people on Denali...? No, went with a group of pro and very experienced snowboarders and no guides.

[@tms977]

Would be sick to see you climb and ski some of the 50 peaks in nice mid-winter powder conditions. Obviously I know this is super weather dependant, but haven't seen you guys ski powder in this series in a while!

[@CodyTownsend]

I would too like to ski more pow! But trying to do this whole thing as fast as possible leaves little options for waiting for these lines in stable, safe, pow. That kind of stuff is what you wait lifetimes for.

[@bigwave7207]

These guys are doing most of these lines because the snowpack is way more stable then. Midwinter pow on these lines is very dicey, although some do get away with it.

[@dr3plugz]

i live by mount rainer and i always wanted to ski it

[@Mattziboyy]

you are such a bad ass cody

[@tranquilmind8487]

Your response to "Any tips for the downhill?" 😂

[@jonremington6236]

looks like such a bigger mt from the top than it does looking up at it.

[@mikebularz9019]

Can you elaborate on "seeing stars" and clear skies the night before around 10:15 in the video?? I'm learning about mountain weather and am wondering what specifically you refer to.

[@jimclean2]

Dang, 12:49 looking back at the Fuhrer Finger... if you took that route you would have summated.

[@JLucRob]

Sick episode! I have a couple of questions. How thick is that rope? And how big was your pack? Thanks!

[@CodyTownsend]

6mm rope with a 70l bag

[@michaelp.bisceglia6880]

IAN WALSH RULES!

[@CodyTownsend]

I agree!

[@jochemsterckx3259]

Anyone knows the song 8:12-8:48 would be a great addition to my playlist for next trip

[@Kthomasritchie]

How are you getting on with the Hyperlite Porter? It still looks amazingly clean.

[@CodyTownsend]

There are great upsides and a few small downsides. For a pack that light though, it carries weight amazingly well.

[@gotamaexpediciones8043]

Buenos Dias Mates! Nice turns... have you ever been to Patagonia? I can guide you there ;)

[@youreaphagatron]

Is that the Porter 4400 (70L) or 5500(55L)? How did you think it carried with skis?

[@shawnfloyd6542]

Word !

[@christophern3854]

Did you guys end up going up the Ingraham direct or disappointment cleaver?

[@CodyTownsend]

Ingraham Direct

[@MurCurieux]

Thumbs up

[@taylorpearlman8567]

Awesome video Cody! What book are you using at the start of the video?

[@Trish.Norman]

Taylor Pearlman I believe the book is called 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America by Davenport, Newhard, & Burrows. (pretty sure that’s the book and why this series is call The Fifty). Each episode is one of these classic 50 lines. Plus there are bonus episodes as well.

[@CodyTownsend]

It was a local guide book to the mountain I bought at the RMI shop. Don’t remember the name.

[@carlosimone6751]

What’s the song that starts at 00:24 seconds? It’s a great choice!

[@hbmtr8824]

Merry Xmas !

[@brandonvukelich3283]

Awesome video! Love the truck canopy, with all sides that flip open. Is that custom or who makes it?

[@CodyTownsend]

It's a GFC Camper made out of Bozeman. Each one is built to your truck custom. They're super awesome.

[@kawabungadad8945]

5:47 this guy reminds me of PC Principle

[@psychedeliccheese]

Should have taken note from the Dorais bros. Bottle of gatorade and skinny skis and 4 hours later you could have been up and down. HA! Good work, get shut down 9 times and maybe get up on the 10th in life.

[@CodyTownsend]

Oh yeah, I’d be stoked to do it Dorais style, too bad I’m not a tenth as fit and strong as them!

[@psychedeliccheese]

​@@CodyTownsend We are all just puny mortals in comparison.

[@extreme_ryan_delena]

What do you recommend as a good time of year to attempt? Late April - mid May?

[@CodyTownsend]

Yeah May is a good time but all depends on the weather and year.

[@teafast1199]

Did y’all get to ski the Nisqually chutes on the way down, just past the Muir snowfield?

[@CodyTownsend]

Not really unfortunately, mainly just retraced the up route

[@teafast1199]

Cody Townsend ah, still super fun!

[@jamiemerkler6825]

Anyone know what kind of boots Ian was rocking?

[@sajum4869]

Is there rangers that just stay at Muir and other spots on the mountain? If so how do they get up there?

[@CodyTownsend]

Yeah, at Camp Muir there are rangers. They get up there just like everyone else, on their own two feet.

[@ratta_tat]

Those rangers have their own hut. They are the real heros on Rainier. I always seek them out when I'm headed up. Their beta is invaluable.

[@user-nw2si7hu3u]

I need to do ranier asap

[@robn.1904]

What size rope is that? Looks so small

[@mowglihope1090]

Which hyperlite is that?

[@surferdude44444]

You guys are in great shape. You're not even breathing hard. I've lost count of the the people going up the "tourist" route, sucking air just to get to Muir.......and they paid a $1000 not to even summit. I'm old school. I used to do Gibraltar route. Nobody does that anymore. Too treacherous.

[@CodyTownsend]

Well, an entire year of skiing spent earned on two feet will do that to ya. I don't know too much about Rainier but will look into that route, sounds....interesting.

[@surferdude44444]

Cody Townsend......Well back in the day, I used to be an assistant-assistant guide for Rainier Mountaineering Inc. We had a mantra "don't insult the mountain when you climb it." In other words be in shape. I was the clean up guide. The last one who would make sure all the stragglers made it up to Muir in at least eight hours! Their version of prepping for the mountain, was doing some jogging a week before the climb. It's just nice to watch real athletes climb because altitude can be a tricky thing. btw.....very impressed with your decision making. The weather that day was gonna get worse before it got better. The mountain will always be there.

[@surferdude44444]

Cody Townsend......Well back in the day, I used to be an assistant-assistant guide for Rainier Mountaineering Inc. We had a mantra "don't insult the mountain when you climb it." In other words be in shape. I was the clean up guide. The last one who would make sure all the stragglers made it up to Muir in at least eight hours! Their version of prepping for the mountain, was doing some jogging a week before the climb. It's just nice to watch real athletes climb because altitude can be a tricky thing. btw.....very impressed with your decision making. The weather that day was gonna get worse before it got better. The mountain will always be there.

[@ADAMJWAITE]

@@surferdude44444 If you were to summit and ski/board back down, what route, itinerary, ect. would you suggest? I've been to the top a couple times and have always wanted to go back and board back down. My limited experience suggested the Emmons route would be the safest.

[@nicolaistolwijk]

i'm not your parents but climbing denali and having to learn alpine technices one climb before is kinda wreckless. i would've built experience on technical and other mountains

[@steveilg6134]

Not a big fan of sport-specific athletes, so kudo's to Ian for slayin' the wholistic spectrum! and Thank YOU, @codytownsend for the empowering Christmas gift!!! head bowed,

[@johnnyrosso3441]

Anyone know the name of those sunglasses Ian had on ?

[@CodyTownsend]

Julbo Vermont Glacier Glasses

[@KaskadeHD]

at 13:40 Who knows what canopy that is?? or style?

[@CodyTownsend]

It's a GFC: gofastcampers.com

[@Mark-zi6yl]

welcome to washington where the weather changes every 10 minutes

[@ifyoucantripitslipit.3844]

Can I come to mountain school? I got rope beacon shovel probe ascender grigi ATC fig8 harness skins skis tent oh yah and kite

[@millerfour2071]

4:20

[@midi510]

I'd have just taken my base layer off or my shell pants and I never wear undies either. Totally useless and totally uncomfortable.

[@susanappleby2414]

This is great but the drums are too loud and distracts from your voice. I had trouble hearing you clearly. Thank you for these. They are inspiring.

[@gotsu21]

Why do these dudes just keep talking craps in these videos? Sucks. Unlike.