This mountain is insanely beautiful but deeply dangerous | Mt Rainier

After setting my sights on this mountain two years ago, I put together a team to tackle Mt. Rainier via Disappointment Cleaver. This trip really had everything: a ladder, an avalanche, a sunrise, glaciers galore, and more crevasses than I can count.
We summited on July 13, 2019.
Favorite pieces of gear:
Funky hat: amzn.to/2NfQ0Vi
Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor: amzn.to/2x5rJns
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm: amzn.to/2fAF1SN
MSR Windburner: amzn.to/2K3Kxxo
Sierra Designs Cloud 20 sleeping bag: amzn.to/2VVP8cv
Nalgene On-The-Fly bottle: amzn.to/2Erl4dZ
Mt Rainier Gear List: bit.ly/2GuTQE7
-----------
Music by:
Ender Güney ( / ncmepicmusic )
Whitesand ( / @whitesandcomposer )
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This is at no cost to you and helps support this channel.

[@donkemp8151]

Hiking Nerd, I watch a lot of hiking and camping videos. I’m impressed with the quality of yours: videography, editing, narration, background music. Really excellent. Thanks for sharing.

[@blainewinters8492]

Amazing job, Jimmy. Beautiful cinematography and editing, all while climbing so well... You made me want to climb Rainier more than ever. Thank you.

[@nobodyhikes]

Congratulations on completing that route! Unbelievable scenery. Must've felt very satisfying putting the team together and having success and everyone coming home. Thank you, Jimmy.

[@HikingNerd]

Thanks for the encouraging words! I’m most excited that everyone made it home - the summit was a nice bonus though :)

[@tropicsandoceans7945]

Most impressed with the young lady pushing past her fears to complete the climb and your belay showing good technique and providing as safe a passage as possible (maybe mountaineering lesson there)congrats to you all. It really doesn't get any better than that!

[@johnmca5643]

Great job on editing and filming.... I truly enjoyed watching. And of course..... Congratulations!

[@YetiAdventure]

Congrats on making the summit! This is truly one os the best Rainier trip reports we've watched and we're stoked on some of the excellent shots you got along the way. Very well done!

[@HikingNerd]

Thank you!

[@RangerAmateur]

Beautifully done. Looking forward to the day that I summit it. Keep it going!

[@brianrupp5974]

The editing and background music are excellent. Great job! Happy for you and your crew

[@dennisstilwell8116]

Thank you for an excellent video of your climb..... thank you for taking great effort to not continually jiggle the camera.... a wonderful job!!!!

[@PerfDayToday]

Great job, congrats, that Mt has really opened up over the decades. Never used to be so many crevasses decades ago. Whole different climb now. Bridges, ladders etc.

[@californiathroughmylens]

First, congrats! Second, thanks for sharing all of those awesome views, really cool to watch the hike!

[@HikingNerd]

California Through My Lens Cheers! Didn’t know you were a subscriber - cool!

[@cq7415]

Wonderful video. Great camera work and editing. You did a wonderful job of filming. Thanks for sharing

[@Flame44]

Not only are your vids AWESOME but your training & research before each climb is impressive.Hope you keep sharing. Looking forward to the next adventure.

[@HikingNerd]

Thank you!

[@1GunGurl]

Excellent editing and video quality. Thanks for filming this awesome Hike. Congratulations to you all. After seeing this video you gained me as a new sub! Top notch quality.

[@mdsheppard2]

Congratulations on your accomplishment! I spent many years growing up in western Washington and have always been fascinated by the beauty of The Mountain. Thank you for sharing and letting me have my best views of being up on The Mountain yet. She is a beauty, isn’t she?

[@HikingNerd]

I’m pretty jealous of those who get to look at this mountain on a frequent basis!

[@juicemez3]

Omg that ladder bridge in the ice, yikes! Thank you for documenting this adventure. It’s on my list!

[@TubaSolotheHiker]

Amazing! Congrats on the summit. Wow. That really was an amazing adventure!

[@KidKlatt]

Great video. Really great camera work and music selection. The climb looks awesome and hoping to be there next year!

[@MountainMontage]

Nice Video! That summit day sunrise was EPIC. Hopefully Ill get up there this summer!

[@stanthemanhikes2965]

Great video and awesome views thanks for taking us along. Congrats on the summit!!!

[@thriftstorejunkee]

This is definitely my favorite video you’ve uploaded! I liked seeing snippets of your training and the editing style of this video.

[@Darrylizer1]

Nicely done! Very beautiful

[@DWNY358]

Great video! It helped me re-live the experience I had there about 7 years ago, with almost precisely the same route and weather conditions that you had.

[@johnmca5643]

I've been up twice and both times it was clear and warm on top. My first time we were shirtless on top.....

[@valhalla9688]

Last 3 times i was there we were all naked. Incredible feeling

[@sexyariel007]

Oh Gosh crossing over to the next part of that mountain made my heart race! You have such a great team! 🙌🏼 and beautiful beautiful views 😍😍😍😍

[@Brian-gv7ug]

what an amazing trip! Such great views! Thanks for taking us along!

[@lordmarshall5239]

Completely impressive. Both the accomplishment and video are worth being proud of.

[@darkfrost1901]

Wow incredible views! You guys really earned this one.

[@MarkFugel]

awesome accomplishment! Beautiful video...thanks for taking us along...

[@HuskyMike]

Great video, Jimmy. Looks like a crazy route. Nothing "disappointing" about it at all. 6:30- The end of that ladder looked awfully close to the edge of the crevasse!!

[@HikingNerd]

Two years later, you're still a subscriber! It's pretty fun to rewatch the footage and notice things that weren't immediately apparent when I was out there - like how that ladder barely fit across the crevasse.

[@HuskyMike]

Yup, still here. ha ha. Except for my failed Whitney attempt last year, I haven't made it past the local SoCal mountains so I'm living vicariously through all your adventures.

[@OldLadyAngler]

congrats on your summit. What a gorgeous view of Mt. Adams from there. This is some really great footage of your hike. Thank you for sharing.

[@HikingNerd]

Thanks! We got really lucky and I'm glad I was able to capture some of the views.

[@mountainmom3773]

Congratulations. Looks like perfect weather 👌 Great footage, and music. Rainier looks incredible!

[@conniechao3550]

Love this video! You captured the essence of the wild environment of Rainier, complete with an avalanche! I was actually there a couple of days after you and your team summited, but was on the Emmons Glacier. Due to deteriorating conditions we were not able to summit, but it was definitely an unforgettable experience! Very late, but congrats on the summit!

[@jenellebarkley]

Epic video Jimmy. Was waiting for this video and am so happy to see you and your team to summit and return safely. Summiting Mount Rainer is something I will never do so thank you for sharing your experience and journey.

[@HikingNerd]

Thank you, Jenelle :) Stay tuned for more adventures!

[@YongsungKim]

Great job Jimmy. Congrats. It's incredibly beautiful. Watched 5 times so far.

[@HikingNerd]

Wow! So many times... the only explanation is that you're preparing for your own attempt up Mt. Rainier one day? :)

[@YongsungKim]

@@HikingNerd Absolutely. :)

[@TahoeTrailRunner23]

Wow, I did not realize you were in the city!! How amazing, Marin headlands is one of my absolute favorites when I get the chance to visit 🙏🏻

[@turbo80lxcoupe]

Awesome video. Hoping to do this next year. Fortunate to have mt rainier in my back yard

[@miketownsend9281]

Fantastic perspective! Well done!

[@Sheety33]

Congrats buddy - insanely beautiful indeed!!

[@abbynormal206]

you are such a great documenter of the scenery. great quality and great choices. just enough narration. the music works. way above the crowded field of hiking videos. more please.

[@tomgeraci]

That was superb! Every part of the video, like Mr. Kemp stated. I learned and enjoyed accompanying your troupe on their summit.

[@HikingNerd]

Thanks Tom!

[@triz313]

Amazing adventure! Thanks for sharing. The beauty and challenge and being with those you love, so worth the climb. If I may give you some CC: Get a Hands Free rig, homie! One that extends from your head gear or shoulder strap. Then you can swing it for selfies, and then flip it back for regular footage. And ALWAYS have your audio levels higher than the music! We want to hear what you have to say, but rather tough in some sections of the video.

[@robertrockwell7581]

Epic climb and stunning views.

[@sprucehouse9]

EPIC! Beautiful climb and excellent visuals.

[@chanthataing7042]

Was so looking forward to this video and so glad it finally came out! Awesome video and congrats. Looking forward to my climb there one day.

[@HikingNerd]

Thanks for waiting and watching!

[@mischiefonthetrail8961]

Amazing man congrats on the summit

[@campfireswithcoffey1951]

Congrats. Been following for a while, your videos are stunning! Love your adventures

[@Rjisawake]

You guys Rock!

[@NedzadDzafic]

Congratulations. Awesome video.

[@CallMeJazz]

Really enjoy the vids...trying to get back to climbing after a 20 year hiatus.

[@jamesb7651]

Been on Rainier twice---experience of a life time bucket list item. climbing mountains requires rational reaction to heights. I'd never crawl across a crevasse ladder. More dangerous on crampons.

[@lrodd247]

What a stunning place! Great job on the filming and editing! You earned yourself a sub my man, keep it up 😎📹👍

[@stuartb9194]

Fan-bloody-tastic!

[@alanluscombe8a553]

I live in ashford 7 miles from rainier. I love it here

[@tonycortes820]

great work vids really enjoyed them, did the emmons glacier back in June great experience.

[@michaelnino5082]

Amazing video! Bravo.

[@robinfong7577]

Jimmy, awesome video and inspirational!!

[@edmccaffrey1]

All mountains worth climbing are insanely beautiful but deeply dangerous. People who dont respect that environment usually dont return, which works out well for true mountaineers who prefer less tourists and more solitude.

[@jaysilverheals4445]

me and friend did ranier over 40 years ago and what I did not like is you have no control over being hit by icefall or walking along and you fall hundreds of feet into a crevice even though you are walking across open snow and ice. There is no way to be sure where they are and entire areas can give way such as hiking over to disappointment cleaver from camp muir. a "russian roulette" climb I would never do again. also we hiked a couple weeks after 13 people got killed by icefall being all swept (roped) and gobbled up by crevices they did not even try to recover them they are still there to this day

[@1800marwin]

What kind of training did you do? I mean, you are already in excellent shape.

[@surferdude44444]

Hiking Nerd I am very impressed. During summer vacation in the "70s during my college days, I was an assistant-assistant guide for Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. No tents for us on the tourist route, Camp Muir was ours. I have signed the summit register 42 times. No matter what route you go up on Rainier, every one is hard. You did the right thing, you trained and trained hard. I've forgotten how many people who could barely make it to Muir. They insulted the mountain by not training. In descending order, the hardest climbs in the Cascades.......Rainier, Baker, Jefferson, Hood, North Sister, Adams, Shasta (pfft) and St. Helens. btw.....some of your climbing buddies were stepping on the rope with crampons on. HUGE NO NO. You've weakened the rope right there and will fail you when you fall down that crevasse.

[@HikingNerd]

That’s a lot of times!

[@Fun_in_retrospect]

This is so awesome, I am so jealous.

[@WyeExplorer]

Epic hike bro. Well done! I was mesmerized by the ice - the thousands of years it's been there. far out! All the best. Mark

[@HikingNerd]

It’s amazing isn’t it? I kept thinking the same thing when I was out there and how it would be cool to know when the layers formed.

[@WyeExplorer]

@@HikingNerd Yeah it would be good to join the scientists - take some core samples and see what they say......

[@UnmannedExplorations]

What kind of training did you to to prepare? I currently have a summit planned for Rainier in may 2024 and I ruck about 4 times a week with a 55-60 pound pack usually trying to get 2,000-4,000 vert gain on each via treadmill or appalchians. Also do incline sprint work and strength training 4 times a week. So I’m hustling hard but was interested what you did to prepare. I’m about 6 foot and 195 pounds currently.

[@mountains5433]

That sunrise though

[@clarkansas6590]

Great job. Congratulations

[@jjfjeff]

Awesome vid as always

[@VandrefalkTV]

Well done dude, livin' life. :)

[@arnoschuster4392]

crazy adventure and great video. Thanks for sharing. Wonder how many people poop their pants at that ladder 😂

[@JediMaddy94]

This is insane but awesome

[@alndi3]

Just got real shy on the toilet at that ladder crossing. 😱

[@applesauce_0743]

Great video!

[@jaysilverheals4445]

a key tip for relatively new people to crevasse type ice climbing that unless very skilled and taken courses on a mountain you are in more danger of being killed roped together. check the stories and statistics thats why they are changing the teachings on being roped together. it can give a false sense of safety that does not exist. suppose beginners are roped together and someone falls through the ice into a hidden crevasse? the first thing they will experience in TWO SECONDS will be a harsh impact not of the 200 pounds of the hiker but also the slamming of the g forces as if suddenly hit by a half ton weight. They instantly go next. person 3 now has a minimum of a 400 pound dead weight not counting the gforce of the impact--they then follow. actually procedure would be at a risky crossing to place stakes and ropes to "belay" each person. now lets say 4 IS holding them they hear the screams "help" now how to lift up 5 hundred pounds? that is why the guides on ranier reccomend each person have pitons and be skilled and climbing up the side of the crevasse on their own they will NOT be pulled up . next scenerio is going up steep ice slope 45 degree angle or more--your not going to catch anyone they will all tumble down and they better hope there is no crevasse or cliff. moral of the story get training and study about the arguments of being "roped together"

[@mattbrennan8088]

thats really cool. Been wanting to do that since I moved here

[@HikingNerd]

You live in a great place!

[@stevepecht8924]

Nice finale comment even though it’s just a hybrid of 2 famous ones. Video was decent though. Good shots

[@YnseSchaap]

12:25 those clouds spell weather change

[@ColdPlungeCam]

I’ve summited this mountain. There should be more safety measures in place. Im not sure if it requires a permit but it should but I also assume anyone that high up would hopefully know what they are doing

[@phillipplourde6575]

If you climbed it you should know it requires a permit. There should be no safety measures in place apart from the ones you do yourself. We do not need more babysitters in a wild place, we need more competent people. And yes for the record I have climbed Rainer multiple times.

[@swayjaayy5495]

On the side before you cross the ladder going up, the right side edge of the ladder seems really sketchy

[@benjamins5571]

Great video! Thanks for the upload. During the video, you said "all of this training really paid off; I've never felt this good at 14,500." If you don't mind sharing, what kind of training did you do to prepare?

[@HikingNerd]

Beyond the skills training for crevasse rescue, the fitness training was nothing super special. Lots of running and biking for cardiovascular fitness, some general strength training for stability and injury prevention, and some ascents of Shasta for activity-specific fitness.

[@docrjay]

When are you putting up another team for Rainier? How would I join?

[@xdialga361445x]

Congrats on getting to Mount Rainier's peak

[@roy-ym2xz]

What a beautiful guys here....

[@deluxedoorman]

So cool man.

[@JeffreyKahnartist]

Awesome!

[@tsizzle]

Nice job. You finally did it! Looks like your guys had decent weather. It took us 4 tries to summit. Did you try for the public hut at Muir instead of setting up tents (25 spots first come first serve)? I like your closing quote. I also like George Mallory’s quote when asked why he wanted to climb Everest... “because it’s there...” Next is Mt. Hood right?

[@HikingNerd]

Thanks! There was space in the public shelter but we didn’t want to be impacted by people coming and going and cooking. Mt Hood is on my list for sure!

[@waterfallmadman]

Wow what a video. Congrats!

[@HikingNerd]

Thanks! Did you like that snow waterfall there towards the end?

[@waterfallmadman]

Hiking Nerd yeah it must have been something to see that

[@sophieshafer2464]

What did you do to train for this climb? I am climbing Rainier June 2022 and would like any tips you can offer.

[@palmettopastor]

Awesome. TY! What kind if headlamp are you wearing?

[@HikingNerd]

Thanks! Check out the gear list in the video description for the details.

[@JheyVbee]

Gratzzz👏🏾👊🏽

[@YangusCool]

Would you say it is unwise to try to summit it alone in one day. On paper and from videos it looks doable, but obviously neither of those reflect how the mountain is in person. I'm gonna do it, but idk if its the greatest decision

[@HikingNerd]

My thoughts: If you’re looking to a stranger’s advice (a stranger who has no idea of your capabilities and risk tolerance) on a decision like this, you should really think twice - or three times or four times.

[@ReptarHikes]

Dope video man. Subbed. 🤙

[@keystring]

Thank you for the vdo!!!

[@moltam99]

That was scary and awesome at the same time :) I'm only "climbing" mountains in the summer, when the snow situation is manageable. But I'm kinda drawn towards some nice rope & crampon action, partly because of your videos. A quick question: I saw you are using a gopro backpack clip, how is it for mountaineering? I struggle with the chest strap when I go trough 5 layers of clothing during a summit day. Which one would you recommend?

[@HikingNerd]

Hey Tamas, thanks for the comment. I don't use chest straps because it's hard to manage with layers, and I don't use a helmet mount because the weight is awkward. So I find myself trying to secure the GoPro to my pack in some way (I used this one in the video: www.amazon.com/Sametop-Backpack-Compatible-Session-Cameras/dp/B01BSE454S/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=sametop+clip&qid=1574657247&sr=8-1)

[@swayjaayy5495]

Thabks gor the good video. i wondered how experienced your team was though. You seemed to be familiar with climbing but some of them being scared to cross a crevasse seems odd. yes know they are scary but if ome hasnt familiarbwith crossibg them then why are they on Mt Rainier? Crawling hands and knees across the ladder seems much more dangerous and also moves the ladder around more out of its place which can make it dangerous for others. But glad you guess made it up and down safely. Come see us in Washington again some day.

[@teogo]

Deeply dangerous? I suppose if you don't know what you're doing, or make poor choices. Don't get me wrong, there is some degree of hazard. Prolly the most dangerous aspect is the drive to the parking. It's not the mountains that scare me, but the valleys.

[@SF-fb6lv]

What kind of equipment did you shoot this video with? I'm only asking so I can immediately go buy the same equipment!

[@HikingNerd]

I used an iPhone X and GoPro Hero 6, though I’ll point out that it didn’t come out this way straight from the camera. I did a fair amount of processing on each clip for stability, exposure, color, audio levels, etc. But it’s pretty amazing what some modern smartphones are capable of!

[@professorsogol5824]

One question: What was your program for altitude acclimatization? Did you train at altitude (i.e. Tuolumne) in the days immediately prior to leaving the Bay Area?

[@HikingNerd]

No program here. I focused on two things: 1) better fitness, and 2) better hydration. It helped that I slept below 12,000' because I find that if I sleep above that elevation I usually won't feel as good.

[@SneakersNrips]

What kind of training do you do to prepare for a hike like this? Definitely gunna hike rainier one day. Dope vid btw!!

[@wannabetowasabe]

Where is your team from? This is a very good video.

[@HikingNerd]

Thanks, we are all currently in the SF Bay Area

[@sean02345]

Do people ever fall down those huge cracks at 6:20? How far do those go down? If you fall is there no way In hell you're surviving?

[@HikingNerd]

Somebody fell down into a crevasse in August. Not intentionally of course, they punched through a snow bridge while on a rope team of 3. The rope team held the fall and that person self-rescued. The spacing between people on the rope team is a function of crevasse size and reaction time.

[@sean02345]

@@HikingNerdgood god man. That's stuff of nightmares right there.

[@HighSpeedNoDrag]

Glacier City.