Mount Rainier: Disappointment Cleaver / Ingraham Glacier Route

Mount Rainier is by far the most coveted summit in the Cascade Range. At 14,410 feet, just 84 feet lower than highest-in-the-Lower-48 Mount Whitney, this glacier-clad volcano towers above Seattle and much of the Northwest countryside. With the largest system of glaciers in the United States (outside Alaska), the giant hulk of a mountain carries 35 square miles of ice. Mount Rainier’s familiar shape and looming presence are a virtual symbol of the Cascades and the Northwest. This far-reaching visibility makes it a prime destination for novices and expert mountaineers alike. Mount Rainier is a tremendous resource for climbers, offering great mountaineering experiences of many different kinds. Undoubtedly the most popular route on Mount Rainier, this one starts from the main visitors area at Paradise and is the principal route used by the concessioned guide service, Rainier Mountaineering Inc. The route is characterized by the moderate Muir Snowfield to the 10,000-foot level (known as Camp Muir), where there is a guide hut, a ranger station, a public shelter, and outhouse facilities. From Camp Muir, the summit-day route crosses the Cowlitz and Ingraham Glaciers and then ascends the cleaver dividing the Emmons and Ingraham Glaciers. Equipment: Ice ax, crampons, snow anchor, wands.