|
|
IBEXtrax.com - Cascade Mountains of Washington StateMount Rainier Park |
|
05 001 Carbon Glacier John B Rudi M. (149k)
05 002 Liberty Ridge route Mt Rainier John B. (172k)
05 003 OP Dusk Moraine Park Mt Rainier John B. (148k)
05 004 Rudi M John B Moraine Park sunrise Mt Rainier (223k) 1977
The lack of snow in the winter of 1976-1977 provided a unique opportunity for Cascade Mountain climbers to get a few Winter Ascents to their credit. So, in early February of 1977 the climbers were found approaching the north side of Mount Rainier for a winter ascent of Liberty Ridge. Seen here from Moraine Park, the Liberty Ridge route goes directly up the center of the face. They made high camp 1 at 7500' on Curtis Ridge.
05 006 Carbon Glacier Serac John B Rudi M. (252k)
05 007 John B & Rudi M on upper Carbon Glacier (185k)
The route across the Carbon Glacier was a maze of huge ice blocks and interlaced crevasses. The climbers first tried to climb over the tops of the blocks. But, they ended up route finding along the questionable floors of the cold deep crevasses. Occasionally they would have to climb out to get their bearings and may times they found dead ends. It took most of the day just to reach the foot of Liberty Ridge. Mt. Rainier Park.
05 010 Thumb Rock camp on Liberty Ridge Mt Rainier (213k)
Precariously perched on the narrow crest of Liberty Ridge is the isolated oasis of Thumb Rock. With barely enough room for a tent, the 10,775ft camp is the only level spot on the ridge route.
05 013 John B chess shark smile snowstorm. (137k)
05 015 Mt Rainier from upper Moraine Park (227k)
A foot of fresh snow covers the north side of Mt Rainier after a twenty four hour snowstorm in early February of 1977. The decent from Thumb Rk on Liberty Ridge was a hair raising route; down climbing while surrounded by seemingly continuous avalanches. Once across the heavily crevassed Carbon Gl, the hardest part was getting through the snow covered ice patches without injuring yourself during the inevitable falls.
05 015m Mt Rainier Liberty Ridge Map. (671k)
 |
|
 |
 |
This site created and maintained by THE IBEX - Page last revised:
Images For Sale: High resolution (25meg) TIFF files (25 per CD) and 8x10 prints available. View Cart |
|