TFM93: Training For Mt. Rainier's Emmons Glacier Route: Jackie's Story

Hey, there we go.

[laughs] That sounds good to me.

[laughs] That'll do it.

It'll be great.

And then, yeah, I think, like, for listeners, like, taking, taking out of this, like, I know a lot of people, like, a lot of the nuggets you've kind of shared today are gonna be super, super useful, but I also know there's probably gonna be quite a few people listening who are s- considering this specific climb and this specific route.

If someone was considering this, um, this climb or even something, like, similar, um, what advice would you give them?

Yeah.

So, uh, sounds probably pretty common sense, but I would work on foundational mountaineering skills.

Um, do a 101, do other climbs, get used to being on a glacier, being on a rope team, 'cause there's a lot of kind of technical finesse of being on a rope team and what that looks like.

Uh, because if, if you go on a rope and you don't know what you're doing, uh, you could, you could hurt yourself or other people.

So just having that gives you a lot more confidence.

The other piece I would say is really physically train, especially for Emmons.

I mean, you're looking at a pack of 65 pounds.

It's a four-day extravaganza.

Um, and so, like, yeah, it's one of those where if you've done a, a few climbs, uh, you could do it.

Uh, but I would also suggest going with a guide or somebody who really knows that mountain, uh, 'cause Rainier is...

I mean, she's a beaut, but, uh, she is her own Mother Nature, right? Like, um, she can get really dangerous pretty quickly.

And so having other people that are skilled to help you find a route, especially because it's not a packed trail, um, there's no fixed lines or anything, would be super, super important.

And I cannot stress enough kind of the physical training and mental training.

Um, 'cause even if you're like, "Hey, I've been on the mountain, I've been on other things," I mean, uh, kind of a case in point, there was, you know, the climber that decided to turn back, she had a, a wealth of a background in terms of mountaineering and hiking and had done a 20,000-footer.

And, uh, just for a lot of different reasons, some I would say is more personal to her, she's h- really struggled on the trip.

And so it's like not to even say that just because you've done other mountains that are higher or harder, that you should take that for granted.

I think coming into each trip with a f- you know, kind of a, a fresh mind and openness to, hey, you know, um, kind of checking your ego at the door, so to speak, or at the trailhead, um, to be like, "This is a mountain.

Uh, it's just as challenging, and I have to give it my all," and so that should go into your training.

And then I think the last thing that I would say is I think it's really, really important, uh, that you're able to kind of assess and articulate what you need, even if it upsets other people.