Did this climb last weekend and it was a great climb. Brief summary:
Route: My group took the DC route up from Camp Muir. However (as you will note in the picture) the route is much less direct than it was at the beginning of the season. After getting over the Cleaver, you hang a hard right, descend about 400 feet over the space of about a mile, and then trend back towards the summit. The DC route is currently merging with the Emmons Glacier (Camp Shurman) Route about a half mile below the summit crest. If your goal is the high point, then this route is somewhat convenient because it places you near the Columbia Crest.
Conditions: The snow was in good shape all the way from just past Pebble Creek up through the summit. The Cleaver was entirely melted out, as was Cathedral Gap and the Columbia Crest. The route (at the time) had no bridges on the route... a few small crevasses to cross, but nothing very dangerous until just below the summit (again, see the pictures). My guess is that within a few weeks the ladders will be present. The trail winds around and over several smaller crevasses, those will present huge problems by Mid-August - be aware of that if that is your planned trip date.
People: It was packed all the way from Paradise up to Muir. Beyond Muir the crowds thinned considerably, but there were probably around 80 summitters on the DC route that day, and several more who turned back before reaching the summit. This was the busiest weekend last year and I wouldn't be surprised if it was the same this year... expect crowds to be present, but smaller for the rest of the summer.
Camp Muir: Bring TP, the outhouses don't provide it. Also make sure to bring some method of securing your tent if you sleep at Muir, several tents nearly blew away the weekend I was up there.
Route Time(s): (Approx.)
Paradise to Camp Muir > 4 Hours, 15 Minutes
Muir to Columbia Crest Summit > 6 Hours, 30 Minutes
Columbia Crest Summit to Muir > 3 Hours, 40 Minutes
Camp Muir to Paradise > 2 Hours
Any other questions just comment below and I'll respond when I can, Happy climbing!
Comments
galaxyx_ on Mount Rainier Summit, Camp Muir
about how many miles did you clock going this route?
Posted by:
galaxyx_ on Sep 24, 2017 12:25 AM
Jeremy Richtmyre on Mount Rainier Summit, Camp Muir
I didn't actually clock the mileage while on this route. That said. I believe the ranger station had noted that this route had added about a mile each way to the "standard" DC route. So my best guess would be about 17 miles roundtrip.
Posted by:
Jeremy Richtmyre on Sep 24, 2017 07:31 AM