Emmons Glacier (Mt. Rainier)At camp, Garth met us with water bottles to aid in our dehydrating since most of the water bottles were dry. Carl was in the tent, resting. This is where we found out about Carl's eye condition. On the descent, he noticed that he couldn't see well and thought that his glasses were fogged up. But later on, he realized that his vision was actually clouded and in a short time, he could not see well at all. So rather than spending a long time at camp resting and recovering, I decided that we needed to get Carl off the mountain. I knew we would be traveling slowly and that it would take some extra time. Leaving now would assure us of the maximum use of daylight So, we started organizing gear, and prepared to pack out, once again carrying 45 to 50 pounds packs. By the time we were ready, the rest of the team arrived safely at camp. We told them of our plans and soon we had two new teams. The first would go out with Carl and the second would rest a while and follow soon after. I would be on the first team with Carl, Chris, and Kirk.Once past the Camp Schurman and over the last section of the lower Emmons Glacier, we reached Camp Curtis and the top of the Interglacier. This was the beginning of the most exhilarating section of the descent. From here the slope becomes a soft, mushy 40 degree decline to the bottom of the basin. In only two glissades, the distance that took us almost three hours to ascend, took less than 5 minutes!! The glissade was a deep, meandering, water-slide of a chute that swooshed over the bumps and undulations in a careening sort of way. "Wa - hoooo! Yeee Haaaa!" Using the ice axe for a pseudo-control (going this fast, there really is no control!), the goal was merely to stay within the chute until gravity no longer puller you down hill. There were two people at the bottom of the chute when I exploded through the final section at the end. I jumped up, hooted and hollered, exclaiming, "Yes!! Now that's what I'm talkin' about! Now that's a glissade!" One by one, each person made it safely to the bottom of the glacier, we gathered together, rested once again and took off for the final 3 mile hike to the parking lot. Over a snow covered glacial steam, we followed the 'path' as best we remembered. Soon we crossed a steam and found the path that led to the parking lot. The joy of the excellent glissade was lost in the foot-pounding tediousness of the trail. Our packs were weighing us down, our shoulders hurt and feet were sore. We were weary, tired, hungry, thirsty and malodorous. We were ready for civilization. We arrived at the cars at 7PM., load the 'dead bodies' (read, packs) into the truck and changed into clean clothes. Once all the team members were accounted for: first Jon, who met us on the trail, then Garth at the cars, followed by the rest, we had a short celebration and left for home. I would say that of all the Rainier climbs I've done, this was one of the most enjoyable. Good friends sharing a common experience, achieving a worthy goal and returning safely. Praise the Lord, for He is good! |
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