RHH

RHH club

Posted: 15 Sep 2014


Taken: 13 Sep 2014

35 favorites     21 comments    874 visits

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climb
mount baker
summiting
mountain
north cascades
volcano
washington


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Photo replaced on 15 Sep 2014
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We Did It!

We Did It!
This photo was taken near the summit of Mount Baker. The photos shows our guide, Troy, in front, then son Edward, followed by a friend, Nate, with myself at the end of the rope taking the picture, all of us approaching the summit. The actual summit is the bare cone on the right known as Grant's Peak. Grant's Peak is at 10778 feet (3285 meters), the highest point in the Cascades north of Mount Rainier. The climb up to this point was one of the hardest things I've ever done and one of the most amazing and unforgettable.

We started our trek at about 10:00 am on Friday, hiked nearly to the end of the Heliotrope Ridge trail, and then took a side trail up the Hogsback, a steep ridge, to the edge of Coleman Glacier at about 5200 feet of elevation. There we practiced the use of ice axes and crampons for about an hour before starting up the glacier. We had planned on camping at the top of the Hogsback but made such good time that we decided to spend the night on the glacier and made it to about 8000 feet, with our packs, before we stopped.

We made camp, setting up tents on the glacier and cooking our evening meal there. We watched the sunset from camp before settling in for the night, a comfortable night for Edward and I and a not-so-comfortable night for Nate and Troy. We woke at 4:00 am the following morning and after breakfast started up the last 2700 feet to the summit at about 5:00 am. This was the steepest and most difficult part of the climb, up across the top of the glacier, and then up the Roman Slope and the top of Deming Glacier to the summit.

We made the summit at about 11:00 am and after spending some time there for pictures and for something to eat started back down, arriving back at our vehicles at 4:00 pm. Edward and I were home about 6:00 pm, for a cheeseburger, a hot shower, a beer and bed. The climb pushed me to my limits and a bit beyond (there were times when I wondered if I would make it) but was truly an incredible experience and something I would do again in the next few years if I had opportunity (Edward is already talking about doing it again).

There were just the four of us on this climb and the guide was wonderful. We would never have found the best route without him and he did everything at a pace we were comfortable with. The weather was spectacular and the view from the summit unbelievable. We could see the whole of Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands to the west, with the Olympics in the distance, the Cascades with Mount Rainier dominating to the south, the Canadian Range and Vancouver to the north and northwest, and below us many other familiar peaks.

I'm going to try to get a blog post together tomorrow and will be posting other pictures from the climb along with the blog post. This is by no means the best picture from the climb, but was, I thought, a good way to celebrate our accomplishment. I certainly felt my age and was the slowest of the group, but am proud of myself for actually making it to the top though it all seems just a bit surreal yet. There are others, too, now that want to try, including my wife, but we shall see if that is possible. Now I'm off to bed and will catch everyone up with commenting tomorrow.

, , , and 31 other people have particularly liked this photo


21 comments - The latest ones
 Fizgig
Fizgig
Looks like you had a great trip!! Congrats on getting to the summit =) Spectacular view, isn't it?
10 years ago.
 Annemarie
Annemarie club
beautiful this

GREAT treking!
have a wonderful week
10 years ago. Edited 10 years ago.
 Eve
Eve
Belle performance et que de beaux souvenirs.
Merci de nous faire partager !
10 years ago.
 William Sutherland
William Sutherland club
Congratulations on this awesome accomplishment Ron!!! Great shot!

Admired in:
www.ipernity.com/group/tolerance
10 years ago.
 Nora Caracci
Nora Caracci club
what an adventure, well done !
10 years ago.
 niraK68
niraK68 club
great
10 years ago.
 Kathleen Thorpe
Kathleen Thorpe club
WOW, Ron!! I am practically speechless. Congratulations to you all on this trek and best wishes!! This is a great shot. I can't wait to see more!!
10 years ago.
 J.Garcia
J.Garcia club
I see!!! Wonderful!!
10 years ago.
 bertapei
bertapei
wow ! congratulations !
seems like a beathtaking experience.
you must feel a wonderful feeling of satisfaction at such a great accomplishment.
10 years ago.
 Kathleen Thorpe
Kathleen Thorpe club
P. S. Congratulations on Explore! Just saw it there.
10 years ago.
 Don Sutherland
Don Sutherland club
Congratulations on the successful climb. Wonderful photo and fantastic account. I'll be looking forward to your blog entry.
10 years ago.
 Dave Roberts 2014
Dave Roberts 2014
Congratulations Ron! A great view.

For the Cure:

Think Pink!
Breast Cancer Awareness!
10 years ago.
 Malik Raoulda
Malik Raoulda club
Une superbe randonnée neigeuse,
magnifique rendu Ron et félicitation d'voir atteint le sommet.
Bonne semaine.
10 years ago.
 Malik Raoulda
 Malik Raoulda
Malik Raoulda club
10 years ago.
 Rafael
Rafael club
Muy buena !
10 years ago.
 Pam J
Pam J club
Ron.... I hear the joy and exhilaration in your words. You have every right to be proud !

Some things are Way Markers in our lives. Something we strive for... and often honestly dont think we might make.

This is a wonderful Marker for you.

CONGRATULATIONS my friend.

BE PROUD.... be very PROUD
10 years ago.
 tiabunna
tiabunna club
Congratulations on the climb and on the image, Ron. Thanks also for the report, I can appreciate the (well deserved) great feeling of achievement.
10 years ago.
 Valfal
Valfal
Wow, what an amazing accomplishment! Thank you for sharing your experience with us :))
10 years ago.
 Janet Brien
Janet Brien club
This story rocks me. It is such an accomplishment. I have never done something so extreme but you make me want to try. I loved every detail, I felt like I was there with you, trekking up to the summit. I love that you're not afraid to admit how hard it was. What an honest, brave, strong man you are. You should feel every bit of the pride that radiates from you. Like Pam said, it's one of the finest moments of your life. Totally incredible. Thank you so much for sharing this with me. :)

The only thing that I can compare that to would be the hike Steve and I did at Yosemite many years ago. We started at 6am and hiked from the parking lot at the Yosemite Village and hiked up to the top of Half Dome. At the cables I balked. Like you, I am afraid of heights and it was so windy...it was so steep and so terrifying. The granite was slick from the thousands before me, and I didn't think I could trust the cables and periodic wood slats that snaked up the side all the way to the top. I am not one to give up, especially with such an awesome challenge as this, but I just could not do it. Steve tried to encourage me but once I'd decided that I couldn't, I wouldn't hear otherwise...for a moment...and then he told me, "You can use my feet to brace against. We'll go just one step at a time and only when you are ready to move forward. I will NOT let you slip." He was so sincere and I trusted him. And so we went ahead, step by terrifying step. Bracing my feet against his, I had the purchase I needed on the slippery granite. Not long after we began, I found my courage again and was able to move up the cables without his assistance. Before we knew it, we found ourselves at the very top, on the flat slab which overlooks Yosemite Valley. The feeling was indescribable. The sense of accomplishment. To overcome my terror and reverse my refusal to ascend, victoriously to the top...I have never felt that sense of pride before, nor can I think since.

But it got better. Because not more than a few moments after reaching the plateau, Steve dropped to one knee and produced a ring, at which time he asked me to marry him. Wow. Just wow. What a day...it was incredible.

We would end up getting back to our car as it got dark. We were dead-tired and shaking with fatigue but so incredibly happy and in love. Not a bad day at all. :)

Thanks again for this fine story, I look forward to pursuing your other pictures!! :)

What a cool guy you are, Ron. Your wife is a very lucky lady, and so are your kids to have such an awesome papa! *high five*
5 years ago. Edited 5 years ago.

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