Climbing Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier, the most heavily glaciated peak in the contiguous United States, offers an exciting challenge to the mountaineer. Each year thousands of people successfully climb this 14,410-foot active volcano. There is access to over twenty different climbing routes and ski descents via four main trailheads to approach the mountain: Paradise, Westside Road, White River, and Mowich Lake. Reaching the summit via any route requires a vertical elevation gain of more than 9,000 feet and traveling over ten miles in distance. Climbers must be in excellent physical condition and well prepared. Technical glacier-travel rope skills are also required to ascend and descend the mountain safely. Either independently or with a guide, climbing and skiing on Mount Rainier offers an unparalleled experience within the Pacific Northwest's Cascade Mountain Range. Climbing Regulations at Mount Rainier Climbing regulations are established in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 36, 7.5 (b) and describe three rules. You must have a permit to be on a glacier or above normal climbing high camps (~10,000 feet). You must be at least 18 years old or have permission from a guardian to apply for your permit. You cannot solo without being specifically authorized to do so. Depending on your climb and when you want to do it, there are four types of permits that you may be required to obtain before your trip begins: Climbing Registration Wilderness Permit Wilderness Reservation Solo Permit 1. Climbing Registration Register depending on the season: Winter Self-Registration Summer Walk-Up Registration Summer Reservation Activation Winter Self Registration (September 15 – May 21) Very few people try to climb Mount Rainier in the winter. During this period, there are no occupancy issues at any of our high camps or Wilderness zones. We allow “self-registration”. There are two steps to take: Each person in your party must pay $82 . The registration fee may be paid per party member online at Pay.gov (pay through the Mount Rainier NP Special Use Permit Application Fees form). You must pay before you come to the park . After you have paid your per person registration fees, you must fill out a registration card when you arrive to the park . These are obtained at a self-issuing kiosk inside the awning of the Paradise Old Station, which is the small A-framed building at the edge of the parking lot acr…
