Day 1
Arriving into Seattle, Washington, we'll greet you at the airport, meet up with the rest of our group and transfer to our comfortable mountain lodge near the town of Ashford, just west of Mount Rainier National Park. Days 2-3
Orient and acclimatize with the chance to day hike and explore the abundant trails of Mount Rainier National Park where Wilderness Ventures students have been adventuring and growing since 1974. WV experiences are about connecting great people with magical environments through memorable activities, and this trip is no exception. These first couple of days, you'll have the chance to connect with the alumni, parents of alumni and former staff members that make up our small group. We'll also meet up with our climbing guides from the renowned Rainier Mountaineering Institute, get outfitted with equipment for our climb and enjoy a day of introductory climbing school where we'll learn basic snow and ice climbing skills. Days 4-5
Embarking on our two-day summit attempt, our first day on the mountain will find us setting up our basecamp at Camp Muir elevated at 10,000 feet. Once we’re situated we’ll relax, enjoy a great meal, and get ready for our summit assault the following morning. On our second day, we'll depart by headlamp shortly after midnight. Eventually, as we rope together and secure our crampons, the sun will rise to warm our backs and faces; there’s nothing quite like watching a sunrise from 12,000 feet! And then finally we'll arrive on top of the world! A challenging climb for most of us, every single obstacle we’ve overcome pales in comparison to the rewarding view given to us on the summit of Mt. Rainier! Days 6-7
Resting and celebrating, we'll enjoy our traditional culminating banquet – sharing the evening with a group of WV students, fresh off their own summit climb. We'll enjoy a hearty meal together, swapping stories and sharing memories before crawling into bed and receiving transport for departures from Seattle the following morning.
