The Emmons Glacier Route on Rainier is the second most climbed route on the mountain, and may well be the least technical. It receives about 15% of the around 10,000 annual summit attempts. This is a long strenuous climb (10,000 vertical feet) and demands solid aerobic conditioning. The climb requires a climbing permit. See the NPS web site for the latest permit regulations.

Activity Notes

You will need to be in great fitness for this one! Consider doing multiple other high climbs in the weeks/months prior. I am also going to setup spending a night in the altitude room at Evolution the night before we leave town. Consider spending a night in a high altitude air b&b we me. The basic plan is to spend three days on the mountain. Day 1: hike/climb up to a high camp. Day 2: reach the summit and return to camp. Day 3: descend all the way back to the cars.  The permit cost will need to be shared amongst the team, and you will also need to pay for the Annual Climbing Fee on pay.gov for $68/each.  
Other Information
Driving Distance from Portland 180 miles
Driving Time from Portland 4 hours
Expected Duration Car to car in two or more days
Relevant Books Climbers Guide to the Cascade Volcanoes by Jeff Smoot Cascade Alpine Guide: Columbia River to Stevens Pass by Fred Beckey Selected Climbs in the Cascades by Nelson and Potterfield
Relevant Maps USGS 7 minute series, Sunrise and Mt. Rainier East <href="http: "="" adventure="" c463="" starts-here="" title="On the Mazama Climbing and Hiking map page " www.mazamas.org="" your="">On the Mazama Climbing and Hiking map page <href="http: maps.google.com="" maps?f="q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Mt.+Rainier&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=40.732051,93.164063&ie=UTF8&ll=46.849802,-121.757483&spn=0.017229,0.04549&t=p&z=15&iwloc=A"" title="Google map">Google map</href="http:></href="http:>
Awards Qualified 16 Major NW Peaks
Useful Links GPS Track New Window Icon Icon two stacked browser windows. GPS Coordinates New Window Icon Icon two stacked browser windows. Map New Window Icon Icon two stacked browser windows.
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