Mt. Rainier Institute of Photography

Temporary Road Closure, Mt. Rainier National Park.

2012-01-23T12:07:00.000-08:00

Press Relase:

The park road from Longmire to Paradise will remain closed to the public
today, January 23. This is due to expanded air operations in the Paradise
area related to the ongoing search for four hikers/climbers who have been
missing for over a week. Weather conditions today are conducive to
conducting this aerial search, but this window of opportunity will likely
not last beyond today. All available park and local resources are being
used to focus on this search.

Donna Rahier - Superintendent's Office
Mount Rainier National Park
360-569-6501
donna_rahier@nps.gov

Cascade foxes in Mt. Rainier National Park

2011-12-12T14:51:00.001-08:00

Fox Research

Mount Rainier National Park has just begun a research project to assess
visitor impacts on Cascade foxes (Vulpes vulpes cascadensis). The Cascade
fox is a rare species currently known to inhabit only Mount Rainier and
Mount Adams. Many of Mount Rainier’s Cascade foxes have learned to get
food from people, “begging” on roadways in the Paradise area, increasing
the risk to both foxes and humans. The research will evaluate the
ecological impacts on these foxes as a result of human activities, and will
enable park managers to better manage visitor use and protect the foxes.
The study is a cooperative effort between Mount Rainier and the
USGS-Forestry and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center.

Visitors may see radio collars on some foxes. These radio collars
automatically collect time and location information via GPS receivers,
similar to what is used in a car or on the trails. Programmed to record
time and location at 3.5 hour intervals, the collars will provide a wealth
of information of how visitor use may alter the natural movements and
habits of foxes.

Mount Rainier has had a persistent problem with people continually feeding
the foxes, and this project is designed to better evaluate the behavioral
responses of the foxes to this illegal and damaging practice. The
substantial ongoing efforts to educate the public and enforce no-feeding
laws will continue. Results of this study will lead researchers to better
understand human impacts and develop new ways of protecting the foxes and
keeping our wildlife wild.

For more information, contact Mason Reid, Wildlife Ecologist at Mount
Rainier National Park, at 360-569-6771.

Randy King Named Superintendent

2011-10-13T11:55:00.000-07:00

SAN FRANCISCO – Randy King has been selected as the new superintendent of Mount Rainier National Park, located approximately 85 miles southeast of Seattle, Washington. King has been serving as acting superintendent of the park since July 17th. He replaced Dave Uberuaga who was recently named superintendent of Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.

“Randy’s charisma, leadership and park experience make him a triple threat and the natural choice for this selection. Having served as both the acting superintendent and deputy superintendent, Randy is extremely familiar with the park, its partners and staff and has demonstrated success in building partnerships and solving problems. We look forward to his continued guidance,” said Pacific West Regional Director Chris Lehnertz.

Over the course of his 34-year National Park Service career, King has served in six national parks and the Intermountain Regional Office. King also participated in a six-month work exchange between the Alaska Region and Western Australia’s Department of Conservation and Land Management. He
and his family lived in Denham, Western Australia where he served as the district operations officer for Shark Bay World Heritage Area and adjacent national parks. Since 2003 he has worked as Mount Rainier’s deputy superintendent, which included a 15-month detail as acting superintendent in 2009-2010. King is a graduate of Michigan State University where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Park and Recreation Resources. He and his wife, Sally, and their three children, Mackenzie, Dylan and Skylar, now make their home in Eatonville, Washington.

"From a resources standpoint – both natural and cultural – Mount Rainier is an incredible unit of our national park system. It is a park beloved by generations of visitors, served by dedicated and talented employees, volunteers and concession operators; and strongly supported by its partners and gateway communities. For all of these reasons, and many more, I am grateful for the privilege to serve this great park as superintendent,” said King upon hearing of his selection.

Mount Rainier National Park was designated as the nation’s fifth national park when President William McKinley signed a bill that was passed by Congress on March 2, 1899. The boundaries of the park encompass 235,625 acres of forests, meadows and mountains, with 97 percent of the park designated as wilderness and the remaining three percent being part of the National Historic Landmark District. Mount Rainier, the focal point of the park, is a large volcanic peak that rises to 14,410 feet, towering far
above any other peak in the North Cascade mountain range.
-NPS-

Historic Chinook Pass Entrance Arch Restoration Nears Completion

2011-08-19T13:48:00.000-07:00

The Chinook Pass Entrance Arch, as drawn by the staff of the Historic American Engineering Record.

Mount Rainier park craftsmen have completed the year-long restoration work on the Chinook Pass Entrance Arch, a unique historic structure in the National Park system. Spanning across the Mather Memorial Parkway (SR 410) at 5,432 feet in elevation on the eastern boundary of the park, the arch
was designed as both an entrance portal and an equestrian overpass, to convey hikers and riders on the Pacific Crest Trail. Built in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Rustic Style arch had deteriorated due to the elements and nearly eight decades of use. The final phase will take place on Monday, August 22, when the log stringers will be put in place.

The restoration project replaced inkind all of the deteriorated parts of the structure, including replacement of the log stringers that support the bridge deck and repair of the stone masonry abutments. Deteriorated components of the arch were removed last season, including the log stringers and masonry to prepare for replacement. Replacement logs were shaped and fitted according to National Park Service standards over the winter, in preparation for installation this summer.

The entrance will remain open, but visitors traveling on State Route 410 are advised that short traffic delays will occur as the logs are put in place.

When the project is complete, there should be no discernible changes for visitors, except the remarkable structure will be in good condition for another 80 years of service!

-NPS-

Rehabilitation of 10 miles of Stevens Canyon Road Planned in 2011, 2012 and 2013

2011-08-15T13:32:00.000-07:00

Mount Rainier National Park News Release
Mount Rainier National Park Acting Superintendent Randy King and Federal Highway Administration, Western Federal Lands Highway Division officials announce that Phase 1 of the planned rehabilitation of Stevens Canyon Road was awarded to MidMountain Contractors, Inc. of Kirkland, WA for $2,322,367.90 with a Notice to Proceed issued for project start on Monday, August 15, 2011 and a contract completion date of October 30, 2011.

The National Park Service prepared an Environmental Assessment and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), which was approved by the Pacific West Regional Director on July 1, 2010. The FONSI calls for the resurfacing, restoration, and rehabilitation of the Stevens Canyon Road and other related facilities, including bridges, tunnels, culverts, guard walls, retaining walls, turnouts and the short Wonderland Trail section adjacent to Reflection Lake. The improvements will occur along two segments of the road, totaling 10.09 miles of the 19 mile road. Segment 1 begins at the Nisqually Paradise Road intersection and extends east for 4.83 miles to the Stevens Creek Bridge. Segment 4 begins at the Backbone Ridge Viaduct (just east of the Backbone Ridge Viewpoint) and continues for 5.26 miles to the intersection with Washington State Route (SR) 123.

Ten sites in Segment 1 and 35 sites in Segment 4 have been identified as needing subsurface stabilization to halt roadway embankment creep that has resulted in surface tension cracks and appreciable horizontal and vertical displacement. Two of the 10 sites in Segment 1 require full roadway embankment replacement down to 22 foot depth and retaining/guard wall replacements. Most of the 35 sites in Segment 4 require either ¾- width or full road embankment replacement down to 5 foot depth, some of which require retaining/guard wall replacements.

Due to the scope of the extensive roadway embankment stabilization efforts, it will be necessary to close the east end (Segment 4) of Stevens Canyon Road from the gate located just west of the Grove of the Patriarchs (see attached map) to just east of the popular Backbone Ridge Viewpoint from September 6, 2011 to the end of the contract period on October 30, 2011. Pending weather conditions, the roadway will likely be shut down for the winter season upon project completion. The contractor will also be doing subsurface compaction grouting in both road segments to stabilize the roadway in 2011. Visitors will be able to access the Reflection Lakes area, Box Canyon and Backbone Ridge Viewpoint area and adjacent trailheads from the west during the 2011closure period.

Under a separate contract yet to be advertised, Phase 2 will take place during the 2012 and 2013 seasons, which will involve subsurface stabilization work on the west end (Segment 1) and require closure from just east of the Paradise Valley Road to the Box Canyon Area immediately following Labor Day 2012 to when the road is shut down for the winter. The contractor will also be repairing the tunnel walls at milepost 6.9 and 8.5 during the closure period. During this period, visitors will be able to access up to the Box Canyon area from the east. From approximately June 2012 to just before Labor Day 2012 the contractor will be conducting work in both segments, at which time visitors should anticipate 20 minute delays Mondays through Fridays.

During the 2013 season, the contractor will focus on drainage improvements, repair/stabilization and reconstruction of historic rock retaining walls, milling/recycling the asphalt surface as road base; and resurfacing with new hot-mix asphalt which will be accomplished while the roadway is open to the public. At this time visitors should again anticipate 20 minute delays Mondays through Fridays until project completion estimated in September, 2013.

Stevens Canyon Road connects the east and west side of the park, extending for 19 miles from SR 123 at the east end to intersection with the Nisqually to Paradise Road at the west end, two miles south of Paradise. During the 2011 & 2012 closure periods, visitors are encouraged to access the Paradise area from the southwest via the Nisqually Entrance at east end of SR 706. Visitors traveling from the east via SR 410, SR 123, and/or US 12 who wish to visit the Paradise area have two detour options: Via Gifford Pinchot National Forest Service Road 52 (Skate Creek Road) beginning on US 12 in Packwood and ending on SR 706 east of Ashford; or the longer route via SR 7 beginning in Morton on US 12 and ending on SR 706 at Elbe (see attached map).

While the construction and associated closures and traffic delays present an inconvenience, the rehabilitation work will not only improve the driving surface of the roadway, but ensure its longevity.

Updated information on this project may be obtained by calling Mount Rainier National Park at 360-569-2166. Information on this project, as well as general park information, is also available on Mount Rainier National Park’s website www.nps.gov/mora/parknews/newsreleases.htm.

###

NOTE: Drivers can now get real time traffic and weather information by dialing 5-1-1 from most cell phones. This new traveler information system builds upon the highly successful Washington State Highway hotline that manages 4.6 million calls each year. Callers can also use 5-1-1 to get statewide construction, mountain pass conditions, and state ferry system information, as well as toll free numbers for passenger rail and airlines. TTY users can call 1-800-833-6388.

-NPS-

Night Sky Programs Aug 5 and Beyond!

2011-08-02T16:18:00.000-07:00

Star Party and Night Skies Program at Paradise: 9:00 PM, Friday August 5, 2011.

Families and individuals of all ages are invited to the Paradise area of Mount Rainier National Park for a special program on Friday, August 5. The event starts at 9:00 PM in the lobby of the Paradise Inn with a short presentation about the National Park Service “Night Skies” program. The National Park Service has come to embrace night skies as one of the many scenic vistas the agency is a steward of. It is essential to keeping a park whole and touches on almost every aspect that is important to us - from
sustainability to stargazers, and animals to ancient ruins.

At 9:45 PM there will be outdoor star gazing in front of the Paradise Jackson Visitor Center with Tacoma Astronomical Society (TAS) volunteers and their telescopes. Astronomy Society volunteers will also assist with special children's astronomy activities. All ages will be able to make astronomy devices called "star finders."

If weather makes star gazing difficult, the party will move inside the Paradise Inn lobby for a 45-minute film about the Milky Way galaxy.

Night Sky viewing at the park through Labor Day

Visitors are also invited to join Mount Rainier volunteer astronomer-interpreter Don West-Wilke for night sky viewing Thursdays through Sundays through Labor Day. Don and his unique telescope will help visitors see the night sky (weather permitting) beginning at 10 PM at the following park locations:
Thursdays: Longmire Plaza in front of the National Park Inn
Fridays: Plaza in front of the Paradise Jackson Visitor Center
Saturdays: Plaza in front of the Paradise Jackson Visitor Center
Sundays: Backbone Ridge pull-out along Steven's Canyon Road
Mondays: Plaza in front of the Paradise Jackson Visitor Center

If you have questions please contact Park Ranger Curt Jacquot at (360) 569-2211, extension 6577.

Information about the Tacoma Astronomy Society is found online at: http://www.tas-online.org/

General park information is available at www.nps.gov/mora or by calling 360-569-2211.

-NPS-

MOUNT RAINIER NEWS UPDATES

2011-07-21T10:05:00.000-07:00

Snow continues to melt slowly from the slopes of Mount Rainier as cool temperatures prevail. Many trails park-wide are still under snow. The current snowline is around 4,000 feet. The park experienced a very heavy snowfall this past winter (2010-2011) and melt-out is not expected until sometime in August. Winter-like conditions exist in the backcountry. Hikers should check the park’s webpage (www.nps.gov/mora) for current trail conditions before heading out for a trip.
Some wildflowers are blooming along park roadsides as the snow recedes, but given the current snowpack, the best estimates for wildflower blooms are mid-August!

Mowich Lake Road Opening
The Mowich Lake Road in the northwest corner of the park will open to the public on Friday, July 22. In average snow years, this road would have opened on the 4th of July weekend. Three to four feet of snow remain in the area, but the parking lot is clear and some picnic tables are melted out.

An Evening With Renowned Mountaineer Dee Molenaar
Join one of the legends of mountain climbing for two special programs at Mount Rainier National Park on August 2, 2011. Mountaineer and author of “The Challenge of Mount Rainier”, Dee Molenaar will speak at the Jackson Visitor Center at 3:45 p.m. and at the Paradise Inn at 9:00 p.m.
Dee Molenaar was a park ranger and mountain guide at Mount Rainier and has climbed peaks throughout the western U.S. and Canada, Alaska, the Alps, and the Himalayas. He participated in major expeditions to Mount St. Elias in Alaska in 1946 and in the ill-fated 1953 American expedition to K2 in the Karakoram Himalaya. His artwork and maps have appeared in books and art shows all over the world. His book “The Challenge of Mount Rainier”, considered the definitive work on the climbing history of Mount Rainier, is in its ninth printing. At age 91 he continues to work on art and map projects, and writing and lecturing about mountaineering and geology.

General park information is available at www.nps.gov/mora or by calling 360-569-2211.

Volunteers Wanted to Participate in Sunrise Archaeological Dig
Mount Rainier has been used by Native American people for thousands of years. To better document the mountain’s archaeological record, Mount Rainier National Park is working with Central Washington University’s archaeology field school. Under the direction of Dr. Patrick McCutcheon, the field school will be conducting an excavation in the Sunrise area to improve our understanding of the long-term human use of Mount Rainier’s higher elevation landscapes.

Volunteers will get a guided tour of the site and have the opportunity to shadow a field school student working on the excavation. Volunteers will join in the daily operations, assisting with sieving excavated sediments, carrying soil and measuring sediment volume. Participants will also have the opportunity to discover and learn about the artifacts and their uses.

Opportunities are available on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8:00 am to 11:30 am during the first three weeks in August. The number of participants is limited each day to six people ages 16 and above. Reservations may be made in person at the Sunrise Visitor Center or by calling 360-663-2425.

RAMROD BICYCLE RIDE – Thursday, July 28, 2011
On Thursday, July 28, the Redmond Cycling Club will be conducting their organized recreational bicycle ride called RAMROD (Ride Around Mount Rainier in One Day). Up to 800 cyclists will begin their ride in Enumclaw, Washington traveling through Eatonville, Elbe and Ashford. After entering the park at the Nisqually Entrance, they will proceed up the Paradise Road to the junction with the Stevens Canyon Road. The route continues east on Stevens Canyon Road to State Route 123 and north on State Route 123 over Cayuse Pass. The last leg of the ride follows State Route 410 westbound for a return to Enumclaw. This is the 28th year that RAMROD has been conducted in the park.

Motorists coming to the park that day should expect some traffic delays, congestion around designated checkpoints and support areas, and long lines of bicyclists sharing the roadway.

Park roads and facilities will remain open to the general public while the one-day ride is being conducted. Drivers and pedestrians are cautioned that bicyclists in large numbers will be sharing park roadways including the road east from Nisqually Entrance, Stevens Canyon Road, SR 123 and State Route 410 throughout the day. Slow traffic along the ride route should be expected, as road shoulders are narrow or non-existent along many sections. Drivers may encounter bicyclists walking their bikes up the long grade or riding slowly to maintain control over sections of the roadway. The park asks motorists to be courteous, use extra care when passing bicyclists, and to do so only when there is sufficient road clearance and an unimpeded line of sight to do so safely.

-NPS-

NEW WEBCAM SHOWS VIEW FROM CAMP MUIR

2011-07-18T10:23:00.000-07:00

Mount Rainier National Park is excited to announce that a new webcam at
Camp Muir is now fully operational and available online to the public.
This is a unique location for a webcam as it is certainly the highest
webcam in Washington State and one of the most remote in the United States.
This project was a cooperative effort between the National Park Service,
the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center, and Dan Howlett of NoHow, Inc.
The design and installation of this webcam involved some difficult
technical challenges, for which Dan “Howie” Howlett created a solution on
the backbone of the park’s existing weather telemetry equipment. Think of
the webcam image as another weather parameter like temperature or wind
speed. The image is transmitted down in the same data bursts as the
weather information. After the initial installation by climbing ranger
Stefan Lofgren in mid-May, several unanticipated issues were hammered out.
Mark Moore of the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center helped
troubleshoot some of these problems, coordinate the new data acquisition,
and dissemination.

The images from Camp Muir are expected to be very popular and broadly used
by a wide array of interested groups. Climbers and hikers into Mount
Rainier alpine zones, of course, will be able to use the webcam to see
where the tops of the clouds are and will discover that often when it is
rainy at Paradise or lower down in the valley, it may be sunny and warm at
Muir!

Weather forecasting centers such as the National Weather Service will also
be able to use the images and data for forecasting purposes both for the
public and for pilots. There are scientific opportunities associated with
the images as well regarding snowmelt, glacier mass-balance, and air
quality, to name a few.

As extraordinary as the images are, there are limits to how often we will
see clear images. It will be common when there are clouds and/or blowing
snow that the camera will rime and the images will show only white. This
is expected to be the case for much of the winter. There is not enough
power at Camp Muir to operate any heating elements that could keep the
camera shedding rime ice. As this is a newly developed application of
existing technology, we may encounter more unanticipated challenges.
Please be patient as you notice interruptions in service or problems with
the images. We will also be immediately aware and try to fix it as soon as
practicable.

Currently, the image is set to a resolution of 1024 x 786 and it is
slightly pixelated. We endeavor to increase the resolution so that greater
detail can be shown. The camera is fixed and cannot be moved remotely, so
we must actually physically move the camera to change its view. Another
item on the wish list would be to install a remotely moveable camera.

You can access the image on Mount Rainier’s webpage:
http://www.nps.gov/mora or the direct address of the image is:
http://www.nps.gov/webcams-mora/muir.jpg

-NPS-

Work Begins This Week to Implement the Carbon River Access Management Plan in Mount Rainier National Park.

2011-07-18T09:04:00.000-07:00

In response to flood damage to the Carbon River Road and Ipsut CreekCampground following the major November 2006 flood event and subsequent
flood events as recent as last winter, the Carbon River Access Management
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was
signed by the Pacific West Regional Director on February 3, 2011.

The selected Preferred Alternative #2 states that the Carbon River Road
would be reopened to private vehicles as far as a turnaround/drop-off at
the Old Mine Trailhead, 1.2 miles from the park entrance. Between the Old
Mine Trailhead and Ipsut Creek Campground, intact sections of the road
would be used as an improved trail and new improved trail sections would
be constructed through or around flood damaged sections.

Eventually the improved trail will provide sufficient width and sight
distance to safely accommodate hikers and bicyclists, and meet Universal
Access guidelines. Existing road culverts will eventually be removed and
up to 9 wood trail bridges installed to improve fish passage. The Ipsut
Creek Campground will be converted to a hike-in/bike-in backcountry camp
with a minimum of 15 individual sites and 3 group sites. The existing
vault toilets will be replaced with composting toilets and the former
Ipsut trailhead parking area will be recontoured and the historic Ipsut
Patrol Cabin will be reconstructed near the trailhead. At the Carbon River
entrance area, an entrance archway will be constructed, the existing
ranger station will be replaced with a new fee station/visitor contact
office, and additional parking will eventually be provided at the entrance
and in the former maintenance compound located 1/4-mile up the road.

This project will be multi-phased and time to complete is solely dependent
upon funding. Work beginning this Summer/Fall will include: Construction
of up to 5 log flood protection structures within the Carbon River
floodplain adjacent to the Carbon River Entrance Area and the former
maintenance compound; placement of log-span check dams in the damaged
Falls Creek area to protect the adjacent unimproved trail and location for
the future improved trail from future flooding; remove existing vault
toilets and install new composting toilets (likely this Fall); general
decommissioning of portions of the Ipsut Campground for downsizing (i.e.
remove fire grates, parking barriers, etc.); install bike racks and
bear-proof food boxes in the downsized campground; begin to clear/widen
unimproved trail in the Falls Creek area; begin construction of new trail
bridges; and remove dysfunctional culverts along the length of the old
roadway.

Visitors will be able to access the Carbon River area, continuing to park
in the limited parking area immediately inside the entrance and hike/bike
to the Ipsut Creek Campground. Biking is only permitted on the unimproved
trail up to the Ipsut Creek Campground. Please be aware of the
construction work going on in the area (during weekdays) and wait for
permission from the workers when it is safe to pass through the
construction zone. Bikers, please be particularly aware of other bikers
and hikers using the unimproved and narrow trail, especially in areas of
restricted sight distance.

-NPS-

Night Skies Program and Star Gazing at Mt Rainier-Paradise this Friday

2011-07-17T21:21:00.001-07:00

Contact: Curt Jacquot, West Area Interpreter, (360) 569-2211 ext. 6577

Star Party and Night Skies Program at Paradise: 9:00 PM, Friday July 22,
2011

Families and individuals of all ages are invited to the Paradise area of
Mount Rainier National Park for a special program on Friday, July 22.. The
event starts at 9:00 PM in the lobby of the Paradise Inn with a short
presentation about the National Park Service “Night Skies” program. The
National Park Service has come to embrace night skies as one of the many
scenic vistas the agency is a steward of. It is essential to keeping a park
whole and touches on almost every aspect that is important to us - from
sustainability to stargazers, and animals to ancient ruins.

At 9:45 PM there will be outdoor star gazing in front of the Paradise
Jackson Visitor Center with Tacoma Astronomical Society (TAS) volunteers
and their telescopes. Astronomy Society volunteers will also assist with
special children's astronomy activities. All ages will be able to make
astronomy devices called "star finders."

If weather makes star gazing difficult, the party will move inside the
Paradise Inn lobby for star finder making and a 45-minute film about the
Milky Way galaxy.

If you have questions please contact Park Ranger Curt Jacquot at (360)
569-2211, extension 6577.

Information about the Tacoma Astronomy Society is found online at:
http://www.tas-online.org/

General park information is available at www.nps.gov/mora or by calling
360-569-2211.

-NPS-

“Keep Wildlife Wild Day” at Mount Rainier

2011-07-08T10:15:00.001-07:00

“Keep Wildlife Wild Day” at Mount Rainier

Mount Rainier National Park will host its third annual Keep Wildlife Wild
Day on August 6, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in an effort to educate
visitors on wildlife and the impacts we have on them. The day will focus
on protection and education to keep Mount Rainier’s wildlife wild.

The park will celebrate the day with a number of short educational programs
in the Paradise area. Interpretive Rangers and Biologists will present
talks on native wildlife throughout the day. Activities will be provided
for children to explore the interesting world of wildlife through artistic
expression.

Join Mount Rainier in helping to keep wildlife wild!

For more information, or to sign up to volunteer, contact
Sarah_Yates@nps.gov.

More information on the “Keep Wildlife Wild” program can be found at
http://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/keep-wildlife-wild.htm.

For more information on volunteering for the park, visit Mount Rainier’s
volunteer website at
http://www.nps.gov/mora/supportyourpark/volunteer.htm

Contact: Sarah Yates, 360-569-6774

Delayed opening of the road to Sunrise until at least July 8...

2011-06-17T12:36:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release
Contact: Donna Rahier, 360-569-6501

Deep Snow Conditions Will Delay Opening of Sunrise Area and the White River
Campground; Entrance Fees Waived on June 21

Deep and persistent snow levels at higher elevations on Mount Rainier will delay the opening of the road to Sunrise until at least July 8. Park road crews, using bulldozers and a rotary snow blower, are working daily to remove snow from the road and expect to reach the parking area at Sunrise early next week. Once access is available, additional park and Washington Conservation Corps crews will be brought into the area to shovel out buildings and activate the power and water systems.

Since July 1, 2010, a total of 907 inches of snow have fallen at Paradise. The record for the park is 1,122 of snowfall during the 1971-72 winter season. Cool and wet temperatures have persisted into June, delaying snow melt in the upper elevations and slowing snow removal operations that began in March. Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) road crews have faced similar deep snow conditions on Highway 410, delaying the opening of Chinook Pass on the east side of the park. WSDOT’s projected opening for Chinook Pass is June 23 at 10:00 AM.

Persistent snow conditions will also delay the opening of the White River Campground until July 1. The road to the campground is open and accessible. Mowich Road opening operations will be delayed until snow removal at Paradise and Sunrise are completed. All other park roads and areas are open. Travelers are advised to check the park’s website prior to a visit to get updated information on road and trail conditions, services and activities. Mount Rainier National Park’s website is at: www.nps.gov/mora. Attached are recent photos of current snow conditions at Sunrise.
Other photos are posted on the park website.

Please check the WSDOT website, www.wsdot.wa.gov, for current updates on all highway and pass conditions in Washington State.

June 21 is a FEE FREE DAY at Mount Rainier!

June 21 marks the first day of summer and the next FEE FREE DAY at Mount Rainier National Park and all other national parks charging entrance fees across the nation. This is one of 17 fee free days that have been designated this year. Other remaining fee free periods are September 24 (National Public Lands Day), and November 11-13 (Veteran's Day Weekend).

Fee free days serve to encourage Americans to visit and appreciate their national parks.

-NPS-

Summertime Ranger led programs return to the Mountain

2011-06-16T19:35:00.000-07:00

Mount Rainier National Park
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 16, 2011
Summertime Ranger-led Programs return to the Mountain
Contact: Curt Jacquot, Curt_Jacquot@nps.gov, 360.569.6578

Mount Rainier National Park is pleased to announce the return of regularly scheduled ranger-led programs. The Ohanapecosh campground is snow-free and rangers have returned to present a variety of daily programs starting Friday, June 17th. These include Junior Ranger activities, walks and evening programs.

In June at the Paradise Jackson Visitor Center, visitors can join a daily Ranger’s Choice walk at 2 p.m. and on Friday, June 17th there will be an evening program at the Paradise Inn starting at 9 p.m. The complete schedule of daily ranger programs at Longmire and Paradise will begin Friday, July 1st. The summer schedule of Ranger-led activities is available on the park website at:
http://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/rangerprograms.htm

Follow upcoming Mount Rainier National Park events via our new twitter page at:
http://twitter.com/#!/MountRainierNPS

Upcoming evening programs are as follows:
Friday, June 17, Paradise Inn Lobby at 9:00 PM
Journey to Paradise: Join Ranger Maureen McLean for a 1915 sojourn to Mount Rainier National Park.

Friday, June 17, Ohanapecosh Campground Amphitheater 8:30 pm
Treemendous Trees: Come and discover the many special gifts that the coniferous forests of Mount Rainier provide for all with Ranger Bev Killam.

Saturday, June 18, Ohanapecosh Campground Amphitheater 8:30 pm
Climbing Mount Rainier: Have you ever wondered, dreamed, or imagined what you would experience were you to climb the mountain? Join Ranger Dan Smith for a journey into the world of thin air and ice as he shares his 40+ years of climbing experiences.

Sunday, June 19, Ohanapecosh Campground Amphitheater 8:30 pm
Life in the Treetops: The old growth forests of Mount Rainier National Park are some of the last remnants of the forests that covered this area in the past. These biologically diverse ecosystems provide life to thousands of plant and animal species. Join Ranger Scott Coombs in a tour of the old growth forest and an introduction to the animals that call these treetops home.

Monday, June 20, Ohanapecosh Campground Amphitheater 8:30 pm
Climbing Mount Rainier: Ranger Dan Smith

Tuesday, June 21, Ohanapecosh Campground Amphitheater 8:30 pm
Treemendous Trees: Ranger Bev Killam

Wednesday, June 22, Ohanapecosh Campground Amphitheater 8:30 pm
Where the Wild Things Are

Thursday, June 23, Ohanapecosh Campground Amphitheater 8:30 pm
Life Comes From The Volcano!

General park information is available at www.nps.gov/mora or by calling
360-569-2211.

-NPS-

We'll miss you Dave!

2011-06-01T17:08:00.000-07:00

DENVER – Intermountain Regional Director John Wessels today announced that
Mount Rainier Superintendent David Uberuaga has been named Superintendent
of Grand Canyon National Park. Uberuaga will begin his duties in mid-July.

“I am extremely pleased that we have someone of Dave’s character,
experience and ability at Grand Canyon National Park,” Wessels said. “He
has all the skills necessary to take on the many complex issues that are
part of managing a park the size and stature of Grand Canyon.”

Uberuaga is currently the Superintendent of Mount Rainier National Park in
Washington state, a post he has held for the past 9 years. During that
time he served for more than a year as Acting Superintendent of Yosemite
National Park. He has spent 37 years in federal service and has been with
the National Park Service since 1984.

“I am humbled to have been selected as Superintendent at Grand Canyon,”
Uberuaga said. “I look forward to working with the park staff, the many
stakeholders who care so deeply about the park, and the local community.
Grand Canyon National Park is a truly spectacular place, one that has
inspired people around the world.”

Uberuaga has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a Masters in
Business Administration from the University of Idaho. Among his many
awards, he is the recipient of the National Parks Conservation
Association’s Stehpen Tyng Mather Award for promoting environmental
preservation in parks; the Department of Interior Cooperative Conservation
Award; and the Department of Interior Superior Service Award. In 2008, he
was named Federal Land Manger of the year by the Department of Interior.

Born and raised in Boise, Idaho, he and his wife Barbara have three grown
children, Mark, Michelle and Amy.

---NPS---

Mount Rainier Spring/Summer Opening Schedule

2011-05-20T14:05:00.000-07:00

-NPS-

For additional information visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/mora or

call 360-569-2211

   SPRING/SUMMER OPENING SCHEDULE

Paradise Inn Opens - On Friday, May 20, the historic Paradise Inn opens its
doors once again to greet visitors for the 2011 season. Constructed in
1916, the Inn showcases a beautiful lobby and dining room featuring hand
painted hanging lamps depicting park wildflowers, three huge stone
fireplaces to welcome guests, 118 guest rooms, a café, and gift shop with
authentic Native American arts and crafts. A full service dining room
offers Northwest cuisine. The Inn is listed as a National Historic
Landmark.

In addition to the Paradise Inn, the National Park Inn at Longmire is also
open for visitors. The National Park Inn offers 25 guests rooms, a cozy
fireside room for guests to enjoy, full service restaurant, general store
and gift shop.

Both inns are operated by Guest Services, Incorporated. Reservations can
be made on line at www.mtrainierguestservices.com or by telephone at
360-569-2275.

Gateway communities surrounding the park are open daily also providing
lodging, meals, gifts, equipment rentals, horseback riding, fishing,
special events and a variety of other needs to park visitors. Information
on these businesses is available on the internet at www.visitrainier.com,
www.mt-rainier.com, www.staycrystal.com,
www.destinationpackwood.com or www.minerallake.com.

CURRENT STATUS AND PROJECTED OPENING DATES OF OTHER PARK FACILITIES (by
area): Note: Some dates may change due to snow conditions and accessibility

ROADS:
  Stevens Canyon Road Open Friday, May 27 @ 8:00 a.m.
  SR 410 to SR 123 over Cayuse Pass Open Thursday, May 26
  Sunrise Road Open Friday, June 24 @ 8:00 a.m.
  Mowich Lake Road Open Friday, July 1 @ 8:00 a.m.
  Skate Creek Road (USFS Road 52) Opened Thursday, May 19

Longmire:
Longmire Museum Open daily - 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Longmire Wilderness Information Center Open daily - 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
National Park Inn Open daily year round

Cougar Rock:
Cougar Rock Campground Opening delayed until June 3 8:00 a.m. due to snow.
Cougar Rock Picnic Area Same as Cougar Rock Campground

Paradise:
Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center Open daily -10:00 a.m. - 6 p.m. (starting May 20)
Paradise Inn Open daily beginning May 20

Box Canyon:
Box Canyon Picnic Area & Restrooms Open May 27

Ohanapecosh:
Ohanapecosh Campground Open May 27 – 8:00 a.m.
Ohanapecosh Visitor Center Open May 27–30 - 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., then weekends only until June 11. June 11-September 4 - open 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Grove of the Patriarchs Open 5/27

White River:
White River Road to WR Campground May 27 (Projected-subject to snow
conditions)
White River Campground Open June 24 - 8:00 a.m.

Sunrise:
Sunrise Lodge (snack bar & gift shop) Open June 24
Sunrise Visitor Center July 1 (10 am - 6 pm)

Carbon River:
Ranger Station open year round Call for hours - 360-829-9639

Snowshoe Walks for School Groups

2011-03-24T07:23:00.001-07:00

Contact: Fawn Bauer, Education Specialist 360-569-6037

With these recent storms that have hit the Cascades, the Education Staff at
Mount Rainier National Park is offering additional curriculum-based
snowshoe education programs for school groups. If you are a teacher
looking to bring your students on a field trip to Mount Rainier during the
school week, don’t miss this opportunity. These programs are available at
no charge to school groups and are tailored to the teacher’s identified
learning objectives.

Through a “Connecting Kids to Parks” grant from Washington’s National Park
Fund, several mini-grants are available to help subsidize the
transportation costs for schools to bring students to the park during this
spring 2011 school year. These mini-grants are intended to be cost-share
subsidies for bus transportation, so that the maximum amount of students
can benefit. Number and size of grants will vary, with most grants being in
the $100-$250 range. These mini-grants are made possible in an effort to
increase the accessibility of park experiences for youth who may not
otherwise have an opportunity to visit a national park.

For more information about these school snowshoe education walks and the
bus subsidy grant, please contact Fawn Bauer at 360-569-6037.

Please check the Mount Rainier National Park website at
http://www.nps.gov/mora/forteachers/index.htm for more information about
field trips and teacher workshops.

Please remember that roads in the park may be closed at any time due to
hazardous conditions. General park information is available at
www.nps.gov/mora or by calling 360-569-2211.

-NPS-

Mount Rainier Press Release - Spring Opening Beginning

2011-03-18T11:58:00.000-07:00

March 18, 2011

2011 SPRING OPENING BEGINNING

The calendar may say it’s almost the first day of Spring, but at Mount
Rainier National Park Spring is still a long way off. But, despite the
fact that Paradise currently has 203” of snow on the ground (121% above
normal) staff at Mount Rainier is once again beginning the annual spring
opening. This process, which begins at the lower elevations of the park
such as Longmire and Ohanapecosh and moves up the mountain to the higher
elevations of White River and Sunrise as the snow melts or is plowed away,
is like bringing a small community back to life every year. Roads that
have been completely snowed in since last fall are blown out with snow
equipment; removal of slides, boulders and rocks and fallen trees from
these roads, cleaning ditches of debris and repairing any damage; shoveling
snow from park buildings; reactivating water, sewer and heating systems
that have been shut down since fall; repairing damage from winter’s harsh
conditions and many other maintenance activities associated with getting
the park’s public facilities ready for another season of visitation.

SNOW PLAY AND SNOWSHOE WALKS ENDING MARCH 27

The public snow play area at Paradise will be staffed and groomed through
Sunday, March 27. After that date the snow play runs will not be
maintained and sledding will not be permitted due to safety concerns.

The ranger-led snow shoe walks will also end that same date - March 27.

The new Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center is open weekends only, 10
a.m. to 5 p.m. until May 7 when it will begin 7-day a week operation.

The Paradise Inn is scheduled to open for the 2011 season on Friday, May
20. Reservations can be made by phone – 360-569-2275, or on line at
www.mtrainierguestservices.com

While snow play activities will be ending, great opportunities still exist
for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the Paradise area. Before
heading out, visitors are advised to check with park staff for current
weather and avalanche conditions. Spring can be a wonderful time to
experience the park, but dangerous conditions can exist.

For current road and weather information, visit the park’s web page at
www.nps.gov/mora, or call 360-569-2211 for recorded updates. For local
business information web sites visit: www.visitrainier.com,
www.mt-rainier.com, www.staycrystal.com, www.minerallake.com,
www.destinationpackwood.com, or www.mtrainierguestservices.com
-NPS-

CLIMBING FEES CHANGING AT MOUNT RAINIER

2011-03-15T14:59:00.000-07:00

Mount Rainier National Park Superintendent Dave Uberuaga announces that the
proposed increase in climbing fees at Mount Rainier has been approved by
Pacific West Regional Director Christine Lehnertz, and is effective
immediately.

Climbers will now be charged $43 for an annual climbing pass which is good
through December 31 of the year it is purchased. This is a $13 increase
from the previous fee of $30 which has been in effect since May, 2003.

In addition, the park is implementing a new $30 “youth” climbing pass for
climbers 24 years old and younger, in support of National Park Service and
Department of Interior initiatives, and in response to comments made during
public meetings the park held in November and December of 2010. It is
estimated that 5-10% of the total climber volume is in this age group.

The public comment process involved three public meetings held in Seattle,
Tacoma and Ashford in November and December as well as one additional
meeting held in early February in Bellevue. Attendees included
mountaineering groups, professional guides, rangers, independent climbers
from broad backgrounds, non-climbing public and mountain rescue groups. An
Executive Summary, a Frequently Asked Questions document, and a Climbing
Program Cost Analysis were produced and posted on the Mount Rainier web
page (www.nps.gov/mora) and widely distributed.

After a thorough analysis of all of the comments submitted, the park staff
decided on the above fee structure for implementation.

Climbing fees, in addition to other park funding sources are used to
support climber services and management of climbing activities on Mount
Rainier. These services and programs include: registering approximately
11,000 climbers each year; providing up-to-date climbing route and safety
information; updating weather, climbing, route, and climbing related
information on web blog; staffing ranger stations at Paradise and White
River; issuing climbing passes and providing updated information for
climbers; staffing two high camps (Camp Muir & Camp Schurman); briefing
hundreds of climbers during peak season; responding to numerous search and
rescues and emergency medical situations on the upper mountain; operating
and maintaining high camp facilities and communications systems;
maintaining toilets at the high camps and managing the “blue bag” and
“Leave No Trace programs; hauling several thousand pounds of human waste
off the upper mountain to processing facilities. In addition, the revenue
from these fees allows the park to provide the climbing ranger staff
training in core skills, including mountaineering, search and rescue,
emergency medical services, incident management and aviation-related
training, to be able to perform their jobs in the extreme environment in
which they work. Part of their job responsibilities also involves
monitoring the alpine wilderness areas for impacts related to visitor use
and climate change.

Superintendent Uberuaga said “I very much appreciate the ideas,
recommendations and feedback from all of the people who provided comments,
either at the public meetings or in writing. Their participation helped us
make better decisions that will guide management of the climbing program
for the next several years.”

-NPS-

Stevens Canyon News, Mt. Rainier.

2011-02-16T19:57:00.000-08:00

Rehabilitation of 10 miles of Stevens Canyon Road planned in 2011, 2012 and
2013

Mount Rainier National Park Superintendent Dave Uberuaga and Federal
Highway Administration, Western Federal Lands Highway Division officials
announce that the planned rehabilitation of Stevens Canyon Road is
tentatively scheduled to begin in early September, 2011 and be completed by
late September, 2013.

Federal Highway Administration, Western Federal Lands Highway Division
officials will be announcing a pre-solicitation site visit for prospective
bidders in early May, 2011. The contract will likely be awarded by August,
2011 with the project starting immediately following the Labor Day holiday
on September 6, 2011.

The National Park Service prepared an Environmental Assessment and a
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), which was approved by the Pacific
West Regional Director on July 1, 2010. The FONSI calls for the
resurfacing, restoration, and rehabilitation of the Stevens Canyon Road and
other related facilities, including bridges, tunnels, culverts, guard
walls, retaining walls, turnouts and the short Wonderland Trail section
adjacent to Reflection Lake. The improvements will occur along two segments
of the road, totaling 10.09 miles of the 19 mile road. Segment 1 begins at
the Nisqually-Paradise Road intersection and extends east for 4.83 miles to
the Stevens Creek Bridge. Segment 4 begins at the Backbone Ridge Viaduct
(just east of the Backbone Ridge Viewpoint) and continues for 5.26 miles to
the intersection with Washington State Route (SR) 123.

Ten sites in Segment 1 and 35 sites in Segment 4 have been identified as
needing subsurface stabilization to halt roadway embankment creep that has
resulted in surface tension cracks and appreciable horizontal and vertical
displacement. Two of the 10 sites in Segment 1 require full roadway
embankment replacement down to 22 foot depth and retaining/guard wall
replacements. Most of the 35 sites in Segment 4 require either ¾- width or
full road embankment replacement down to 5 foot depth, some of which
require retaining/guard wall replacements.

Due to the scope of the extensive roadway embankment stabilization efforts,
it will be necessary to close the east end (Segment 4) of Stevens Canyon
Road from the gate located just west of the Grove of the Patriarchs (see
attached map) to just east of the popular Backbone Ridge Viewpoint from
September 6, 2011 to when the road is shut down for the winter (October 24
th in 2010). The contractor will also be doing subsurface compaction
grouting in both road segments to stabilize the roadway in 2011. Visitors
will be able to access the Reflection Lakes area, Box Canyon and Backbone
Ridge Viewpoint area and adjacent trailheads from the west during the
2011closure period.

During the 2012 season, the subsurface stabilization work on the west end
(Segment 1) will require a closure from just east of the Paradise Valley
Road to the Box Canyon Area immediately following Labor Day to when the
road is shut down for the winter. The contractor will also be repairing the
tunnel walls at milepost 6.9 and 8.5 during the closure period. During
this period, visitors will be able to access up to the Box Canyon area from
the east. From approximately June 2012 to just before Labor Day 2012 the
contractor will be conducting work in both segments, at which time visitors
should anticipate 20 minute delays Mondays through Fridays.

During the 2013 season, the contractor will focus on drainage improvements,
repair/stabilization and reconstruction of historic rock retaining walls,
milling/recycling the asphalt surface as road base; and resurfacing with
new hot-mix asphalt which will be accomplished while the roadway is open to
the public. At this time visitors should again anticipate 20 minute delays
Mondays through Fridays until project completion estimated in September,
2013.

Stevens Canyon Road connects the east and west side of the park, extending
for 19 miles from SR 123 at the east end to intersection with the Nisqually
to Paradise Road at the west end, two miles south of Paradise. During the
2011 & 2012 closure periods, visitors are encouraged to access the Paradise
area from the southwest via the Nisqually Entrance at east end of SR 706.
Visitors traveling from the east via SR 410, SR 123, and/or US 12 who wish
to visit the Paradise area have two detour options: Via Gifford Pinchot
National Forest Service Road 52 (Skate Creek Road) beginning on US 12 in
Packwood and ending on SR 706 east of Ashford; or the longer route via SR 7
beginning in Morton on US 12 and ending on SR 706 at Elbe (see attached
map).

While the construction and associated closures and traffic delays present
an inconvenience, the rehabilitation work will not only improve the driving
surface of the roadway, but ensure its longevity.

Updated information on this project may be obtained by calling Mount
Rainier National Park at 360-569-2166. Information on this project, as well
as general park information, is also available on Mount Rainier National
Park’s Intranet Homepage (www.nps.gov/mora).

###

NOTE: Drivers can now get real time traffic and weather information by
dialing 5-1-1 from most cell phones. This new traveler information system
builds upon the highly successful Washington State Highway hotline that
manages 4.6 million calls each year. Callers can also use 5-1-1 to get
statewide construction, mountain pass conditions, and state ferry system
information, as well as toll free numbers for passenger rail and airlines.
TTY users can call 1-800-833-6388.

-NPS-

The Right Camera for Climbing Mt. Rainier

2011-02-14T12:27:00.000-08:00

In conclusion, I can tell you that the climber with the least amount of extraneous C@#P and the lightest pack on the mountain will have more fun than the others, and today's new RAW capture point-and-shoots are just the ticket that we have been waiting for! Have fun, climb safely, and bring back some great images!

Mount Rainier National Park Announces the First of Several Fee Free Periods in 2011

2011-01-12T17:10:00.001-08:00

Mount Rainier National Park Announces the First of Several Fee Free Periods
in 2011

Entrance fees will be waived at Mount Rainier National Park and all other
national parks on a total of 17 days this year. The first of these fee
free periods will be January 15 through 17 in celebration of Martin Luther
King, Jr. Day.

Other fee free periods in 2011 will be April 16 through 24 (National Park
Week), June 21 (the first day of summer), September 24 (National Public
Lands Day), and November 11-13 (Veteran's Day Weekend). Fee free days
serve to encourage Americans to visit and appreciate their national parks.

The Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center will be open over the upcoming holiday
weekend, as well as the snowplay area at Paradise. Guided snowshoe walks
will be conducted on all three days. The National Park Inn and General
Store at Longmire will also be open offering food service, lodging, gifts,
and snacks. Tire chairs are also available for sale.

Visitors are reminded that tire chains must be carried in all vehicles,
including those with four-wheel drive, when traveling in the park during
winter months and may be required at any time, depending on road
conditions.

For updated recorded information, call 360-569-2211 or visit the park’s web
page at www.nps.gov/mora

Recommendations for 2011 Workshops.

2011-01-12T07:24:00.000-08:00

You are one of the great aspects of our workshops. Your energy, enthusiasm, and creativity feeds into the buzz that keeps us going all day long, all week long. This energy is at its best when students of similar capabilities get collaborating. For this reason we have provided a recommended flowchart. We will not require portfolio reviews for acceptance, but keep the recommendations in mind when choosing a workshop. (If you don't like flowcharts, shoot me an email to discuss programs)
We know that every class will have a range of experience, knowledge, and tastes. Your unique vision contributes to the class. If you have any question about choosing the best class for you, please contact us. Click on the image below to enlarge!

Winter Recreation Activities Begin at Mount Rainier National Park

2010-12-17T12:29:00.000-08:00

Winter Recreation Activities Begin at Mount Rainier National Park

Mount Rainier National Park Superintendent Dave Uberuaga announces that the
Paradise snowplay area will open for the season, Saturday, December 18.
Snowshoe walks led by Park Rangers will also begin on that date.

Snowplay - Sledding and Sliding
The snowplay area is immediately north of the upper parking lot at
Paradise. Sliding and sledding in the park is permitted ONLY in this
designated area. Snowplay runs are supervised daily by Park Rangers from
December 18 through January 2, then on weekends and holidays from January 8
through March 27. Visitors may use the sled runs when the area is not
staffed, but the runs are not groomed during the week. For current snowplay
status, contact the Longmire Museum at 360-569-2211 ext. 3314 (9:00 a.m. –
4:30 p.m. daily).

Because of the high potential for personal injury and frequency of
accidents, no other park areas are
open to sliding activities. Serious injuries have occurred when people
mistakenly slid over waterfalls, into trees, down slopes that were too
steep, broke through thin snow into stream gorges, or slammed into other
people. Skiing and snowboarding are permitted in other areas, outside of
the snowplay area.

For your enjoyment and safety, these few guidelines apply:
Use only inner tubes, plastic sleds, saucers, or other soft sliding
     devices. No wooden toboggans, runner sleds with metal edges, or other
     hard devices are permitted.
Compressed air is available at the rock restroom tunnel across the plaza
     from the new Jackson Visitor Center when snowplay rangers are
     present.
Be sure the run is clear before starting your slide. Collisions may
     cause serious injury.
Dress warmly and in layers with a wicking fabric such as wool or
     polypropylene next to the skin and a waterproof outer layer. Wear
     hats, gloves, and snow-sealed boots. Do not wear lightweight blue
     jeans and t-shirts. They get wet easily and will not keep you warm.
Rest, re-warm, and snack frequently to help keep you comfortable and
     alert. Take a warm-up break at the Jackson Visitor Center before
     feet, hands, noses, or ears feel numb. Food service is available from
     11 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. when the visitor center is open.
The snowplay area is usually closed by 4:30 p.m. nightly.
Check 1610 on your car radio while in the park, for updates on current
     road conditions.

Snowshoe Walks
Join a Park Ranger to learn the art of snowshoeing in the winter wonderland
of Paradise and learn about the ecology of the area. During the holiday
break, the guided walks will be offered daily December 18 through January
2. From January 8 through March 27 the walks will be conducted on weekends
and holidays only. The walks are offered at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on a
first-come, first-served basis. Sign up at the Henry M. Jackson Visitor
Center information desk at Paradise beginning one hour before the start
time.                               ……..

Organized groups of 13-25 people may reserve a snowshoe walk in advance.
Group snowshoe walks begin at 10:30 a.m. For more information or to make a
group reservation, call (360) 569-2211, ext. 3314.

Snowshoe walks cover approximately 1.5 miles and last up to 2 hours.
Snowshoes are provided, or visitors may use their own. A donation of $4
per person is asked to help defray the cost of snowshoe maintenance.
Snowshoeing is a moderately strenuous activity, and participants must be at
least 8 years old. Remember to wear sturdy boots and dress in layers.

Educational Snowshoe Walks for School Groups
Curriculum-based snowshoe education walks are available at no charge to
school groups on weekdays through the park’s Education Program. These
programs are tailored to meet the teacher’s identified learning objectives.
Contact Fawn Bauer at (360) 569-6037 for more information or to schedule
your field trip.

Please check the Mount Rainier National Park website at
http://www.nps.gov/mora/forteachers/index.htm for more information about
field trips and teacher workshops.

Facility Hours
The Longmire Museum (360-569-2211, extension 3314) is open daily from 9:00
a.m. through 4:30 p.m. The Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center (360-569-2211,
extension 6036) is open from 10:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. during holiday
break (December 18 through January 2) and on weekends and holidays through
March 27.

Visitors are reminded that roads in the park may be closed at any time due
to hazardous conditions. When driving on park roads, please use caution as
the roads are icy, narrow, and steep. Carry chains at all times and pay
attention to changing conditions. General park information is available at
www.nps.gov/mora or by calling 360-569-2211.

Driving Times, Mount Rainier National Park.

2010-08-02T10:27:00.000-07:00

When visiting Mount Rainier National Park this summer, expect a few delays for road repairs on SR 123 and SR 410. Delays shouldn't exceed 20 minutes.
One way driving times without delays are as follows:

Longmire to Paradise ~25 minutes, 12 miles.
Paradise to Ohanapecosh via Stevens Canyon ~45 minutes, 23 miles.
Ohanapecosh to White River/SR410 Junction ~30 minutes, 17 miles.
White River/SR410 Junction to Sunrise ~45 minutes, 14 miles.
White River/SR410 Junction to Carbon River via Enumclaw ~ 2 hours, 60 miles.
Longmire to Carbon River via Eatonville/Orting ~2.5 hours, 80 miles.
Longmire to Mowich Lake via Eatonville/Orting ~3 hours, 89 miles.

This information was provide by MRNP!

Have a great time in the park this summer.
Adam

Late July clouds are awesome!

2010-08-02T10:14:00.001-07:00

The clouds have been great this past week. This was shot from the lookout above town. This is a huge 33 Megapixel image. I am going to need a bigger printer! It is available for purchase at AdamAngel.com

Adam

Huge Gallery Updates!

2010-07-14T19:15:00.000-07:00

Some days ARE better than others. Some days are just cleaning. Some are running errands for materials. Some are spent just imagining how to do a unique, special, and affordable renovation to the gallery. On occasion there is a great sense of accomplishment and reward. I used to think that climbing mountains taught you patience. Boy was I wrong! LIFE teaches you patience.

Today we finished the new steps, and the new (sustainably harvested) African mahogany doors arrived. The large one (without the frame) is 4' X 8'. Now that's a door. The steps are made from solid 4" X 12" lumber and are anchored directly to the outside of the vault wall. I'd bet in 1920, they never planned on that happening!!

Pictured on the steps is Brad Klein. Brad is where the Ideas meet Reality. Thanks for the doors Steve Caskey. After seeing these doors in real life, I hope that the rest of the renovation match their quality.

Kilimanjaro by Moonlight.

2010-07-10T14:26:00.000-07:00

Kilimanjaro by Moonlight from Karanga Camp, Kilimanjaro National Park. June 2010.

Kilimanjaro and African Safari with International Mountain Guides, June 2010.

2010-07-05T09:06:00.000-07:00

Another great Kilimanjaro climb and African safari wraps up with great success. All 12 climbers to the top! The climb always exceeds expectations, and the challenges forge lifelong friendships in short time. Congratulations to Art, Ann, Colston, and Anna Edgerton; Rob and Meredith Elgar; John and Christina Porter; Elizah Mclaughlin, Shannon Smith and Donna Wise. Thank you to all of the local porters and guides who helped us stay healthy and strong on our way to the summit. It takes a special group of people to pull off such a feat!

Work hard then play hard. After the climb we safaried in Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater. We stayed at some "off the beaten path" camps and lodges this time, which I think were some of the best lodging experiences I've had on 11 safaris. Good living and good friends all the way. Can't wait to go back next year!

Adam Angel, IMG Guide.

Mount Rainier Updates, Sunrise and Mowich Lake.

2010-06-30T11:46:00.000-07:00

SUNRISE AREA UPDATE:

Mount Rainier National Park Superintendent Dave Uberuaga advises that
Sunrise facilities will be opening on July 2 as planned however, due to
water system issues caused by the cool, late spring, some visitor services
may be limited over the Fourth of July weekend.

Sunrise Ranger Station which is located on the ground floor of the Sunrise
Day Lodge, will open on Friday, July 2. The Ranger Station will be used as
the main visitor contact point this season while the Sunrise Visitor Center
undergoes installation of new exhibits and other renovations. The
renovation project, which is funded by the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is scheduled to be completed by late August. The
Ranger Station will provide visitor information and sales items as well as
Ranger programs.

Concession facilities in Sunrise Lodge will open on Saturday, July 3 and
provide gift sales and limited pre-packaged food service. Once the water
issue is resolved, normal food service will be available to visitors.

MOWICH LAKE UPDATE:

Due to continued cool temperatures and lingering snowpack, opening of the
Mowich Lake road is being delayed until July 9 (noon). Much snow still
remains at the lake and campground and the road into the lake is extremely
wet and soft.

NOTE: Visitors are reminded that a great deal of snow remains on the
ground at the higher elevations of the park (6-8’ at Paradise and Sunrise)
and trails remain snow covered. Lower elevation trails are relatively snow
free. Check at the nearest visitor center or ranger station for current
information or visit the Mount Rainier web page at www.nps.gov/mora and
click on the Hiking and Climbing Quicklink for specific trail reports.

-NPS-

The best time of Year for an East African Safari, Tanzania.

2010-06-29T10:52:00.001-07:00

Just returned from another fabulous expedition to Kilimanjaro and Serengeti. I've compiled the below chart to help you decide when and where to go when you decide go on Safari. This list includes Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, and Mahale as well as two categories for Serengeti.
Please click on the image to view it full size.

Mount Rainier loses a friend.

2010-06-04T21:51:00.000-07:00

Ake Sundstrom passed away peacefully on May 31, 2010. Ake was born in Jameten, Sweden, on March 4, 1917.

Ake is survived by his cherished Bronka, wife of 64 years, his son Allen Jack Sundstrom (Robin), and grandchildren Chloe and Grover.

Ake was proud to be a carpenter for Tucci and Sons for 26 years, and a member of Local 252. Ake had an exquisite sense for harmony and environmental balance, reflected in the fine craftsmanship of the beautiful home he built on the banks of the Nisqually River. Ake was equally at home deep in the wild backcountry or high on the pristine alpine snowfields of Mt. Rainier. The quintessential cross-country skier, admired for his grace and balance, Ake was also a ski jumper as a young man in Europe. An inseparable pair, Ake and Bronka forged many lasting friendships on the slopes of Mount Rainier, friendships that have woven an expanding pattern that includes scores of loyal friends.

Ake and Bronka’s life story is a remarkable tale of survival and enduring humanity, of courage and renewal. Ake was a rare man of exceptional quality, as was immediately recognized by anyone who had the honor of meeting him… a man of stature, a vanishing breed.

A celebration of life will be held in the coming weeks, date to be announced. In lieu of flowers, any memorial contributions should be made to the charity of one's choice. Please leave condolences online at www.GaffneyCares.com. Arrangements by Gaffney Funeral Home, 253-572-6003.

FREE ENTRY TO MOUNT RAINIER JUNE 5-6

2010-06-03T12:25:00.000-07:00

Mount Rainier Superintendent Dave Uberuaga announces that entrance fees to
Mount Rainier National Park will be waived this weekend – June 5-6.
Additional fee free days are scheduled for August 14-15, September 25
(National Public Lands Day) and November 11 (Veterans Day).

While Spring-like weather hasn’t arrived yet at Paradise, where 11 feet of
snow remains on the ground, the Paradise Inn, Henry M. Jackson Memorial
Visitor Center and Paradise Guide House are open and operating daily on
their summer schedules.

With the exception of the roads to Sunrise and Mowich Lake all other major
park roads are now open for the season. The Sunrise Road is projected to
open on June 25 and the Mowich Lake Road on July 2.

The historic Paradise Inn and National Park Inn are open daily offering
lodging, dining, café, gift shops and post office. For reservations call
360-569-2275 (www.guestservices.com).

The new Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center is open daily at 10:00
a.m. The center has ranger programs, exhibits, information, a theater,
bookstore, food and gifts. The Ohanapecosh Visitor Center opened to the
public on May 28 and will be open weekends only until June 12, then daily
throughout the summer.

Campgrounds currently open are Cougar Rock (173 sites + 5 group sites) and
Ohanapecosh (188 sites + 2 group sites). White River Campground (112
sites) is scheduled to open to the public on June 25. The road into White
River Campground is currently open to provide access for early season
climbing groups.

Sunrise Lodge, Snack Bar and Gift Shop are scheduled to open on July 2
providing food and gifts. There is no overnight lodging at Sunrise.

...the ultimate gift of photography...

2010-06-01T19:36:00.000-07:00

“I publish more articles in a year than most people publish in a lifetime!” These were the words of my Paleontology professor. Soon after, he disappeared for a while, and class was taught by one of the TA’s. Not what I had paid for, but I would get the credits nonetheless. Besides, it was actually a nice change of pace. When our prof returned he told us that he had had a nervous breakdown. I flashed back to geology field camp, when at each break he would take a wet-wipe bath before sitting down to one of his many nalgenes filled with instant coffee. What a wreck! He would stutter and stumble, and his heart fluttered like a hummingbird’s from dawn til dusk. He was validated however, because he was published.

Fast forward to last autumn. At the studio, bottle of vino, day is winding down. The last student there is fretting over a way to sell some of his pictures. He wants to make a little money, to buy more gear, to make more pictures to sell, to buy more gear. “Understandable” I say, “But you’ve come a long way already. Are you willing to put in the time and dollars to get your images out there? Is that what you really want?” The great power of photography is so much more than that. Photography enriches our life. It can change lives, alter opinions, make us cry or smile or laugh.

“Try this on for size,” I said. “You’ve got a job that pays good money. You’ve got a great house and live in a great place here at Mt. Rainier. You’ve got benefits. By all measures you are doing quite well. Your previous success is what brought you to this stage in your photographic journey.” “Imagine that you forget about selling a picture, and put that energy into only making pictures. When the pictures are made, you give them away. You focus on this mountain, and learn it like a lover, paying attention to it’s every mood, good and bad weather, season to season. Your pictures become the only evidence of a heartfelt relationship that will form with the mountain. You keep giving and giving and then in 20 years ask yourself this question. “Did this enrich my life? Did it enrich the lives of others?” I’ll bet you my studio and all the equipment in it that it will have.

Looking for outside validation of your inner journey has no end. You can “publish more pictures in a year than most people publish in a lifetime,” and in order to find worth the next year you’ll need to do it all over again and again. As cliche as it sounds, it’s the journey that makes it worth while. And by making and sharing, however it may be, you will enrich your life and the lives of all those around you. That to me is the ultimate end result, and the ultimate gift of photography.

Edith Creek Waterfall Memorial Day Picture, Mount Rainier National Park

2010-05-31T09:49:00.001-07:00

A few hour break in a two week stretch of major storms. Edith Creek Waterfall over Memorial Day Weekend. Out of the house at 2:30 and back in bed by 7:00.

2011 International Photography Workshops

2010-05-29T15:49:00.000-07:00

In 2011 we will return to Kilimanjaro and Serengeti in February. I will also be leading "The worlds highest trek" to Advanced Base Camp on Mt. Everest, Tibet in April. For more information visit our main website at MtRainierPhoto.com:
Kilimanjaro Climb and Safari Photography Workshop
Mt Everest ABC Trek, Tibet

Hope to travel with you in 2011 !!

Adam

Mt Rainier National Park Openings.

2010-05-28T05:30:00.000-07:00

Stevens Canyon Road is scheduled to open today at 8:00 a.m.

Also scheduled to open today:
Cougar Rock Campground @ noon.
Cougar Rock Picnic Area @ noon.
Ohanapecosh Campground @ noon.
Ohanapecosh Visitor Center @ 10:00 AM (Weekends only until June 12th)
Longmire Wilderness Information Center @ 7:30 AM Daily
White River Wilderness Information Center @ 7:00 AM (Friday & Saturday), 7:30 AM (Sunday-Thursday)

Enjoy!
Adam

HISTORIC PARADISE INN OPENS TODAY

2010-05-21T15:10:00.000-07:00

Mount Rainier National Park News Release
May 21, 2010

HISTORIC PARADISE INN OPENS TODAY

At noon today, Mount Rainier’s historic Paradise Inn will open its doors
for the 2010 summer season. The Inn, constructed in 1917, is a National
Historic Landmark. The building showcases a beautiful lobby and dining
room, 118 guest rooms, a gift shop and café and three huge stone fireplaces
to welcome guests.

In addition to the Paradise Inn, the National Park Inn at Longmire is also
open for visitors. The National Park Inn offers 25 guests rooms, a full
service restaurant, general store and gift shop.

Both inns are operated by Guest Services, Incorporated. Paradise Inn will
be open through early October. The National Park Inn is open year round.

Further information is available at www.guestservices.com. For
reservations call 360-569-2275.

Cayuse Pass in Mount Rainier National Park opened to the public today at noon.

2010-04-30T21:23:00.001-07:00

Cayuse Pass Opens

Mount Rainier Superintendent Dave Uberuaga advises that Cayuse Pass in
Mount Rainier National Park opened to the public today at noon. This
annual opening allows public travel from U.S Highway 12 at the southeastern
park boundary to State Routes 123 and 410 north to the
Greenwater/Enumclaw/Seattle areas.

Washington State Department of Transportation crews have completed the
annual removal of the winter’s snow accumulation from the roadways, removed
downed trees, rock removal, ditch cleaning and other repairs in preparation
for the opening today. The pass closed for the season on November 8.

Deep snow remains along the roads and visitors are advised to drive with
caution as spring storms can rapidly change conditions.

Chinook Pass remains closed.

For additional information, visit the Mount Rainier web page at
www.nps.gov/mora.

Entrance Fees Waived at Mount Rainier for National Park Week.

2010-04-14T12:40:00.000-07:00

The Secretary of the Interior has announced that there will be free admission to all national parks during National Park Week, April 19 to 25.

Limited Time Companion Special!

2010-04-02T10:47:00.000-07:00

If you don't get our newsletter you may have missed this incredible special, so here it is.

Companion Special!

We know that we have one of the best products in Mt. Rainier National Park and want as many people to enjoy the experience as possible. Sign up for a regularly scheduled Mt. Rainier Workshop and receive half price tuition for a companion. If you have a spouse that would like to accompany the group or just need a way to bring down the cost for two people, then take advantage of our Companion Special. Participants must send in their registration forms together, mention the special, and register by April 16th. Not valid with any other offer. Visit www.MtRainierPhoto.com to learn more about our workshops.

Adam

Early Season Mt. Rainier Excursion Spring 2010.

2010-03-13T14:31:00.000-08:00

May 2nd, 2010. Early Season on Mount Rainier! Join us for a unique experience on The Mountain this Spring. Ever since my first days as a climbing guide on Rainier I have appreciated the fringes of the summer season. In May you will find Mount Rainier National Park at its most pristine. The elements might be a bit more challenging, (you might not even see the mountain!) but you will experience a park that few others get to appreciate and explore its beauties in a unique way. To truly know the mountain you must embrace all of its faces. This one day excursion will depart from Adam's home on May 2nd very early in the AM. Details and exact times will follow as road conditions are determined. Yes, that is early and cold, so dress accordingly. If you have any questions or would like details ahead of time, please shoot me an email.

The cost of the excursion includes:

Transportation
Park Entrance Fee
Instruction

The day will consist of shooting and discussions, as well as visits to as many locations as we can reach. We will discuss some of the basic geology, glaciology and history of Mt. Rainier in an effort to better know the park.

Early Season Special: $85 !!!

Adam
Info@MtRainierPhoto.com

Photoluck Returns Spring 2010

2010-03-13T13:08:00.000-08:00

Photoluck is returning this spring on select Thursdays. See the schedule in the right hand column of this blog for dates and times. We are adding a special Photoluck session this season that will take us into Mt. Rainier National Park for a unique treat! This Rainier Photoluck can't be free like the others, but will be one heck of a deal! Further details to follow.

....Breathe....Learn from others....Set goals....Reflect....Recharge....explore creativity.....share your intent....Grow with your photography and have a good time.

Come share your images at our weekly Photoluck Dinner. Bring a digital file(s) of your favorite picture(s) and your dinner/beverage of choice (just your own), we'll do the rest. Bring your spouse (they have to bring a photo too) and pass this on. Photolucks are Free!

Photolucks take place at our headquarters. 204 National Park Highway (that's 2nd street to you locals), Morton, WA. 98356.

Adam

Sense of Place.

2010-02-23T14:48:00.000-08:00

I'll never forget one of my first serious forays into the mountains, a question that was asked, and whose answer has eluded me ever since. Perhaps the questions that cannot be answered are the best, as this question has stood the test of time, and been a common thread through my life. Sometimes answering questions with words can feel limiting, and at best I feel I have only alluded to the answer. The question came after a big storm when we emerged from our tents to spectacular lighting, spindrift and winds, creating a light dance in the peaks around us; "How do you explain this to the folks back home?" was put forth. Words fall short, maybe only providing a signpost pointing to what we experienced.

It is for this reason that I gravitated towards photography as a way to show the folks back home what we had seen. Photography is nothing less than "Drawing with light." Light is electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength that is visible to the human eye. In physics, the term light often refers to electromagnetic radiation of any wavelength, whether visible or not. Energy can become mass, and vice versa (remember E = mc²). In other words we can become light and light can become us. Is "Drawing with light" the way to show the folks back home what we see on our journeys? Can we relate to light, better than we can relate to thoughts? It's as close as I can get! Another signpost towards the experience.

Or, maybe those who have never been will never know, and that is it.
Rene' Daumal, a 20th century French para-surrealist, said it well in The Art of Climbing Mountains, from Mount Analogue

'...What is above knows what is below, but what is below does not know what is above.  One climbs, one sees. One descends, one sees no longer, but one has seen.  There is an art of conducting oneself in the lower regions by the memory of what one saw higher up.  When one can no longer see, one can at least still know...'   - Rene' Daumal

Adam

From the vault: 2004 Mount Rainier Circumnavigation Trip Report

2010-02-11T07:59:00.000-08:00

Just found this old trip report from 2004. It's been long enough now that I brought it out of the vault...

"A circumnavigation of Mt. Rainier?... I would love to be part of that!" I said to Eric Simonson, when he mentioned that Mt. Rainier Alpine Guides would be offering the trip again in June of 2004. I knew that this trip was a very rare experience and that it had only been successfully guided a few times. It was a perfect opportunity to see and set foot on parts of the mountain that few had walked on before. In the many times that I have been to the summit, I know how easy it is to lock into our objective, Columbia Crest. While this is certainly a worthwhile objective it is only a taste of this wonderful Park. This journey would give us a whole new intimacy with the mountain. I remember the first time I circled the mountain on the Wonderland Trail. I had over 40 summits at the time, and was inspired each day, by our new view of the mountain. It was as if I were discovering a new alpine playground each day. The intimacy of completing a circle of the mountain between 7,000 and 11,000 feet would bring that even closer and immerse us in some of the most exciting and beautiful route finding of my life.

The very first circumnavigation of Rainier was organized and achieved by Hal Foss on the Fourth of July weekend, 1967. His party included Lynn Buchanan and Jim Carlson. The next year he repeated the journey with Joseph "Bill" Orr (Chief Ranger at the time), and seasonal rangers Lee Henkle, Jim Erskine, and Dee Molenaar. Their route began at the White River Campground and exited via the Frying Pan Creek Trail. Our 2004 route would be exactly the same except for we would circle clockwise, not counterclockwise. Additional circumnavigations were made in the following years and the first successful guiding of the route was done on a Rainier Mountaineering Inc. (RMI) Expedition Seminar in 1975 led by Gary Issacs and Dan Boyd. It was 15 years later before another guided attempt was made, and in May of 1990 George Dunn of RMI made their bid on skis. The group reportedly found good conditions for skiing, but was forced to abandon just short of completion due to white out conditions. Mt. Rainier Alpine Guides (MRAG) made guided attempts in July of 1997 (clockwise) and 1999 (counter clockwise) and accomplished the entire circuit over these two attempts, though neither trip went all the way around due to difficulties with crevasses that slowed the groups. For 2004 the plan was to go in June, hopefully taking advantage of the better glacier travel conditions of the "early season". Going earlier was not without other concerns, however, in particular the likelihood of more unconsolidated snow and possible winter snowpack, especially on colder slopes. For this reason we would carry avalanche transceivers and plan our route with avalanche hazards in mind.

The 2004 MRAG circumnavigation began on June 11, considerably earlier than the previous MRAG attempts. From the beginning MRAG owners Eric Simonson and Paul Baugher recognized that such a serious trip needed a very strong team to safely do so much glacier travel. Any group would need to be 100% self-sufficient, and would need multiple leaders to take over when the route finding became too weird and stressful. For 2004, MRAG had put together a team of eleven climbers, two of whom who would need to leave partway around. This group would allow several strong rope teams and would hopefully give enough "horsepower" to push through bad weather and route conditions…and yes, we had both weather and tricky route conditions!

One of the notable things about the circumnavigation is that in theory you shouldn't encounter the harsh high altitude weather that could be thrown at you on a Rainier summit climb. On the other hand, you could be stuck in the cold and wet marine layer that you can usually climb above on trips to the summit. On the 2004 trip, we had both high altitude cold and wind, as well as marine moisture in the form of snow and rain. On the first day of the program, Friday, June 11, 2004, the team met at 8:00 AM at Crystal Mountain Ski Resort. It was snowing lightly at 4500' and we were happy to find a warm dry place to get together and sort gear in the lodge. Co-leading the trip with me was MRAG guide Jason Tanguay from Tacoma, just back from a successful climb of Mt. Everest. Also guiding with us was Anne Keller, from Mazama, WA, a Rainier guiding veteran and very accomplished mountain guide, heli-ski guide and professional ski patroller. Aspirant MRAG guides Steve Shepro and Peter Brosseau completed the guide team. MRAG guide Mason Stafford also joined us for the first three days of the trip, at which time he needed to go down (via the Muir snowfield) to go guide on Mt. Adams.

Our clients included Chelsea (from Poulsbo, WA), Ricardo (from Los Angeles, AC), Brad (from Colorado), Richard (from Seattle), and Linda (from Tacoma). Together they added a lot of "horsepower" to the team, which was so important for safe glacier travel. After introductions, we spent a couple of hours sorting through gear and really trying to lighten our loads, as the planned time of 7 days on the mountain can equal some very heavy packs. As items are taken out of packs and put back into duffels for storage our smiles grew bigger. When we are all done with the preparations, we jumped in the Ashford Mountain Center shuttle van and Larry, the AMC driver, took us to the trailhead, just inside the White River entrance of Mt. Rainier National Park.

We began the 2004 MRAG Rainier Circumnavigation on the Fryingpan Creek Trail. The light wet snow had turned to light rain and had stopped by the time we shouldered our packs. Our hike through forest of Fryingpan Creek was utterly pleasant and it felt good to begin our long anticipated journey. Something about actually beginning a trip does wonders for the anxieties of preparing for them. Soon we had arrived at Fryingpan Creek, where the bridge washed out from the floods of autumn 2003. Before my pack had hit the sandy gravel of the streambed, Mason and Anne were bounding up the creek looking for a place to cross. After several well balanced hops from rock to rock and one or two slightly wet feet we were on the other side. From here we ascended up snow slopes and into the "Summer Land" region of the Park. It was mid afternoon and we would need to ascend some fairly steep slopes to gain our camp at the edge of the Fryingpan Glacier. There we dropped our packs and had a snow school to practice walking on steep slopes and self-arrest with the ice axe. The school was a great refresher and a nice break from being underneath those heavy packs. From the school area we ascended steep slopes to our first camp at 7000' on Meany Crest. The cooling temperatures of the evening along with our gain in elevation gave us our first passing glimpses of the upper mountain. It was the perfect finishing touch to the day.

Saturday, Day 2. Our days begin early and go late, using the extended daylight hours of June to give us an edge on our objective. We woke at 5:30 to good clear weather. The clouds were low, providing us with good visibility for route finding that day. Our route would take us up and over the Fryingpan Glacier, the Whitman Crest, the Whitman Glacier and down onto the Ingraham Glacier. Crossing the relatively benign terrain around the east side of Little Tahoma, we arrived at the steep cleaver that separates the Whitman Glacier from the Ingraham Glacier. Looking over the glacier below us we could see a clear route across to Lower Cathedral Gap. Within 2 minutes we were engulfed by the warming rising clouds that lay so innocently below us earlier in the morning, making us glad that we had received a short view of the route below…at least we knew that the route would "go". We took a good long break here hoping the weather might improve. With no improvement we began the steep and rocky descent onto the glacier, belaying some sections and taking extra care not to trundle rocks upon ourselves. The trip across our first major glacier was an uneventful cruise, and we arrived at the Lower Gap in good time. Crossing onto the Cowlitz Glacier and into a new wind aspect we were treated to a very brief clearing of the clouds. The clearing allowed us to briefly spot our destination, Camp 2 on the Cowlitz Flats at 9050'. Our view was short though, and again we were engulfed in clouds. Picking our way up the glacier to camp we knew that we had put in a solid long day and were right on track. As we pulled into camp the winds began to pick up. With the wind increasing we were quick to pitch our tents and get our kitchen dug. The day began to feel complete as we donned dry socks and sipped our hot drinks in the still increasing winds. Dinner was quick and we were into our bags as the snow began to fall.

There are nights on the Mountain for the best sleep of your life and there are nights for the worst. I won't call this the worst, but I didn't sleep much. The winds continued through the night steady 35 mph gusting to 65. It snowed harder and harder with each passing hour. The days in front of us became blurry and I began making up alternative plans. Scenarios of " this if that, and that if this" went through our heads. Our route the next day would take us around, on and below the now freshly snow loaded slopes of Anvil Rock. As the sky began to lighten and our tent began to warm in the morning the winds continued to blow and it became hard to tell whether or not it was still snowing or if the wind was just blowing what had already fallen in the night. At the time we didn't know it but this was probably the same storm that caused the deaths of two climbers in an avalanche high on Liberty Ridge.

Sunday, Day 3. Upon getting out of the tent we found snow drifted up to 2 feet deep around our tent and the snow loaded slopes below Anvil Rock looked plump and pregnant, ready to go at any moment. We could either sit the day out or change our route. After a slow crawl out of our sacs, a slow breakfast, and a slow pack the team decided unanimously to take the safer route, climbing (and trail breaking) instead up the long slopes of the Cowlitz Glacier to Camp Muir at 10,080'. From there we would be able to cross onto the Muir Snowfield without having to traverse steep avalanche prone slopes below Anvil Rock. It was about this time that the procrastination paid off, and by the time we were ready to start climbing, the skies began to clear. We ascended the Cowlitz and arrived at Camp Muir to find it essentially deserted. The camp holds up to 150 climbers per night during the busy weekends of summer, but the weather had cleared out all but about 7 climbers, who we found huddled in the Public Shelter. Only two tents were left standing outside. There were stories of tents getting "folded" that night, and climbers escaping down the Snowfield at daybreak. While it was very windy and cold, the visibility remained good down to about 9,000'. Our next objective would be an attempt to cross the Nisqually Glacier at about 9,400'. Before we continued on, though, we had to say goodbye to Mason, who would be heading down the snowfield to Paradise with Ricardo. Our number would be nine now: we said goodbye and headed for the Nisqually Glacier as they headed down the Snowfield to Paradise.

Rounding the bottom of Cowlitz Cleaver, Anne was the first to poke her nose into the broken and menacing Nisqually. Trying to stay far enough out of the avalanche danger zone below the Nisqually Ice Cliff and Ice Fall, but staying high enough to hit the only crossing point (~9500) onto the Wilson Glacier, she kept on probing with her ski pole and axe until she became dead-ended and couldn't get any further. We were about a third of the way across before she had to backtrack. Jason, on the other end of her rope turned it around and dropped further down the glacier. A few minutes later, Jason popped a leg into a crack and couldn't find a way around.

Next, I dropped my rope team down even further, losing more precious elevation that we would have to re-gain. From here, on slightly steeper slopes, I was able to contour in-between two crevasse systems and get up onto a convexity in the central glacier. Here the cracks went from following the contours to going against them. I went higher, wallowing in deep snow pockets sometimes up to my waist, but didn't see anything very promising other than a marginal looking snow bridge. Then I went lower and started poking around, only to break through a bridge up to my waist, my feet dangling in the air. Peter, who was right behind me (out-sizing and outweighing me), was a great confidence building "anchor", as I rolled myself out of my predicament to distribute my weight. There was no way that the route would "go" any lower so I kicked back up to the first bridge that I had looked at earlier.

On my belly now, squirming like a worm, I was able to get close enough to the edge of the crevasse to see the integrity of the bridge. It looked very solid underneath, but it was not very wide, and the top was loaded with lots of freshly melting snow that would prove treacherous. On my knees, I moved up to the bridge cutting with my ski pole and adze. After a few minutes of chopping, stomping, removing, compacting, and breathing really hard, the bridge seemed in condition to be crossed…and so it was. From there we ascended ramps until I was again dead-ended about &frac3/4; of the way across. From the top of the ramp I could see a route below that would take us right to our crossing point to the Wilson Glacier. I yelled back to Anne to traverse below me. Fifteen minutes later we were on the cleaver, with the Nisqually Glacier behind us.

From here Jason led us out onto the Wilson Glacier. Traversing on steep snow slopes above rock cliffs, he placed several pickets to prevent serious problems in the event of a fall. As we cleared the slopes above the cliffs and descended on to the seemingly smooth Wilson, the clouds began to catch up with us again. Reaching Wapowety Cleaver, once again engulfed in full whiteout, we put in our third camp just below the Castle at 8950'. It was late in the day now and the temperature was dropping with the sun. We were glad that we had made such progress today considering the weather, terrain, and late start. Everyone slept well that night!

Day 4 needed to be a big day if we were to have a chance of making it all the way around the Mountain. Waking up at 5:30, camp was broken quickly and breakfast choked down in a businesslike and efficient manner. Today's route would take us over the Van Trump, Kautz, Success, Pyramid, South Tahoma, and Tahoma Glaciers. Some of the terrain would be as difficult as the Nisqually Traverse on Day 3. Visibility was poor, but GPS waypoints pulled from the map would help to guide us from point to point. We knew that we had to cross the Success and Tahoma Cleavers at predetermined points, and Anne had downloaded these waypoints for the day into her GPS. Despite bad weather, the GPS allowed us to move quickly considering the conditions, and we found the waypoints to be within 200' of the actual target…very impressive precision for the scale of terrain that we were dealing with.

On the smaller Van Trump, Kautz, Success, and Pyramid glaciers the micro-route-finding was relatively easy, but when we reached Success Cleaver at 8200' and the weather had still not improved, we knew we would have some real challenges on the South Tahoma and Tahoma ahead of us. We took a good long break to see if we could at least get a glimpse of the South Tahoma Glacier to get a general feel of the layout, other than what we could determine from the aerial photos and topographic map. Whiteout conditions persisted but we had no choice but to press on. Anne began to pick her way across and to retrace the path of the last MRAG circumnavigation to make it here in 1997. Again, conditions became impassable and we switched leads. From the area where Anne was stopped by crevasses, I was able to follow one easy ramp up to 9000' on the Tahoma Cleaver. Here the wind picked up, the clouds dropped, and visibility for the largest and most difficult objective of the day turned perfect. Both Jason and I had been on the Tahoma Glacier before and knew our way around a bit, especially with the improved visibility.

Two days before the expedition, Paul Baugher (Owner MRAG and a pilot) had flown guide Mason Stafford and me around the mountain to take aerial photos of our proposed route. One of the difficulties that we anticipated and that the other parties had encountered was the Puyallup Cleaver. All of us on the flight agreed that from the air the Cleaver looked very do-able in at least 2 spots. The spot that looked the easiest, most straightforward, and most direct was at about 9,000'. This couloir had never be used for the circumnavigation, but we thought that with our attempt being early and the Spring having had many late snowfalls, that it would go. This was our target.

To hit our target on the far side of the Tahoma Glacier, we needed to hold the elevation that we had on the Tahoma Cleaver. Both Jason and I agreed that the easiest way to get the furthest into the glacier was to take the easy northeast trending ramp that rise into the middle of the immense Tahoma, one of the largest glaciers on the Mountain. We hoped that from there we could then pick our way back down to 9,000'. Coming off of the Tahoma Cleaver we lost several hundred feet zigzagging around crevasses before heading back up ramps to the central and severely broken core of the Tahoma Glacier. When we reached the convex and bulging heart of the glacier at about 9,000' things started to get ugly. The sun was out full strength now, and everything was very soft. Now, what looked smooth and easy was not smooth at all. It was hollow and punchy. "Hm...Let's try this....No....How about this?... No... This?... No... OK... let's see... SHIT... Where did that come from?" With no warning or visual cue I had popped through, my legs dangling in the void beneath me. Usually I have a pretty good idea when I am pushing it, but this was totally unexpected. After a long day, I began to wonder if "I am too tired to be doing this right now? Oh well, it doesn't matter because here I am, in it." OK, so I roll my self out and crawl back in my tracks. "OK, if this does that, then if I go around here then it should go and so it does, but man is this soft, OK, what surprise next? Uh, Oh this isn't looking good. OK, I can't go any further….Jason, take it from here!" What a relief that was to have another guide of Jason's caliber to take over the route finding. He reversed us from the dead-end, dropped lower in elevation, and finally found a way to our next camp near the Puyallup Cleaver.

Camp 4 looked good but the glacier was still very soft and we probed deeply into the mush for hidden crevasses before setting up our camp. It was a good time to not glacier travel any more, but there was still work to do. While Peter and Steve stayed back to help the team set up camp, Anne, Jason, and I roped up to go scout out routes and possibly fix lines up and over the Puyallup Cleaver. We walked up to the first ramp that we had scoped from the plane. The ramp looked great from afar, but as we approached, the deep moats became more apparent. Jason began to explore the moats, and when he started talking about using pitons to get out of the moat, Anne and I said "forget it, let's go check out the other options." Two options later, we had found that there was just no way. We would have to drop all the way down to 7400' on the Tahoma Glacier and cross Puyallup Cleaver just above Tokaloo Spire.

Day 5. Day 5 starts early at 5:00 AM to get down the glacier while it is cold and snow bridges are frozen over. Before leaving camp, Jason gives a talk that goes something like "There are two ways to walk, jerky, heavy and clunky or even and light. Walk even and light." Everyone understood him just fine and boy did we make good time! It was so firm that we barely left footprints. The glacier was still in the shade and we "floated" over stuff that would have sucked us in the afternoon before. We were off the tough stuff before the snow even softened a little. Now, "for the record", the easy way to handle the Tahoma Glacier in the first place would have been to come off of the South Tahoma above Glacier Island and then traverse low over to Tokaloo Spire at 7400'. But, then we would have missed all that incredible and educational terrain of the Tahoma Glacier at mid mountain height!

From Tokaloo Spire we ascended steep slopes to the ridge of Puyallup Cleaver and traversed onto the Puyallup Glacier at about 8000'. When we dropped off of the ridge Brad's knee started to hurt. At first we thought that it was just a small bodily rebellion against sustained steep slopes, but we soon realized that this was no passing cramp or tweak. It was here to stay and as the situation began to heat up, so did the mountain. We talked over our options. Pretty much every option included lots of walking. There was just no way around it, or was "around it" the only way? This was pretty much the worst place to get gimped up. Even if we bailed out down to St. Andrews Park to the west, it would still be at least two days hiking out from here, even with two good knees. Fortunately, Richard was doctor in Seattle and was able to give Brad's knee a good examination, after which we decided that from here the easiest option would be to stay high on the mountain, take the three day route "around", and complete the tour. We took loads from Brad to lighten his load and help relieve the stress on his knee, and continued up the Puyallup Glacier. The still clear air this day made us dream of the cold cloudy days we had earlier, and Brad's bum knee reminded us of our situation and how far away we were from help. The day continued to get hotter and hotter. The snow continued to get punchier and punchier. It was getting very slow, and the route to our next rest break was all up hill.

When we got to the next break at 8600' we perched ourselves at the very upper most reaches of the cleaver. From here we enjoyed spectacular views of Sunset Ridge, Sunset Amphitheater and St. Andrews Rock. The still air and warm temps just about put us to sleep. About a half an hour later we "jumped to," and picked our way down through the South Mowich Glacier. This was easy going compared to the previous days and our early morning. The glacier was littered with debris from a bunch of wet snow slides and icefalls. At about 7250' we ascended steep and ultra mushy slopes following both the old RMI and Boulton Gang routes. After post-holing up the slope (sometimes up to our hips) we topped out at about 7600'. Soaked from the mush we regrouped and took advantage of our new perspective to plan our route. We could see a very large open snow slope that had very recently avalanched, leaving a crown. Crossing this slope was necessary, and the area that had already avalanched would be the safest way to go…but we first had to get down to the crown face that marked the boundary between the snow that had slid and the snow that had not. Stepping only a few feet off of the rock ridge onto the snow we heard a soft but definite thud and swoosh as we kicked off a wet slab avalanche down onto the South Mowich below. While it was scary to think that there was still snow waiting to slide, it was actually the best possible occurrence, as it cleared the way down to the crown face that led across the slope. We picked our way down carefully to the slopes that had previously avalanched, and from there were able to traverse onto the Edmonds Glacier and up to a frozen lake at 8280', which became the site of Camp 5.

Day 6 started like the other days... very early. Up at 5:30, we wanted to get a good start so that we could ascend Ptarmigan ridge with firm conditions. Dropping onto the North Mowich Glacier we passed just above Needle Rock, a glacier nunatak at 7400'. From here we continued across the glacier to the base of Ptarmigan ridge at 7200'. The snow was perfect for cramponing and we made very good time up steep and very sustained slopes. The sun finally reached us when we were at about 7800', but the excellent conditions persisted until we hit the ridge at 8680'. From here we continued over to the Russell Glacier where it was very easy going, except for the hot still air. The only difficulty this day was descending onto the Carbon Glacier. Conditions were very soft, and the steep descent was unsure. We also encountered small route finding problems due to rock outcroppings. Once on the Glacier it was smooth sailing all of the way to Curtis Ridge. We camped on the east side of the ridge at 6800' so that we could get a good start on the Winthrop Glacier early the next morning.

Day 7 was uneventful and sweet. Crossing the Winthrop Glacier we climbed up and over St. Elmo's pass at 7400'. From the pass Anne recommended a glissade and we all took to it. It reminded me how important it is for every good trip to conclude with an excellent glissade. When we arrived at the bottom of Glacier Basin we all had big grins on our face as we shed our helmets, harnesses and the rest of our climbing gear. From here we had a satisfying stroll down through the forest to the White River Campground, and civilization. Larry was right on schedule with the van shuttle and soon we were loading up and off our feet for the first time in a week.

It was a great trip that we will never forget.

—Adam Angel, IMG Guide.............summer of 2004

NOTE: Since this trip the Circumnavigation has been attempted unsuccessfully, and with the new Management Plan at Mount Rainier National Park, this trip is no longer allowed due to designated Commercial Free Zones within the park.

Welcome back Dave!

2010-02-04T13:48:00.000-08:00

Former superintendent of Mount Rainier National Park, Dave Uberuaga, is returning to MRNP after over a year as interim superintendent at Yosemite National Park. Dave has spent over 20 years at Mount Rainier National Park and has been superintendent since 2003. It will be great to have him back!

Adam

The Right Camera for Climbing Mt. Rainier (as of January 2010)

2010-01-20T08:54:00.000-08:00

You've spent a year training to climb Mt Rainier. You've bought the gear, hired the right guide, taken time off work, bought plane tickets AND you want a great new camera to capture the whole experience. The options these days are numerous and constantly in flux. By the time you read this article new cameras will be released and others taken out of production. This is an exciting time to be a photographer, and your climb of Mt Rainier will no doubt provide many opportunities for dramatic images. It was the mountain after all that led me to photography in the first place. So, what are my recommendations?

For me image quality is paramount. In the past this absolutely meant bringing along a Digital-SLR with interchangeable lenses. These cameras have large sensors and are easy to operate even with gloves on. They also capture RAW files for maximum quality output. The ability for a camera to capture RAW files is absolutely necessary if you want to produce high quality images. There are volumes and volumes of books, as well as workshops, that focus on processing your camera's RAW output for optimum results. Luckily there are a few "point-and-shoot" and compact interchangeable lens cameras available now that produce RAW files. A camera with the ability to shoot RAW comes at a premium though. These cameras will cost a little more than the basic point-and-shoot cameras available today. It is worth mentioning that you pretty much get what you pay for when it comes to cameras and camera accessories. If you are serious about high quality images then spending as much as you are comfortable with is probably a good idea. Even if you don't know how to work with RAW files, you can set the camera to capture regular jpeg images and RAW files simultaneously. That way if you get "The Shot," you can have a high end printer process and work the RAW file with you for output in a professional environment.

To get a camera that captures RAW files, you will be looking at high-end point-and-shoots such as the Canon G11, or the Panasonic LX3. Another option is a camera like the Panasonic DMC-GF1, which is a compact body with interchangeable lenses, but without the bulk of a D-SLR. The last option is to bring a Digital SLR with interchangeable lenses. While a D-SLR will provide you with the best possible image quality, you aren't going to get that many shots if the large camera is living in your backpack. I usually carry a D-SLR, but it is very liberating to travel light, and the new cameras that I mentioned above do a very good job. (My personal favorite happens to be the LX3) I can't overstate the importance of bringing a camera that you can actually use. With a high end point and shoot, you will be able to keep the camera in a jacket pocket and shoot with one hand, so that the other hand can still participate in your primary activity of the moment... CLIMBING. As an added bonus to having it handily parked in a jacket pocket, the battery will stay warm and last quite long.

When picking a point-n-shoot camera for the climb I would guide my purchase using these priorities... followed in parentheses with the camera that excels in that quality.
Does the camera produce RAW files? (Both the G11 and LX3)
Is the camera "pocketable?" (LX3)
Does it have an optical viewfinder so that you can save battery power? Note that the LCD's while very good, are hard to see in very bright light and with Polarized sunglasses. (G11)
Can I operate the camera with gloves on? One hand? (G11)
Low light capabilities? For shots in the tent.. monks in monasteries on future trips! (LX3)
Video? Many of todays pocketable cameras capture pretty descent HD Video.... Why not have that too?!? (LX3)
Built in lens cap? Don't want something to drop!!! (G11)
Wide Angle? (LX3)
Zoom? (G11)
Price. (LX3)

The Panasonic GF1 that I mentioned earlier is a new generation of camera that should be given consideration as well. These cameras put the large high quality sensors found in larger cameras into a much smaller body. They also have interchangeable lenses for future flexibility. These cameras are still bigger than the point-n-shoots mentioned above and cost more than a low-end D-SLR, but for their niche they are king.
If you simply must have the higher image quality, this type of camera is a very good option when weight and size matter. These might be the best balance between size and performance……. A subject that could go on forever.

In conclusion, I can tell you that the climber with the least amount of extraneous C@#P and the lightest pack on the mountain will have more fun than the others, and today's new RAW capture point-and-shoots are just the ticket that we have been waiting for! Have fun, climb safely, and bring back some great images!

Adam

P.S. For another Mt. Rainier Specific tip click here.
For more information or to purchase most of the equipment that I use please visit here.

Now we're rolling.....

2010-01-07T19:38:00.000-08:00

My biggest project this year. Asia Devi Angel. 4 years old......

Creativity and Adventure

2010-01-06T12:05:00.000-08:00

How often do we put Creativity and Adventure in the same sentence? Not often, but for me they are one in the same. Surviving adventures requires imagining creative solutions on the fly. Producing great images while dealing with variable lighting and subjects, weather and creative obstacles requires the ability to imagine creative solutions on the fly. As a photographer the tools are technical. Mechanical and electrical devices, and the physics of light. Dealing with dynamic snow, ice and weather the tools are also technical. Mechanical ascenders, electrical GPS and the laws of gravity and atmosphere. In the end both require the creativity to bring it all together and proceed to the end.

FEAR, often enters into both endeavors. Obviously one of the above scenarios is a little more deadly than the other, but in both, fear can stop you from achieving your goal. On a mountain fear is your friend. It is the part of you that realizes the objective hazards that always linger, and doesn’t foolishly deny their existence. This enables you to deal with hazards prudently and carry on as safely as possible. Amazingly for some these types of fears are easier to deal with than the deep dark inner fears that limit our creativity. Fears that many of us don’t even know we have, much less understand. The walls that we build to protect ourselves from our fears can be just as treacherous to your life as a weak snow bridge over a giant crevasse. For is leaving in fear living at all?
When time weakens the grips of fear, what is left behind? Your truth, the truth.

As my endeavors begin to come to fruition truth is the only constant. Strangely, my experiences, be they on a mountain, behind a camera, renovating a historic property, or trying to be a good husband and father, all hold the same lesson for my life. It is the realization of this unifying truth that makes my evolution as an adventurer and creator possible.

Adam

Rainier's rocks are filling riverbeds

2010-01-04T15:52:00.000-08:00

By Sandi Daughton, Seattle Times Science Reporter | January 4, 2010.

"The fallout from Mount Rainier's shrinking glaciers is beginning to roll downhill, and nowhere is the impact more striking than on the volcano's west side......."

To read the rest of Sandi's story click here.
Adam

Need Photoshop for one of our workshops?

2010-01-02T16:08:00.000-08:00

Don't fret if you are taking a workshop where we recommend or require the most recent version of Photoshop. While we are sure that you will eventually want to own the most recent version of Photoshop, Adobe provides Free 30-Day trials. Simply wait until the workshop falls within that 30 day period and then download the trial.

You can visit http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/photoshop/ to download the trial version.

See you on the mountain!
Adam

Still waiting for a decision: Rainier or Yosemite? | Adventure - The News Tribune | Seattle-Tacoma News, Weather, Sports, Jobs, Homes and Cars | So

2010-01-01T12:09:00.000-08:00

Still waiting for a decision: Rainier or Yosemite? |
Adventure - The News Tribune | Seattle-Tacoma News, Weather, Sports, Jobs, Homes and Cars | South Puget Sound's Destination

Mount Rainier Visitor Statistics, National Park Service.

2009-12-10T07:28:00.000-08:00

I consider Mt Rainier National Park to be one of our top 7 national parks. By 2009 NPS statistics it is the 66th most visited location in the National Park System (out of ~362). 17th of National Parks. That is remarkably far from the top for such an impressive park. This is however one of the reasons that I love Mt Rainier!

I think that this speaks volumes about the character or our park. In league with Denali, Yosemite, Grand Teton, and Rocky Mountain National Parks, Rainier is certainly one of the more daunting parks to explore. AND it is going to get tougher, as aggradation continues and the roads through the park are closed even more often. For me the idea of inaccessibility creates Mt Rainier's allure, and it is one of the aspects that drove me to become a climber and guide. I wanted to be closer.

Wallace Stegner on the value of wilderness...

"We simply need that wild country available to us, even if we never do more than drive to its edge and look in."

To look into the wild is to look inward. The questions that our body feels when we look out into what might as well be outer space or another planet are the same questions that our body feels when we question the meaning of life. The next time you look at Mt. Rainier think of all the places on the mountain that have never felt a human foot, and what your connection to that place is. Become aware of the value of having wild places like The Mountain as a resource for your heart and your growth. And be glad that even though our species has a knack at loving things to death, This Mountain will always keep us at a distance, the way an objective mentor must.

Adam

Kilimanjaro Climb and Safari 2010, International Mountain Guides.

2009-11-05T15:39:00.000-08:00

2010 schedule update.

I will be leading the International Mountain Guides Kilimanjaro Climb and Safari in June, 2010. There are still spaces available at the time of this writing. Contact me or check out http://www.mountainguides.com/kilimanjaro.shtml for more information.

Adam

Photoluck Returns

2009-10-20T16:56:00.000-07:00

OK OK Stop asking everyone! Here it is. Photoluck is returning. New time, same place, same deal. Photolucks will happen on select Thursdays this fall. See the schedule in the right hand column of this blog for the select dates and times.

....Breathe....Learn from others....Set goals....Reflect....Recharge....explore creativity.....share your intent....Grow with your photography and have a good time.

204 National Park Highway (that's 2nd street to you locals), Morton, WA. 98356.

Adam

Phil Ershler's 25th Everest Anniversary

2009-10-20T11:53:00.000-07:00

Eric Simonson and George Dunn have written a wonderful tribute to Phil Ershler's 25th Everest Anniversary. October 20, 2009 marks 25 years since Phil made the first American ascent of the North Face of Everest. Read more about it here.

Phil was and is a great mentor to me. He gave me my first gig as an international mountain guide and continues to be an inspiration and an advisor.

Thanks Phil!

Adam

Landslide closes section of SR 410 Chinook Pass

2009-10-19T09:35:00.000-07:00

Just got back from a great two week tour with the family. The "Adventure Truck" took us safely through Utah, Oregon, Idaho and Eastern Washington. The fall colors were spectacular and we visited some world class wineries and restaurants. On our way home we noticed that SR 410, Chinook Pass access to Tipsoo lake has been closed by a landslide. For more information about the closure, read here.

While we were gone MRIP received it's CUA to operate in Mt. Rainier National Park in 2010. So the dates posted on the website are now official. A reminder for those of you that attended the Landscape Photography 101 workshop at the 2009 Rainier Arts Festival. You can receive $100 off any regularly scheduled Master Class, if you sign up before October 31st, 2009.

Adam

Capture Mount Rainier, a guide to landscape photography in Mt. Rainier National Park.

2009-09-15T11:27:00.000-07:00

Need some basic tips for making great landscape images? I've recently posted a free PDF download titled Capture Mount Rainier, a guide to landscape photography in Mt. Rainier National Park.

Nothing overly detailed here, just a short primer to help you get started. Enough to give you a little inspiration, a little technical guidance, and some locations.

You can download the article here.
I look forward to traveling with you.
Adam

50th anniversary poses new challenges for Serengeti

2009-08-24T08:44:00.000-07:00

By Wolfgang H. Thome, eTN Africa | Aug 22, 2009

The Serengeti National Park just celebrated its half century anniversary amid reports on the growing challenges for the national park by human encroachment, demands for concessions by lodge developers and increased tourist traffic into the park.
Unlike in the Masai Mara Game Reserve, the Kenyan extension to the Serengeti ecosystem, there are substantially less lodges and tented camps located in the Serengeti, a standard wildlife conservationists intend to maintain for the long term benefit of the park

Click here for the rest of the story.

Mount Rainier Flight Photos

2009-08-20T16:53:00.000-07:00

We had a great evening flying around Mount Rainier.

Adam. Checking out the scene.

The approach.... looking good.

Tahoma Glacier, Sunset Amphitheater and the Puyallup Glacier at sunset.

Thanks Jenni!

Flying off into the sunset.

Mount Rainier Flight

2009-08-19T08:53:00.000-07:00

Tonight IMG Guide Jenni Fogle is flying us around Mount Rainier! We plan to take off around 7:30 and shoot in the late light. The weather forecast looks good and we are really looking forward to it.

Jenni flies KC-135’s and Global Hawks for the Air Force Reserve and is a climbing guide in Alaska, Washington, and California.

I can't wait!
Adam

Travel Portraits, “Another Reason To Visit The Himalayas, and East Africa.”

2009-08-17T08:17:00.001-07:00

Need some basic tips for making great travel portraits? I've recently posted a free PDF download titled Travel Portraits, “Another Reason To Visit The Himalayas, and East Africa.”

Nothing overly detailed here, just a short primer to help you get started. Enough to give you a little inspiration (and bravery) to make portraits of strangers, and a little technical guidance. It's broken down into 3 sections:

Part 1 “The Approach”
Part 2 “Equipment”
Part 3 “Making the Image”

You can download the article here.
I look forward to traveling with you.
Adam

Mount Rainier Gallery Renovation Continues..

2009-08-16T16:41:00.000-07:00

I love the smell of acetylene in the morning....

Brad Klein (aka SkiPig) is the mastermind behind the gallery renovation and the one who convinced me pick up a hammer again. He is the one who made me realize that all of this was possible....

Brad is the ultimate socialite and networker. In the past month he has found free scaffolding, and a friend with an acetylene torch. The scaffolding has been scabbed together and works great. The torch arrived with an operator who works for beer. Somehow things come together at just the right moment. Not very fast, but progress nonetheless. Just about right for an out-of-pocket project. Dennis (he likes Sierra Nevada Pale Ale) started cutting this morning and put in a couple of hours before running out of O2. Hopefully we'll be able to finish up the boiler removal next weekend...

Here are some pictures of his handiwork...

The first cut...Pipes not seen for almost a century...
It's OK, his mustache will protect him from the sparks!
Piece by piece, Brad and Dennis reverse the original maker's handiwork from almost a century ago.

We also just received the request from Mayor Jim Gerwig and the City of Morton for our portion of the match portion of a sidewalk grant. A grant which will redo 60 feet of sidewalk along the south side of the building. That project should occur next summer if everything falls into place.

Adam

The Photographer's Ephemeris - BETA

2009-08-07T22:35:00.000-07:00

I simply cannot remain quiet anymore. I must sing it to the world. One of the best pieces of software living on my computer these days is "The Photographer's Ephemeris." Stephen Trainor offers the Ephemeris for free, and it is a Beta version. i.e. "THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED “AS IS”, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND." Take it from me, it works great and is a simple joy to use.

From Stephen's website:

Landscape photographers typically wish to plan their shoots around the times of sunrise/sunset or twilight, or alternatively when the moon is in a particular place in a particular phase.
While times of sunrise etc. are readily available on various sites on the internet (direction of sunrise etc. less so, but still readily found), there are fewer programs available which combine such information with a topographical map allowing the photographer to match the astronomical to the location.
A typical use might be to determine when the sun will set along the axis of a mountain valley, or when a full moon rise will rise across a lake.
The application uses Google Maps providing users the ability to select a location and determine the time and azimuth of sunrise or sunset for a given date or dates.
The software displays the combination of the key data together with a topographical map, courtesy of Google, in one program for either Windows or Mac.

I use it daily and cannot imagine going back to the days of compiling this information myself.
Thank you Stephen! Click here to visit his website and download the program. Please support his project!
Adam

Stevens Canyon Road To Open on Thursday, July 30, 2009?

2009-07-26T17:28:00.000-07:00

Road Update!
The Stevens Canyon Road is tentatively scheduled to re-open to through traffic by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 30, 2009.

Current conditions from the west: Stevens Canyon Road from the Paradise area is open to Box Canyon.

Current conditions from the east: Stevens Canyon Road just past the Grove of the Patriarchs is closed through July until flood damage is repaired. Access to the Grove of the Patriarchs is open only via SR 123.

Adam

News from Arusha and Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

2009-07-24T10:08:00.000-07:00

Pertinent news for the region of Tanzania that we visit.

BY ADAM IHUCHA, ETN STAFF WRITER | JUL 23, 2009
"Arusha, Tanzania (eTN) – Drought in Tanzania’s northern highlands has reached deadly proportion, killing nearly 100 cattle in Longido and wildlife along the sprawling borderline of Kilimanjaro and Amboseli National parks." Click here to read the rest of the story.

BY ADAM IHUCHA, ETN STAFF WRITER | JUN 24, 2009
"Arusha, Tanzania (eTN) - As the impact of the ongoing economic crisis hits Tanzania's fragile tourism industry, nearly 1,160 breadwinners have lost jobs." Click here to read the rest of the story.

Adam

Updated photos of the future Mt. Rainier Photography Gallery

2009-07-15T14:28:00.000-07:00

Not pretty yet, but pretty empty. Moving along on the Gallery. Time to start putting things back in........

Still on the two year plan!!!
Just received some free scaffolding from Pat Hart. Thanks Pat!

Adam

June 2009 Kilimanjaro Climb

2009-07-10T09:54:00.000-07:00

Absence does make the heart grow fonder. Three years after my last Kilimanjaro expedition I returned with a fantastic group of IMG climbers to go to the top once more.The hiatus renewed my excitement in the mountains, wildlife, and people of Tanzania. The specialness of the region was more apparent than ever to me this time. My understanding of this place, fortified over previous expeditions, gave it a certain familiarity, the kind of familiarity that relaxes you. North Central Tanzania is a fertile, vibrant, organic place. Kilimanjaro sustains it’s rivers during the dry seasons. Our journey takes us from the mountain top glaciers to the heart of one of the most amazing ecosystems in the world, the Greater Serengeti Ecosystem. As a photographer, I returned with a new eye, as a climber I returned with a renewed desire to stand upon the “Roof of Africa.”
Our local staff of 45 porters, cooks, and guides worked hard for us on the mountain. We arrived in each camp to the smell of fresh coffee and popcorn, our tents already set, and washing water soon on the way. Our team made it to each camp in record time and was very proud of their effort. (That was until I pointed out that their average age was about 25 years younger than our typical climb!! Then it didn’t seem so impressive…..:-)
We had great weather the whole climb and the scenery was as good as it gets. All 12 of us made it to the top in good style. Congratulations, Thea Handelman, Mary Grendell, Ashley Ryniak, Suzzane Weinstock, Steve Huff, Dan Talbert, Helen and Charles Frohlich, Jonathan Halata, and Bill and Will Bavinger for making to the top, Uhuru Point. I won’t forget it.

Safari was a blast as usual and a more than adequate reward for the sweat left on the mountain during our climb. Oh, and what happens on safari stays on safari…………..
~Adam Angel

Contact information update for second half of June.

2009-06-08T19:32:00.000-07:00

My blog posts are getting Twitterish, i.e. shorter....

When I leave for Kilimanjaro and Serengeti this weekend, all emails and phone calls to the Mt. Rainier Institute of Photography will be forwarded/answered to/by my apprentice, Greg Lund. While Greg might not have all the answers, (because I know that you can think up some pretty tough questions) he can answer many of your basic questions, and if he doesn't know the answer he will parlé your question to me, via my almost daily satellite phone contacts.

In the mean time, I'm around until June 14th.
Will return on June 28th.

Adam

Paradise Valley Road Open

2009-06-06T10:09:00.000-07:00

The Paradise Valley Road is open today for the 2009 Summer Season on Mt. Rainier.
Stevens Canyon Road is anticipated to remain closed until the end of July.

Adam.

2010 Kilimanjaro Photography Expedition.

2009-05-28T17:11:00.000-07:00

For 2010, we plan to offer a "Photographer's Extension" to International Mountain Guides' regularly scheduled June Kilimanjaro Expedition. The price and length is yet to be determined, but please contact us if you are interested in more information as it becomes available. East Africa offers one of the best environments in the world for an enriching cultural and wildlife experience. This is the only photography workshop in Tanzania that features a summit climb of Kilimanjaro with an experienced high altitude climbing guide and professional photographer. Please contact Adam if you want to be added to the Kilimanjaro contact list.

Chinook Pass opens Friday, May 22 at noon.

2009-05-22T08:01:00.001-07:00

Just in time for Memorial Day weekend, Chinook Pass will open Friday, May 22 at 12:00.
Providing some of the best views of Mt. Rainier from the east side of the mountain, it's a sure sign that summer is on the way here in the park! One of my most popular images was made on Chinook pass, but don't expect to see the ground up there for a long time yet, there is still almost 13 feet of snow!!!!

For Chinook Pass telemetry click here.

Adam

Images at International Mountain Guides, Mt. Rainier.

2009-05-03T12:00:00.000-07:00

Now that I am tweeting on twitter, I have a feeling my blogspot bloggins are going to get shorter. If I would have said that 10 years ago, you would have thought I was crazy.

Just a quick update here. On your way to The Mountain, stop by International Mountain Guides headquarters in Ashford to check out some of my photos.

Adam

Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan Interview

2009-05-01T12:43:00.000-07:00

Thanks KCTS 9!

Ken Burns, The National Parks, and America's Best Idea.

2009-04-21T09:18:00.000-07:00

Last night over 2000 Washingtonians and I had the privilege of attending a presentation at Benaroya Hall in Seattle. The presentation, hosted by KCTS 9, was an splendid evening with Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan who discussed and presented clips from their upcoming epic documentary The National Parks, America's Best Idea. I knew that Burns made wonderful films, but after listening to him speak and gaining a smidgeon of insight on his world view, I am further impressed. Ken is truly a visionary, not just in the media of film, but in humanity, and as he said last night, these documentaries are ultimately about us. He confessed that he has been telling the same story about us over and over again, just with different packaging.

I must tell you that I left the presentation last night profoundly re-energized about the magnitude and importance of our National Park System. I will certainly carry this with me this summer as we explore Mt. Rainier National Park photographing its wonders.

The documentary is 12 hours long and airs this fall on your local public television station. The series will be available in High Definition (As Ken said, "5 times better") and is available on DVD and Blu-ray. From the 6 short excerpts that were shown last night, I plan to add this series to my collection. You can pre-order The National Parks, America's Best Idea from channel9store.com and save 25% with this promotional code: NPBURNS. The offer is good until 9-15-09 and cannot be combined with other offers.

You can also hear a "Weekday" interview with Ken Burns here.

See you on The Mountain this summer.

Adam

Mt Rainier Gallery in Morton?

2009-04-17T07:40:00.000-07:00

A Mt. Rainier Gallery in Morton? Well, not yet. However, stay tuned......

When Shanna opened 2nd Street Yoga Studio 5 years ago, we acquired the old hardware store in historic downtown Morton, and converted half of it into her yoga space. The other half was occupied by a "Teen Center." Shortly thereafter, the teen center moved to another building and after sitting vacant for about six months I decided that it was time to give Adam Angel Photography a storefront. The studio has since served as a multi-use space where we've done product and portrait photography, digital photography workshops, offered fine-art printing services, and even hosted an internationally known musician.... I am happy to announce that this is only the beginning. In addition to evolving the space into the base for the Mt. Rainier Institute of Photography, I have recently begun work on a new part of the downtown property. Part of the property is the corner of Main Street and 2nd street. Locals know it as the only flashing light in town...... The corner building was originally built as the Morton State Bank in 1920. Subsequently, a fire swept through downtown and the building had to be rebuilt in 1924. I have begun extensive demolition of the years and years of poor construction, tasteless renovations, and otherwise crap, that has filled the old bank building. We've have uncovered the old interior walls of the vault unseen for 85 years, discovered the tile mosaic floor, and otherwise found the old bones of the building.... We are still in the demolition phase, but already the building looks incredibly promising.

For years I've been amazed that our beautiful area, so close the entrance to Mt. Rainier National Park, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, Goat Rocks Wilderness, and so many other incredible areas has not served as a hub for recreational activities in the region. Any other "city center" near such an amazing national park has flourished by now, and yet we keep defying the odds. One part of that is the absence of a world class Mt. Rainier Photography Gallery............... So stay tuned. My plan is to work on this project over time "out of pocket" to bring this space into the 21st century as part of the region's revitalization and gentrification. These times are challenging for the whole country, and it is during times like these that we dig deeply, get back to our core intents, and put our noses to the grindstone. As our economy slows down and our "rate of growth' finds a more sustainable rate, this is an opportunity to step back, re-evaluate our priorities, and begin our comeback.

New Mt Rainier Newsletter

2009-03-13T15:11:00.000-07:00

Sign up to receive our new monthly email newsletter. Just fill in your email address in the upper right hand column of this blog and receive information, photography tips, news, and special offers for the Mt. Rainier Institute of Photography.

Rainier Independent Film Festival 2009

2009-02-22T18:45:00.000-08:00

From RainierFilmFest.com, for June 12-14, 2009.

The Rainier Independent Film Festival is dedicated to providing true Independent Filmmakers a venue to have their films screened in the tranquil area surrounding Mount Rainier.

Mixing films, workshops and the laid-back setting of the area, this festival is set apart in the fact that it is a great opportunity to meet and mingle with film industry people outside of the hustle and bustle typically associated with the business.

Located in the shadow of Mount Rainier, the Ashford Valley provides the perfect setting for this festival. Our screening venues range from an authentic circular Yurt, an elementary school built in the 1920's with capacity of 400, to an intimate setting in the prestigious Nisqually Lodge. All projection is shown in the latest in digital technology.

Because of the unique location and our understanding that limited funds (if any!) are available to Independent Filmmakers, complimentary lodging will be provided by RIFF to the selected filmmakers in attendance.In addition,

We will be offering awards such as post-production services and PR - with more as they become locked in.
We will have a media center for our workshops, seminars and for the filmmakers to promote their projects and mingle with the public (the filmmaker lounge will still be onsite with complimentary drinks!)
Finally, as always, because of the unique location and our understanding that limited funds (if any!) are available to Independent Filmmakers, complimentary lodging will be provided by RIFF to the selected filmmakers in attendance.

Stay tuned as we create and add to our schedule.

All the Best,
Win Whittaker, RIFF Festival Director

Calculating Sunrise and Sunset for Photographers.

2009-02-20T08:37:00.000-08:00

This morning the sun hit my face a little earlier than usual. Yes, it's because of the fantastic weather we are having here in the Pacific Northwest, but as we all know the days are getting longer already. This means getting up earlier and earlier to shoot sunrises.... ouch! A couple of online tools that I use on a regular basis to calculate Astronomical, Nautical, and Civil Twilight, as well as sunrise, sunset and phases of the moon are here.

www.sunrisesunset.com and www.cmpsolv.com/los/sunset.html.

The beginning of civil twilight is when the "color" starts to happen, so I usually arrive at my shooting location during nautical twilight and shoot until sunrise. Play this scenario in reverse in the evenings. An insiders tip for Mt. Rainier is that because of the huge vertical relief Rainier has in relation to the most of the state, expect the sun to hit the summit 10-15 minutes before official sunrise. Have fun playing with those online tools and be there when the "show" happens. I hope to see you on the mountain.

Adam

Climate Friendly Parks.

2009-02-20T08:09:00.000-08:00

The two day Climate Friendly Parks workshop held at the Community Center in Mt. Rainier National Park was a huge success. As a member of the public and a business partner with the park, I am very excited to be part of what will certainly be one of the premier models for green operations in the Pacific Northwest! The details of the two day event are extensive, so I will spare you the details here. I would, however, like to direct you to a couple of resources listed below. I also might be able to help steer you to the right park personnel to answer your questions as they arise.

The first web based resource is the "Do Your Part" website of Climate Friendly Parks and the National Parks Conservation Association. You can visit it at www.doyourpartparks.org. Climate Friendly Parks is the first interactive online program in the country that provides national park visitors and supporters with the tools to understand and reduce their carbon footprints and thereby help to protect our national parks from global warming. Do Your Part! is sponsored by the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) in support of the National Park Service’s Climate Friendly Parks program.

Do Your Part!’s interactive mapping feature lets you explore park goals and the progress park stakeholders are making towards those goals. Its carbon calculator provides the tools you need to understand your current carbon footprint and then set goals to reduce your impact. Its tracking tool displays progress in real time towards park and related group goals.

The other online resource for more general and comprehensive information is www.nps.gov/climatefriendlyparks.

Thank you for showing interest in Climate Friendly Parks, and I hope to see you on Mt. Rainier.

Adam

Climate Friendly Parks Workshop, Mt. Rainier National Park

2009-02-17T20:19:00.000-08:00

On behalf of the Institute I will be attending the Climate Friendly Parks (CFP) Program this week at Mt. Rainier. The CFP is a collaboration of the National Park Service and the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, to provide national parks with management tools and resources to address climate change. The program aims to provide national parks with comprehensive support to address climate change both within park boundaries and the surrounding community.

The goals of the workshop will be:

•To educate park employees and park partners about climate change/global warming and the
role each can take in addressing the problem.
•To empower every park employee and park partner to serve as communicator—helping the
public understand global warming/climate change, how the park is dealing with it, and the difference that each person can make.
•To provide a framework and ongoing support for actions to communicate both internally and externally about progress and challenges of becoming a Climate Friendly Park.
•To develop a Park Climate Action Plan with concrete emission reduction goals.

If you have any questions about concessioners and CUA holders in Mt Rainier National Park and the CFP, please feel free to contact me.

Adam Angel

Expose your photos correctly while climbing Mt. Rainier

2008-11-23T20:53:00.001-08:00

When climbing Mount Rainier you will encounter conditions like you've never experienced before. So will your camera. There are two photographic problems and two very simple techniques that will help you mitigate them. You will greatly improve your images when shooting on the mountain if you follow these recommendations. Yeah! It should be noted that I am only offering "quick and dirty" techniques in this article, that can make huge strides in your images with very little "know how." If you are interested in pro level control, please check out our Photography Workshops on Mt. Rainier.

The first problem you will encounter is that the snow will deceive your camera's built in light meter and result in severely underexposed images. You might have seen or taken images in the past that were taken on snow where the snow looks drab and gray, and the person whose picture you were taking is nothing but a black silhouette. The second problem is only a problem during sunrise and sunset, BUT these are the times that are best for photography so listen up!!

Let's start with getting proper exposure when shooting in any uniformly bright environment..... like snow. The light meter in all cameras thinks that the world is 18% gray (middle gray). This value works well for an "average" scene, whatever that may be, but fails when the world is "really light." This is where digital cameras make it VERY easy to compensate in a controlled way. Each manufacturer and camera model vary, so get out the camera manual and learn these functions. You will need to "compensate" for the camera's attempt at a proper exposure by using the exposure compensation function. Snow should not be gray, it should be white, which is 1 to 2 stops brighter than middle gray. The quick and dirty solution is to set the exposure compensation in the range of +1 to +1.5.

The overall effect will lighten up the snow and expose your dark subjects more accurately.

•••••••••••

The second issue is one of white balance. What is white balance you ask. In the old days you had daylight balanced film and tungsten balanced film. If you shot under tungsten lights with daylight balanced films the pictures looked yellow. Add fluorescent lights, sodium vapor, etc. and the mix got quite complicated. Luckily today, no matter what the "color temperature" of the light source, you can tell your camera that white is white, and your pictures will look correct. Most people leave their cameras set on "automatic white balance." Depending on your camera, it can do a pretty good job, most of the time. (Especially on snow!) The problem that arises is when you are capturing climbers at sunrise/sunset and the mountain is glowing with beautiful reds and oranges. Your auto white balance will decide that there is a reddish color cast and correct for it. AAAAGGGGGHHH!!.....Skillfully rendering your beautiful sunset WHITE. The solution is simple. Just set your automatic white balance mode to "daylight." This is effectively the same as shooting with daylight balanced film. You can leave your white balance set to daylight during the rest of the day too. Just remember to switch out of "daylight white balance" for the celebratory beers in the tungsten lit bar after the climb!

The Right Camera for Climbing Mt. Rainier.

2008-11-22T21:53:00.000-08:00

This article was originally posted in November of 2008. The recommendations pretty much remain the same, but A LOT of new equipment has come on to the market since then. In terms of this article, just replace the "G10" with the "G11" and things pretty much stay the same. Enjoy! (Adam 11-09)

You've spent a year training to climb Mt Rainier. You've bought the gear, hired the right guide, taken the time off work, bought the plane tickets AND you want a great new camera to capture the whole experience. The options these days are numerous and constantly in flux. By the time you read this article new cameras will be released and others taken out of production. This is an exciting time to be a photographer, and your climb of Mt Rainier will no doubt provide many opportunities for dramatic images. It was the mountain after all that led me to photography in the first place. So, what are my recommendations?

First, let me tell you that for me image quality is paramount. In the past this absolutely meant bringing along a digital SLR with interchangeable lenses. These cameras have large sensors and are easy to operate even with gloves on. They also capture RAW files for professional output. The ability for a camera to capture RAW files is absolutely necessary if you want to produce high quality images. There are volumes and volumes of books, as well as workshops, that focus on processing your camera's RAW output for optimum results. Luckily there are a few "point-and-shoot" cameras available now that produce RAW files. A camera with the ability to shoot RAW comes at a premium though. These cameras will cost a little more than the basic point-and-shoot cameras available today. It is worth mentioning though that you pretty much get what you pay for when it comes to cameras and camera accessories. If you are serious about high quality images then spending as much as you are comfortable with is probably a good idea. Even if you don't know how to work with RAW files, you can set the camera to capture regular jpeg images and RAW files simultaneously. That way if you get "The Shot," you can have a high end printer process and work the RAW file with you for output in a professional environment.

To get a camera that captures RAW files, you will be looking at high-end point-and-shoots such as the Canon G10, or the Panasonic LX3. The other option is to bring a Digital SLR with interchangeable lenses. While a D-SLR will provide you with the best possible image quality, you aren't going to get that many shots if the large camera is living in your backpack. I usually carry a D-SLR, but it is very liberating to travel light, and the new cameras that I mentioned above do a very good job. I can't overstate the importance of bringing a camera that you can actually use. With a high end point and shoot, you will be able to keep the camera in a jacket pocket and shoot with one hand, so that the other hand can still participate in your primary activity of the moment... CLIMBING. As an added bonus to having it handily parked in a jacket pocket, the battery will stay warm and last quite long.

When picking a camera for the climb I would guide my purchase using these priorities... followed in parentheses with the camera that excels in that quality.

Does the camera produce RAW files? (G10 or LX3)
Is the camera "pocketable?" (LX3)
Does it have an optical viewfinder so that you can save battery power? Note that the LCD's while very good, are hard to see in very bright light and with Polarized sunglasses. (G10)
Can I operate the camera with gloves on? One hand? (G10 or LX3 with a slight upper hand to the G10)
Low light capabilities? For shots in the tent.. monks in monasteries on future trips! (LX3)
Video? Many of todays pocketable cameras capture pretty descent HD Video.... Why not have that too?!? (LX3)
Built in lens cap? Don't want something to drop!!! (G10)
Price. (LX3) Note: When these cameras were launched the LX3 was almost $100 less. Due to the high demand for this camera, it now has a street price of $100 more and is the more expensive of the two (12-6-08).

In conclusion, I can tell you that the person with the least amount of extraneous C@#P and the lightest pack on the mountain will have more fun than the others, and today's new RAW capture point-and-shoots are just the ticket that we have been waiting for! Have fun, climb safely, and bring back some great images!

Adam

P.S. For another Mt. Rainier Specific tip click here.

For more information or to purchase most of the equipment that I use please visit here.

Past Accolades for Kilimanjaro Climb and Safaris. Tanzania, East Africa.

2008-11-09T12:32:00.000-08:00

"I wanted to let you know what a tremendous experience this was for us and how pleased we were with the whole IMG program from start to finish. From the initial contact with you (Eric Simonson) and Phil Ershler, through the whole trip planning process, to the expedition itself, everything was highly professional and first class in every respect. Your personal communications to me by email and rapid response to any questions or concerns in advance of the trip were greatly appreciated. The local arrangements through the Keys Hotel and the assistance of and experience with the African guides, cooks, and porters were beyond expectations. I also cannot speak highly enough about Adam Angel. Not only did he do a great job coaching us through our progressive trek into high altitude, but he also became a wonderful companion and friend, and undoubtedly greatly facilitated the camaraderie that quickly developed amongst the climbers.

I don't know when I may get another chance to climb, but when I do, you can be assured that if at all possible, it will be with IMG. It appears that you set the standard in guided mountaineering, and I thank you for making possible this once in a lifetime experience for my son and me."

—Michael B.

"We had an incredible experience on our trip. The climb was awesome! IMG had everything well organized from the excellent accommodations before and after the climb to the coordination of the porters and cooks on the climb. Adam was a pleasure to climb with. He took a personal interest in each person achieving their goals for the climb and did everything he could to help make that happen. He had a great sense for when he needed to provide specific direction to the group and when it was okay to let the group just experience the mountain. Hope we have the chance to climb with him again. We look forward to our next adventure with IMG."

—Rob & Julie L.

"What a fun trip. And all I have to say is who ever thought up the porter concept was brilliant. It's not bad strolling up and down a mountain when you don't have to schlep your own stuff. Seriously, Tanzania is an amazing country. Kili is a beautiful mountain and the safari was just the right length of time. I also very much enjoyed climbing with Adam Angel. He's a very nice guy and excellent tour guide. The group was lots of fun and got along very well. Just a wonderful trip all the way around."

—Monica R.

"I just wanted to send a short letter to thank you and Adam for a excellent trip to Kilimanjaro. Adam did a great job throughout the climb and I would definitely recommend IMG and Adam for anyone wanting to do a climb."

—John S.

"I think I should first speak of Adam, for without his expert guidance and leadership, our climb could have been quite different and not as successful... at least for me. Although I have done some climbing, I was perhaps the least experienced of the group. And although I had trained religiously for months, I was not prepared for many of the challenges that confronted us. Adam was there for me and everyone, for every step of the way.

Not a headache was to go by without him knowing about it. When they did occur, Diamox was not the preferred cure; rather going back to the basics of breathing and drinking. He talked about what we should wear each day and how often we should snack and drink water. He instructed us as to the use of our poles: how long or short they should be or if we needed one or both. And when I encountered some problematic spots on the Baranco Wall or wherever, he was there to get me safely to the next point. By the time we had reached Barafu Hut, he had laid the groundwork: he had instilled so much confidence in us of his abilities as a leader. Little did we know how important that confidence in him was for us to reach the summit.

I know that Adam spoke to you about the wind and the less than perfect conditions on summit night. Regardless, Adam was unbelievable. He was decisive. He shouted out instructions all along the way: to eat, to drink, to breathe, to rest step and for me to stand up straight. He was quick to have our packs taken off and carried by a Chagga, when we were being carried and thrown down by the wind. And he yelled encouraging words that we were doing so well and that our bodies could do it and not to let our minds tell us it couldn't!! And because of his leadership and good judgment, no one was hurt, and we reached the summit safely.

All in all, it was an experience of a lifetime. And I thank you for including me in the group."

—Susan G.

One-on-one Fine Art Printing.

2008-10-22T09:48:00.000-07:00

Even with extensive knowledge of photography or Photoshop or printing, there are many opportunities to botch the whole thing during some part of the process. A 6-day "digital basics" workshop might not fit into your schedule or maybe you just need that last part of the puzzle to make your images finally come together in a master fine art print. That is where a one-on-one session can get you to the next level in very short order. Maybe you just need a productive day of printing with some "hand-holding" to get you past some reoccurring obstacles, such as equipment, or improper techniques. This is a chance to sit down with photographer, educator, and mentor Adam Angel and work on whatever you want.... Digital Capture.... Processing.... Printing.... Presentation. This format will allow you to get the personal attention you need, working on your images, at your pace. This can be an excellent follow-up to one of our "Field" intensive workshops in Tanzania.

Topics might include:

Color Management
All stages of Image Processing
Black and White Conversions
Soft Proofing
Printing for Color and/or Black and White
Sharpening
Paper Options
Presentation

Sessions take place at the studio in Morton, 204 National Park Highway, Morton, WA. 98356.

Equipment available to you during the session:

27" iMac 2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7
Eizo ColorEdge Premium Edition Display CG241W
23" Apple Cinema Display
44" Epson 9890 Printer
17" Epson 3880 Printer
Eye-One Photo Spectrophotometer
Photoshop CS5 with Bridge
Pixel Genius Image Sharpening
i1Profiler
Plus the whole studio will be at your disposal!

Sessions are 8 hours and include as many large format prints as we have time for. The fee is $895. A typical session goes from 9:00 to 6:00 with an hour for lunch. Please contact me to discuss your options or to schedule. Adam@AdamAngel.com

Photoluck (like a potluck but with photos)

2008-10-09T14:44:00.000-07:00

Friends of Adam Angel Photography and the Mt. Rainier Institute of Photography. Starting every Wednesday night on October 15th....Breathe....Learn from others....Set goals....Reflect....Recharge....explore creativity.....share your intent....Grow with your photography and have a good time.

Come share your images at our weekly Photoluck Dinner. Bring a digital file of your favorite picture and your dinner/beverage of choice (just your own), we'll do the rest. Bring your spouse (they have to bring a photo too) and pass this on.

5:30 PM, 204 National Park Highway (that's 2nd street to you locals), Morton, WA. 98356.

Adam

Photoshop CS4 for October 08 Workshop Participants

2008-09-23T13:18:00.001-07:00

Well Folks:

The Photoshop gods have decided to release a Photoshop update pretty much during the workshop. The upgrade is from CS3 to CS4. That's either good or bad timing depending on how you view glasses half full of water. I am excited about the upgrade and know that CS4 will GREATLY enhance, improve, and speed our digital workflow. I've been looking carefully at the updates and they are very exciting. Lot's of WOW factor! It's a whole new world. Again, this is a significant upgrade that will shake up and improve the way we work on images.

So, here is the plan. If CS4 is available by the time the workshop starts, I will teach the new CS4 tools and techniques. So no matter what version of Photoshop you currently have, either plan on upgrading to CS4 if it is available, OR simply download the 30 day free trial and install it just in time for the workshop, so that you can follow along during the workshop with your 30 day free trial.

Remember if you are only planning on using the trial, Do not install until the workshop begins, so that you can make sure to have access to it during every weekend of the workshop.

I would think that it will be ready by the workshop, but in the event that it isn't, you will need CS3. Note that they have disabled the CS3 free trial!

Here is the link to the webpage where you can be notified when the new version and trial becomes available.

http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/mmform/index.cfm?name=cs4_notify&loc=en_us

I will be shooting in the Tetons from Sept. 24 to October 5th, so I might be hard to reach......

Adam

Harvest

2008-09-22T10:48:00.000-07:00

Without even looking at a calendar it is apparent when an equinox or solstice in nigh. There is a definitive moment when in total presence and clarity, I stop for a second, and say to myself "Fall is in the air." I can't put my finger on it, and I can't describe exactly what it is, but when it happens... I know. All of the times that I have scented that change in 36 years come together as an annual moment of continuity in my physical existence. This happens every year for each changing of the season, and I have no doubt that my senses are far more accurate than the calendar's interpretation. It is around these events that I feel most alive, and for a while after college and before settling down, these profound moments coincided with traveling. A summer job ends and there is time to roam until the ski season starts. You meet travelers along the way on similar journeys. Now that I am settled into one community, I can experience elements of that change that I haven't experienced since I was the reason for my parents nesting. My parents nested down for the winter in 1972 for me; and from 2005 on.... I nest for my child. It is time to harvest from the efforts of the year. I won't wait until December, I want to have a few months to enjoy the fruits and to ease into a cozy nest for winter with my closest loved ones. I feel this excitement today, as we reach a new plateau with our daughter. This week the whole family will travel together to my old stomping grounds in the Tetons. Again, the circle is coming round.

Commercial Use Authorizations, Mt. Rainier National Park.

2008-09-04T07:28:00.000-07:00

Mount Rainier National Park Mission Statement

"Together we preserve, for future generations, the natural and cultural resources in Mount Rainier National Park. Through a variety of high quality park experiences, we promote park values, personal connections, and responsibility for the environment in our local and global communities. With integrity, teamwork, pride, and motivation, we demonstrate environmental leadership and deepen our understanding of the park’s ecosystems. We value our diverse range of individual contributions by showing respect and concern for each other and the park. The Mountain inspires stewardship. Its protection and preservation is our legacy."

Mt Rainier National Park is truly a unique and special place. It is an island of ecosystems and climates, with many scientific, experiential, and creative treasures. In putting together the Mt. Rainier Institute of Photography's application for a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) in the park, I came across the park's mission statement. It was such a relief to read it and to know that the park is in such good hands. Part of Mt. Rainier National Park's General Management Plan is the Commercial Services Plan, which includes administering concessions and commercial use authorizations within the park. By administering all commercial services within the park, the resource that Mt. Rainier National Park is can be protected. Both Concessions and CUA holders are held to the highest standards when operating in MRNP. By using a service that is operated under a Commercial Use Authorization and administered by the National Park Service, you are not only getting the very best in business practices, you are helping to protect the resource. There are several companies operating photography workshops in Mt. Rainier National Park without Commercial Use Authorizations, and in addition to operating illegally are not operating within the scope of good environmental practice. They and their clients may be subject to disciplinary action from the National Park Service. CUAs are available to these companies and I hope that you will hold them to this standard. As you investigate the available options please keep this in mind.

Adam

Rainier Mountain Festival 2008

2008-08-31T08:16:00.000-07:00

I plan to be at the Rainier Mountain Festival on September 13th and 14th, 2008. This is a fantastic occasion to reconnect with colleagues, clients, friends, AND make new friends. I don't plan to be tied down to a booth, but will be roaming around with information on next year's Mt. Rainier Photography Workshops. There are plenty of events for all ages, so bring the whole gang. See you there!

Adam Mt. Rainier Photography, Mount Rainier Photography, Mt. Rainier Photos, Mount Rainier Photos.

Mt. Rainier Photography at VisitRainier.com

2008-08-25T15:21:00.001-07:00

The Mt. Rainier Institute of Photography is now listed in the workshops section of VisitRainier.com. Visit Rainier is THE online visit you need to make before visiting the Mt. Rainier National Park Area. The content is so thorough, accurate and entertaining that even the locals use it as a resource.

Summer on Rainier......

2008-08-19T23:07:00.000-07:00

August 19^th. Pouring rain. Snow Level on Mt. Rainier down to 6500’. Summer still hasn’t really arrived. Since moving to the Pacific Northwest 13 years ago, I haven’t seen a summer like this. It is weather like this that creates the unmatched beauty of the NW. The trees are so big. The rivers so wild. The glaciers unmatched in the lower 48. This is the price we pay for the staggering beauty that unleashes itself when the sun does come out. So for this week, when I thought I would be shooting pictures of wildflowers and dramatic alpenglow on Mt. Rainier, I turn the camera down and shoot the finer and often overlooked detail of Mt. Rainier National Park. One morning last week I went to a favorite shooting spot in the park. I arrived an hour before sunrise and stood there with 4 other photographers in the cold fog waiting for it to lift. It never did, but I talked for hours with a photographer from the east side of the mountain, which turned out to be enriching as making a good image…. That didn’t stop me from trying though. Like my experiences climbing the mountain, Rainier does what it wants, and whether or not it fits in to my agenda it is always spectacular.

Digital Photography Workshop, October 2008

2008-08-19T18:16:00.000-07:00

Digital Process and Print Workshops

A solid foundation is crucial to build anything of substance. Building photography skills is no different. You can save yourself years of expensive mistakes and frustration by taking a comprehensive course on digital photography.

The workshop will cover everything you need to know to build a solid base for your path as a photographer. The digital era has brought new levels of photographic control to photographers. However, there is more than ever to know about digital capture, processing and printing. By the end of this course you will be able to capture high quality images, process them using the latest tools, and print them on some of the finest printers available today. Please download our detailed schedule for a full list of topics to be covered. The Digital Process and Print Workshops are held during the Spring and Autumn and are an excellent accompaniment to one of our international photography expeditions run in partnership with the world famous International Mountain Guides.

Some highlights are:
•Digital Exposure (In-camera and w/ Light Meter) and White Balance
•Depth of Field and Shutter Speed
•How shape, light, composition, shadows and color impact your photography.
•Zone System for color
•RAW Vs. JPEG, Discuss Black and White
•Photoshop
•Print Optimization
•Color Management
•Image Processing
•Sharpening
•Printer and Paper Profiling
•Strobe and Continuous Lighting

Please visit MtRainierPhoto.com for more information.

Rainier Digital Photography Workshops 2009

2008-08-19T18:08:00.000-07:00

Join us on Mt Rainier for fun, excitement, achievement and camaraderie. Containing more glacial mass than the rest of the Cascade Volcanoes combined, there is is no mistaking Rainier as the pinnacle of Cascade Grandeur. Get to know Mt. Rainier National Park intimately with experienced instructors who have a deep knowledge of the park. This is our home mountain. Nobody can match our knowledge, access, or facilities of, to, and around Mt. Rainier National Park.

Our Rainier Workshops originate at the studio of Adam Angel Photography in historic downtown Morton. We provide private van transportation for all shooting excursions, and gourmet fare along the way. For the Master Class (long class), field excursions are followed by image critiques, photoshop instruction, as well as fine art printing techniques at the studio. The Shooter’s Class (short class) is for the more experienced photographer who is looking for field instruction, logistical support, and more time in the park shooting with good folks.

Please visit www.MtRainierPhoto.com for more information.

Mt. Rainier Institute of Photography

2008-08-19T17:50:00.000-07:00

Mt. Rainier’s greatness inspires greatness in us. Ten years ago I came to Mt. Rainier to become a climbing guide. Somehow as a young adult I knew that Mt. Rainier would teach me many lessons and take me further than I could imagine. Climbing Mt. Rainier led to travels around the world, and ultimately to the desire to articulate the “sense of place” that I encountered on the world’s great mountains. Photography became my vehicle to show the folks back home what I had seen. What’s interesting to me is that this path didn’t lead to the places that I thought it would. It led me on a journey of self discovery, personal growth, and creativity.

Today, my goal for the institute is to foster personal growth in concert with nature’s grandeur through creativity. The workshops that we offer take advantage of my knowledge of the mountain from it’s icy top to it’s lush and ancient bottom. They incorporate a nice blend of shooting time in the field and of classroom and lab instruction. All of this is packaged together in a fun, inspiring, memorable, and educational workshop. I look forward to spending time with you on Mt. Rainier during the summer of 2009! ~Adam Angel

New Website www.MtRainierPhoto.com

2008-08-19T11:05:00.000-07:00

The Mt. Rainier Institute of Photography has posted the new website at www.MtRainierPhoto.com.

This launches the beginning of Adam Angel Photography's Digital Workshops in Mt. Rainier National Park. These workshops in the park will be operated under a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) administered by the National Park Service. The CUA has not been issued yet, but we anticipate receiving one sometime in September/October. We have gone ahead and launched the websites, so that we will be available in the search engines when it is time to start workshop registration. In the mean time, please feel free to contact us if you have any questions. See you in the mountains.

Adam

Welcome

2008-07-20T21:08:00.001-07:00

Please visit www.AdamAngel.com until this blog becomes active. Stay tuned, we are almost ready to launch.

Adam