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Trip Report: Day 2 of 8 (Friday, June 28, 2002)
Overnight, the weather had remained almost exactly the same. Still overcast, foggy and wet-looking. The physical rain had stopped temporarily though and we decided attempt to get as high as we could on Rainier before the weather got much worse. After a quick (and expensive) breakfast at the Inn, we got our gear together and started heading up toward Camp Muir along the Skyline Trail. Almost immediately we got into the clouds just above paradise (I'd guess around 6,000'). We followed the trail which was totally and completely under snow (but very well marked) higher and higher up the mountain. About half-way to Pebble Creek (7,200'), it started to sprinkle. Also, the cloud engulfed us and visibility was starting to diminish. However, the trail continued and was very well marked.
So, we all headed onward and upward. After a quick stop to throw on a gore-tex jacket, we continued higher. The vistas would have been beautiful if not in the clouds and the trail we were on had a really nice hike. If you get a day or so to visit Mt. Rainier, definitely check out this trail. I hope you had better weather than us :). We continued higher and higher to heavier rain, less visibility and winds that started and came out of nowhere. We finally reached Pebble Creek -- which is amazingly beautiful -- and decided to keep going. All of us were shrouded in Gore Tex now and hoping the weather would stop. It didn't. If anything, it got worse.
We were now on the Muir Snowfield, albeit, very low on it. I'd guess around 7,400'. We had zero visibility, gusty winds and the rain was slowly starting to switch to ice, which pelted our faces like fast bee stings. I think every single one of us decided to turn around at the exact same time, except Saeed. I am sure he could have went the entire way up there, but I didn't feel good going up to Muir where it was colder being really wet. He was awesome about it and agreed that it probably was best to come back down. So, we descended the exact same route we climbed up. I was expecting the rain to stop on the way down, but it continued, almost increased with intensity actually. I was *DRENCHED* when I arrived at Paradise Inn. I discovered that my "Gore Tex" jacket had water on the inside of it. Nice. I also opened my backpack to discover my cell phone and camera almost in a pool of water. This trip was slowly starting to unravel and I sat there, wet, cold with my slowly dying cell phone. My camera made a recovery (thankfully), but my cell phone ended up dying miserably.
We sat by one of the two fireplaces at the Paradise Inn and warmed ourselves up until Management got wind and became finicky. We were stuck down by the weather and really had nothing to do for the rest of the day. It was decided to spend another night at Paradise Inn and see if tomorrow would get any better. Once the room was paid for, we all took showers and got totally dry. Instead of eating expensive hotel food, we used the food we bought in Ashford and enjoyed what we could at the hotel. I called a few people and informed them on what had happened so far in the trip. Eventually, after thinking about what to do for a while, I had the idea of visiting Mt. St. Helens tomorrow and leaving the mountain for a few days. It was unanimous and we all liked the idea of leaving the dreary Paradise area on Mt. Rainier.
After sitting around for a while eating and drinking some wine (alcohol affects you much more at altitude than it does down at sea level ;), we decided to get visit the climbing rangers to get an updated report (which was exactly the same) and some shut eye. Again, I was hoping the weather would take a dramatic 180. I had the feeling that time was running out already on the trip, and it was only the 2nd day. I thought for sure there was some force that just didn't want me on the mountain. It was kind of creepy when I thought about it. I tried to pry those thoughts as far back as I could in my mind and get some sleep. It was strange a strange idea though.
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