On July 27-30, 2000 a dozen climbers attempted to summit Mount Rainier, part of an effort to raise funds for Safeplace, a non-profit shelter for battered women in Olympia, WA.  To date, 24 climbers raised approximately $27,000 for the cause, a very small percentage of that required to provide the necessary services on a yearly basis.  

The 1st day was spent hiking to Glacier Basin at the foot of the Inner Glacier.  The 2nd day we climbed up the Inner Glacier, past Camp Curtis and Camp Schurman to Emmons Flats, and set up base camp.  The Emmons Glacier is the largest in the lower 48 states, approximately 8 miles long and around 500 feet thick.  We finally got to bed around 8:30 that evening, only to be awakened at midnight to prepare for our climb.  Leaving base camp around 2:00 AM, we crossed hidden crevasses using headlamps until the morning sun rose.  At 10:30 AM, we had reached 13,500 feet, and were forced to turn back due to the late time.  Returning before the melting snow bridges collapsed over the crevasses, we found 2 of the 5 tents were missing, due to 60+ MPH winds.  One was rescued in a crevasse, but the other is forever gone.  3 of the members had to go all the way out that night, since the tent also had all of their sleeping gear.

This was a great climb, the group grew close in our struggles to cook, climb and live on "The Mountain".  The experience is humbling, and I will certainly be back for another attempt.  If you are interested in a screen saver with these and other photos from the climb, a commemorative T-shirt, or in making a donation to SAFEPLACE, Kevin Hauser has created an easy-to-use form on his website, www.hausers.com.

Click on an image for a full page printable version.

	Summit Photo (well, almost) The group poses at our high point of 13,500 feet.  Members include Brett and Pam (holding the flags in the back), Laura and Amicia (holding the Safeplace sign), and left to right, me, Kevin, Mike, Duane and Rachel.  Missing from the photo are Ray (taking the photo with my camera), Donna (bivouaced at 12,500') and Stan (returned to check on Donna).
	Deep Crevasse Most of the crevasses were too deep to see the bottom, and too dangerous to get close enough to really photograph.
	A Closer Look Yours truely taking a peak down inside a crevasse on the lower Emmons Glacier.  Photo by Laura Sabatino.
	Sunset at Emmons Flats
	Group Photo Lounging around camp on Sunday morning after the climb, just before breaking down camp to return.
	Another Deep Crevasse Speaks for itself.
	Finding the Route Laura Sabatino and Pam Jenkins (group leader) at Camp Curtis, pointing out the route up the Emmons Glacier to base camp at Emmons Flats.
	Hey, That's Me Complete with rolled up rain pants, knee brace and sporting the latest style in bandanas (to keep the sweat out of my eyes).
	Little Tahoma Crevasses on the lower Emmons Glacier with Little Tahoma in the background.
	Little Tahoma Another view.  This is one of my favorite shots, with the clouds dragging along the ice.
	Sunset at Emmons Flats Laura Sabatino enjoys the sunset, while Rainier's shadow forms in the background beyond the clouds.  Little Tahoma to the left, and that's my tent in the foreground.
	Burning Clouds at Sunset Kevin Hauser views the sunset, just before retiring to bed to prepare for our summit attempt.
	Rainier's Shadow This was an awesome site, as Rainier's shadow was cast at sunset into the open sky towards the east.
	One More Sunset Photo Sorry, I got a little carried away.