Picture of Mt. Rainier

Here is Mt. Rainier, standing 14,410 ft above sea level.  While not the highest mountain in the U.S., it is one of the most technically challenging to climb.  The volcano is covered in glaciers and snow year round.  The climb will include the use of crampons and ice axes, in temperatures below freezing.  Things pretty foreign to a Florida boy.

So, why leave the beach and cross the United States to climb a mountain.  Well, not to sound too cliche', but it all began with Jon Krakauer's book, Into Thin Air.  I love to read and read often.  His book was not the end to mountaineering books.  It was the beginning. However, after reading Ed Viesturs', No Shortcuts to the Top, I learned about Mt. Rainier.  Viesturs wrote his book about his life of climbing the world's 14 highest mountains.  His career started guiding clients up Mt. Rainier, while working for Rainier Mountaineering, Inc., or RMI.  Check out the RMI website at www.rmiguides.com  That's what I did and found out about their mountaineering classes and schedule of climbs.  Next thing I know, my wife is telling me to either go for it or quit talking about it.  So, I am going for it.