Saturday morning 5:45 am at the Paradise inn parking lot (1600 m). The highest point in this picture is Point of Success. The true summit, Columbia Crest (4392 m), hides far behind it. Our base camp for the night (Camp Muir 3072 m) is located behind the rock wall on the right.
Fully loaded with 24 kg (50 lbs) including tent, sleeping bag, water boiler, water, food, climbing gear, ... Tough beautifull life in the Northwest!
Ready? Climb on!
Gorgeous! The Paradise trails are also visited by many day hikers and families and presents a beautifull vegetation and scenery.
On the way to Camp Muir. Dramatic view of Nisqually glacier. Our path goes on its right.
Muir snow field. Thousends of hikers hit this snow every year.
After 4 hours of ascent the backpack has become heavier and heavier. But now the RMI (Rainier Mountaineering Inc.) shelter at Camp Muir becomes visible (on the left in the picture) motivating me to walk the last hundred meters.
View from the tent camp. This picture was actually taken on July 23rd. I want to show here our start for the morning. The rocks in front are called "Cathedral Rocks."
The huge rock on the left is "Gibraltar Rock". We will leave the camp during the night at 1 am and cross Cathedral Rocks through the so called "Cathedral Gap" which is visible on the far right of the picture.
Unfortunately, I don't have pictures of the night. Because hundreds of people attempt the same climb the route is populated by a very long chain of headlights which ascend the dark trail making it look like a true "Starlight Express"!
Evening 8 pm. Mount adams in the rosa sunset light.
Mount Adams and Mount St Helens on the right. In the middle invisible Mount Hood which is located in Oregon.
The moon watching over Mount Adams.
Less than four hours of sleep before the big climb begins.
