Entries By joe crawford

Mount Baker season is here! We met at Bingham Park and got right into it. We framed our climb around team work and risk management, so we spent our morning setting that up with a thorough gear check and packing lesson. We laid out our plans and previewed how each segment plays into our team risk management strategy. The first day would be all about learning the pace and self-care we would need on the upper mountain. We quickly found a pace that could only be described as relentlessly moderate. After a couple hours of hiking in the cool temps we got to our rock outcrop at Sandy Camp. After a brief break to take in the views of the Sisters Range and the Puget Sound, we made a robust snow camp. Snow camping, we determined, is a craft best learned in the warm temps and long days near the Solstice. 

The following day we used our Snow School to fill out our risk management plan by learning the skills to handle moving through snow and ice. Our morning hours were cool enough to provide the firm snow that makes school most rewarding. We learned to walk like French mountain guides (upright with a baguette in hand) and to climb in the heavy metal style of German technique. In the afternoon we roped up and learned to stop each other from falling down the mountain. A small, steep roll in the terrain provided the perfect place to develop trust in our teammates by flinging ourselves down the slope.  

In the wee hours, we awoke and prepared for the climb ahead. We put our plan into play and began the climb uphill with the same group pace we learned on the way to camp. Our team was at the front of a line of 50 or so climbers. While some would pass us for a moment here and there, we managed to keep astride of all comers with our diligent, steady pace. After two of our comrades ended their climb at the crater rim, we carried on up the Roman Headwall. This final steep step tested our new cramponing skills as the boot track was crawling with people. We decided to step out of the track and were rewarded with perfect Styrofoam conditions for cramponing. At the summit, which we had to ourselves, we had a group dance party and took all the pictures. 

Motivated by thoughts of Steak Fajitas and Margaritas, we descended swiftly through punchy snow, and down sandy trail to our cars at Park Butte TH. A short hour later, we shared a final meal at the ever-classic end-of-trip spot Lorenzo's. 

- RMI Guide Joe Crawford

RMI teams led by guides Joe Crawford and Hannah Blum set out to summit Mt Rainier this morning, but turned around at the top of the Dissapointment Cleaver due to route conditions. They are on their way back down to Camp Muir and will be back in Ashford later today. 

RMI teams led by guides Will Ambler and Joe Crawford made their summit attempt this morning. As a result of recent snow accumulation and strong winds on the upper mountain, they found evidence of snow instability and decided to turn around at 12,450'. The teams had made their way back to Camp Muir and are doing additional training for the remainder of the morning. 

Nice work team! 

RMI Teams led by Dave Hahn and Joe Crawford reached the summit of Mt. Rainier! They started their descent back to Camp Muir around 9:30am. RMI Guide Dave Hahn reported great weather and good route conditions. 

Congrats team!

The Expedition Skills Seminar - Paradise August 14 - 19 led by RMI Guides Joe Crawford and Hannah Billings will conclude their program today.  After several days of training and a wet start the team enjoyed four days of good weather and nice training conditions as they gradually ascended the mountain. Yesterday, they bumped up to Camp Muir for their launch point of their summit attempt. Unfortunately the high winds and deteriorating weather on the upper mountain this morning forced them to turn back. The team is safely back at Camp Muir. After a quick break they will continue the remaining 4.5 miles to Paradise. They will celebrate their adventure this afternoon at Rainier BaseCamp.

The Four Day Climb August 2 - 5, 2025 led by RMI Guides Dominic Cifelli and Joe Crawford reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning.  The teams reported a beautiful day on the mountain with a little wind a little precipatation while they were on the summit. They enjoyed a bit of time in the crater before starting their descent.  The teams are heading back to Camp Muir, and after a quick break will continue the remaining 4.5 miles to Paradise to complete their climb.  Once back at BaseCamp they will enjoy a bit of celebration to conclude their adventure.

Nice work today team!

PC: Dominic Cifelli

Today, the Four-Day Climb, led by RMI Guides Joe Hoch and Joe Crawford, successfully reached the summit of Mt. Rainier!

In a fun twist of trail magic, both groups were guided by not one, but two Joes, two Hannahs, and two Bens — in addition to Bailey and Simon, who helped keep things from getting too confusing! With this strong and experienced team at the helm, the climbers were in great hands every step of the way.

The teams pushed through some smokey conditions on their ascent and were rewarded with beautiful clear skies upon reaching the crater.  After soaking in the views from the top, the climbers began their descent to Camp Muir, where they’ll pack up before continuing the remaining 4,500’ down to Paradise this afternoon.

Congratulations to today’s climbers on an incredible accomplishment!

The Emmons Seminar Team led by RMI Guide Mike Bennett reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning at around 8:00 am!

The team has spent the past four days on the snow learning various mountaineering techniques and practicing their technical skills to reach the summit via the Emmons-Winthrop Glacier, the largest glacier in the lower forty-eight states, a feat not to be taken lightly. 

After celebrating their accomplishment at the summit, they descended back to Camp Schurman for some much-needed rest and a warm meal. They will spend one more night at camp, then descend the 5,000' to the to the trailhead tomorrow morning and arrive at our Ashford BaseCamp that afternoon. 

Congratulations climbers!

Led by RMI Guides Joe Crawford, Hannah Blum, Julian Kral, and Kat Porter, the Five Day Climb reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. The team reported beautiful windy weather from the Mt. Rainier summit crater. The team has descended to Camp Muir where they will spend one more night on the mountain. They'll finish their descent back to Paradise tomorrow.

Way to go climbers!

The Five-Day Climb teams, led by RMI Guides Tatum Whatford and Joe Crawford, reached the summit of Mt. Rainier early this morning! After taking in a beautiful sunrise above the clouds, the climbers began their descent from the crater rim around 7:00 a.m. They'll pause for a well-earned break at Camp Muir before continuing down to Paradise, with plans to return to basecamp later this afternoon.

Congratulations to today’s climbers on a successful summit!