Entries from Mount Rainier
Posted by: Tyler Reid, Pete Van Deventer, Sean Collon, Christina Dale, Andrew Kiefer
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 12,600'
Way to go Ken and Jessie! Congrats on reaching the summit. We are proud of you two and can’t wait to hear about your climb.
Love, Jeff, Lee & Lauren
Posted by: Lee and Jeff on 6/15/2014 at 4:19 pm
Way to go Ronnie! So glad you made it to the top! We are proud of you! Love, Mommy & Logan
Posted by: Lindsey & Logan on 6/12/2014 at 5:25 pm
Posted by: Elias de Andres Martos, Mark Falender
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
Great job Glenn. The Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce is proud of your accomplishment!
Posted by: Jerrilea Crawford on 6/12/2014 at 5:08 pm
Way to go CWH Team!!! CONGRATULATIONS!! I want to see some pics!
Posted by: Jenny Sass on 6/12/2014 at 9:48 am
Posted by: Eric Frank, Geoff Schellens
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,200'
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On The Map
John, is it too late to join you? I’m really getting inspired although I think I would require a motel come night fall. Snow camping and ice hotels aren’t nearly as much fun as people think. Can’t wait for the pics, especially those of you working hard! Local news: GO KINGS GO! One more win to go! Keep having fun. GO TEAM GO! Tante
Posted by: Lisa Stenderup on 6/11/2014 at 10:41 pm
You made it!!! Can’t wait to hear all the stories!!! Congrats to all Chris ‘s!!!!
Posted by: Robin Johnson on 6/10/2014 at 4:00 pm
Posted by: Lindsay Mann, JJ Justman
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
Woooo! Proud of all of you, the whole team! What an experience! Can’t wait to see pictures. Luv u Hannah! And amazed and inspired by what you guys did.
Posted by: Danielle on 6/11/2014 at 4:00 am
Fantastic job David. So happy for you:)
Love ya Buddy.
Dad
Posted by: Glenn Sedjo on 6/10/2014 at 5:58 pm
Posted by: Tyler Reid, Katrina Bloemsma
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
Posted by: Seth Waterfall, Bridget Belliveau, Steve Gately
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
way to go!! Congrats! Jason Evan&Trey; ! Enjoy the view and weather and meal when u get down off the mountain. see ya soon! frank
Posted by: frank saunders on 6/9/2014 at 10:54 am
Bernt! HA!
Posted by: Claire on 6/9/2014 at 5:49 am
Posted by: Mike Haugen, Ben Liken, Solveig Waterfall, Mike King
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
Congratulations, Bernt. Cant wait to hear about it when you get back to ME.
Posted by: Julie on 6/9/2014 at 12:39 pm
What an accomplishment- Matt Orr and Peter Wooding….and the entire team. Can’t wait to have you back to hear stories and see pictures. Could not have asked for a more beatiful day for your adventure. Love, Jen
Posted by: Jen Orr on 6/7/2014 at 4:29 pm
Posted by: Mike Uchal
Categories: Mount Rainier Responsible Climbing
Every summer, RMI climbing teams consume over 7,000 gallons of drinking water at Camp Muir, the primary camp on Mt. Rainier's Disappointment Cleaver Route. For many years, melting snow in a large barrel heated by propane created drinking water for Camp Muir. We knew that there was a better way to provide drinking water to our teams and it just required a little bit of creativity, brainstorming, and initiative. Over the course of the 2012 and 2013 climbing seasons, a new solar thermal system was installed at Camp Muir. This system, designed to use environmentally benign and free solar energy to efficiently melt snow, provides drinking and cooking water for RMI climbers and guides at an elevation of 10,060'. The system was designed and built by RMI Guide and alternative energy professor Mike Uchal and his colleague Dr. Brian Raichle, who is a professor of solar energy technology at Appalachian State University. RMI Guide Cody Doolan also contributed with the design, installation, and maintenance. RMI's Solar Snow Melt System, part of our commitment to Responsible Climbing, reduces our environmental footprint on Mt. Rainier by minimizing the need to burn liquid propane gas in order to melt snow, cuts our operating costs, and reduces the environmental footprint of the helicopter used to transport propane to Camp Muir.
How it works:
A small electric pump powered by photovoltaic panels pulls water from the burn barrel, a large barrel used to melt snow, uphill to a solar thermal collector. The collector, a conventional flat plate solar thermal collector is the kind that is typically used in residential and commercial domestic hot water systems. The water is pulled by gravity through the copper pipes in the collector and is heated by solar radiation before returning to the melt barrel. RMI guides keep the barrel fed with clean snow from the snowfields above Camp Muir and this snow mixes with the warm water and melts into liquid form. A controller turns on the pump in the morning and off at the end of the day when the sun goes down. Because the collector is uphill of the barrel, gravity drains water from the collector at night to prevent damage from freezing water. This system design eliminates any problems associated with overheating during late season conditions when solar energy can be plentiful and strong.
How it performs:
On warm, sunny days at Camp Muir, typical in the late summer, the solar snow melting system heated the 30+ gallons of water in the burn barrel to above 100°F. That is nearly spa temperature! On cold, sunny days, often found early in the season, the system heated water to temperatures above 40°F - enough to effectively melt snow. Propane is still used during storms that last several days, when solar radiation isn’t strong enough to heat the collector, but the solar snow melting system dramatically reduced the amount of propane burned during the 2013 summer climbing season.
Anecdotally, before the 2013 climbing season the propane burner was running for around 3.5 hours per day to melt enough snow to provide drinking water for the RMI teams. During the 2013 climbing season, guides estimate that the burner was needed on average around 15 minutes per day. During the summer climbing season of 2013, we estimate the solar system saved approximately 250 pounds of propane, the associated cost of transport that propane, and 0.33 metric tons of CO2 emissions.
This project is part of RMI’s commitment to the outdoor community and environment as we work to reduce the environmental footprint of our climbs in order to ensure that many future generations are able to enjoy the same mountain environment that we enjoy. The RMI Solar Snow Melt System is a great example of practices that can reduce a business' environmental footprint and provide cost savings at the same time. By the end of its first full year at Camp Muir, the system paid for itself with savings in fuel and helicopter transport costs. The next time you make it to Camp Muir, swing by the guide shack and check it out! The guides would love to show you the system in person.
_________
Mike Uchal is a Professor of Alternative Energy at Appalachian State University and guides trips on Mt. Rainier and Mt. McKinley for RMI Expeditions. Mike lives the mountain life, rock climbing, paddling whitewater, mountain biking, trail running, and skiing whenever he has spare time.
Thanks for sharing such an amazing informations.
Very helpful.
Rachel
Posted by: Rachel on 1/16/2019 at 5:46 pm
http://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2014/06/05/mt._rainier_expedition_skills_seminar_muir_reaches_summit
Hello folks looking for the skills seminar this week. There was a posting yesterday but not under Rainier. The above link will take you to a great picture!
Posted by: Doug on 6/6/2014 at 4:13 pm
I am awestruck!!! You two rock! Stay safe!
Posted by: Debbie Reese on 6/9/2014 at 6:24 am
Goes? If so, congrats on reaching the summit. Standing by for photos and stories.
Posted by: Chris Krivonyak on 6/2/2014 at 9:33 pm
Will and Tim it was an honor to have attempted the summit of Rainier with you. Pete, I would follow your lead up any mountain my friend. You kept it cool and calm under all conditions, including me tugging at your rope at 12,000ft.
Posted by: charles on 6/18/2014 at 7:57 am
Good try Ted and friends. Weather can be the decider up on Rainier. The Top of the Cleaver is still high, and it is the crux of the route you were on. The mountain will always be there and I know you will go back. Hopefully, I can go with you again! Still a great adventure and a big accomplishment.
Dad
Posted by: Jim Daverman on 6/13/2014 at 4:28 pm
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