I climbed Mt. Rainier last season via the Disappointment Cleaver route, and standing on that summit at 14,410 ft. was one of the most awe-inspiring moments of my life. The glaciers felt like something out of a different era vast, powerful, and otherworldly. But even then, I noticed how thin the snow bridges were and how early in the season crevasses were opening up. Reading now that Washington’s glaciers have lost 40% of their volume in just 40 years makes that trip feel even more surreal and bittersweet.
It’s heartbreaking to think future climbers might not get to experience the same routes. The sense of urgency is real I’m so glad I made that climb when I did. Has anyone else been up Rainier recently and noticed the changes in the ice? Thinking about going back, even just to appreciate it again while we still can.
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