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Josh Journey
a.k.a Josh Lewis



Joined: 01 Nov 2007
Posts: 4830 | TRs | Pics
Josh Journey
a.k.a Josh Lewis
PostSun Apr 26, 2009 4:19 pm 
This was one of the most intense hikes I have ever been on, on a normal day it's just a simple walk across the Muir snowfield to the Camp, but in a while out, it's not so simple. The idea came about April 23 on Thursday when I really wanted to get out. Unfortunatly we could'nt leave early Friday because of a lot of problems that came up which included my brother Michael's college. Unfortunatly on the way there he sorta spraint his ankle. This really worried me because it could have blown my chance to go to Camp Muir. Fortunatly it did'nt. The main part of the trip takes place on April 25, 2009.
Mount Rainier During Evening
Mount Rainier During Evening
Lake View on the Way
Lake View on the Way
Our Map
Our Map
We had a late start out, around 5 or so in the afternoon. Our first intentions were to spend the night at the camp, but a broken tent would'nt do, especially being 10,000 feet on Mount Rainier. We were worried about the Ranger's closing the gate to Mount Rainier National Park, but fortunatly it was open (which it is pretty much always). Unfortunatly our golden pass was missing so we had to pay like everyone else. On the way we stopped to get a shot of Rainier which reminded me of K2. The gate at Longmire was closed at night so we had to sleep in a parkinglot which was ok, but which meant no early start. Around 5:50 in the morning I woke up to great weather, but the gate was still closed so we woke up again around 8 and it was, but the bad part was the weather was turning on us. I encouraged my brother to going to Paridise (which is the trailhead to many hikes at Rainier including Camp Muir) telling him we could always do an easy hike. Of coarse that was'nt what I was acually hoping for. When we got there it was snowing and very cloudy which was worry some to my plans, but the osat group came and my brother agreed with going to Camp Muir.
Good Road Conditions
Good Road Conditions
Deer on the Way
Deer on the Way
Snow Hill near the Parkinglot
Snow Hill near the Parkinglot
Bad Weather to Start in
Bad Weather to Start in
Rainier Zoomed Out
Rainier Zoomed Out
We started off on a diffrent trail than the original or last time we went here. We followed some snow prints with a few hikers and at first it was nice and easy, but soon it got steep. It was a bit steeper than I remembered it, obviously it was not the real trail, but it would have to work. We did'nt bring our snowshoes which fortunatly we did'nt because it would have been dead weight, and the snow was icy and I started to have to use my ice axe. We later got away from the woods and walked into what I call the unkown because it was a white out. White was pretty much all we could see, perhaps a slight shadow of foot prints which even those were not very visible. Most people would have turned around at this point, but we were ambisious to make it! The only way we had a clue were we were going was by following the very faint grey color of ridges through the fog. The fog looked so much like snow that at one point there was a huge snow ridge in front of us that I had to be right in front of it to notice it, before it looked like the rest of the fog. At one point I heard voices which I yelled "Are you guys on the trail" and they yelled yes, so I followed and went down hill until I realized they were going back. The fog was so intense that the only way I was able to know were I was is because of my foot prints which the wind and snow were slowly making disappear. The thought came back again, "why do I get myself into these situations" but it's because I need excitment in my life, to live a life without anything is not really living a good life. Although this was probably a little extreme, but hey what can I say, mountains are just too much fun.
Panorama Point View
Panorama Point View
Getting Snowed On (Me)
Getting Snowed On (Me)
Enjoying a Snack (Michael)
Enjoying a Snack (Michael)
I caught up with my brother and we followed the ridge until we got to Panorama Point, which was a panorama of fog and snow and rock. We took a break and ate some food and drink, and by this point my hair was frozen. When looking at the plants, it's amazing how they survive such an intense enviroment of snow, wind, cold, and lack of sun. As we started back up we got to a point were there were two ridges. "Uhmmmmmm which one?" So fortuantly my brother made a good call to pick the one on the right. You might think were you guys using a map? We had one, but it does'nt do as much good when you can't see much, but it did help us a bit at places. Even to this moment I am unsure if we ended up on the Paridise Glacier or if we were on a snowfield on the right side of the ridge. As we kept going up the ridges there is a clear spot which then the summit of Rainier is visible. This brings much hope to us but then it gets foggy again.
Rainier through the Fog
Rainier through the Fog
Clearing Up More
Clearing Up More
After a few minutes in the fog it clears up again, but this time it's for real! I could see Rainier in it's beautiful wonders, although to be honest it was'nt as snowy as I expected, but all the wind it gets up there much be part of the reason for that. The clouds above kept swirling and mini clouds kept passing over us creating interesting shadows. One thing I learned during this part of the trip is that if you take your time going up to 10,000 feet, it makes a big diffrence when it comes to altitude sickness. I'm not saying we took our time because we had to get down before they closed the gate again. There are in some cases were altitude sickness is unavoidable but having strong lungs help. Even though I have asma, the altitude did'nt have much effect on me, perhaps this is because I go on runs at home, last time I was here we went fast up and had some major effects on me. When nearing Camp Muir, someone who was passing me asked me if I was going to Cathedral Rock which you have to pass the Cowlitz glacier which I had no ropes but gave it some thought. The clouds kept chasing us up, the higher I went, the higher the clouds went, but fortunatly I eventually got past the clouds. I decided to put on my sunglasses which hurt because my hair was frozen so I had to crumble off some of it to get them on. When we got to Camp Muir we ate and drank and rested. We caught sight of a small bird which we threw a banana chip and it dove after it. I never knew birds flew up here, especially at this time of year, because it is far from any forest or tree's.
Niaqually Ice Shelf
Niaqually Ice Shelf
Rainier in View
Rainier in View
Having a nummy Snack
Having a nummy Snack
Bird on Snow
Bird on Snow
Camps at Camp Muir
Camps at Camp Muir
Little Tahoma
Little Tahoma
Hungry Bird
Hungry Bird
Other Part of Camp Muir
Other Part of Camp Muir
Black and White Serac
Black and White Serac
Serac
Serac
We did it Buddy (Me Right, Michael Left)
We did it Buddy (Me Right, Michael Left)
When I felt energized again the guys that passed me were going to cross the glacier to Cathedral Rock, he was without rope. He told me it was fine to cross the Cowlitz Glacier even without a rope and they offered me to come along with them. "Well how could I decline such a wonderful offer" I thought to myself. In the mountaineer's it's against Mountaineering protocal to go on a glacier unroped, but the upper part of the Cowlitz Glacier was in a sense like the Muir snowfield. The Muir snowfield is like a friendlier version of a glacier, in late season there's crevasses in both. Michael was'nt to happy with the idea, but he could tell I would be disapointed if I could'nt go. At first I was a bit nervous going on a glacier for my first time, especially unroped, but the two climber guys were in front of me. All they had were a pair of spiky snowshoes and ski polls, and they shared back and forth a pair of ski goggles. Halfway across the glacier to be honest was a lot more beautiful than Camp Muir, it had a very mountainous look to it, but I noticed there were lots of rocks from rock falls around the glacier. It started to become icy at one point, I forgot my crampons from home which were to be used to Camp Muir. I was a bit nervous because a ways down the glacier indeed had crevasses. At the time I did'nt notice the ones above me as well and I had to ice axe arrest to safer snow below. One of the climbers turned around, and recommend I do to due to steep ice above, but I wanted to go further. It started getting icyer and my brother came on to the Glacier as well and told the other climber guy something and he yelled for me to come back, which I did. Michael said he saw a boulder come flying down from the steep place I wanted to go to, which was a good call. It was most certainly worth going across, although perhaps a little bit dangerous.
Mountain through the Fog
Mountain through the Fog
Ectoosh Range
Ectoosh Range
Heading Down
Heading Down
Above The Clouds
Above The Clouds
Above Camp Muir
Above Camp Muir
Above the Cowlitz Glacier
Above the Cowlitz Glacier
Camp Muir
Camp Muir
Cowlitz Glacier
Cowlitz Glacier
Muir Snowfield
Muir Snowfield
I had some nice conversation with the climber on the way down, his buddy went further up and later told me it was even better up there. At Camp Muir we gathered up our gear, took a few photo's and got ready for the decent. The decent ended up being more worry some than the ascent. As we were going down, we could see that the storm was bigger than it was before and we went once again into the thick fog. We got to glassade a little bit, but was'nt as good as we hoped. There were some problems, not only would we have to stay near the ridge so that we did'nt end up lost on some glacier, but at many parts the snow was hard and bumpy. At first the way down was easy to navigate and follow the Muir Snowfield but then got harder as the Muir snowfield ended. We got up onto the ridge to stay safer and followed tracks but at one point the foot prints lead to a steep down hill which did not seem right. At first we were gonna go right which fortunatly as we were going down we changed our mind because it is possible that it would have ended up on the Nisqually Glacier. I started saying some prayers that we would be able to get down safe and know the way. I believe those prayers were really answered that day because we had much difficulty navigating the ridge. At one point it was questionable to even ice axe arrest down so I climbed up on some steep rock on the ridge. My brother went around the ridge on the snow and started going up hill. I was quite worried because gripping the rock was hard because I got caught between a plant but managed to get over it and climb over the rocks, falling could have been quite serious at this part. After going up a ways then I had to climb down the rocky ridge which there was an ice shoot if I fell.
Hiking Down onto another Ridge
Hiking Down onto another Ridge
We went down to the left of the ridge and ended up at Panorama Point, what luck! After Panorama Point once again we became lost again. I kept hearing voices, by this point I was tired and I could'nt tell if it was a hallucination or the wind or perhaps if it was real. As we waited for another clearing we saw faintly some trees with a ridge. This excited us, we had to carefully get down to it, and then we found some foot prints. We followed these until it got to a steep part again which was questionable. We went down the hill on the right, which at first I was worried because it looked like the hill would go down into the Nisqually Glacier, but fortunatly it was the right way. The snow tracks were extremely hard for me to see at one point and I was left on a steep hill by myself, until my brother came back and told me that it was safe to glassade down. On the way down I did not turn my head away while ice axe arresting and hit my nose with my axe. Fortunatly it was'nt too bad, but it hurt. We came up onto another ridge and as I was walking it was so white, I almost walked off a cliff and stopped about two feet from what might have been a cornice cliff.
Finding Another Ridge
Finding Another Ridge
I heard the osat group coming which from here they helped guide the rest of the way down, we almost took another wrong turn with the group but fortunatly knew better. We almost took a "wrong turn" which would end up at the same place, but we did'nt want to upset the osat group. When we saw the parkinglot, I could hardly believe it! On the way home we saw a fox and a racoon, and I had one of the best milkshakes I have ever heard. To me this trip was worth it, even though it was tough, worry some, and now painful. I got a terrible sunburn or as my mother calls it sun poison, it hurts to eat because of my lips being hurnt, I can't touch my face because it is so swollen and sun burnt. Also I have this nasty blister which I believe not only was this cuased from sun but also wind and cold. Anyone going to Camp Muir, be careful of whiteouts and know the route before you go here. This trip was just what I needed, an adventure!
Fox
Fox
Mountain on the way Home
Mountain on the way Home
My Face swelled Up
My Face swelled Up

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Magellan
Brutally Handsome



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Magellan
Brutally Handsome
PostSun Apr 26, 2009 4:29 pm 
bricks.gif

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bobbi
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bobbi
stillaGUAMish
PostSun Apr 26, 2009 5:00 pm 
josh shakehead.gif josh shakehead.gif josh shakehead.gif

bobbi ૐ "Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So…get on your way!" - Oh, the Places You’ll Go! By Dr. Seuss
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naturealbeing
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PostSun Apr 26, 2009 5:02 pm 
Josh, Are your parents aware of what's been going on during your trips? Are they reading your posts here?

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Josh Journey
a.k.a Josh Lewis



Joined: 01 Nov 2007
Posts: 4830 | TRs | Pics
Josh Journey
a.k.a Josh Lewis
PostSun Apr 26, 2009 5:09 pm 
naturealbeing wrote:
Josh, Are your parents aware of what's been going on during your trips? Are they reading your posts here?
Yes and no. Yes they know it was a bit crazy, but my mom's often to busy to read my trip reports.

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Hikingqueen
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PostSun Apr 26, 2009 5:32 pm 
Yikes, glad you two made it out okay. I would not have started that late, but sounds like you learned from the trip?

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Scrooge
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Scrooge
Famous Grouse
PostSun Apr 26, 2009 5:36 pm 
Okay. Now I know why everybody tries so hard.

Something lost behind the ranges. Lost and waiting for you....... Go and find it. Go!
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klock
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PostSun Apr 26, 2009 5:45 pm 
You know you did well, and were safe when your face swells up, and orange puss seeps out of your cheeks.

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Josh Journey
a.k.a Josh Lewis



Joined: 01 Nov 2007
Posts: 4830 | TRs | Pics
Josh Journey
a.k.a Josh Lewis
PostSun Apr 26, 2009 5:46 pm 
janwalker wrote:
Yikes, glad you two made it out okay. I would not have started that late, but sounds like you learned from the trip?
Yes, to wear sun screen even if it's cheap sun screen, wear a hat or mask if it's windy a lot, even if I'm not cold. The starting late was because of the ranger. rant.gif

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Post-It Not
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PostSun Apr 26, 2009 5:54 pm 

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naturealbeing
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PostSun Apr 26, 2009 6:01 pm 
Josh wrote:
naturealbeing wrote:
Josh, Are your parents aware of what's been going on during your trips? Are they reading your posts here?
Yes and no. Yes they know it was a bit crazy, but my mom's often to busy to read my trip reports.
Josh, I trust that you are giving me an honest answer to my questions and I thank you for that. What I want you to know, is that I care about your health and well being and from what I've been reading lately causes me much concern. Because you are an adolescence your parents are responsible for you health and well being, they should be made aware of your activities and support you in a manor that protects you from high risk activities. What you are doing is placing yourself in dangerous situations that you have no business in. Time and time again many people of this forum have given you great advice and it seems to go in one ear and out the other. As far as I can tell from following your posts, your not practicing what people have been sharing with you. In regards to your comment "but my mom's often to busy to read my reports" she really needs to find the time if she truly Loves and cares about your well being and safety. I want you to do something for me, I want you to have your Mother read this report and have you report back with her feedback. Don't sugar coat it, just state the facts. What I really want to know is that she is totally aware of what you're up to and that she is okay with this kind of unsupervised activity? Peace, Richard

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Hoosierdaddy
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Hoosierdaddy
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PostSun Apr 26, 2009 8:04 pm 
Josh, I've watched with some enthusiasm from the sidelines of you asking questions...good, intelligent questions...about hiking and the outdoors and you've seemed to grasp and usually understand the answers I think. In fact, you kind of remind me of myself wanting to always know more about the wilderness when I was much younger. With early learning and basic knowledge, comes a desire to push the envelope a little and I understand that. However, and I'll not sugar coat this; I believe you placed youself square in the face of death on this trip. Did you have a compass, GPS, map, adequate winter gear? From your photos and TR, I don't think so and you relied mainly on previous tracks in the snow for direction. I really don't mean to hammer on you, and honestly hope you'll learn from the experience, gain knowledge and be able to safely push that envelope in the future...but Muir (And especially the glaciers!) is not a place to be under prepared and go to on a whim. Be safe. Edit: Josh, please, before you attempt any more trips such as this, go and get some formal training.

God, I am going to regret this someday!
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the Zachster
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PostSun Apr 26, 2009 8:33 pm 
Josh, you're really starting to scare me now. I have held back over that past few months because everyone else has so clearly answered your questions and tried to support you in your mountaineering efforts. But it is so hard to sit here and read this without saying something, so here I go... You are lucky and blessed to live another day to climb another mountain perhaps. But don't go thinking that "HA! I survived this adrenaline pumping trip. I must have done something right" You did not. I applaud your honesty and openness in your report but it reads like a comedy of errors. I fear that your love of the mountains has become an obsession that blinds you when it comes to making good sound and safe decisions. And you are so young to be making these decisions by yourself. Please allow your Mom to be a part of your decision making and let her know what you are doing. Please find a mentor, an experienced climber to go out with. Please understand that we don't want to hear about you on the evening news...

"May I always be the kind of person my dog thinks I am"
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huron
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PostSun Apr 26, 2009 8:38 pm 
I remember that Camp Muir sunburn! You only do that once. Notice modifications. (SPF1000 in pocket not shown)
I AM smiling!
I AM smiling!

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BirdDog
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PostSun Apr 26, 2009 9:03 pm 
Josh; Congrats on an interesting TR. Nice pics and video. But let's think about this a minute. You're on the Cowlitz Glacier and see open crevasses below you and above you. What makes you think there is not one underneath you? Are you aware that most crevasses at this time of year are still covered with snow. Soft snow only a foot or so deep, something you could very easily punch through. What would your brother have done if he saw you fall into a crevasse? What would you do wedged against walls of ice 30' below the surface and shivering uncontrollably? I'm sure your mother would pay attention when climbing rangers call and tell her you are dead. You have accomplished a lot for your age so far. Tread carefully to make sure your next trip is not your last. Don't mean to rag on you, but your treading on thin ice. Be safe!

"There can be no greater issue than that of conservation in this country." Teddy Roosevelt August 6, 1912
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