The last day! Hard to believe it was time to leave, but at the same time I think everyone was ready for a little civilization! Again the insistent beeping of watch and travel alarms roused everyone from the tents at 5:30am, just as daylight was gathering strength. After a brief oatmeal/granola breakfast, it was time to break down camp, get everything stowed and head back to civilization. Once again we roped up and were off towards Camp Schurman by 6:30. It was already warm, but some high thin clouds kept the intensity of the sun down a bit.

The stop at Camp Schurman was brief...long enough for those who needed it to use the bathroom (oh yeah!) and then it was back down the Emmons Glacier, over the lip of the Wedge and onto the Inter Glacier. We kept a brisk pace going, stopping only a couple times for food & water. There were a number of chances for glissading near the end of the Inter Glacier, and we finally un-roped and everyone picked their favorite descent method...some standing glissades, some sitting, and a few plunge-steppers. I personally chose the seated-glissade option, and dropped the last thousand feet or so of the glacier in no time flat. I'll take that method of losing altitude any day!

Finally, one last break at the head of Glacier Basin to shed layers and grab a snack, and then it was off down the trail. After a long trek like this one, the well-kept Glacier Basin trail was a joy to return to. The group made excellent time and the first plastic mountaineering boot smacked the pavement of the White River Campground parking lot right about 11:30am. Just a couple more chores left...seperate out the AAI group gear & repack our own, then change into some fresh clothes. Aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh! After 4 days of heavy boots, it doesn't get any better than a pair of Tevas!

Most of the group (me included) caught a few serious zzzz's as we drove out of Rainier National Park, and roused ourselves long enough for a lunch break in Enumclaw. Then it was back to Seattle, through the traffic snarls and slightly crazed drivers. At the AAI offices we all exchaged handshakes and email addresses - a couple of folks even making plans for their next climb! Finally, it was time to go. With only slightly sore shoulders I hoisted my full pack one last time, and plodded down the street to my waiting hotel, which happened to come equipped with my very own wife, who had flown up the day before. I had one rest day then the two of us were off for a 3-day hike in the North Cascades...but that's another story!

So what can I say in closing? Rainier is certainly not "just another fourteener". For those of you who have conquered the Colorado fourteeners, go give Rainier a try - it's a different world. The starts are lower in elevation, the climbs are steep, and of course there are the endless miles of glacial snow and ice to contend with. This will be a climb I'll remember for the rest of my life, certainly - between the climb itself and the climbers I kept company with for 4 days, it's an unsurpassed experience.