mount rainier

Veteran Mountain Guide Becomes First Person to Summit Mount Rainier, WA, 600 Times in New World Record

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Mountain guide Brent Okita reached the summit of Mount Rainier for the 600th time on Friday, setting a new world record for the most ascents of Washington’s highest peak, according to RMI Expeditions. At 64 years old, Okita is now the only person known to have climbed the 14,410-foot mountain that many times. A professional guide since 1986, he completed […]
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Martin Kuprianowicz |
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Closure of 103 Year Old Failing Bridge Cuts Off Access to Mount Rainier, WA

Visitors to Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, will have one less entrance to choose from for the foreseeable future. On April 14, 2025, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) permanently closed the Carbon River Fairfax Bridge located on State Route 165. The 494 foot bridge, first opened in 1921, has been closed following a recent inspection because of concerns […]
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Zach Armstrong |
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Mount Rainier National Park, WA, Urges Visitors to Be Prepared for Winter Weather

Park staff conducted multiple March search and rescue operations in challenging conditions. Park rangers at Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, are encouraging visitors to review current weather forecasts and guidance for a safe and enjoyable visit. Longer days and rising temperatures can be misleading when planning a trip to higher elevations. For example, the park’s popular Paradise area sits at […]
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SnowBrains Podcast Ep. 80 | Anna DeMonte – Ski Mountaineer & Mont Blanc Women’s Ski FKT Record Holder

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This episode of the SnowBrains podcast is brought to you by Club Med. Anna DeMonte is a ski mountaineering athlete who, in June 2024, captured the Women’s Ski Fastest Known Time (FKT) on 15,766′ Mont Blanc in Chamonix, France. 9,000′ vertical backcountry days are normal for her, and recently, she has been averaging over 25,000′ of human-powered vertical a week. The […]
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Podcast |
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Heavy Snow and Avalanche Danger Force Closure of 2 Mountain Passes in Mount Rainier National Park, WA

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MOUNT RAINIER – State Routes 410 and 123, including Chinook Pass and Cayuse Pass within Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, will remain closed for the season due to heavy snowfall and avalanche danger. The Washington State Department of Transportation temporarily closed both passes on October 31 for the safety of maintenance crews and travelers as road conditions deteriorated and the […]
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The 5 Deadliest Mountains in the U.S.

Compared globally, mountains in the United States are often not considered particularly dangerous. Many of the peaks in the U.S. are considered dangerous because they are heavily trafficked, often by inexperienced climbers. Since these peaks aren’t ‘Himalayan-big,’ they can often be underestimated. Here’s a list of the five most dangerous mountains in the U.S. and what makes them so dangerous. […]
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Kiley Chrisman |
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Mount Rainier National Park, WA, Expands Winter Recreational Access for the 2023/2024 Season

Mount Rainier National Park in Washington announced updates today to the winter 2023-24 recreation access schedule. Beginning November 15, the park will expand winter public vehicle access to the Paradise area to five days per week on a Thursday through Monday schedule. Related: 78-Year-Old Mountaineer Becomes Oldest Woman to Summit Mount Rainier The park has increased and reorganized staff and […]
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Mount Rainier Eruption Could Wipe Out Nearby Cities – With Mud

According to National Geographic, Mount Rainier might be the most dangerous volcano in the US. The volcano is often overshadowed by Yellowstone’s “supervolcano” hype, or by its neighbor, Mount St. Helens, which erupted in 1980. While an eruption at Yellowstone has the potential to be catastrophic, a major eruption hasn’t happened in 630,000 years and might not even happen again. And while […]
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Tanner Blake |
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It’s Mid-June and Mount Rainier, WA, Has a Current Snow-Base Depth of 10 Feet—154% of Average

Paradise, Mount Rainier’s primary winter-use area, is still sitting pretty with a base depth of 10 feet, or 119.8″. Whoa! View this post on Instagram A post shared by SnowBrains (@snowbrains) The snowpack at Paradise decreased by 5.2″ from last Friday’s measurement. Here are the current stats, according to the National Park Service: Current Snow Depth: 119.8″ (9.9’) Average Snow […]
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2nd Family of Wolverines Documented at Mount Rainier National Park, WA

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Mount Rainier National Park, WA, and Cascades Carnivore Project are pleased to confirm a second litter of wolverine offspring (called kits) has been born in the park. This is only the third wolverine family documented in Washington’s South Cascades in a century and the second family documented in Mount Rainier National Park. Researchers retrieved photographs and video from cameras set […]
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Rangers Recover Bodies of 2 Climbers With Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wounds From Mount Rainier, WA

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On Sunday rangers at Mount Rainier National Park, WA recovered the bodies of two deceased individuals from Tolmie Peak, in the northwest corner of the park. The bodies were discovered on Saturday, October 31 by hikers. An investigation, while ongoing, suggests the individuals are deceased from apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds that occurred during the previous few days. Related: Search Resumes […]
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CragBrains |
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Hiker Dies, Partner Rescued After Getting Caught in Whiteout on Mount Rainier, WA

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Rangers at Mount Rainier National Park, WA assisted by Mountain Rescue volunteers, rescued a hiker in distress yesterday afternoon on the Muir Snowfield in white-out snow conditions. Her companion, unfortunately, was found deceased and was recovered from the mountain today. At 10 am on Wednesday, September 23, rangers were forwarded a 911 cell phone call from a woman, visiting from Virginia, who reported that she and her hiking […]
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CragBrains |
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Skier Missing Since Friday on Mount Rainier, WA is Believed to Have Fallen From Treacherous Liberty Ridge

A search is underway for a man missing since Friday on Liberty Ridge, on the north side of Mount Rainier, WA. The incident brings the number of people missing on Mount Rainier to three after two others went missing in separate incidents last week. Matthew Bunker, of Seattle, was reported missing by the other member of his party at 3:00 pm […]
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CragBrains |
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2 Separate Major Searches Underway for Hikers Missing For Days on Mount Rainier, WA

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Major search operations will continue today on Mount Rainier, WA for missing hikers Vincent Djie in the Longmire area and Talal Sabbagh at Paradise. 55 personnel combined between the two incidents yesterday. Vicent Djie, 25, was last seen Friday hiking the Van Trump Trail toward Mildred Point, says Patti Wold with Mt. Rainier National Park. Djie had been spotted earlier on […]
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CragBrains |
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