Home » Travel » Washington State » Mt. Rainier Climb - Part II - Carolyn Power Tells All

Mt. Rainier Climb - Part II - Carolyn Power Tells All

© Jerri Brooker

I continue to interview Carolyn Power about her climb up Mt. Rainier.

Jerri Brooker: At what point on the mountain did you start climbing new territory?

Carolyn Power: We started climbing new territory at about 1 a.m. in the morning, August 20, when we left Camp Muir. By the way, this time was also the first time we had equipment on besides when we took our climbing class to train for the summer attempt. We now had harnesses on and our plastic boots were attached to crampons. Our heads carried helmets with headlamps as well. I didn't like that helmet. It felt like ten pounds was sitting on top of my head and it constantly reminded me it was there, like a toothache.

Under the brilliant moon and stars you step onto a shadowing glacier, matching your rope partners step-for-step. My heart was pumping equal parts of apprehension and adrenaline to the ends of my fingers and toes. All I could hear was the sound of my boots shattering thousands of crystals .

This is where we had to step or jump over crevasses. At one point I could see one coming up to me because my headlamp shone right into it. As I lowered my head I could see it was very,very deep. I stopped and my lead rope guide, Phursumba, said, "What's wrong, Carolyn?"

I replied, "How in the world am I ever going to get over that? No way, Phursumba, no way!" He said to me, "Jump, Carolyn, jump," and with a quick jerk of the rope he was pulling me over. As I stood there I turned around and saw what I had just done. I looked further down and saw my team buddy, Peggy and she said, "What's wrong, Carolyn?" I said, "Just jump, Peggy, just jump!"

My rope tugged and as I took steps forward I was being pulled backwards. I turned and saw her actually where I was before, so I pulled my rope and I guess that helped her over 'cause the rope was now loose. I chuckle to myself wondering her thoughts and feelings as she came across the crevasse.

We had only seen the crevasses from a distance. Now we were jumping over them. The area we now saw is known as the Cowlitz Glacier. Far ahead of us the climbers were ascending up to Cathedral Rocks, which is a gap between the Cowlitz Glacier and the Ingraham Glacier. They looked like Christmas tree lights going up this great mountain.