Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Why we chose Kautz

Why did we choose the Kautz route? A couple of reasons. First and foremost we have chosen to hike with Alpine Ascents (http://www.alpineascents.com/). More on these guys later. Of the hikes Alpine Ascents offers, the Kautz route is more difficult than the others. Considered an intermediate route, our crew wanted to expand our skills and challenge ourselves to something more difficult.

The second reason has to do with our desire to expand our experience. A summary of our group's experience to date (plus or minus):
  • 4-day Basic + Advanced Mountaineering Course (Glacier Travel & Crevasse Rescue) through Sierra Wilderness Seminars (Shasta)
  • 4-day Review Course and summit via Bolum-Hotlum route through Sierra Wilderness Seminars (Shasta)
  • 3-day self-guided AT approach, summit, and ski descent via Bolum-Hotlum route (Shasta)
  • AIARE Level 1 Avalanche Certification (Alpine Skills International, Tahoe)
  • Moderate backounty AT travel (Tahoe)
  • Extensive downhill skiing
  • 3-day ice-climbing course (planned early 2008, Tahoe)
  • Extensive backcountry backpacking

Based on our experience, we wanted to really get into something where we could use our skills. Examples would be to gain significant team rope-travel, fixed line travel, ice climbing, high-camp settlement, and glacier route finding. To date, the Shasta ascents gave us some good steep work, but not the more technical aspects of Rainier, and the Kautz route.

If you are interested, details on the trip (route, gear required, background, etc.) is located here: http://www.alpineascents.com/rainier-climb-kautz-info.asp

So, as you can see, based on our choice of guides and desire to work our skills, the Kautz route was the way to do. We've placed our reservations for the June 30th-July 3rd date, hopefully the snow will still be good at that time (it is the last date offered for this route).

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