Image Index

Kevin, Shaun, and others with destination in the background. Kevin, Shaun, and others with destination in the background.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
Looking at the route. Looking at the route.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
From Glacier Basin, looking at the Wedge, the steep snow field we'll climb to Schurman. From Glacier Basin, looking at the Wedge, the steep snow field we'll climb to Schurman.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
AoA just got steeper, but we're still smiling (Shaun here). AoA just got steeper, but we're still smiling (Shaun here).
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
Another shot of the Wedge. Those tiny dots are people. The viewable slope is a little under 3,000 feet of elevation gain, starting about 6,000. Another shot of the Wedge. Those tiny dots are people. The viewable slope is a little under 3,000 feet of elevation gain, starting about 6,000.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
Almost to the glacier. Note the guy in the back with the "oh shit, we're going up that??!" look. Almost to the glacier. Note the guy in the back with the "oh shit, we're going up that??!" look.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
Kevin Brennan and Green Beret (name?) getting off dirt and onto glacier at the base of the Wedge. Kevin Brennan and Green Beret (name?) getting off dirt and onto glacier at the base of the Wedge.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
Here we go.... Here we go....
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
About 1/3 of the way up. It's tough to get a good picture of the slope, but see how Green Beret Medic is using his axe. He's not hunched over; the slope is that steep. About 1/3 of the way up. It's tough to get a good picture of the slope, but see how Green Beret Medic is using his axe. He's not hunched over; the slope is that steep.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
Doesn't that look like fun? Doesn't that look like fun?
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
Still going. It took us about 2 hours to climb this slope, if I recall. Still going. It took us about 2 hours to climb this slope, if I recall.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
We're working hard. No crevasses though, so that makes it easier - don't have to climb with ropes. We're working hard. No crevasses though, so that makes it easier - don't have to climb with ropes.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
Resting at the top of the Wedge. You can see the trail on the left that curls around to Camp Schurman. Resting at the top of the Wedge. You can see the trail on the left that curls around to Camp Schurman.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
Kevin Brennan just about to Camp Schurman. Kevin Brennan just about to Camp Schurman.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
Again. Again.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
Yeehaw! Let's set up camp and melt some water. Note the ranger in the background flying the kite. Yeehaw! Let's set up camp and melt some water. Note the ranger in the background flying the kite.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
I was definite water boy on this trip. Try rehydrating, water for dinner, and refilling water bottles for three. I had dual stoves going. I was definite water boy on this trip. Try rehydrating, water for dinner, and refilling water bottles for three. I had dual stoves going.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
Me in profile. Ain't I sexy? Me in profile. Ain't I sexy?
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
Prepping the rope for the next day. Note that prussiks are already on the rope; we're prepared. Prepping the rope for the next day. Note that prussiks are already on the rope; we're prepared.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
Enjoying the last bit of sun before it disappears behind the ridge. Enjoying the last bit of sun before it disappears behind the ridge.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
After a 1:45am departure, this is about 3am, elevation probably 10,500 feet. It's balmy; I threw on the down because we were resting; while hiking I was wearing a medium capiline long sleeve shirt and that's it. After a 1:45am departure, this is about 3am, elevation probably 10,500 feet. It's balmy; I threw on the down because we were resting; while hiking I was wearing a medium capiline long sleeve shirt and that's it.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
Brennan. Does he look jazzed or what? Those streamers are wands. Brennan. Does he look jazzed or what? Those streamers are wands.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
About 4:30, looking at the sunrise and messing with exposure time. 1 of 3 attempts. About 4:30, looking at the sunrise and messing with exposure time. 1 of 3 attempts.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
2 of 3. Climber is Kevin Brennan. 2 of 3. Climber is Kevin Brennan.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
3 of 3. This one came out best. The sunrise was marvelous... 3 of 3. This one came out best. The sunrise was marvelous...
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
Summit! We arrived about 6:30, which gave us a Schurman to Summit time of 5:45, which is pretty damn fast. You can see it's beautiful conditions. Summit! We arrived about 6:30, which gave us a Schurman to Summit time of 5:45, which is pretty damn fast. You can see it's beautiful conditions.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
Victory photo! It was blowing hard though. Myself, Kevin Brennan, and Bryan Boots. Team Colorado! Victory photo! It was blowing hard though. Myself, Kevin Brennan, and Bryan Boots. Team Colorado!
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
It actually was pretty cold at the top - the wind was blowing hard! Here we are at a small outcropping where the summit register is. Dirt is getting blown around our glasses into our eyes from the wind. Kinda sucked. It actually was pretty cold at the top - the wind was blowing hard! Here we are at a small outcropping where the summit register is. Dirt is getting blown around our glasses into our eyes from the wind. Kinda sucked.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
Meeting up with team Big Green on our descent. Here's Don, the psyops guy. They're a rope team of 4. Kevin's brother was with this group, so Kevin joined up with them and Bryan and I continued. Meeting up with team Big Green on our descent. Here's Don, the psyops guy. They're a rope team of 4. Kevin's brother was with this group, so Kevin joined up with them and Bryan and I continued.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
Boots and I descending to Schurman, about 13,000 feet right now. Boots and I descending to Schurman, about 13,000 feet right now.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
1:45 from summit back to camp. We were the last team to start, and the first team to return, thanks to agressive glissading - yeehaw! 1:45 from summit back to camp. We were the last team to start, and the first team to return, thanks to agressive glissading - yeehaw!
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
We're a little beat and hot, and want to get in the tent and drink water. We're a little beat and hot, and want to get in the tent and drink water.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
We get in our tent.... but where are the other two for our group??? Well there's one... We get in our tent.... but where are the other two for our group??? Well there's one...
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
Bryan going down to recover tent #1. Bryan going down to recover tent #1.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
We decided to wait to recover tent #2. Everybody's checking out where the tent is. Curious? We decided to wait to recover tent #2. Everybody's checking out where the tent is. Curious?
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
This is a good hint. This is a good hint.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
You can see how this was highly entertaining. Note the teamster postures from Shaun and Bryan. You can see how this was highly entertaining. Note the teamster postures from Shaun and Bryan.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
Don about 60 feet down, tying the tent on to the rope. Don about 60 feet down, tying the tent on to the rope.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
The entire operation took about 1 1/2 hours.... a lot longer than it should have. But I think everyone was moving slow, since after we retrieved the tent it meant we had to do the hike out. Ugh! The entire operation took about 1 1/2 hours.... a lot longer than it should have. But I think everyone was moving slow, since after we retrieved the tent it meant we had to do the hike out. Ugh!
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
Don working below, teamsters above. Don working below, teamsters above.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
It really was a pretty sweet crevasse... It really was a pretty sweet crevasse...
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
Almost there. Almost there.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
Prussiking + z pulley + 4 guys = rope cutting through the snow + Don doing the same. Prussiking + z pulley + 4 guys = rope cutting through the snow + Don doing the same.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
You can see how far the rope's cut through the edge. It was not graceful. You can see how far the rope's cut through the edge. It was not graceful.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
He made it! He made it!
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
ok, take 2, now gotta drag the tent up. ok, take 2, now gotta drag the tent up.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
Even though it rolled 300 yards and fell 60 feet while having sleeping bags, pads, and stoves in it, it's in pretty dang good shape. One tear. Even though it rolled 300 yards and fell 60 feet while having sleeping bags, pads, and stoves in it, it's in pretty dang good shape. One tear.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
After packing up, time for the long descent down the Wedge. Only this time, it was not long - it was fast. Everyone slid on their butts - I was wearing shorts, so I couldn't, so I glissaded another 3000 feet. My quads were getting a little tired. Plus, at this slope, sometimes I couldn't stop even when I wanted to! Here's Shaun joining us. After packing up, time for the long descent down the Wedge. Only this time, it was not long - it was fast. Everyone slid on their butts - I was wearing shorts, so I couldn't, so I glissaded another 3000 feet. My quads were getting a little tired. Plus, at this slope, sometimes I couldn't stop even when I wanted to! Here's Shaun joining us.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
It was a great trip, and we made really good time. Typically that route is done in 3 days, and summit day takes a lot longer. So I was pretty happy with that. This is just my role of photos, I'll try and scan the other guys' photos and add them here to fill out the story. It was a great trip, and we made really good time. Typically that route is done in 3 days, and summit day takes a lot longer. So I was pretty happy with that. This is just my role of photos, I'll try and scan the other guys' photos and add them here to fill out the story.
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Myke Komarnitsky
Copyright 2002 Myke Komarnitsky