Two Decades in the Making: My Mt. Rainier Adventure in Grit, Gratitude and Quiet Moments

On July 18th, just after 6:00 AM, I stood at the summit of Mt. Rainier.

At 14,410 feet above sea level, my body chilled. The air was thin. And every part of my body felt the weight of the climb. But damn, what an adventure it was getting to the top.

I had just completed a 4-day guided climb with RMI, a guiding outfit that runs like a well-oiled machine. Their guides were steady, skilled, and calm in the face of terrain that doesn’t forgive carelessness. They prioritized safety over the summit. What they taught us wasn’t just mountaineering, but also preparation, patience, and presence.

The Breakdown: One Day at a Time

Day 1: Orientation
You show up thinking about the summit. They make sure you have the right gear to make it to the top.

Day 2: Mountaineering School
Pressure breathing. Rest stepping. Ice axe arrests. The little things that become everything at on the mountain.

Day 3: The Ascent to Camp Muir
Up to ~10,000 feet with a heavy pack. The start of the real work. A mix of nerves, excitement, and a heavy awareness that you’re entering a different world.

Day 4: The Push
We went to bed at 5:00 PM and started the ascent at 11:30 PM. Our packs were stripped to the essentials: food, water, helmet, avalanche beacon, glacier glasses, ice axe, layers upon layers. We strapped on our gear, turned on our headlamps, and stepped into the dark. 

Each step forward was deliberate.
Each breath, a small battle against altitude.
Each rope team, bound not just by gear and trust.

We crossed crevasses and icy ledges, used our axes for anchors, and moved with the slow discipline Rainier demands. We were racing the sun, knowing that melting ice can turn technical passages into risk zones.

It was brutal.
It was beautiful.

And when we stood at the top, it was everything.

That kind of beauty can only be earned.

The Descent

Making our way 9,000 feet down to Sunrise required its own strategy and endurance. The summit might be what we came for, but it's only the halfway point. The legs get heavy. The adrenaline fades. But the mountain doesn’t care. It keeps asking for your attention. Your energy. Your humility.

Once we got to base camp, the packs got heavy again, but the mood lightens. We sought out glissading tracks and slid our way back to Sunrise.

When we finally made it back to our cabin, exhausted and proud, my wife and I did what we always do after something big: We made a damn good cup of DAMN DECAF. and enjoyed the warmth, presence, and reflection. We sat together and talked about what we’d felt after just finishing the climb. 

• What we’d overcome. 
• What we’d learned.
• Not just about the mountain, but about ourselves.
• Why This Meant So Much
• This climb was decades in the making.

Nearly two decades ago, a buddy of mine, Jonathan Cave, had planted the seed. He talked about Rainier with reverence. That dream had lived quietly in my mind for nearly twenty years. This climb was for him. I carried his memory with me to the summit.

And to my wife, Nikki, I’m so appreciative. You walked beside me onto that glacier, stood in the dark as we roped up, and supported me every step of the way. You pushed past your comfort zone for me. I love you.

Twenty years of dreaming and four relentless days on the mountain taught me that true grit isn’t just pushing harder, it’s choosing gratitude at every step: for the rope team that catches you, the guides who steady you, and the silence that grounds you. When you earn a view like that, you carry more than memories; you carry a thankful heart into everything you do next.

So here's to the climbs, the summits, the struggles, and the stillness that follows.

You don't need a mountain to feel alive.
Sometimes, you just need a hot cup, a quiet moment of clarity, and conversations that matter.

Go hard.
Slow down.
Reach for DAMN DECAF.

Shop All DAMN DECAF. Coffee
https://www.damndecaf.com/collections/coffee

RMI Expeditions: Mt. Rainier Programs
Guide services, itineraries, and safety protocols from Rainier Mountaineering, Inc.—the climb outfitter featured in the post.
https://www.rmiguides.com/mt-rainier rmiguides.com 

Mount Rainier National Park (NPS)
Official park information—history, trails, permits, and current conditions.
https://www.nps.gov/mora/ National Park Service