Postlog

What have I taken away from this experience? Many small practical lessons were learned, valuable experience was gained, limits were pushed, and we accomplished our goal. In particular:

• 55 lbs is a LOT more than 40 lbs
• stair climbing is the way to go for training
• altitude sickness drugs are your friends while you are at altitude, but back at sea level the side effects are damned annoying. speaking of which, I need to pee...
• never use metal stakes to anchor a tent in snow
• tents pitched in snow actually do need footprints
• tents pitched in snow can benefit from wind walls erected around them
• Rainier can be climbed without plastic boots -- the right leather boot can stand up to crampons and keep your feet dry and warm with the proper care.
• wind, while unnerving, is not inherently dangerous, until you leave the ground
• sliding down a glacier on your ass, while fun, yields large bruises on said ass
• you need 2 pulleys, 9 carabiners, 8 assorted cords and slings, and at least one anchor, on your person, to effect a realistic crevasse rescue
• it takes a long damned time to boil water at altitude
• boiling water may not be as hot as you think it is
• you aren't really living until you can't take survival for granted
• it was all worth it!