Mount Rainier Opens Climbing Concessions
Friday, April 4, 1997
Mount Rainier National Park announced today that five guide services would be permitted to lead climbs up Mt. Rainier via the Emmons glacier route. Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. (RMI) had been the only licensed guiding concession on the mountain since 1968. Each of the guide services are allowed to lead three climbs this summer season, on dates pre-determined by MRNP. (Two additional dates in September will be available via lottery to the guide services.)

The Fine Print:
The licenses are for one season only on the Emmons glacier and are titled Incidental Business Permits- this is not a permanent award to climb Rainier. Guide services are only allowed on the mountain from Monday - Thursday, with a maximum group size of 12, and no one company may book more than 25% of all climbs.

Dunham Gooding, Director of the American Alpine Institute thinks it will be good for the public and the mountain: "People like to have a choice of services to choose from, and the presence of guides on the mountain generally sets a higher standard for recreational climbers to follow."

As far as the effect on pricing, Gooding sees offsetting issues keeping guiding rates in check: "These licenses are considered Incidental Business Licenses, so pricing structures are not subject to government review as they are for sole concessionaires, so we can charge whatever we want. But competition and the generally high cost of conducting a guide service means the public will see fairly consistent fees from company to company". Gordon Janow, of Alpine Ascents International is excited about the new oportunity- "We're thrilled to be on the mountain, and look forward to working with all of the other guide services on keeping Rainier ecologically sound."

The following guide services will receive licenses to guide on the emmons glacier for Summer 1997:

To reach RMI: 206 627-6242

Mt. Rainier National Park: 360-569-2211

-- Michael Harding, Mountain Zone Staff


Mount Rainier
Just the Facts

Elevation: 14,411'

Age: Estimated between 750,000 and one million years old.

Glaciers: 26 individual glaciers cover over 35 square miles

Emmons Glacier: Largest surface area of any glacier in lower 48 states

Native names: Duk-hwahk, Pus-ke-house, Ta-co-bud, Tiswauk, and Takhoma

First assent: 1870, Philemon van Trump & Hazard Stephens

First assent by a woman: 1890, Fay Fuller

First fatality: Edgar McClure

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