Mike Gauthier

The knowledge and advice in this book is necessary for anyone wanting to climb Mt. Rainier. The author is obviously an authority on what is needed, the different skills needed in certain spots on the many approaches up the mountain, and on which approach is appropriate given the weather at the time, the season, and the individual.

The book is well organized; techniques are covered, specialized gear is covered, and the specific routes are discussed separately.
Three types of black and white photos are embedded in appropriate places; scenic, illustrations of using or wearing specific equipment, and numerous route maps superimposed on the appropriate mountain image, all annotated for clarity.

There are also a few stories in this book. One I found very interesting is the story of the climb done by the first woman to reach the top of the peak.

The author emphasizes that just having the right equipment helps little. He states that the climber must acquire skill at using each piece of equipment, have wisdom to choose minor route changes, when to apply the different techniques, and when to turn back if the weather or health of a climber deteriorates.

Much of the detailed description of using the specialized equipment is left to other more detailed equipment guides but that is appropriate for a book on a single mountain. The author focuses on just that, Mt. Rainier with its specific challenges in the different seasons.… (more)