This was the first trip that I can ever remember taking on my own, without parental supervision. I was fifteen years old and working at Pleasant Valley Christian Camp outside of Mineral, Washington. It was a fun summer. For most of it, I lived away from home, which most fifteen year olds do not get the chance to do. We had been talking about taking a trip up to Camp Muir on Mt. Rainier and for some reason it actually materialized. We only had half of two days off, so it must have been on an early off week of some kind. It must have been a Saturday. The group of intrepid hikers included: Amy Chandler, my baby-sitter as a kid and now a college kid home for the summer working at the camp as a cook. Joel Chandler, Amy's cousin and my best friend from childhood. Theresa, the niece of the person that ran the camp and someone who tried my patience quite a bit. Charity, who also worked at the camp and someone who I knew from the time I was a small child. Pam, who also worked at the camp, who was technically our adult supervis
or, but since she knew nothing about mountaineering, I was convinced we did not have one. The only one who had been up to Camp Muir before was me, I believe. We started from Paradise and everyone was gung-ho at first. My dad warned me about that my first trip up to Camp Muir. There is this thought that you gotta just conquer the thing, but you can lose your breath easily with the parking lot still in full view. Theresa and Pam were both the speed demons of the beginning part of the trip. That would of course change. Soon we were on the snowfield and I remember Theresa was heading on the rocks which frustrated me because there was always a chance of loosening one up so that it could come rolling down on us. The reason was because no one seemed to have the right clothes for the job. Theresa, Pam, and Charity were all in their tennis shoes. Joel was in blue jeans. Amy and I seemed to be the only ones capable of bringing the right equipment. This perturbed me a bit considering I told people what they needed. I had doubts that everyone would make it. Sure enough, the first person to drop out was Pam. She would not eat or drink any water, which obviously made the trip so much harder for herself. So she headed back down. The rest of us headed up, slowly. The beginning charge of Theresa had left her sapped. We waited for her quite a bit. It was one snow ridge after the other, but we were still enjoying it with good friends. Finally, we saw Camp Muir 
approaching and one last push got us to where we sat down to enjoy the view. The trip took us five hours, which was over one hour longer than the other two previous trips I undertook with my father. We had some food and took pictures than headed down. This was much more enjoyable for everyone else. They did not seem to mind the impact on knees or the wetness of the snow. There was running, sliding, falling, and snow sculpting to be had. We made it back to the car to share the splendors of our wonderful adventures in the mountains with Pam waiting for us at the car below. A wonderful day spent with friends in the wilds of Mt. Rainier National Park on the mountain itself.
or, but since she knew nothing about mountaineering, I was convinced we did not have one. The only one who had been up to Camp Muir before was me, I believe. We started from Paradise and everyone was gung-ho at first. My dad warned me about that my first trip up to Camp Muir. There is this thought that you gotta just conquer the thing, but you can lose your breath easily with the parking lot still in full view. Theresa and Pam were both the speed demons of the beginning part of the trip. That would of course change. Soon we were on the snowfield and I remember Theresa was heading on the rocks which frustrated me because there was always a chance of loosening one up so that it could come rolling down on us. The reason was because no one seemed to have the right clothes for the job. Theresa, Pam, and Charity were all in their tennis shoes. Joel was in blue jeans. Amy and I seemed to be the only ones capable of bringing the right equipment. This perturbed me a bit considering I told people what they needed. I had doubts that everyone would make it. Sure enough, the first person to drop out was Pam. She would not eat or drink any water, which obviously made the trip so much harder for herself. So she headed back down. The rest of us headed up, slowly. The beginning charge of Theresa had left her sapped. We waited for her quite a bit. It was one snow ridge after the other, but we were still enjoying it with good friends. Finally, we saw Camp Muir 
approaching and one last push got us to where we sat down to enjoy the view. The trip took us five hours, which was over one hour longer than the other two previous trips I undertook with my father. We had some food and took pictures than headed down. This was much more enjoyable for everyone else. They did not seem to mind the impact on knees or the wetness of the snow. There was running, sliding, falling, and snow sculpting to be had. We made it back to the car to share the splendors of our wonderful adventures in the mountains with Pam waiting for us at the car below. A wonderful day spent with friends in the wilds of Mt. Rainier National Park on the mountain itself. 
