The Best Worst Times

My college roommate, his brother, and I decided that with our minimal hiking experience, we would take on Mt. Rainier. Our original goal was to reach Camp Muir at over 10,000 feet of elevation while gaining 5,000 feet in the 10-mile trail. Unfortunately, we made it absolutely nowhere near and almost died even making it to the halfway point. These photographs may seem straight out of a snowy December landscape. However, this was the 4th of July weekend. With 30 feet of snow, traction and post-holing were a genuine nightmare to tend with. Not to mention that our original route was covered in so much snow that the trail ceased to exist. While we may not have come close to our goals, the bond of pushing each other to our absolute limits and witnessing the most dangerous National Park in North America made the trip one hundred and ten percent worth it. We finished it with Rainier beers and entire pizzas for each of us at the local brewery. Cheers.