Be A Part Of History This Summer With WV and RMI

By wpdev February 8, 2012

 

The 605-foot space needle may be synonymous with Seattle, but for locals (who refer to it simply as “The Mountain”), the 14,411-foot Mount Rainier dominates the skyline and represents the majesty of the Pacific Northwest.

This historic summer, Wilderness Ventures and Rainier Mountaineering are celebrating with 40th anniversary climbs of Mount Rainier. While current Wilderness Ventures students continue to enjoy the opportunity to climb Mount Rainier has part of our renowned Cascade Olympic Adventure, the special 7-day anniversary climb of Mount Rainier is available to WV alumni, parents of alum and former WV staff members.

 

History

Rainier Mountaineering (RMI) is one of the world’s premier guiding services. Founded in 1969 by the famous climber Lou Whittaker, RMI was a first-of-its-kind guiding organization that placed as much of an emphasis on teaching as it did on reaching the summit.

Celebrating its 40th year in operation, Wilderness Ventures is the brainchild of school teachers Mike and Helen Cottingham, who envisioned an experiential travel program that connected teenagers with the natural world while teaching leadership and team skills with real-world applications.

Working with the expert guides from RMI, Wilderness Ventures completed its first historic climb of Mount Rainier in 1974. Today, Wilderness Ventures and RMI each conduct an independent, leading array of adventures and expeditions around the globe, but have continued to climb together on Mount Rainier (the peak that Lou characterizes as the “gateway to the world of mountaineering”) for the past 39 years.

 

This Summer

Climb The Mountain on one of these fantastic trips, ideally suited for novice and experienced climbers.

Cascade Olympic Adventure: Since 1974, this 22-day adventure, which backpacks the Olympic Beaches, Sea Kayaks the San Juan Islands, climbs Mount Adams, whitewater rafts the Sauk River and summits famous Mount Rainier, has been the delight of Wilderness Ventures students.

Fortieth Anniversary Trip: Celebrating Wilderness Ventures’ legacy as the worldwide leader in student outdoor adventures since 1973, the 7-day Mount Rainier 40th Anniversary Trip is the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for WV alumni, parents of alum and former WV staff members to share a magical experience while climbing the most magnificent sentinel of the Pacific Northwest.