Fuhrer Finger Couloir, Mount Rainier 1997

Climb of Mount Rainier early July in 1997 via the Fuhrer Finger route. Roped glacier travel was done while crossing the Nisqually Glacier, but we skirting above the flank of the Wilson Glacier. We were at the Fuhrer finger camp for two nights and put in an initial wanded route over the Wilson the first night. The ascent of the Fuhrer Finger was in the dark. The remaining route lead to an ice ridge between the Kautz and the Nisqually where we could not find a good route to cross. We descended without summiting down the Kautz into a whiteout and managed to get back to camp just before dark. The next day there was low cloud cover and fresh snow on the mountain when we packed out.

[@cedartree696]

Very well done slide show. I'm thinking of doing this route this year & it's great to see such nice photography of it first.....
Thanks

[@wilfordmurray]

Note: The Fuhrer Finger route on Mt. Rainier can be very dangerous for rock-fall is it is warm or raining.

[@BushyWoodRat]

As a general comment, any snow/ice couloir climb can become hazardous in adverse conditions. Warming trends and heavy rains certainly, but also recent snows, such as what happened to us the day after the climb. There is also avalanche danger in such conditions as well.
Because of heavy melting in the last 24 years, the condition on Rainier's technical routes have made them much more difficult since this climb in 1997. I'm glad we we were able to do the climb "back in the day" when it was more moderate.
Sadly, some of the climbers in this video have passed in the last 24 years.