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Article: Damage Assessment
- Article from:
- Backpacker
- Article date:
- January 1, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright Active Interest Media Jan 2009. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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How big a hit did Rainier take in the November 2006 tempest? How will it fare in the future? From top to bottom, here's a complete report card.
THECLIMBS
Rainier's higher elevations escaped the storm's fury and won't see much change in the foreseeable future. But mountaineers are already coping with climate-induced changes lower on The Mountain. In 2007, collapsing snow bridges, gaping crevasses, and increased rockfall chased climbers off the popular Disappointment Cleaver route and onto an Emmons Glacier (12, see map) detour by midsummer. Climbing ranger Mike Gauthier says that's the earliest he can remember in 19 years on the peak. Other Rainier vets agree there's less snow, and the Inter ...