On Mount Rainier

A narrative poem

Photo by Author

Make for base camp
at the break of dawn
shorts and boots
a t-shirt and a 50-pound pack
sun shining
the reflection
causing sweat to bead on the brow
post-holing through
the soft wet snow
making for high camp
at 10,000 feet

Finally pulling into
the temporary base
sore and exhausted
but nothing like
what was to come
bed down for the night
at 9 p.m.
but sleep is elusive
for the altitude is unforgiving

The guides start stirring
at 3 a.m.
to check the weather
circling the 14,411-foot summit
finally breaking camp
in the 20-degree weather
to start the 8-hour climb
to the far-off summit
a mostly silent ascent
the only sounds
coming from the chilling wind
and the crunch of crampons
biting into virgin ice and snow