Suggested climbs/routes/mountains in Colorado to prepare for Mt Rainier (DC Route)?

Hey everyone, 

I'm planning on doing Rainier DC Route this summer (July). I wanted to know if anyone had suggestions for routes on any mountains in Colorado for training over the next few months. The goal of these would be to train fitness , but also to get better at snow travel, so I'm guessing they will be longer steeper snow climbs that will be available in the Spring and  when low avy danger is present. 

Would appreciate anyone's input!

if just doing the DC, fitness is most important and you can get this on any 13/14er. if you were doing something more technical like lib ridge, i would have different suggestions.

As said, above just go for long hikes on any hill that gets you some altitude will do.

Good uphill fitness is key, and of equal importance is recovery / being able to climb a couple big days back-to-back. The DC is 9k vert gain, commonly done over two days, which is more elevation gain over a short period of time than pretty much anywhere else in this hemisphere. So if you build in a few big back to back days (hike a 14er as people have mentioned, then do another the day after) during your training you’ll be better prepared.

Don’t neglect some glacier training as well. Crevasse rescue you can practice in Colorado, but navigation is hard to work on without the real thing. It’s a good skill to have, the glaciers aren’t small even if the DC is generally “in” that time of year.

Is this Marcos who was at Hidden Falls last Saturday that we swapped ropes with?? Dude let’s get out sometime!

Angel of Shavano or, better yet, C Couloir on Missouri would be good training for snow travel on the DC route--just watch avvy conditions.  But nothing in Colorado will prepare you for glacier travel (eyeing crevasses, knowing when not to trust snow bridges, crevasse rescue, etc.).  DC route is pretty much a well-traveled walkup though.  If you've done some winter 14ers in Colorado, especially some couloir climbs with crampons and ice axe, you'll probably be fine.  As you get closer to your trip, hammer out some hikes up Pike's Peak to get your legs and lungs in shape for the vert gain.

Be sure you know the basics of crevasse rescue (how to self-arrest, ascend a rope with a Texas prusik, etc.).  Pretty low chance you'll fall into a crevasse on the DC, but just in case.

Exiled Michiganderwrote:

Be sure you know the basics of crevasse rescue (how to self-arrest, ascend a rope with a Texas prusik, etc.).  Pretty low chance you'll fall into a crevasse on the DC, but just in case.

but if you do, there will literally be 30 people there in 5 mins to haul you out :)

John Thomsonwrote:

Good uphill fitness is key, and recovery/ couple days back-to-back. The DC is 9k vert gain over two days, which is more elevation gain over a short period of time than pretty much anywhere else in this hemisphere. So if you build in a few big back to back days (hike a 14er as people have mentioned, then do another the day after) during your training you’ll be better prepared.

Don’t neglect some glacier training as well. Crevasse rescue you can practice in Colorado, but navigation is hard to work on without the real thing. It’s a good skill to have, the glaciers aren’t small even if the DC is generally “in” that time of year.

Is this Marcos who was at Hidden Falls last Saturday that we swapped ropes with?? Dude let’s get out sometime!

Thanks for the advice! Also yeah it's me hey! I'm totally down to get out!

Exiled Michiganderwrote:

Angel of Shavano or, better yet, C Couloir on Missouri would be good training for snow travel on the DC route--just watch avvy conditions.  But nothing in Colorado will prepare you for glacier travel (eyeing crevasses, knowing when not to trust snow bridges, crevasse rescue, etc.).  DC route is pretty much a well-traveled walkup though.  If you've done some winter 14ers in Colorado, especially some couloir climbs with crampons and ice axe, you'll probably be fine.  As you get closer to your trip, hammer out some hikes up Pike's Peak to get your legs and lungs in shape for the vert gain.

Be sure you know the basics of crevasse rescue (how to self-arrest, ascend a rope with a Texas prusik, etc.).  Pretty low chance you'll fall into a crevasse on the DC, but just in case.

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll be checking them out. Yeah I'm planning on taking a course soon to learn glacier travel and crevasse rescue

If you live in Denver, Mt. Quandry is in Summit county, right by Hoosier Pass. Bring your skis and skins. I think there is a couloir you can climb as well. Been a while since I have been there though. 

John Thomsonwrote:

Good uphill fitness is key, and of equal importance is recovery / being able to climb a couple big days back-to-back. The DC is 9k vert gain, commonly done over two days, which is more elevation gain over a short period of time than pretty much anywhere else in this hemisphere. So if you build in a few big back to back days (hike a 14er as people have mentioned, then do another the day after) during your training you’ll be better prepared.

Don’t neglect some glacier training as well. Crevasse rescue you can practice in Colorado, but navigation is hard to work on without the real thing. It’s a good skill to have, the glaciers aren’t small even if the DC is generally “in” that time of year.

Is this Marcos who was at Hidden Falls last Saturday that we swapped ropes with?? Dude let’s get out sometime!

Hey dudes, was also at hidden falls on Saturday! Up in clear creek on Sunday. Brrrrr...

Jordan Dubswrote:

Up in clear creek on Sunday. Brrrrr...

What was the ice like in CCC?

John Thomsonwrote:

What was the ice like in CCC?

No Coors or Mickey's, secret was alright.