Mount Rainier, Willis Wall-East Rib. On March 17 through March 22 Craig Eilers, Dale Farnham, Matt Christensen and I successfully completed a winter ascent of Mount Rainier’s famed Willis Wall, via the east rib. A bivouac was made two-thirds of the way up the wall and the climb was completed the following day by exiting on upper Curtis Ridge above the ice cliff, making the climb a direct line. Descent was via the Emmons and Winthrop Glaciers and across the lower Curtis Ridge and back to Base Camp. The weather was clear, cold and occasionally windy, offering near perfect conditions. We believe this may have been the first winter ascent of Willis Wall via the east rib.

David E. Rowland