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- Aug 13, 2015
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Learning the Ropes on Ruth Mountain
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2467.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=d13b9e0809b9be17a5c0c6c5a08c8003 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2467.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=043e652002206611847fc0a778fd952a 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2467.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=1fb384730d8381ca4a7a4ef620a25777 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2467.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=f05a68446c8eceeb7705db4bd4516e71 768w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2467.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=ac0eccc1d299930ac6a4dff1afc83e1c 768w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2467.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=23e0581ce94df0de7c7c5078fd117b29 768w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2467.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=f2b1d60716addce6277c2f0de6248197 768w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2467.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=c8b5179f7e1c7577658dbab28ea38861 768w)
View of Ruth Mountain on the approach. Niels Meyer photo
After our morning gear check in Seattle Mike, Pete and Mountain Madness guide Niels Meyer headed to Ruth Mountain for our Intro to Mountaineering course. Mike and Pete are Seattle locals interested in alpine climbing and mountaineering and they wanted to learn foundational skills before heading into the alpine on their own.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2481.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=98a274cd02a965466a78a72101921eeb 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2481.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=30bb5d5e6278d98db8613b8993270262 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2481.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=6300c1050d202eb5fe65e0b60f3bbbf5 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2481.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=a5ef5af5e3afc338dcdb575191b12252 768w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2481.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=7a35e7b0b3d7a1b91b9cb36d42e3995c 768w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2481.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=a459ad4cb8e7adb263e326a02f3ab78c 768w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2481.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=a57a588c3acb6b373acc072e6f191609 768w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2481.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=26f56fd996d404fc19dd67a2a6bc1ed5 768w)
Pete and Mike on the climber’s trail. Niels Meyer photo
With a threat of rain and low clouds in the forecast we were excited to arrive at the trailhead with blue skies spotted with a few clouds to help keep us cool. We cruised the approach trail to our camp below Ruth Mountain and that evening headed up towards the glacier to collect water and get a look around. After a lesson on glaciology over dinner we headed to our tents and called it a day.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2486.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=b00fd7c2eda6ea0c4f5a982625185b11 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2486.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=eb68416e9078174fbcc9bbe3f60baa27 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2486.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=afda21a6387fb2a4372983029b8e5476 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2486.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=ed6a32e957d9724b1caf6e003ae42d4b 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2486.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=ef515ea40e264ef7feda1d58590d5926 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2486.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=fd94ddaedcc9f9fc48952598cff2c299 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2486.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=2b2a3b6a70606ad944eec13908e5b520 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2486.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=82030b601495cfa29d111d80256e7481 1024w)
Our camp and climbing route up Ruth. Niels Meyer photo
We were up early the next morning and, after a quick breakfast, hiked to the base of glacier. On our way up, we discussed how to rope up for glacier travel and other essential skills such as how to self-arrest, walking on snow and what to do if one of us fell into a crevasse. Our ascent to the top was beautiful and we delved into some more advanced mountaineering skills when we had to descend into and climb out of a gaping bergschrund.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2496.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=f40b740ab20f75bb4eec9c2d09c3cf9e 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2496.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=08511fd4425f60b3fe5890e0312f31ba 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2496.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=d3e3dcc5e1a7d4c6908c7ae9ca6f168a 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2496.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=bee01be35d54ce6f82150bed886c8f5e 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2496.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=01282747464c97d7bdebb913522178ee 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2496.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=fc59d52c0de0c60db5d6610320438064 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2496.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=83d2a2afe2dd2443b6dcf83a142f9f9d 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2496.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=5b2bfd29819f0054e4b03f8fc15f4d09 1024w)
Pete and the bergschrund. Niels Meyer photo
Cloudy skies cleared as we approached the summit and Mount Shuksan and Baker came into full view. Ruth was the ideal mountain for Pete and Mike’s first alpine climb. It is a small mountain with a big mountain feel, perfect for training! We navigated crevasses, practiced walking as rope team and scrambled alpine rock on our last pitch to the summit.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2505.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=fd17bb4274b2ef0a0104bef41001c017 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2505.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=2a47501ebf46e9edd98f72337ae16856 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2505.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=618fc34768285e89118117f654f5d959 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2505.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=a479b05ce60a56b68156820f77f69b9f 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2505.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=fa8e56840364bf6a642cd1c0cbeb62a0 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2505.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=a54bf712c2aa0937184d4ff1e5187f62 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2505.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=c2885176c80b67b3d29fd3358f5849cf 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2505.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=ca5cc3222ccd10b7c49a2b16dfa2f11e 1024w)
Last push to the summit. Niels Meyer photo
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2512.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=6b6c640318ba38ad48b770fa68d235f7 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2512.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=3acbc6e53a1893f8f3581c78d280eed6 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2512.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=add8fb825e5bd654b434e28d551b2317 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2512.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=d75bc765c9e308ccecf68f1da65b2251 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2512.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=81e30d6ef344d4cf397197d2f42b21ac 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2512.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=7ac81e6b96215e6004b77a63032c20fb 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2512.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=4682a2ceeaf96fb2e19f5239d435dfdf 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2512.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=23e38cdb8faddeb94cd744a3b5b06557 1024w)
Mike and Pete taking in the stunning view on top of Ruth Mountain after their first glacier climb! Niels Meyer photo
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2514.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=cb836df26019ec60b1b2dfffdcc1b8c9 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2514.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=39bef50b1694bc330cac8eb7dced4a31 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2514.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=661ba2296816ea7c8e855d3aa7207b56 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2514.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=b0a5df4adf6c16e31bc896fb91ec42fc 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2514.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=b09ea1b09fa1e8ad1c05d4165a97145f 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2514.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=5de3338f4134a05fb36e35cddd24d741 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2514.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=6de97925c90ff76e392477aa8a930160 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2514.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=9f676b147179cdb97788fb96d6e2ef16 1024w)
Breathtaking panorama. Niels Meyer photo
After descending to our camp we packed up and headed back to Seattle, already thinking about our next adventure into the mountains.
~ MM Guide Niels Meyer
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2518.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=639551af97e1ba9a14e3218a89795626 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2518.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=8d300617e4cb1ffc21844e9f010d49f8 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2518.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=f204c6f5854de236483b2127b53c587b 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2518.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=46e09ab02d1ddd47e826edd8543ffb78 768w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2518.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=2cb870ace407df5e1e663473be74a1bb 768w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2518.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=70554116e97ccc1ed5587b77e886234e 768w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2518.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=b88045b8f9c70963fa90f2d2d7bc9aef 768w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2518.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=4a31c35b87a730af15ba63ede8abcc7d 768w)
See ya next time Ruth! Niels Meyer photo