Calendar

Past Activity

Camp Moffitt – Mt. Rainier N.P., Washington

  • Start date: 08/02/1980

  • Start time: 12:00 AM

  • End date: 08/09/1980

  • End time: 11:59 PM

  • Event Leader: Moffitt Dick

  • Assistant Leader:

  • Event category: Summer Camp

  • Area Type:

  • Departure Location: See Trip Description

  • Rating:

  • Roundtrip total drive miles:

  • Season: 1980

  • Permits Required:

  • Event Status: Passed

  • Supplies and Equipment Required:

  • participant prerequisites:

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance:

  • Member Fees: —

  • Elevation Gain:

  • Non-Member Fees: —

  • Committee: Summer Camp

  • Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

Camp Moffitt - Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington
August 2–9, 1980 - See Aug 6, 1980

Climb of Mt. Rainier

Location:
Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington
White River Campground
(NAD27) 46° 54' 8" North, 121° 38' 17" West
UTM Zone 10, 603700 easting, 5194900 northing
Elevation: 4200 ft. (1280 m)

Report of Obsidian Outing Committee
Camp Moffitt
August 1980
by Dick Moffitt, Chairman
The 51st annual Obsidian Summer Camp was held at White River Campground in Mt. Rainier National Park, August 2 to 9, 1980.

The Camp Committee composed of John and Lenore McManigal, Donn and Jean Chase, Donna Ferchland, Bill Eimstad and Dick Moffitt arrived early Friday morning to set up camp. The Chases actually got there a day earlier and proceeded to purchase campsites around our table tent area so we wouldn’t intrude on non-Obsidian campers. Good thing too, because on Friday night it looked like a merry go-round with all the RVs going around the loop looking for a site.

Trips were made to Palisades Lake, Summerland and Panhandle Gap, Glacier Basin Sunrise Lodge and visitor center, Mt. Fremont and Dege Peak, (also Burroughs Mtn.) There were many flowers this year too. Indian Paint Brush had the typical Mt. Rainier color. Different than in Oregon.

Four of the camp members climbed Mt. Rainier on Thursday 9 August. Norm Benton, Kevin McManigal, Dick Moffitt and Steve John started Wednesday afternoon on the 8-hour hike up to Steamboat Prow. Some rain on the way up, but the weather cleared that evening at Camp Schurman. Left Camp Schurman bivouac at 1:30 a.m. and threaded their way through the crevasses in the dark for four hours. Then moonrise, Venus rise and finally sunrise. Before sunrise the glows of Yakima and the street lights of Seattle were visible. Climb took 8 hours up. Super view of all the Northwest mountains. Looked right into the crater of Mt. St. Helens. That afternoon it erupted after we returned to camp. Three hours back down to Camp Schurman and 4 more to Obsidian camp. Thirteen hours in crampons.

This was the most observed climb by Obsidians ever undertaken. The climbers were watched through binoculars by most of the camp members all day. Would you believe a reception committee met the climbers in Glacier Basin on the way down?

The weather was beautiful all week long with a little rain Wednesday afternoon and a little volcanic ash fell on us Thursday evening from Mt. St. Helens latest eruption.

Delicious food and two evenings when we were treated to Lemon meringue pies for dessert were provided by our camp cook, Selma Vangsnes.

This camp was not as large as last year so the 39 members had a very relaxed and companionable vacation.

Members & Guests signed-up & waitlisted

No. Status Full name Phone Transportation Needed? Trip Fee # Can Take?

There are currently no confirmed participants for this event.