Mt. Rainier is among the tallest mountains in the continental United States. From its 14,410-foot summit in Washington’s Cascade Range, climbers on a clear day can see for hundreds of miles: distant peaks, evergreen forests, the sprawl of Seattle and the deep blue waters of Puget Sound.
But the mountain can be deadly. More than 80 people have died attempting it. Climbers face an array of hazards: icy glaciers, deep crevasses, sheer slopes, crumbling volcanic rock. Most people just gaze at Rainier in awe. Few ever resolve to climb it.
One of those few last year was Rose Vanderhoof. Remarkably, Rose is 78 years old. Her successful July 10 summit bid made her the oldest woman ever to scale Rainier. The amazing feat earned her news coverage. Yet, when I talked to her, she described
