Summiting Mt. Rainier Together: Our Elopement Adventure on the DC Route
There’s something wildly poetic about climbing a mountain with the person you love. On July 10th, Coleman and I laced up our boots, loaded our packs, and stepped into the clouds of Mt. Rainier for a summit attempt that would become one of the most emotional and unforgettable moments of our lives, and not just because of the altitude.
As a Mt. Rainier elopement photographer and elopement videographer team, we’ve documented love stories on these slopes before. But this time, we weren’t behind the camera. This time, we were living the adventure ourselves!
The Climb Begins
We left the trailhead in a thick fog, making our way up to Camp Muir on Thursday morning. It felt very PNW magical, just the two of us winding through the mist with only the sound of our footsteps and muffled voices in the clouds. Camp Muir greeted us with its usual hum of mountaineers prepping for big climbs. We tucked into our sleeping bags, got an incredible 10 hours of sleep and knew the real journey was just beginning.
On Friday, we pushed up to Ingraham Flats, stepping over one crevasse between Muir and Cathedral Gap. The views started to open up, revealing that iconic ridgeline against the sky. We pitched our tent on the glacier, took in the surreal scenery, and prepped for our alpine start. And while sleep didn’t come that night (at all), adrenaline and love carried us forward.
Summit Day: Breathless in Every Way
That night, we roped up and stepped into the darkness, headlamps bobbing and crampons crunching over ice. Just minutes out of camp, we crossed our first ladder, hello Ingraham Icefall, and carefully made our way through the chaotic beauty of that frozen terrain.
On Disappointment Cleaver, we removed our rope and crampons to scramble up the spine, feeling strong and connected. At 12,900 feet, we reached a fork in the route. Go left for the direct path or right for a slightly longer, less spicy variation. After hearing tales of narrow shelves and crevasse jumps, we veered right. My husband, as always, was game for anything. I was just relieved not to be tightrope-walking over a void.
One massive snow bridge left me breathless. I had never seen anything in person like it. The ladder exit on that crevasse was the biggest I’ve ever crossed. The wind howled at a steady 25 to 30 mph, but even as it tore at our jackets, we pushed forward, step after step.
And then… we made it.
14,410 Feet of Dreams
Standing on the summit of Mt. Rainier, crying alongside strangers, was surreal. I’ve spent my whole life in Washington, gazing up at this mountain from valleys and highways, always wondering if I’d ever get to the top. And now, hand in hand with Coleman, wind whipping around us, we were finally here.
This wasn’t just a summit. It was a shared triumph, a vow kept in motion, a reminder of why we love capturing couples in wild places as well as our own personal adventures and dreams. These moments truly matter.
After some summit celebration (and lots of tears), we descended all the way back to the car, with a quick nap at Ingraham Flats, of course. It was a long day, full of exhaustion and elation. The kind of day you remember forever.
Watch our Mt. Rainier summit video!
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Why We Love Mt. Rainier Elopements
If you’re dreaming of a Mt. Rainier elopement, we can tell you firsthand that it doesn’t get more powerful, more romantic, or more soul-shaking than this place. Whether you want to exchange vows in a wildflower meadow, share a first look on a glacier, or summit together like we did, this mountain gives you everything.
As your Mt. Rainier elopement photographer and videographer, we bring not just camera gear, but also lived experience. We know the routes, the weather patterns, the crevasse crossings, and we know how to tell a story in the mountains, because it’s our story too.
If you’re dreaming of an elopement that’s less traditional ballroom and more adventure of a lifetime, let’s chat. Whether you’re climbing to the summit or just want to feel on top of the world, we’re here to help you capture every epic, teary, windswept moment.
Reach out to us here: https://www.thecrawfordsphotography.com/contact/
Keep up to date on the Mt. Rainier Climbing blog for updated safety and route info here: https://mountrainierclimbing.blogspot.com/
