NEWS! 77-Year Old Bronka Sundstrom Climbs Mt. Rainier with Jason Edwards!
Their ascent of Rainier began at 9:30 AM at 5,400 foot Paradise, located on the South side of the peak. Each climber carried their own personal gear, which included ice axes, crampons, rope, and food for the long day. The climb to Camp Muir, located at 10,000' progressed quickly, and they took a break there to regroup and rest for the climb. This had been Bronka's 42nd trip to Muir that year, and she looked fresh and ready to go. Four thousand feet feet of glaciers and volcanic rock stood between them and the summit.
Things went easier now, and their climb up the glacier took them straight up to the headwall, then to the north, over
Summit Bronka Sundstrom, Jason Edwards, & Ryan Stephens Mt. Rainier summit register signatures, August 31, 2002!
Descent Muir Return Other News about Bronka: Rainier Speed Climb Info Background Articles Bronka can be contacted via email through Jason in the Mountain Experience Office. |
On
August 31, 2001, Bronka Sundstrom climbed Mt. Rainier on a 1-day speed
climb with RMI/Mountain Experience guide Jason Edwards. Their
single-push 19 hour climb took them up the 14,411' peak with few stops,
and with their efforts, Bronka became the oldest woman to successfully climb "the
mountain" once know as Tahoma. Bronka and Jason were accompanied by
Ryan Stephens, an experienced RMI mountain guide who documented the feat
on film.
After
eating lunch and downing quarts of water, they started up the Cowlitz
Glacier, It was a hot day and the climbers were relieved from the
heat when they passed behind the shadows of Cathedral Rock, some 40
minutes later. Everyone was doing well, and took a well deserved
break on Ingraham Flats, a traditional "high camp" for climbers
wanting to get away from the crowds. Geo Dunn, who's climbed Mt. Rainier
over 400 times, greeted the climbers as they arrived with smiles and
curiosity about their climb.
