Time : The last time I hiked to Camp Muir, our group was inexperienced and unprepared. We ran out of water on the way up, but yet packed WAY too much for a day hike. It took us 6 hours to get up, and 4 hours to get down. This time, being better prepared, it only took 4 hours to go up and 1.5 hours to get down. I should note though, that last time we were hiking in early July and most of the hike was still covered in snow. This time, we hiked for about an hour before we got into the snow.
Elevation Gain : According to my GPS unit, we started at 5,400 feet at Paradise and climbed to 10,100 at Camp Muir. Not quite a vertical mile but close.
If I could offer any tips about this hike; start slow. The first section of paved trails is steep! I started off fast (our group set a quick pace) and didn't think I would make it 30 minutes. But we settled into a groove and made really good time on the way up. It levels out (relatively) for a little bit before you hit the Muir Snowfield. My knees started hurting for the last mile. But it's still better than last time when my knees hurt the entire way (I was carrying at least 50 pounds of snowboard gear last time). And just remember that going to Rainier is always unpredictable. Last time we were hiking for 10 hours. This time just over half that. And wear sunscreen!
