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Carin Mountain Company Mount Rainier Guide Reference Map

rated 5.0 of 5 stars
photo:   Carin Mountain Company Mount Rainier Guide Reference Map us pacific states paper map

The best, most feature-packed map I have used yet.

Pros

  • Durable, rubbery material, rip-proof
  • Zoomed in to show details
  • GPS coordinates
  • Compas bearings
  • Shows most common routes

Cons

  • I didn't find it sooner
  • Doesn't cover Gib Ledges or Fuhrere Finger routes

I thought maybe I wouldn't review this because I used it in optimal weather and not an epic but I want to spread the word about it to potential Rainier climbers.

This map shows the three most common routes on Rainier (DC, Emmonds,Kautz) and gives compass bearings to recognizable landmarks (magnetic and declination) to assist you in navigating home in a whiteout.  It also provides GPS coordinates in two different formats for finding the same.

The map also shows close ups of the hike to Muir, Hazard and Schumann as well as the sections from each camp to summit.  The general routes are all marked on the map.  It is obvious that a lot of thought went into this map.

Not a big deal in perfect weather on the cattle trail but you still want a map.
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I used this map to enter the GPS coordinates on a recent trip to Camp Muir. As I walked, in perfect weather, I checked the coordinates for fun against the real landmarks and found them to be 100% accurate. The compass bearings, which are given in each direction and in magnetic bearings so you don't have to fiddle with declination if you don't want to, were also spot-on up to Muir (this was not a summit climb). 

Zooming in on the pic and printing it is cheating!
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But if you do, here is the other side.
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Being one of the ten essentials you ought to already have a map and compass (GPS optional) but if you are still gearing up for this trip this map is a one-stop shop for god trip info. 

I have had to navigate down a larger Cascade volcano in a white-out (Adams) and, though I did just fine because I kept taking back azimuths on the way up, a good map can be a big help. 

Ok, so I had perfect weather on the day I tried to use the map so I really didn't need it (just followed the boot-pack) since I could see for miles but I still consider this map required material for a Rainier-minded hiker-climber.  Get this map.

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $13.95

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Specs

Price MSRP: $13.95
Reviewers Paid: $13.95