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Summit for Salmon 2006

The third annual Summit for Salmon benefit climb of Mt. Rainier took place in July and August, the culmination of many months of work on the part of two teams of climbers who each raised at least $2,000 for Save Our Wild Salmon (in addition to getting in the best physical shape of their lives!).

The experienced guides of Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. (RMI) led the intrepid group on this three-day expedition on one of North America's most challenging peaks. After completing a full day of Climbing School where the teams learned skills such as self-arrest with an ice axe, everyone tried to get a good night's sleep before heading out early the next morning to begin the trek to Camp Muir at 10,100 feet above sea level. Reaching the hut at Camp Muir in late afternoon, they fueled up and tried to sleep for a few hours before an alpine start around midnight. Donning headlamps, the climbers begin ascending to the 14,410-foot Columbia Crest at the pinnacle of Mt. Rainier.

Our first team consisted of five climbers who made their summit bid on July 30th. Less-than-perfect weather on the mountain did little to dampen the spirits of the Summit for Salmon crew. The second team climbed near the end of the season on September 11th, and the team of six were lucky enough to experience very clear conditions on the summit.

Both teams were honored at a wild salmon barbeque at RMI headquarters in Ashford after hitting the showers, and many glasses of cold beer were raised to toast the efforts of these dedicated salmon advocates. The Summit for Salmon team members not only raised over $26,000 for salmon recovery, they educated hundreds of their friends and family members all over the country about the fight to restore these amazing fish.

A Mt. Rainier-sized "thank you" from all of us here at Save Our Wild Salmon to all of the Summit for Salmon climbers, as well as the generous donors who supported them. Also, a big thanks to our fearless guides at RMI, including the "founder" of Summit for Salmon, Gary Talcott.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Montrail, Osprey, Black Diamond and Patagonia for donating great incentive prizes to our climbers.

Join us for Summit for Salmon 2007!

August 25-27, 2007 is tentatively reserved as the dates for next year’s three-day Summit for Salmon climb. If you would like more information or to get on the list, email darcie@]wildsalmon.org, or call (206) 286-4455 ext. 102.

Check out some of our other recent events:

Fishermen's Boat Rally, Fishermen's Rally Fishermen, Fishermen's Rally Speakers, Astoria-Warrenton Gillnet Regatta, Summit for Salmon 2004, David James Duncan Book Signing & Auction, Most Endangered Rivers 2004, Salmon Shuttles