It seems that the "blue bubble" may have finally arrived in Washington.  After a largely damp and gray May and June, we hit a blue streak last week.  Under clear skies I headed out with a team to explore "Rainier's Wilder Side"--the Emmons Route.  By the numbers, about 70% of Rainier aspirants climb via the Muir/DC Route, 20% climb via the Emmons Route, and 10% climb via other routes. So Rainier's Emmons Route tends to be a quieter, wilder way up the mountain.  



A few of the reasons that the Emmons Route is quieter than the Muir/DC Route are: