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The Challenge of Rainier, 40th Anniversary: A Record of the Explorations and Ascents, Triumphs and Tragedies on the Northwest's Greatest Mountain, 4th Edition Paperback – September 14, 2011

by Dee Molenaar (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 32 ratings
See all formats and editions
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Purchase options and add-ons

* Featuring 125 photos, 90 illustrations, and 15 maps
* Original cover art by Dee Molenaar

Originally published in 1971, The Challenge of Rainier is a classic in mountaineering reference and literature, long considered the definitive work on the climbing history of Mount Rainier.

Author Dee Molenaar covers geology, glaciology, and climate; early climbs dating before 1900; the pioneering efforts on over 35 routes in winter and summer; notable summit climbs; mountain tragedies on the steep slopes; and the guides who have led summit seekers over the years. For the 40th anniversary edition new information includes more recent ascents, rescues, mountain guides, and climbing trends; updated statistics through 2010; and a new foreword by famed climber (and former Rainier guide) Ed Viesturs.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    400 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Mountaineers Books
  4. Publication date
    September 14, 2011
  5. Dimensions
    6.07 x 1.05 x 9.05 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    159485520X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1594855207
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

The definitive book concerning the mountaineering history and essence of Mount Rainier..

For anyone with any level of interest in Mount Rainier, this book is required reading. (Peter G. Williams Out There Monthly)

About the Author

DEE MOLENAAR has bee an alpine icon since the 1950s, and has climbed mountains throughout the world. After summiting Mount Rainier more than 50 times and traveling the park's high country over many years, he authored The Challenge of Rainier, his award-winning "definitive work."

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Mountaineers Books; 4th edition (September 14, 2011)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 159485520X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1594855207
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.5 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.07 x 1.05 x 9.05 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 32 ratings

About the author

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Dee Molenaar

Dee Molenaar

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Dee Molenaar was born to Dutch immigrant parents in Los Angeles in 1918, Dee spent his youth exploring the seashores, mountains, and deserts of Southern California. He extended his climbing horizons to the Pacific Northwest where he spent several years as summit guide and park ranger at Mount Rainier. After climbing Rainier some 50 times via 15 routes, including three "firsts," and traveling the park's high country for many years, in 1971 he authored The Challenge of Rainier, the award-winning and continually updated "definitive work" on the peak's climbing history. In 2011 the book was redesigned for a Special 40th Anniversary Edition. Dee is also the author of Mountains Don't Care, But We Do and Memoirs of a Dinosaur Mountaineer.

During World War II Molenaar served as photographer in the U.S. Coast Guard in the Aleutians and Western Pacific. In 1950 he earned a B.Sc. in geology at the University of Washington--and a "Big W " in pole-vaulting, He then served briefly as civilian advisor in the Army's Mountain and Cold Weather Training Command at Camp Hale, Colorado and Camp Drum, New York. His career in geology took him to Alaska, Colorado, Utah, and Washington, where he retired from the USGS in 1983. Molenaar climbed mountains throughout the western U.S., Canada, Alaska, the Alps, and Himalaya,and geology- and map-oriented treks to Mount Everest and Peru. He participated in major expeditions, in 1946 to Alaska's 18,100-foot Mt. St. Elias, world's highest coastal peak, and in 1953 to K2, on the famed but tragedy-marred American attempt led by Dr. Charlie Houston.

An important part of Molenaar's climbing pack was a small box of watercolors, with which he painted mountain scenes from below sea level in Death Valley to 25,000 feet on K2--the world's highest Earth-bound artistic effort. Dee's love of the high, open world of rock and ice and fringing meadow zone was reflected in his watercolors, oils, and pencil sketches, which are in private collections throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, New Zealand, Russia, and China. His maps and artwork appear in state park, and Forest Service and Park Service exhibits, ski-area brochures and numerous climbers' guides and autobiographies.

Dee was honored by The American Alpine Club by induction into the club's "Hall of Mountaineering Excellence" and by The Mountaineers club in Seattle by presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Dee Molenaar died in January 2020 at the age of 101. He is survived by a daughter and two sons, and granddaughter and three grandsons.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
32 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Thomas L. Westman
5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST HAVE CLASSIC
Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2013
Verified Purchase
This is an updated version of an old classic and covers the history of Mt. Rainier with an emphasis on climbing, including first assents via numerous routes. Some of the earlier climbers mentioned went on to be very well known such as the Whittaker brothers, Willy Unsoeld and many others. Would any account of Rainier not mention Fred Beckey, of course not. Additions of newer materials some from 2011 are included.

My only criticism, regret actually, was that a number of newer SARs (Search and Rescue missions) were not included. I was a ranger at Mt. Rainier in more recent years and participated in some of the more recent missions mentioned by Dee. But in 1999 five people disappeared on the mountain and only two bodies were recovered. Searches extended from the summit to the Nisqually river and extended from mid-May to mid-November; essentially all we did that summer season was search.

Nevertheless if you love mountains and mountaineering this book should be in your library
6 people found this helpful
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Deebud
4.0 out of 5 stars Great!
Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2016
Verified Purchase
Got it for a gift and my friend loved it. He will be climbing Ranier this year.
One person found this helpful
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Stephen
5.0 out of 5 stars Classic
Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2018
Verified Purchase
An incredible book for anyone who lives in the shadow of this majestic mountain...or for those who don’t, but just want a great read on one of America’s most iconic landmarks.
One person found this helpful
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Charmaine C. Baker
5.0 out of 5 stars Challenge of Rainier 40th Anniversary
Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2014
Verified Purchase
This was a Christmas gift for my husband. He is a mountaineer and so he was pleased with this gift. It arrived before you said it would and I love being able to purchase things from Amazon with one click. It makes life easy for sure.
One person found this helpful
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Lori Cagle
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2014
Verified Purchase
excellent
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Kristen and Lois
5.0 out of 5 stars Rainier and they have told me again and again how much they love this book
Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2016
Verified Purchase
I bought this book for a friend who is training to summit Mt. Rainier and they have told me again and again how much they love this book.
One person found this helpful
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William Jensen
3.0 out of 5 stars Good book. Not great.
Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2019
Verified Purchase
I am an avid armchair mountaineer, and I have climbed Rainier. I have read Walt Unsworth's, Tom Hornbein's, and Ed Viesturs' books about Everest multiple times, and loved them. I was expecting much more from this book. Instead, I got more of a collection of trip reports. Not a bad book, just not up to the standard of the truly fine ones.
3 people found this helpful
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DEH
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2016
Verified Purchase
Great book! Covers a lot of interesting history!
One person found this helpful
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