Layering - Mt. Rainier

I'm climbing the DC on Mt. Rainier in late June with the average temperature ranging from 15-28 F and extreme lows of 0 F. For my bottoms on summit day I'm thinking of wearing an insulated midweight long john under a climbing pant. For my outer layer I either have a GORE-TEX hard shell which has no insulation and is strictly a shell or I have an insulated bib which is zip-off so I can remove it once it warms up. The bib is thick and bulky and if I can get away with just the GORE-TEX I will, thoughts on the outer layer? (The shell zips off as well)

Exactly what I wanted to hear, thanks!

I included screenshots of the forecasted temps for today, it’ll likely get warmer as the month goes on. So I wouldnt dress going in expecting 0-28F. A lot of guide sites have public gear lists with layering recommendations that are pretty good. Have fun and stay safe out there!! 

June can be all over the map. I’ve sweated in shorts & also had ropemates get frostbite that month. 

Yeah I would plan on a shell (preferably with vents) and possibly a lightweight under layer for bottoms. For a top I like a light weight merino quarter zip or capalene/sun hoody, a mid layer like an r1 and a shell. I also keep a down vest in the pack just in case.

Temps a can vary greatly, but if it’s sunny, expect to be hot when moving and cold when not. You don’t want to be  sweating much when moving or you’ll be really cold and wet when you’re not.

Jens 1 wrote:

June can be all over the map. I’ve sweated in shorts & also had ropemates get frostbite that month. 

Agree, I most always wear a white first layer for sun and heat protection. If the weather is crap it does not matter.

Chris C wrote:

I included screenshots of the forecasted temps for today, it’ll likely get warmer as the month goes on. So I wouldnt dress going in expecting 0-28F. A lot of guide sites have public gear lists with layering recommendations that are pretty good. Have fun and stay safe out there!! 

Seems really weird to post a temperature for one random day and use that as a basis to suggest what someone should be wearing 3 weeks from now.  Today is closer (in calendar time) than the day you grabbed a screenshot of, so is it a better prediction?  If so, I guess OP better prepare for 0-28 deg F after all!

OP, a thin base layer under a softshell pant is pretty standard apparel for Rainier.  I would not bring insulated bibs up there at all.  Depending on weather forecast (and guide requirements, if you are going with a guide), you might want/need a light hardshell, something uninsulated that will go over everything.  I personally just don't go up with forecasts that might need that layer, but I am a local so that is a luxury folks traveling to the mountain don't have.  If you run cold or have a cold forecast, and would like extra insulation, a second baselayer or a pair of insulated lightweight puff pants would be the ticket.

I've always worn a pair of synthetic long johns (such as Capilene Lightweight or Midweight) under a light/midweight soft shell, like an OR Cirque, Ferrosi, etc.

Kyle- If you read my post again, you’ll see I didn’t recommend dressing for the weather of 3 days ago, I recommended looking at what guide companies are recommending. The screenshot was merely a reminder that one should not *certainly* expect an "average temperature ranging from 15-28 F and extreme lows of 0 F", especially when thinking 3 weeks out, and especially at the end of June. So yeah, on the same page.      Everybody expresses and learns differently, and hopefully between the different posts here, the OP can get a clearer picture of how to pack and what to expect. 

Chris C wrote:

The screenshot was merely a reminder that one should not *certainly* expect an "average temperature ranging from 15-28 F and extreme lows of 0 F", especially when thinking 3 weeks out, and especially at the end of June.

Why shouldn't somebody expect temperatures that are the average temperatures for that time of year?

It seems like, if someone is planning for a Rainier climb, the average temperatures directly out of the official NPS route guide are probably a good starting point, right?

Your post specifically made it seems like it's going to be warmer than that; it *could* be, but equal chance it could also be colder.  The average is, of course, the best middle ground for predicting possible future temps.

Of course, these are just summit temps.  So a climber needs to be able to manage these, but they shouldn't need to camp in them, unless they are planning on a summit bivy.

2 words.... sun hoody...

The hunting gear company KUIU makes a thin 3/4 length merino wool legging that has full side zips, so you can start with them on under your soft shells pants in the AM and as it warms up you can quickly drop your harness and soft shells and zip them off without having to take off your boots or crampons. Takes me about 1min to do and i love them! They come in a few different thicknesses and a synthetic version 

https://www.kuiu.com/shop/pants-shorts/base-layer-bottoms/

The forecast for Rainier's summit this weekend is 5-10 deg F on Sunday, when many parties would be summiting.  I don't know OPs exact timeline, but this weekend and next week could be it?

Dressing for 0-28F could be VERY reasonable for a late June climb, like OP was asking about.  Of course, it could also be absolutely broiling hot too, I was up there once on the solstice and we bailed on our route because it didn't get below freezing overnight even at our 11k camp!  No one can really tell you what to expect for weather a month in advance, but the collected averages that are shown in the NPS route brief are about the best you're going to get.

A good weather resource for Rainier: https://a.atmos.washington.edu/data/rainier_report.html

What it really comes down to is that June, along with essentially all months, can be pretty volatile temp wise. You’ll almost certainly experience a big range of temps between the trailhead to the summit. So yeah, check the weather frequently before heading out, and pack accordingly.

Enjoy it and be safe out there! 

Thanks for the replies everyone! I appreciate all the help   

Kyle Tarry wrote:

The forecast for Rainier's summit this weekend is 5-10 deg F on Sunday, when many parties would be summiting.  I don't know OPs exact timeline, but this weekend and next week could be it?

Dressing for 0-28F could be VERY reasonable for a late June climb, like OP was asking about.  Of course, it could also be absolutely broiling hot too, I was up there once on the solstice and we bailed on our route because it didn't get below freezing overnight even at our 11k camp!  No one can really tell you what to expect for weather a month in advance, but the collected averages that are shown in the NPS route brief are about the best you're going to get.

That's projected wind speeds.  Freezing level for Sat/Sun is 16000, which means  the temp at the summit will be above freezing - and the climbing might be goopy :(   

Luke S wrote:

That's projected wind speeds.  Freezing level for Sat/Sun is 16000, which means  the temp at the summit will be above freezing - and the climbing might be goopy :(   

This was the forecast for last weekend, not this coming weekend.  The photo is cut off, but it was forecast to be pretty cold on Saturday, at least that's my crappy memory.  This coming weekend is definitely going to be ridiculously, unseasonably hot.  I suspect most locals will avoid mountaineering in general...