This weekend President Mark Becker and a team of 11 climbers from Georgia State University summited Mt. Rainier, the 14,410-foot peak in Washington, after months of training. They were the first group to summit after more than a week of bad weather conditions on the mountain.
The four-day climb along Mt. Rainier's Disappointment Cleaver Route was led by President Becker, an avid climber, and Carson Tortorige from Georgia State's Touch the Earth program. Photo by Kristen Varjas.
The team started with a one-day mountaineering day school on the slower slopes of the mountain on June 22 before climbing to Camp Muir June 23. Photo by Carson Tortorige.
Because of frequent storms and the physical demands of the climb, it's unusual for an entire group to make it to the summit. Photo by Kristen Varjas.
Congratulations to Dr. Becker and the entire Georgia State team: Carson Tortorige, Nate Anthony, Sharon Murphy, Michelle Brattain, Lindsay Gressard, John Horgan, Caroline Lombard, Joe Reinkenmeyer, Robert Toomy, Kristen Varjas and Todd Williams.