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Exploring Mt. Rainier with University Shop Director
Andrea Flood 03'

On Jan. 27, University Shop director Frank L. Henninger '99 M.A. presented a lecture on his three guided climbs to Seattle's Mt. Rainier. His presentation, "Exploring Mt. Rainier," featured over 100 slides and a video production depicting the diverse facets of the mountain.

The event was organized by the students of the Villanova Adventure Group and focused on Henninger's experiences as an amateur mountaineer. Henninger is a veteran of three guided, JanSport Inc.-sponsored climbs with Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. and has three times attempted to climb to the summit of Mt. Rainier, located in the Cascade Range. He declared them as the "most magnetic mountains in North America."

Henninger opened his presentation with an inspirational quote from John Muir, noted naturalist, which read, "Walk away quietly in any direction and taste the freedom of the mountaineer.Climb the mountains and get their good tidings."

Prior to beginning his slide show, Henninger described his own fascination and reverence for the "sacred ground," of mountains and his personal admiration of the wilderness. 

Henninger's presentation was focused on explaining his own love of mountains, yet he also hoped to inspire Villanova students to engage in similar activities. He remarked that students are "usually surprised to meet someone of my age and profession involved in such adventures. They love seeing my photos of the mountain, its crevasses and ridges, and Camp Muir, and dreaming about how to climb themselves. The fact that a middle-aged, mostly sedentary guy can do these things always motivates the young to know that they could as well."

Through his business relations with JanSport Inc., Henninger was first invited to participate on their annual dealer climb of Mt. Rainier in the summer of 1999. He has since joined the company for climbs in the summers of 2000 and 2002. Approximately 10,000 people annually attempt to reach Mt. Rainier's summit, however; only about half succeed.

Henninger's presentation stressed the importance of training and preparation for his climbs. He also emphasized the Rainier Mountaineering philosophy of, "Safety first, summit second." Henninger detailed the vast preparatory training he experienced and remarked that "you cannot over-train for this climb." Without adherence to a regimented training program you will not be adequately and safely prepared for a climb.

Mt. Rainier is located 45 miles southeast of Seattle, Wash., and is a dormant, although not extinct, volcano. It is often referred to as the crown jewel of the Cascade Range. Its summit is located at Columbia Crest, and at 14,411 feet remains the fifth highest mountain in the contiguous United States. Each winter, Mt. Rainier receives 65 to 100 feet of snow, which amounts to almost 1,200 inches annually.

Henninger has also recently written a book titled, Compass Points: Finding a Midlife Bearing on Mt. Rainier. It is a narrative describing his three expeditions and mountaineering enterprises.