On June 20th, 2026 four members of the Port of Seattle Fire Rope Rescue Team took their training to new heights. In a powerful testament to their dedication and teamwork, the A-Shift crew, Firefighters Donnahue, Dettmer, Wilson, and Reyes, climbed through the night to summit the 14,411-foot peak just before sunrise.
While the United States is home to dozens of "14ers" (peaks exceeding 14,000 feet), Mount Rainier stands entirely alone as the only one in Washington State. What makes this particular summit so incredible is how it rises. Unlike many 14ers in places like Colorado, which sit on high-elevation plateaus and require a few thousand feet of climbing. Rainier rises dramatically almost from sea level. This massive topographic prominence means the team had to endure a grueling, full-elevation grind over complex glacial terrain. Congratulations to the team on this incredible achievement that truly showcases the grit, endurance, and peak performance of our department!
