Book excerpt: Many of the most accomplished U.S. alpinists have learned their skills on Mount Rainier. And many of the rest of us dream of one day standing on its majestic summit. Whether you're one of these dreamers or an aspiring pro, you need Mount Rainier: A Climbing Guide, written by Mike Gauthier, the park's former Lead Climbing Ranger. This new edition is a major upgrade of the bestselling guidebook, which remains a standard for other climbing guides. New features include an expanded section on glaciers, including how to understand and surmount them, as well as new information on search-and-rescue and additional historical details throughout. Gauthier has also added beta on all major ski routes, as this sport has become a favorite on the mountain.