Camp Muir

{{For|the United States Marine Corps base|Hill 55}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox NRHP | name = Camp Muir | nrhp_type = hd | nocat = yes | image = File:RMI buildings on the west side of Camp Muir (6 October 2024).jpg | caption = Western side of Camp Muir | nearest_city = | coordinates = {{coord|46|50|8|N|121|43|53|W|display=inline,title}} | locmapin = Washington | area = | architect = | architecture = | added = March 13, 1991 | mpsub = Mt. Rainier National Park MPS | refnum = 91000176<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2008a}}</ref> }}

'''Camp Muir''', named for the naturalist John Muir, is a high-altitude refuge for climbers in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington, accessed through the Paradise Entrance. The shelters comprising the camp are situated at a {{convert|10188|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/upload/Climbing-Mar13-locked-PDF-version-for-web-and-sharepoint.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2014-09-02 |archive-date=2014-09-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903132025/http://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/upload/Climbing-Mar13-locked-PDF-version-for-web-and-sharepoint.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> elevation between the Muir Snowfield and the Cowlitz Glacier on Mount Rainier. Camp Muir is the most-used high camp for those attempting to climb to the mountain's summit. Camp Muir is between the Nisqually and Paradise Glaciers.

thumb|left|Camp Muir from the northeast thumb|left|The snowfield to the south of Camp Muir, looking down towards Paradise

The larger "public" shelter hut was built in 1921 to plans supervised by Daniel Ray Hull of the National Park Service. The {{convert|12|ft|m|adj=on}} by {{convert|25|ft|m|adj=on}} single-story one-room shelter was initially constructed of dry-laid stone. It replaced a smaller shelter which was used as a shelter for climbing guides. A dedication plaque at the entrance to the large shelter plaque reads "Erected in memory of John Muir, 1921."<ref name=pnwro1>{{cite web|last=Harvey|first=David|title=Pacific Northwest Regional Office Inventory: Camp Muir Public Shelter|publisher=National Park Service|date=September 30, 1982}}</ref> The guide shelter was built in 1916 by a climbing organization, the Mountaineers. It was designed by Seattle architect Carl F. Gould, a member of the Mountaineers and was approved by Park Service director Stephen T. Mather. The single-story guide shelter measures about {{convert|10|ft|m}} by {{convert|24|ft|m}}, and is the oldest stone structure in the park.<ref name=pnwro2>{{cite web|last=Harvey|first=David|title=Pacific Northwest Regional Office Inventory: Camp Muir Guide Shelter|publisher=National Park Service|date=September 30, 1982}}</ref> Two stone pit toilets were built at Camp Muir in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, one of which survives and is used for storage.<ref name=pnwro3>{{cite web|last=Harvey|first=David|title=Pacific Northwest Regional Office Inventory: Camp Muir Pit Toilet|publisher=National Park Service|date=September 30, 1982}}</ref>

There are 12 approaches to the summit from Paradise. Camp Muir provides 7 of those. Of the 7, 4 are grade II, 2 are grade III, and 1 is grade II-III.<ref>Mike Gauthier, Mount Rainier: A Climbing Guide, The Mountaineers Books, {{ISBN|0-89886-956-0}}</ref>

Camp Muir was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 13, 1991. It is part of the Mount Rainier National Historic Landmark District, which encompasses the entire park and which recognizes the park's inventory of Park Service-designed rustic architecture.<ref name="nris"/>

==Climate== {{Weather box |location = Camp Muir (2016-2024) |single line = Y | Jan high F = 22.2 | Feb high F = 22.9 | Mar high F = 22.4 | Apr high F = 28.4 | May high F = 36.4 | Jun high F = 39.7 | Jul high F = 47.4 | Aug high F = 50.8 | Sep high F = 41.8 | Oct high F = 35.5 | Nov high F = 25.7 | Dec high F = 22.4 |year high F = |Jan mean F = 16.9 |Feb mean F = 15.8 |Mar mean F = 15.8 |Apr mean F = 21.7 |May mean F = 30.0 |Jun mean F = 33.9 |Jul mean F = 42.3 |Aug mean F = 45.3 |Sep mean F = 36.5 |Oct mean F = 30.4 |Nov mean F = 20.3 |Dec mean F = 16.5 |year mean F = | Jan low F = 11.8 | Feb low F = 9.0 | Mar low F = 10.2 | Apr low F = 16.1 | May low F = 24.9 | Jun low F = 28.7 | Jul low F = 38.0 | Aug low F = 40.6 | Sep low F = 31.7 | Oct low F = 25.3 | Nov low F = 15.0 | Dec low F = 10.8 |year low F = |Jan record high F = 41.0 |Feb record high F = 47.7 |Mar record high F = 53.6 |Apr record high F = 60.1 |May record high F = 53.9 |Jun record high F = 66.5 |Jul record high F = 66.8 |Aug record high F = 68.6 |Sep record high F = 62.7 |Oct record high F = 57.0 |Nov record high F = 51.3 |Dec record high F = 45.0 |year record high F = |Jan record low F = -8.8 |Feb record low F = -12.1 |Mar record low F = -5.5 |Apr record low F = -3.4 |May record low F = 4.8 |Jun record low F = 11.2 |Jul record low F = 22.9 |Aug record low F = 22.1 |Sep record low F = 11.9 |Oct record low F = 4.4 |Nov record low F = -3.8 |Dec record low F = -4.8 |year record low F = |Jan humidity = 76.1 |Feb humidity = 75.5 |Mar humidity = 73.0 |Apr humidity = 63.5 |May humidity = 63.1 |Jun humidity = 58.1 |Jul humidity = 44.2 |Aug humidity = 44.0 |Sep humidity = 55.8 |Oct humidity = 63.0 |Nov humidity = 72.4 |Dec humidity = 71.7 |year humidity = |source 1 = NWAC<ref>{{cite web | url = https://nwac.us/data-portal/ | title = NWAC Weather Data Portal | publisher = Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center | accessdate = April 14, 2024 }}</ref> }}

{{Weather box |location = Camp Muir 46.8362 N, 121.7335 W, Elevation: {{cvt|10187|ft}} (1991–2020 normals, interpolated) |single line = y |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation inch = 20.36 |Feb precipitation inch = 16.12 |Mar precipitation inch = 15.76 |Apr precipitation inch = 9.74 |May precipitation inch = 5.05 |Jun precipitation inch = 4.24 |Jul precipitation inch = 1.44 |Aug precipitation inch = 1.81 |Sep precipitation inch = 4.47 |Oct precipitation inch = 10.82 |Nov precipitation inch = 18.05 |Dec precipitation inch = 18.88 |source=PRISM Climate Group<ref>{{cite web |url= http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/ |title= PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University |publisher= PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University |access-date= October 4, 2023 |quote= To find the table data on the PRISM website, start by clicking ''Coordinates'' (under ''Location''); copy ''Latitude'' and ''Longitude figures'' from top of table; click ''Zoom to location''; click ''Precipitation''; click ''30-year normals, 1991-2020''; click ''800m''; click ''Interpolate grid cell values''; click ''Retrieve Time Series'' button.}}</ref> }}

==References== {{commons category}} {{Reflist}}

Category:Buildings and structures in Pierce County, Washington Category:Rustic architecture in Washington (state) Category:Buildings and structures in Mount Rainier National Park Category:Park buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington (state) Category:National Register of Historic Places in Mount Rainier National Park Category:John Muir