Mt. St. Helens 5/15-5/16
5/15/08
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
3563
0
Road from Cougar SP is bare for about 1/2 mile, then snow all the way to Marble SP. It was as hot as it gets around there (96 in Cougar) but despite the heat, the snow stayed reasonably supportive. There were no signs of any major avalanches, just a few cornice breaks and one or two wet sluffs. I was expecting to hang out in camp and watch the mountain slide away! I'm not quite sure how the snow was not rotten from the lack of a freeze on Thursday night and maybe even Wednesday too. I do know the wind was blowing 30mph consistantly through the day and night so that may have kept the surface a little cooler. For those who haven't skied MSH, this year looks to be far from over. There is still roughly 6 feet at Marble SP and 10-12 feet at 3500 ft.
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