November 22, 2003, Nisqually Couloir, MRNP
11/22/03
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
2227
0
Given the forecast for sun and fresh snow I sold my tickets to the Apple Cup.
We left SODO at 6, got to Longmire in perfect time to WAIT for the park service to figure out how to open the gate. Gate opened at 8:45 and we were the second car to the top.
Forecast be damned, it was snowing pretty heavily, but you could see the sun up a bit higher. We left the parking lot and headed up at 9:30. Since there were quite a few people behind us we opted to skip a break and go to the top of the Couloir in one push. (Note, yours truly, the lazy one, voted for a stop earlier). We left the main Muir Snowfield at about 7900 and traversed left to the entrance to the Couloir at 8300. Soon after our track veered of the main route everyone behind us switch-backed and didn't follow us. We would have to route to ourselves...
The snow was bonded to the ice/rain crust really well, but was thin in spots at the entrance. About 200-300 feet down it got REALLY, REALLY sweet. The snow wasn't as deep or powdery as the snow over in Edith Creek (more later) but with the setting and the angle it was SWEET. It's very nice to get some snow over the hood this early in the year. Face shots were had by all. Did I mention that it was really good? Towards the bottom of the route the weather closed in and visibility went to practically nothing.
After a quick lunch, we traversed our way up and out of the run. We weren't able to find the normal ramp out, but we made do with an alternate route that put us out just above Pan Face. Aside from a bit of duck-bill front pointing up a steep snow slope and through a few trees (hmmm the smell of pine on your gloves) the route worked well.
We had planned to go up and over Pan Point and drop into Edith creek, but with the visibility in the crapper we just cruised home. We did drop down left towards the generator/pump house in Edith basin, great snow, but couldn't see a thing.
Back to the cars by 3 and on the road with time to listen to the Huskies and the Cougs.
We left SODO at 6, got to Longmire in perfect time to WAIT for the park service to figure out how to open the gate. Gate opened at 8:45 and we were the second car to the top.
Forecast be damned, it was snowing pretty heavily, but you could see the sun up a bit higher. We left the parking lot and headed up at 9:30. Since there were quite a few people behind us we opted to skip a break and go to the top of the Couloir in one push. (Note, yours truly, the lazy one, voted for a stop earlier). We left the main Muir Snowfield at about 7900 and traversed left to the entrance to the Couloir at 8300. Soon after our track veered of the main route everyone behind us switch-backed and didn't follow us. We would have to route to ourselves...
The snow was bonded to the ice/rain crust really well, but was thin in spots at the entrance. About 200-300 feet down it got REALLY, REALLY sweet. The snow wasn't as deep or powdery as the snow over in Edith Creek (more later) but with the setting and the angle it was SWEET. It's very nice to get some snow over the hood this early in the year. Face shots were had by all. Did I mention that it was really good? Towards the bottom of the route the weather closed in and visibility went to practically nothing.
After a quick lunch, we traversed our way up and out of the run. We weren't able to find the normal ramp out, but we made do with an alternate route that put us out just above Pan Face. Aside from a bit of duck-bill front pointing up a steep snow slope and through a few trees (hmmm the smell of pine on your gloves) the route worked well.
We had planned to go up and over Pan Point and drop into Edith creek, but with the visibility in the crapper we just cruised home. We did drop down left towards the generator/pump house in Edith basin, great snow, but couldn't see a thing.
Back to the cars by 3 and on the road with time to listen to the Huskies and the Cougs.
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