February 7-8, 2004, Glacier Basin, MRNP
2/7/04
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
3815
3
gregm, photomatt and I skied into Glacier Basin this weekend with the assistance of a stinkmobile. The forecast had sounded iffier as the week wore on, but ended up better than expected - we had a good dose of sunshine both days. Unfortunately the wind was very much a factor - big streamers were visible along many peaks and ridgetops, and that had a big impact on the skiing.
Saturday, after arriving in the basin and setting up camp, we spent the afternoon doing runs on bottom part of the north-facing lower shoulder of Ruth. The snow was great powder in the trees, and nice windpacked powder up higher.
Saturday evening was cold, but really bright when the moon came up. Unfortunately by the time we decided to go for a moonlight run, clouds suddenly appeared and blocked out the light! So it was more of a headlamp run.
Sunday morning the weather was good (except for the ever present wind), so we headed for the Interglacier. We only got to around 7500ft before deciding that the avy conditions vs snow quality equation was quite lopsided, and so we descended the breakable crust from there as best we could.
We then tried some of the awesome south-facing glades right above camp - they showed little signs of being wind-affected, and we decided that a little sun crust might be better than major wind-crust. And it was - sun crusted that is - but still really nice terrain.
Snow conditions this weekend were probably better in areas that were less "alpine", but no regrets here, as the scenery, sunshine, and novelty of being here in mid-winter more than made up for the mixed bag of snow conditions.
Saturday, after arriving in the basin and setting up camp, we spent the afternoon doing runs on bottom part of the north-facing lower shoulder of Ruth. The snow was great powder in the trees, and nice windpacked powder up higher.
Saturday evening was cold, but really bright when the moon came up. Unfortunately by the time we decided to go for a moonlight run, clouds suddenly appeared and blocked out the light! So it was more of a headlamp run.
Sunday morning the weather was good (except for the ever present wind), so we headed for the Interglacier. We only got to around 7500ft before deciding that the avy conditions vs snow quality equation was quite lopsided, and so we descended the breakable crust from there as best we could.
We then tried some of the awesome south-facing glades right above camp - they showed little signs of being wind-affected, and we decided that a little sun crust might be better than major wind-crust. And it was - sun crusted that is - but still really nice terrain.
Snow conditions this weekend were probably better in areas that were less "alpine", but no regrets here, as the scenery, sunshine, and novelty of being here in mid-winter more than made up for the mixed bag of snow conditions.
Cool trip, Phil.
How far up could you take the sled?
How far up could you take the sled?
You can take sleds into White River campground. Unfortunately, the first five miles of 410 between the closure and the White River road, is plowed (while we were setting up the sled to go in, a ranger with tele skis on his truck drove up, opened the gate, and drove up the closed road). There was enough new snow on the road surface on the way in Saturday, but coming out, much of it had melted, so we had to stay on the narrow chunky snowbank (in the dark).
This was a neat trip. Thanks for putting it together Phil.
What a difference from the typical Glacier Basin experience. No people. All the peaks are covered with their winter coats. Vegetation fights its way upward from the valley. Above, broad, wind scoured ridge lines gradually steepen into an unbroken expanse of white. The two collide. The trees creep upwards where they can, but in gullies the snow rules and cuts a dramatic path clear to the valley floor. The low sun glances off subtle terrain features and brings the wind sculpted snow to life.
Rainier's rounded, R2D2-esque dome towers above. Huge plumes of snow billow into the sky, their scale unimaginable; eventually the top is engrossed in a swirling lenticular strongly backlit by the sun.
Even though the skiing wasn't superb (it was overall quite good though, don't let Phil fool you) we were able to experience, for just a moment, a familiar place in an unfamiliar way.
What a difference from the typical Glacier Basin experience. No people. All the peaks are covered with their winter coats. Vegetation fights its way upward from the valley. Above, broad, wind scoured ridge lines gradually steepen into an unbroken expanse of white. The two collide. The trees creep upwards where they can, but in gullies the snow rules and cuts a dramatic path clear to the valley floor. The low sun glances off subtle terrain features and brings the wind sculpted snow to life.
Rainier's rounded, R2D2-esque dome towers above. Huge plumes of snow billow into the sky, their scale unimaginable; eventually the top is engrossed in a swirling lenticular strongly backlit by the sun.
Even though the skiing wasn't superb (it was overall quite good though, don't let Phil fool you) we were able to experience, for just a moment, a familiar place in an unfamiliar way.
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