July 3, 2009, Mt. Rainier, Nisqually Chute

7/3/09

WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)

2931

3

Posted by kenhard on 7/4/09 8:36am

It is last call for the chute this year, but it is still skiable, though very thin at top. On a follow-up run I saw several people carrying their skis down from Pan point, and grumbling about conditions. There is still a nice face skiable west of Pebble creek to the Nisqually, and east of Pan to Edith basin, and to parking lot without having to take off the skis.

7/6/09 6:27am

gregsimon

If you're wanting to know if the entrance to the chute is totally gone, you can just barely see it (when visibility allows) on the Paradise webcam.

7/10/09 9:08am

kenhard

author=GregSimon link=topic=13781.msg57615#msg57615 date=1246915231]
If you're wanting to know if the entrance to the chute is totally gone, you can just barely see it (when visibility allows) on the Paradise webcam.

Good tip. Thanks Greg.

7/12/09 11:10am

cascadesfreak

Still skiable today (July 11th), but just barely. The chute entrance is now melted out (short "portage" on volcanic rubble to narrowly continuous snow in the upper chute). Lots of jump turns and some side-slipping on sun-craters in the upper third of the chute, along with dodging protruding rocks. Mid- and lower portions of the chute remain in much better shape (much smoother on skiers-right). Guessing the snow within the upper chute may be discontinuous within a few days. Muir snowfield looked deeply sun-cupped.
More photos posted here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/chriscass1/NisquallyChutesSkiMtRainierJuly112009?authkey=Gv1sRgCNGXn5uhluK2iQE#

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