July 10 Paradise Glacier still looks good
7/15/09
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
2745
3
Haven't skied much recently, but finally finshed getting in six cords of firewood and starting the veggie garden. Took a tour up to Cowlitz Rock with 79 year-old Dorothea today. What an inspiration she is! Gorgeous day. nobody else around, even at the 4th Crossing parking area. The waterfalls are going full blast. We got pretty close to two goats & I was amazed to see raccoon prints in the mud at 7K Cowlitz Saddle. The knee & back-rattling suncups & runnels start to improve above about 6500'.
I scoped it thru binoculars from Cowlitz Rock, and Paradise Glacier might be the longest, cleanest, smoothest, moderate line remaining in the Paradise area. The 'Big Crack' is just starting to open in the usual spot diagonally downward & southward from the small Cowlitz Glacier crevasse field at about 8500'. Recent ski tracks pass right across it, but this cautious geezer would stay south of the 'scree island' at 8300' There are also a few small incipient crevasses near the ice terminus at about 7400'.
Right now, one can find continuous snow cover for about 5000 vf from Muir to within a couple hundred feet of the Valley Road, but this will probably not last past the weekend. At about 6800', just below the Saddle, a couple narrow snow 'isthmuses' with nasty creek holes will soon require short carries. There is also a 200' field of glacier lilies at the crest of Mazama Ridge that requires removing skis or a long, devious bypass to the east. The normal winter route near the summer trail is melted out at the top of the Mazama switchbacks, but the gap in the treeline a hundred yards north ('River Run') is still skiable, tho quite bumpy.
Pinnacle-Castle bowl looks to be still mostly snow; probably another week or two for the slush cup tarn to ripen?
I scoped it thru binoculars from Cowlitz Rock, and Paradise Glacier might be the longest, cleanest, smoothest, moderate line remaining in the Paradise area. The 'Big Crack' is just starting to open in the usual spot diagonally downward & southward from the small Cowlitz Glacier crevasse field at about 8500'. Recent ski tracks pass right across it, but this cautious geezer would stay south of the 'scree island' at 8300' There are also a few small incipient crevasses near the ice terminus at about 7400'.
Right now, one can find continuous snow cover for about 5000 vf from Muir to within a couple hundred feet of the Valley Road, but this will probably not last past the weekend. At about 6800', just below the Saddle, a couple narrow snow 'isthmuses' with nasty creek holes will soon require short carries. There is also a 200' field of glacier lilies at the crest of Mazama Ridge that requires removing skis or a long, devious bypass to the east. The normal winter route near the summer trail is melted out at the top of the Mazama switchbacks, but the gap in the treeline a hundred yards north ('River Run') is still skiable, tho quite bumpy.
Pinnacle-Castle bowl looks to be still mostly snow; probably another week or two for the slush cup tarn to ripen?
Thanks Gary ,
Seems like the right tour to work my self back in from vacation.
most likely try and work it in on sunday.
Seems like the right tour to work my self back in from vacation.
most likely try and work it in on sunday.
Went back today with Ken Z. & Robie. Perhaps they will post photos. Lots of hemming & hawing at my place since the weather didn't look too encouraging. Sure would be nice if the NPS could figure a way to keep the Paradise webcams operating between dawn and 8AM; surely a remote turn-on is possible?
We were able to start skinning in dense fog after a very civilized 200' carry from the 4th Crossing lot. I was surprised how much snow had melted since Friday. It's no longer worth trying to keep skis on at the top of Mazama. It's best to boot a hundred yards east following the NPS wands with little elevation gain until you hit the bare Skyline Trail. One can resume skinning without interuption about another hundred yards up the trail, near the top of the 'Back Bowl'.
Managed to do a 180 in the fog near the old ice caves location until Robie's compass set me straight. My pace picked up a bit as we started breaking into the beautiful wide blue yonder near the Paradise Glacier terminus.
Encountered a sneaky crevasse I had missed with the binocs Friday. It's about 2-3' wide and 100' long at the 8000' rollover right below the 'scree island', and hard to see until you're pretty close. Basically a lower 'en echelon' extension of the 'Big Crack'. Once again, Robie reeled me in at 8200' by pointing out that the soup was rising behind us.
We decided to cash in our winnings and enjoyed about 1500 vf of quality turns for July. I even enjoyed Mr Toad's wild whiteout schuss thru the approach suncraters and two-foot deep runnels. My day was capped by lucking right onto our uptrack at the Stevens Creek crossing, just as I was beginning to doubt my navigation.
Thanks for a great day gents! Wouldn't have gone up today without your stimulating company.
We were able to start skinning in dense fog after a very civilized 200' carry from the 4th Crossing lot. I was surprised how much snow had melted since Friday. It's no longer worth trying to keep skis on at the top of Mazama. It's best to boot a hundred yards east following the NPS wands with little elevation gain until you hit the bare Skyline Trail. One can resume skinning without interuption about another hundred yards up the trail, near the top of the 'Back Bowl'.
Managed to do a 180 in the fog near the old ice caves location until Robie's compass set me straight. My pace picked up a bit as we started breaking into the beautiful wide blue yonder near the Paradise Glacier terminus.
Encountered a sneaky crevasse I had missed with the binocs Friday. It's about 2-3' wide and 100' long at the 8000' rollover right below the 'scree island', and hard to see until you're pretty close. Basically a lower 'en echelon' extension of the 'Big Crack'. Once again, Robie reeled me in at 8200' by pointing out that the soup was rising behind us.
We decided to cash in our winnings and enjoyed about 1500 vf of quality turns for July. I even enjoyed Mr Toad's wild whiteout schuss thru the approach suncraters and two-foot deep runnels. My day was capped by lucking right onto our uptrack at the Stevens Creek crossing, just as I was beginning to doubt my navigation.
Thanks for a great day gents! Wouldn't have gone up today without your stimulating company.
Update july 12
If in doubt follow the guy in Flannel !
If in doubt follow the guy in Flannel !
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