Home > Trip Reports > April 24-25, 2004, Nisqually Glacier, MRNP

April 24-25, 2004, Nisqually Glacier, MRNP

4/24/04
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
4699
7
Posted by JW on 5/5/04 8:45am
Mountaineer's Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue feild trip:   Practiced near Alta Vista on Saturday , went out on the Nisqually  early Sunday.  Crevasses still well covered but managed to find some holes to hang in. Skiing would have been most excellent bout 9:00am. 1/2 inch corn over firm base.  Oh well duty calls.  Photos @ http://community.webshots.com/album/140484871aknTOC
Great Photog work, Jerry.  And thanks for the help.

nice pics Jerry, the angels shot ought to be made into posters and T-shirts.

With perfect weather conditions for this weekend, we did have to compromise with not so perfect ski conditions late Sunday afternoon.  It was another great GT class with talented instructors and students.  What a great way to "hang out".   ;D

Jerry: Great set of pictures!

Ron: When is the next class? I'd like to participate . . .

gregL

Greg- The Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue Course for Skiers and Snowboarders is conducted once a year by the Seattle Mountaineers.  The course, led by Darryl Olson (Darryl on TAY), consists of 4 weekly evening workshops and finishes with a two day weekend field trip which usually happens on Mt Rainier before the first of May.

It takes a lot of volunteer instructor/helpers to pull it off (there is usually around a 2/1 ratio of students to instructors). The instructors must also attend two additional workshops prior to the beginning of the annual course.  Graduates are encourged to return each year to help instruct.  The course just keeps getting better every year and if the truth be known the instructors really learn more than the students  :)  

That's the main reason many of us (JW, Darryl, MadDog, sag, kam, skip, Robie, J-Lady, GerryH, Amar, others that slip my mind due to "senior moments" plus a plethora of lurkers that are too shy to post) keep going back to help year after year... that, plus it's also a great place to get to know competent partners to go ski/ride the glaciers with, with a reasonable degree of safely.

If you're interested in going next year you can keep an eye on the Mounties' Ski/Snowboard website
http://www.mountaineers.org/skiing/
for the course description and up and coming dates, when they become available.

Jerry - thanks for taking and posting the great pictures and for instructing.  

Questions concerning the Mountaineers' Glacier Skiing/Snowboarding and Crevasse Rescue course can be addressed to me.  

Dale Rankin started the course about 15 years ago.  It is intended for those with competent backcountry skiing or snowboarding skills who desire to safely travel on glaciers and to perform crevasse rescues.  This course includes 4 work shops and an overnight field trip at Mt. Rainier where the students will practice roped travel and crevasse rescues.  Completion of this course prepares you to ski or snowboard on Mountaineer trips rated M2G and M3G.  The course provides instruction on: route finding, traveling and camping on glaciers; belaying; prusiking; and crevasse rescue systems.


Ron & Darryl: Thanks for the information, I'll make a mental note for next year!

Reply to this TR

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april-24-25-2004-nisqually-glacier-mrnp
JW
2004-05-05 15:45:09