11 Feb 10, Mazama Ridge, Paradise, MRNP
2/15/10
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
2529
2
Not much of a report; we arrived under good visibility and began a climb from 4 Xing up to Mazama Ridge with the goal of McClure Rock or beyond. By the time we got to the back bowl the ceiling was dropping, a storm was moving in, and visibility was worsening. So we called it a day.
The reason for this report is that we found upto 7 inches of fairly wet snow (such that when compacted underfoot between boot and binding it became saturated and turned to ice) and that overlaid a thick, saturated, breakable crust. The wet snow was sliding on the crust and when skiing down even my 187 cm/95-mm waist skis were breaking thru the crust. In other words it kind of sucked. More importantly, we weren't about to go on any steep slopes.
The reason for this report is that we found upto 7 inches of fairly wet snow (such that when compacted underfoot between boot and binding it became saturated and turned to ice) and that overlaid a thick, saturated, breakable crust. The wet snow was sliding on the crust and when skiing down even my 187 cm/95-mm waist skis were breaking thru the crust. In other words it kind of sucked. More importantly, we weren't about to go on any steep slopes.
Thanks Andy ,
We bagged our hut trip,Took the train to Seattle and spent the day walking in the rain and checking out the RV show. Looking at the forcast and your report I think I'll bag tomorrow as well.
We bagged our hut trip,Took the train to Seattle and spent the day walking in the rain and checking out the RV show. Looking at the forcast and your report I think I'll bag tomorrow as well.
We went up on Saturday the 13th and conditions were not that great periodic white outs and several inches of new followed by rain and sleet. Spent Sat. and Sun nights on top. About midnight on Sun it cleared up and we had a great day Monday http://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7981342link to TR on nwhikers
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