March 14, 2010, Mt. Rainer, Camp Muir

We gambled that the forecast cloudy skies would hold off just long enough to make the 5 hours we would have to spend in the car worth it.  Jackpot.  The weather was great and the snow was maybe no blower pow, but really nice and well worth the trip.  We left the lot about 10:20 am under blue skies with just a few high clouds.  We could see the system to the west, but the forecast said it would stall off shore and it did.

There were a fair number of other people out enjoying the day.  Snowshoers out numbered the skiers pretty decisively and we silently pittied their slow and inefficient transportation choice.  They seemed happy with the day and we were too.  There were occasionally gusts of wind, but overall it was not bad.  A few hundred feet below Muir the winds picked up and were quickly filling the tracks of those ahead of us.

After a brief stop to refuel and don warm clothes we were off.  The top 500 or so vertical were nice soft powder in unpredictably varying depth.  From 9500' down to about 8000' the snow was great, soft, smooth, buttery.  From 8000' to the car was variable.  In places it was quite nice, in others wind scoured or strewn with death cookies.  Overall it was a great day to be on the mountain.

The wind was picking up as we descended, so I am not sure how long the goods will last.  Stability was great all day.  We played it pretty conservatively, but I saw only one slide and it was off across the Nisqually.  Photos to follow.