September 24, 2004, Muir snowfield
9/24/04
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
2256
0
I meant to post this last night for the benefit of weekenders, but events conspired against that...
Mike and I left Paradise at 9:00 on this beautiful day (the construction delays were minimal). The meadows were giving off that unique smell of fall, and although it looked like snow had crushed some of the meadow plants, we didn't run into any new snow until above Pan Point. As we were putting on skis/skins at Pebble Creek we met Eric from Olympia, and with interesting conversations to distract us we were suddenly at Camp Muir - 3:10 from the parking lot, not bad for a bunch of old guys. Camp Muir was pleasantly deserted, and though sunny, a cool breeze was promising that the snow would be fast. Just as we were leaving Muir we met Andyski, and part way down we stopped and visited with Bill (131 consecutive months) and Phil (1 consecutive month).
The turns were great! The Muir snowfield was definitely not "tracked out". Most tracks from earlier in the week were just marks in the snow, neither raised nor sunken. The snow surface was smooth and fast, well frozen underneath with a 1-2" softened corn-like surface in most places, with a couple of areas of barely softened and a couple of areas of 4-5" softened. The rock band around 8000' was bridged by new snow in at least two places, and we were able to ski right down to Pebble Creek. With continuing weather like this, the lower extent of the new snow coverage should slowly creep upward each day, but above 8000' it looks like the coverage should last quite a while.
Here's a photo from the way up:
This was the first time I have ever skied twice in September - it has never been worthwhile to do so before. Please, Ullr, more of the same for October!
Mike and I left Paradise at 9:00 on this beautiful day (the construction delays were minimal). The meadows were giving off that unique smell of fall, and although it looked like snow had crushed some of the meadow plants, we didn't run into any new snow until above Pan Point. As we were putting on skis/skins at Pebble Creek we met Eric from Olympia, and with interesting conversations to distract us we were suddenly at Camp Muir - 3:10 from the parking lot, not bad for a bunch of old guys. Camp Muir was pleasantly deserted, and though sunny, a cool breeze was promising that the snow would be fast. Just as we were leaving Muir we met Andyski, and part way down we stopped and visited with Bill (131 consecutive months) and Phil (1 consecutive month).
The turns were great! The Muir snowfield was definitely not "tracked out". Most tracks from earlier in the week were just marks in the snow, neither raised nor sunken. The snow surface was smooth and fast, well frozen underneath with a 1-2" softened corn-like surface in most places, with a couple of areas of barely softened and a couple of areas of 4-5" softened. The rock band around 8000' was bridged by new snow in at least two places, and we were able to ski right down to Pebble Creek. With continuing weather like this, the lower extent of the new snow coverage should slowly creep upward each day, but above 8000' it looks like the coverage should last quite a while.
Here's a photo from the way up:
This was the first time I have ever skied twice in September - it has never been worthwhile to do so before. Please, Ullr, more of the same for October!
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