November 28, 2004, Paradise (literally)
11/28/04
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
2742
2
Evading the dearth of skiing options here in Oreghaannn, Rainier's Paradise was the destination. Ann, Andy, Andres Y Ravin and I met in Longmire where the gate opened at 9:15. Under a bluebird sky we headed thru the absurdly low-density sparkling freshiez towards Edith Creek where Andres and Ravin headed for a run down the prominent face below Golden Gates and Ann, Andy and I for a run off the same ridge but further to the east. The super light freshiez were on top of a rain crust which made skinning some times a bit of a wallow, and skiing sometimes a bit scratchy--but still super, super, super fun. After the run down from below GG we went towards Mazama Ridge and then north towards McClure rock. While Andres and Ravin, I believe, skied runs off Mazama ridge. A bit below McClure we de-skinned then connected pitch-by-pitch of blissful freshiez all the way to the Paradise road.
A most fabulous day, and I'm glad to have gotten to see more of Rainier :)
Andy turning in the freshiez:
Edit to add: I just noticed there's two other threads on Paradise for the same day. I hope it's alright I started another.
(Edit to also fix a bazillion typos [typing after driving 3.5hours and drinking 3 Red Bulls is a bit challenging])
A most fabulous day, and I'm glad to have gotten to see more of Rainier :)
Andy turning in the freshiez:
Edit to add: I just noticed there's two other threads on Paradise for the same day. I hope it's alright I started another.
(Edit to also fix a bazillion typos [typing after driving 3.5hours and drinking 3 Red Bulls is a bit challenging])
Saw your lovely S's from Pan Pt, GJ. Thanks for the photo.
It was a beautiful sunny day. 8) Some of the Muir snowfield's new crop must have blown over to the back bowl to get the 6 to 12 inches Snowslut and friends found. I started late and skinned up to 8600 ft, where there was 1 to 3 inches of new fluffy powder on the east against the rocks, with some thin sun crust and wind sculpting and some ice, and 4 to 6 inches of good stuff out in the middle and west. Edges were scraping on ice below at times, but I managed to avoid serious rock collisions (due to luck -- they are out there still just underneath.) There was more and smoother snow down below 6500 due to less wind effect, but more rocks, too.
A cloud bank came up as I went down, but it was gone shortly, and I left Paradise to alpenglow and an icy road down.
It was a beautiful sunny day. 8) Some of the Muir snowfield's new crop must have blown over to the back bowl to get the 6 to 12 inches Snowslut and friends found. I started late and skinned up to 8600 ft, where there was 1 to 3 inches of new fluffy powder on the east against the rocks, with some thin sun crust and wind sculpting and some ice, and 4 to 6 inches of good stuff out in the middle and west. Edges were scraping on ice below at times, but I managed to avoid serious rock collisions (due to luck -- they are out there still just underneath.) There was more and smoother snow down below 6500 due to less wind effect, but more rocks, too.
A cloud bank came up as I went down, but it was gone shortly, and I left Paradise to alpenglow and an icy road down.
Another nice picture and TR, Jeff. Thanks for posting. Super day - Can't wait to get back out there.
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