Home > Trip Reports > December 7, 2004, Crystal Mountain

December 7, 2004, Crystal Mountain

12/7/04
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
2832
6
Posted by gregL on 12/7/04 5:43am


We took a quick trip to Crystal Mountain today, thinking that we could spare our skis by sticking to the regular runs, and were only partly right.

Parked at the very edge of the heated brick patio without paying the upper lot tarif, and skinned literally from the car, passing assorted patrol personnel and lifties on the way, but no other skiers/boarders. We followed the cat track all the way up to the top of REX, where as previous posters have reported, the door to the heated (very) patrol shack was open (but not the restaurant). Even the toilet seats were warm! Had lunch sharing the space with some employees who were complaining about being asked to make repairs that could have been made during the summer.

For our post-dining pleasure Crystal dished up a wind-affected powder cocktail, unfortunately served "on the rocks" - Even at best, there is 18-20" of fresh over a base of basically nothing (some aspects had a few inches of refrozen granular snow underneath, but not enough to protect bases from rocks). If I didn't have a pair of rock skis before . . .

North and NNE aspects were better, with concavities in Green Valley getting a bit of wind-deposited snow to help float the skis. The lower pitch after the traverse over was primo (witness photo above), no wind effect or rocks.

Nevertheless, we yo-yo'ed Green Valley 3 times before heading back over to Lucky Shot to head down. Made the mistake of trying our luck on Shot #2 off of the Lucky Shot cat track where we pretty much hit ground or wood on every turn, not pretty. The bottom two faces on Lucky Shot were actually quite good.

Bottom Line, NOT ENOUGH SNOW, but that may change in the next day or so, it was really starting to come down as we departed.

Actually, that was a great report.  I have a weekday season pass for Crystal and have been anxious to get started.  Thought about skinning up Crystal and you just changed my mind, I'll stick to Paradise (looks like it might be nice next weekend, Dec 11/12).



For our post-dining pleasure Crystal dished up a wind-affected powder cocktail, unfortunately served "on the rocks" - Even at best, there is 18-20" of fresh over a base of basically nothing (some aspects had a few inches of refrozen granular snow underneath, but not enough to protect bases from rocks). If I didn't have a pair of rock skis before . . .


If you don't mind reliving the horror, where were you when you encountered the condition quoted above?

Hey nice pic gregL.  It looks like it was taken in an area skiers left of W. Face (slope right behind Iceburg).  Looks like you found some goods on those north aspects in the valley too.  Also found some landmines.  Anyway directly below the cat track that circles the valley is lined with rocks.  Anyway nothing a little p-tex can't fix right.  

BTW did you find any signs of instability?

Hi Eric, the worst rocks and most deceptive "smooth" looking run was off the top of the Green Valley chair (should have known better); straight down from REX and below the Lucky Shot traverse were actually pretty good. The picture was taken from the flat area under the lift in Green Valley on the "main run" - West Face looked a little boney.

All the fresh snow was pretty well consolidated and sticking well to what was below it.

Nice photo Greg!  Powder on the rocks at Crystal, been there, done that, didn't get the shirt, but still have the remnants of owie in the base even though the skis have been through a stone grind. Sounds like you had a fun time though.

BTW -

12/8/2004
Crystal opens Saturday!!
Mother Nature just hit us hard with 26" of new snow overnight!! Crystal will open Saturday, December 11th with Chinook Express, Forest Queen, Rainier Express & Green Valley lifts in operation. See you on the slopes...


26" should just about do it - at least until lunch on Saturday . . .

Reply to this TR

1940
december-7-2004-crystal-mountain
gregL
2004-12-07 13:43:10