Jun 4-5, 2011, Fuhrer Finger, MRNP - Video
6/4/11
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
1367
2
Roman, Matt, and I were one of a handful of groups that decided to ski the Finger this weekend. We benefited greatly from the team that went up Saturday. The info they shared helped us out a great deal.
Our trip spanned two days, camping at 9,200 Saturday. Sunday we departed at 2am (with our ski crampon snafu right out of the gate it was more like 2:30). We reached our turn around point at 12,500ft on the Upper Nisqually at 11:30am. We figured with the heat we didn't want to be skiing in the late afternoon, and our pace would have ensured that if we continued. A couple other teams that passed us as we exited the Finger continued on up.
The descent was great, the crust softened up for us. We worked our way back the way of our up track. The best snow was probably right above the Finger. There plenty of great turns to be had in the Finger, the Hour Glass was pretty chopped up and still a little crusty. Back at 9,200 we picked up our overnight gear, and skied back out the Lower Nisqually. Right about the time we hit the open crevasses the snow got real sloppy. We were back at the car drinking a beer at 3pm when we saw a couple specks high up on the Upper Nisqually working their way down.
Below is a link to a video I made of the trip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXQKjKmT_9g
A longer trip report with pictures can be seen here:
http://www.thealpineobsession.com/fuhrer-finger.html
Our trip spanned two days, camping at 9,200 Saturday. Sunday we departed at 2am (with our ski crampon snafu right out of the gate it was more like 2:30). We reached our turn around point at 12,500ft on the Upper Nisqually at 11:30am. We figured with the heat we didn't want to be skiing in the late afternoon, and our pace would have ensured that if we continued. A couple other teams that passed us as we exited the Finger continued on up.
The descent was great, the crust softened up for us. We worked our way back the way of our up track. The best snow was probably right above the Finger. There plenty of great turns to be had in the Finger, the Hour Glass was pretty chopped up and still a little crusty. Back at 9,200 we picked up our overnight gear, and skied back out the Lower Nisqually. Right about the time we hit the open crevasses the snow got real sloppy. We were back at the car drinking a beer at 3pm when we saw a couple specks high up on the Upper Nisqually working their way down.
Below is a link to a video I made of the trip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXQKjKmT_9g
A longer trip report with pictures can be seen here:
http://www.thealpineobsession.com/fuhrer-finger.html
Glad the info helped. You missed the fun of the Ridge Route with the 50-60+ degree wall... Figured it'd be less hair raising and faster taking the easy route. Hope Matt enjoyed the bivy spot .
Absolutely. Our researched before hand looked like going climbers left (Ridge route) was the way to go vs traversing the Upper Nisqually. I dont think anybody in our group was in the mood to be on 50-60degree ice on Sunday :) 40-45 suited us just fine.
Matt enjoyed the bivy site, less windy than our tent location. Only problem was his sleeping pad sprung a leak. So he wasn't as comfy as he would have liked.
Matt enjoyed the bivy site, less windy than our tent location. Only problem was his sleeping pad sprung a leak. So he wasn't as comfy as he would have liked.
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