June 11, 2011, Mt Ruth (MRNP) Circumnav
6/11/11
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
1040
0
Dad took a weekend off bike riding to go for an early Father's Day tour. We couldn't decide on Goat Island or Ruth or Burroughs, but in the end we went for Mt Ruth.
Parked at White River CG with lots of snow on the ground! Skinned from the parking lot led to skinning across dirt trail patches. Eventually we were carrying our skis in hand up the trail... Back on the skins, we had enough and crossed the Inter Fork at 4900'. Couldn't decide on whether to drop down to the Emmons or skin with the hordes up the Inter, so we just went up the divide instead. It was a bit thick in places, but really not bad. Made the 6700' saddle and decided to ski down and take the Emmons up.
Making it up the Inter-Emmons Divide.
Along the divide at 6700' level, skied left towards Emmons.
Skinned up a very filled in Emmons, then turned climbers right just past Ruth. Booted up 3-400' to gain the saddle at Camp Curtis. Since we both like to scramble in our ski boots we scrambled around on the rocks to get up to the top of the ridge. Topped out on the peak just uphill of Ruth (~8800') and decided to ski down the Interglacier. Fantastic day!
Topping out and getting ready to ski
Looking down the Interglacier
First turns
Notes:
Sunshine whole day, lots of sunscreen
Ice ax and ski crampons
10h car-car
Slushy to very slushy
~5500' vert
8800' high point
Parked at White River CG with lots of snow on the ground! Skinned from the parking lot led to skinning across dirt trail patches. Eventually we were carrying our skis in hand up the trail... Back on the skins, we had enough and crossed the Inter Fork at 4900'. Couldn't decide on whether to drop down to the Emmons or skin with the hordes up the Inter, so we just went up the divide instead. It was a bit thick in places, but really not bad. Made the 6700' saddle and decided to ski down and take the Emmons up.
Making it up the Inter-Emmons Divide.
Along the divide at 6700' level, skied left towards Emmons.
Skinned up a very filled in Emmons, then turned climbers right just past Ruth. Booted up 3-400' to gain the saddle at Camp Curtis. Since we both like to scramble in our ski boots we scrambled around on the rocks to get up to the top of the ridge. Topped out on the peak just uphill of Ruth (~8800') and decided to ski down the Interglacier. Fantastic day!
Topping out and getting ready to ski
Looking down the Interglacier
First turns
Notes:
Sunshine whole day, lots of sunscreen
Ice ax and ski crampons
10h car-car
Slushy to very slushy
~5500' vert
8800' high point
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