August 27, 2011, MRNP, Paradise Glacier

Beautiful day to be out.
4th Crossing trail is over half melted out to Van Trump Memorial and muddy near the Valley Road. Paradise Gl trail is partly melted out, with choice of trail or skin.  Since one of us forgot his skins, I'm not saying which one, we both booted for awhile, and one of us kept on booting up to 8100 feet and was a bit more concerned about crevasses than the other one and is going to get a lunch sack that is a different color from his skins sack. But it was solid up there, with snow staying firm despite the sunny days. Less hours of sun, I guess. Suncups were bumpy but little, and raised ski tracks and crevasses not a problem.  One big crack open way to climbers right at about 7800'. Two other skiers went up about when we did for skiing around Cowlitz Rocks, and 3 came down as we were at about 7K, and saw one solo skier. Probably a different story on the Muir snowfield and other trails, judging by parking way down the valley road at 5 PM. Also had the company of a herd of 7 goats, and enjoyed watching them hoof-ski down a steepish slope below us.  >2K continuous vertical with one very short carry -- not bad for end of August.