March 10, 2012, Lane Peak, Zipper (MRNP)
3/10/12
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
2504
1
Three of us packed the car full and headed south, with the goal of working on our winter mountaineering skills and skiing a bit. Settled on climbing the zipper.
Dusting on the road in, was horrible skiing in the trees, just awful. 6 people had the same plan as us, but better alarm clocks so they set a nice boot track up. It was good to run into familiar faces on route. The zipper was well filled in, with a icy runnel (generally boot breakable). I think we were the only group (of the 3) to set pickets the whole climb, as conditions were great for booting.
Summitted and skied off the top and back down the couloir. Challenging but fun snow in the chute, with lots of sluff management between boot deep turns. It was good to finally get that one off my list and to do so in fun winter conditions.
Dusting on the road in, was horrible skiing in the trees, just awful. 6 people had the same plan as us, but better alarm clocks so they set a nice boot track up. It was good to run into familiar faces on route. The zipper was well filled in, with a icy runnel (generally boot breakable). I think we were the only group (of the 3) to set pickets the whole climb, as conditions were great for booting.
Summitted and skied off the top and back down the couloir. Challenging but fun snow in the chute, with lots of sluff management between boot deep turns. It was good to finally get that one off my list and to do so in fun winter conditions.