Home > Trip Reports > April 23, 2012, Nisqually Chutes

April 23, 2012, Nisqually Chutes

4/23/12
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
6220
10
Posted by silaswild on 4/23/12 7:35am
Joined a dozen folks on this tour today. After a low of 50 degrees at Paradise, conditions were already soft slushy at 930.  Oddly the gate was closed until 907am, why?

There is enough snow that we were able to ski a new line for me, skiers right of the main gully, more west facing.  Like the weekenders reported, snow was grabby on all less steep slopes. Warm and sunny lunch and cold beer at the bridge parking lot. The last bit before the bridge could soon require a scramble around open water.

http://vimeo.com/40910308
Zach and I skied that chute to skier's right last June - but not on purpose.  We hit a cloud deck at about 8000 feet and ended up one chute too far west.  But it went, and we now call it the "nisqually chute white-out variation".

Hi, Silas.

Members of my party skied that same line on 4.21, reporting it to be pleasurable. I have yet to ski that exact variation but might do so in the near future. How was the debris situation?

Wet slides had left some chunks on Saturday.

Cheers!
Jessie

Thanks for the cold Rainier in the parking lot Silas!
Good to see you.

author=jesski link=topic=24577.msg103850#msg103850 date=1335229019]
How was the debris situation?
Wet slides had left some chunks on Saturday.

Cheers!
Jessie


Mostly smooth slop with a few chunks here and there...

Fun day!
Great to meet everyone!

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.438804292803515.122026.100000218445455&type=3&l=8496320839

drove up from cougar, left the parking lot at 1133 for a reported 3hr 43 min ski to muir; the venerable Dod leading the charge:

I second the thanks for the most fitting refreshment for the moment! Ever!
Nice meeting you all, what a great area. I shall return!

More photos...

what acrew!!

Notice how in every photo Silas posted, Zach is wearing less and less?

my obligatory spring comment...

I see nipple!!

Thanks again for the ice old Rainier Silas and friends! Nothing better than a cold one after roasting in the chute. Hope to see y'all out in the hills

Some video from the day...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrEQvh_rnTc&feature=colike

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april-23-2012-nisqually-chutes
silaswild
2012-04-23 14:35:04