August 12, 2012, MRNP, Frying Pan Glacier
8/12/12
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
3569
1
Headed up to ski the Frying Pan Glacier glacier today. It's still in really good condition if you're up for carrying your skis a long way to get turns.
There's no longer continuous snow up to Meany Crest and it's best to just boot pack on snow and/or rock. Continuous snow from Meany Crest to the top of Whitman Crest. The usual large crack has opened up beneath Whitman Crest as well as some smaller ones but if you take a more easterly approach off the top, they're easy to get around. Barely any other cracks visible on the eastern side of the Frying Pan. Great turns for the first 500 feet off the crest before it flattens out. The snow down from there wasn't grabby at all despite a lot of dust on the surface. The last 500 feet down to Meany Crest skied really nicely as well, despite having a bit more sun cups compared to the snow up higher. Overall, a 17-1800 foot run from the top of Whitman Crest to Meany Crest that was well worth the effort.
There's no longer continuous snow up to Meany Crest and it's best to just boot pack on snow and/or rock. Continuous snow from Meany Crest to the top of Whitman Crest. The usual large crack has opened up beneath Whitman Crest as well as some smaller ones but if you take a more easterly approach off the top, they're easy to get around. Barely any other cracks visible on the eastern side of the Frying Pan. Great turns for the first 500 feet off the crest before it flattens out. The snow down from there wasn't grabby at all despite a lot of dust on the surface. The last 500 feet down to Meany Crest skied really nicely as well, despite having a bit more sun cups compared to the snow up higher. Overall, a 17-1800 foot run from the top of Whitman Crest to Meany Crest that was well worth the effort.
