October 27, 2012, Paradise vicinity dampness
10/27/12
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
1734
0
Atomic and I made to to the gate around 8:30am with grand plans of making it at least partway to Muir despite the less-than-ideal forecast (rain at lower elevations, some snow and questionable visibility higher). Turns out we could have slept in for another couple hours, as the gate didn't open until 11:30am. Not quite sure why - last night's weather didn't suggest that a whole lot of snow was going to be falling.
Rain the whole drive there, rain while we waited at the gate.
Probably saw 15-20 other folks heading out on skis and boards from Paradise. Glad to know we weren't the only crazy people heading out in the rain.
We knew it would likely be raining at Paradise, but based on the forecast thought that the snow level wouldn't be too far off. No such luck there. Shortly before reaching Panorama Point , we encountered a descending skier who reported that it had still been raining when he had gotten to Pebble Creek.
By this point we (and everyone else on the mountain, I would imagine) were quite damp. Given the late start, wet and heavy snow, and continued rain, we decided shortly later just to turn around and descend. No sense in suffering for turns that weren't going to be all that stellar. It looked like many of the other groups we saw heading out also turned around pretty early, but if anyone made it up onto the snowfield, mad props to them.
Snow cover wasn't all that bad. Certainly rocks to be avoided, but I think it was better than we had expected. The skin track was pretty beaten down closer to Paradise, but it was still skinning and skiing to/from the parking lot. Not sure how things will be after the continued rain this weekend.
It may have been short and damp, but it was still October turns, and we are glad for that!
Rain the whole drive there, rain while we waited at the gate.
Probably saw 15-20 other folks heading out on skis and boards from Paradise. Glad to know we weren't the only crazy people heading out in the rain.
We knew it would likely be raining at Paradise, but based on the forecast thought that the snow level wouldn't be too far off. No such luck there. Shortly before reaching Panorama Point , we encountered a descending skier who reported that it had still been raining when he had gotten to Pebble Creek.
By this point we (and everyone else on the mountain, I would imagine) were quite damp. Given the late start, wet and heavy snow, and continued rain, we decided shortly later just to turn around and descend. No sense in suffering for turns that weren't going to be all that stellar. It looked like many of the other groups we saw heading out also turned around pretty early, but if anyone made it up onto the snowfield, mad props to them.
Snow cover wasn't all that bad. Certainly rocks to be avoided, but I think it was better than we had expected. The skin track was pretty beaten down closer to Paradise, but it was still skinning and skiing to/from the parking lot. Not sure how things will be after the continued rain this weekend.
It may have been short and damp, but it was still October turns, and we are glad for that!
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