may 14-15, 2005, Pan Point and Nisqually Glacier
5/14/05
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
11374
18
three weekends ago, rain forced us to cancel a Mountaineers' glacier travel and crevasse rescue field trip to the Nisqually Glacier. hoping for better weather this time around, we rescheduled to this weekend. on Saturday, . the snow below Pan Point is patchy, but you can still link some nice turns here and there (skier: gregL)
Sunday morning at 6am we all gathered at Paradise to prepare for the trek to the Nisqually. as we started, dark ominous clouds lingered behind us over the Tatoosh. in front of us the cloud line appeared to be around 8500 ft. from Glacier Vista, we dropped down to the moraine, roped-up and skinned onto the Nisqually. an hour later, we reached , ). on the surface, teams of students constructed pulley systems to "rescue" their victim friends. just when we thought the weather was going to hold, someone turned on the sprinklers. at first it rained. after our gore-gear was nicely soaked, the rain stopped. it stopped just long enough for things to dry a bit. then came the freezing rain, followed by a pause. next was snow. after the snow, it went back to rain again. by that time it was time to go and we all retreated as quickly as possible, and via the most direct line as possible, to Paradise. though saturated, the snow felt okay -- it turned well, when turning was possible. Sunday's weather was great...for a penguin. ;D
Sunday morning at 6am we all gathered at Paradise to prepare for the trek to the Nisqually. as we started, dark ominous clouds lingered behind us over the Tatoosh. in front of us the cloud line appeared to be around 8500 ft. from Glacier Vista, we dropped down to the moraine, roped-up and skinned onto the Nisqually. an hour later, we reached , ). on the surface, teams of students constructed pulley systems to "rescue" their victim friends. just when we thought the weather was going to hold, someone turned on the sprinklers. at first it rained. after our gore-gear was nicely soaked, the rain stopped. it stopped just long enough for things to dry a bit. then came the freezing rain, followed by a pause. next was snow. after the snow, it went back to rain again. by that time it was time to go and we all retreated as quickly as possible, and via the most direct line as possible, to Paradise. though saturated, the snow felt okay -- it turned well, when turning was possible. Sunday's weather was great...for a penguin. ;D
Kam - thanks for the great pictures from the crevasse.
I really appreciate the dedication of our excellent instructors (Ronj, Maddog, Tom, Allyson, Amar, Carter, Cinnamon, Kam, Jerry and Ed) to provide great instruction during some interesting weather. Thanks instructor!!!
I'm looking forward to the movie!!
I really appreciate the dedication of our excellent instructors (Ronj, Maddog, Tom, Allyson, Amar, Carter, Cinnamon, Kam, Jerry and Ed) to provide great instruction during some interesting weather. Thanks instructor!!!
I'm looking forward to the movie!!
I think I found Jimmy Hoffa about 50 or so feet down there along with some barking crevasse spiders. Even saw a short cut to the parking lot from down here! ;D
This was a great class, and despite the near-hypothermic conditions, a memorable trip. Thanks again to the instructors who've seen it all before and were still willing to stand out on the glacier all day in the rain and snow!
kam puffs up to scare the foxes
Amar has the Nisqually Chutes on his mind
Carter says the traverse won't go
Cinnamon getting some sun
Jerry and the vidcam umbrella
Allyson is impressed with Cinnamon's unique talent
Dale, ron j and Greg G wonder how wet is too wet? (April 23)
Darryl tells Mad_Dog he's thinking of pulling the plug as ron j preps the recycled aluminum (April 23)
Skinning up the Nisqually
Rope lines in the rain
kam puffs up to scare the foxes
Amar has the Nisqually Chutes on his mind
Carter says the traverse won't go
Cinnamon getting some sun
Jerry and the vidcam umbrella
Allyson is impressed with Cinnamon's unique talent
Dale, ron j and Greg G wonder how wet is too wet? (April 23)
Darryl tells Mad_Dog he's thinking of pulling the plug as ron j preps the recycled aluminum (April 23)
Skinning up the Nisqually
Rope lines in the rain
thanks to all the students who participated in the less than ideal conditions on sunday! kam, you did forget to mention some of the other weather we experienced, i.e. wind, and some occasional fog/white-out conditions ;)...all and all though, i'm glad to have been able to accomplish that trip safely, and not to have had anyone really eaten by a crevasse...and i think we'd all agree to hold skip accountable for our lack of luck on weather with this year's class ;D.
...and i think we'd all agree to hold skip accountable for our lack of luck on weather with this year's class ;D.
With the weather being quite tolerable on Saturday, our practice refresher day, I thought for sure that Skip was lurking somewhere around Paradise proper, but Sunday we knew for sure that Skip had once again avoided the wrath of nature ;D. All joking aside, it was another great class with a fine bunch of people. One thing for sure, we didn't have to worry about sunburn 8) I'm still in the process of drying all sorts of things out. 8)
One thing for sure, we didn't have to worry about sunburn 8)
Not true...I managed to receive quite the nasty sunburn on my hands Saturday. ouch!
And thanks to everyone for making this happen! Despite the wet....it rocked!
Ultragrrl, you are so right, those overcast days can be very tricky with the filtered sunlight. In past years GT fieldtrips, it has been clear, sunny, and so hot, hot, hot, on the glacier, that all of us have come off of there after a full day looking like boiled lobsters 8). Those would be the "Skip" days ;)
... barking crevasse spiders.
did the spiders scare you? while making photos from the bottom of the hole, i heard a familiar cry, "dude, it's sketch down here...!" ;)
;D ;D ;D ;D
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While we're on the subject of it being a bit scary going down into the crevasse, I have a "class improvement suggestion", Darryl and Ed please take note...
Just about the time that the "victim" is being lowered over the edge, it might be better if the safety belayer did NOT ask of the "victim": "If something goes wrong and you don't make it back out can I have your Beemer"?
Josh asked that of Marco as he was about to be lowered over the edge, which is scary enough without the comment. I wish I had thought of that. ;D
Thanks, Josh, now I have a great reassuring line for the students for next year. :)
BTW, Josh, Marco, Michael and Rick, you guys were quick studies; great to work with -- Jeanette and I both agreed. I hope to see you all back next year as instructors to sharpen your skills further.
Just about the time that the "victim" is being lowered over the edge, it might be better if the safety belayer did NOT ask of the "victim": "If something goes wrong and you don't make it back out can I have your Beemer"?
Josh asked that of Marco as he was about to be lowered over the edge, which is scary enough without the comment. I wish I had thought of that. ;D
Thanks, Josh, now I have a great reassuring line for the students for next year. :)
BTW, Josh, Marco, Michael and Rick, you guys were quick studies; great to work with -- Jeanette and I both agreed. I hope to see you all back next year as instructors to sharpen your skills further.
Ron - that's a good line.
I heard another good line when snoslut was being lowered to the center of the earth, Tom yelled down to him that his rope team members were having some rope issues.
I heard another good line when snoslut was being lowered to the center of the earth, Tom yelled down to him that his rope team members were having some rope issues.
"If something goes wrong and you don't make it back out can I have your Beemer"?
I actually found Josh's comment highly motivating! My wife had been kind enough to loan me the car for the weekend, so I would simply think of the trouble I'd be in if it wasn't returned on time and suddenly I'd get this huge adrenaline rush good for several prussic cycles up the rope... ;)
Was this your group on Sunday?
Yep.
That was us. Thanks for the overview shot, Scott.
Where was it taken from? Looks like maybe somewhere over by the entrance to the main Nisqually chute. Nice shot.
That was us. Thanks for the overview shot, Scott.
Where was it taken from? Looks like maybe somewhere over by the entrance to the main Nisqually chute. Nice shot.
Yep.
That was us. Thanks for the overview shot, Scott.
Where was it taken from? Looks like maybe somewhere over by the entrance to the main Nisqually chute. Nice shot.
It was taken from below Pebble Creek as we were heading up to Muir but turned around at 7K or so by freezing rain and soaked clothing.
Cool picture, Scott. I'm third from the right, the one who's shivering.
Cool picture, Scott. I'm third from the right, the one who's shivering.
2 other shots (Same photo, photoshop'd)
http://questalb.com/gallery/images/panoramapoint051505/695L.jpg
http://questalb.com/gallery/images/panoramapoint051505/695s.jpg
Scott: that is a nice photo. what a cool perspective. thanks for sharing.
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