May 3-4, MRNP, Thumb, E Success
5/3/13
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
3074
3
Myself and five others ascended from Paradise to a campsite on the Wapowety Cleaver on Friday morning. Two stayed back to rest and build camp while four of us climbed the Finger to about 11,300' and skied the Thumb.
On Saturday morning we left camp around 6am, traversed to the Success glacier at roughly the 8,000' level, and climbed the East Success Couloir to 12,400'. We dropped in and skied great snow at about 1:45pm. This may have been too late in the day if not for strong NE winds keeping things cooler than the forecasted freezing levels suggested.
We then recovered camp, sent two people to retrieve the cars while four of us descended sticky but still generally fun snow to the Nisqually Bridge at 3,900'.
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On Saturday morning we left camp around 6am, traversed to the Success glacier at roughly the 8,000' level, and climbed the East Success Couloir to 12,400'. We dropped in and skied great snow at about 1:45pm. This may have been too late in the day if not for strong NE winds keeping things cooler than the forecasted freezing levels suggested.
We then recovered camp, sent two people to retrieve the cars while four of us descended sticky but still generally fun snow to the Nisqually Bridge at 3,900'.
Sweet big mountain tour D!
ZOMG I didn't know it could be done like that: it's not mandatory to interminably slog to the summit!? I'm confused, bothered and excited all at once.
That line looks awesome! Did the Kautz headwall look skiable/reasonably safe when you were there?
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