June 18, 2005, MRNP - InterGlacier
6/18/05
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
2648
0
I met up with Jimjar in Sumner just after 6am and proceeded up 410. Pulled into a half full lot at the White River campground. Saw only climbers gearing up. Weather wise clouds loomed overhead and a cool breeze was present. Jim and I were hiking by 8:20. Within a half mile temps rose. By the time we arrived at Glacier Basin the both of us had experienced sun breaks to light rain. Trail is snow free just about the entire way. Chatted with a ranger at camp who just mentioned how his summit plans were thwarted by an emergency call. Over due party ascending Liberty Ridge. Not good. I thought to myself maybe we'll hear about it on the news tonight. So I asked about the Inter and he said it looked like it was going to be a good ride today.
Right after breaking out of the trees Jim and I veered left and found a nice spot near the snow to stash our gear. Due to the frequent and large debris pile up all throughout the season we were able to skin from just below 6,000ft. I did take interest to the surrounding exposed layers. 2ft pile of dirt and root entanglement perched on top of 3ft of snow on top of earth. Interesting. Snow surface was suncupped like the moon and tainted with a variety of grime that's good for your skins. We picked our way up the moraine and avoided the sections where water could be heard below. Within a half mile and 700ft of elevation gain the snow cleaned up a bit but the soft suncups remained. As we rounded Mt Ruth, to our climbers left, the face of InterGlacier stood right before us. On the skin up we did take note of the recent slide climbers left/boarders right of glacier. Appeared to be a point release from the rocky cliffs off Ruth. Also the coverage on the glacier looks great. No real openings yet. Just hints. Well with what felt like a good boot pack Jim and I packed our splits and started the hump up.
On the way up I swatted and proded my poles numerous times to try and get a feel for the snowpack. Jim did the same. I found lots of variable conditions beneath. For the most part it was foot plus of mush. However there were sections where snow was rotten and hollowed underneath. Would catch you off guard on a pole plant. In some areas crust layers could be felt as they were penetrated thru. Also about an hour into our climb we witnessed a point release from the rocks off Ruth. Pretty much took the same path as the previous. Ran about 700ft. As we climbed higher the temps cooled and it started to snow. The surface and snow begin to firm up. Didn't last long. Within 15 minutes sun came out again and so did Mt Rainier. Jimjar and I decided to turn around just above 8,300ft. We had both realized the task at hand of descending so we chose to stop. That and the fact that we saw another avi but this time on the climbers right side of glacier. Cornice broke from the top and all the snow went off huge cliff before landing and triggering more snow.
So back to the descent. Right off the bat the snow was sticky deep mush. Hmmm...the best. Rode down to the head of the steep knoll and bumped into the ranger again. Did you here that helicopter I mentioned. Yup sounds like they spotted them cresting Liberty Cap he replied. After exchanging a few last words he said try not to take out the boot track and don't make me have to come down and rescue you. Can do. So far the pitch was around 25 degrees. This last section was 30 plus. After making sure no one was below I started cutting the slope boarders left, at a mellow angle, towards a shallow gully leading down instead of the main face proper. Within seconds there was a couple inches of snow releasing from beneath my board. Most of the snow broke up and balled up quickly while some sections were slabs and crumbled a bit before balling up. I must have cut about 75-100ft across and everything below me slid. It didn't show no signs of stopping at first either. The slide started slow before picking up speed and eventually slowing again around 500ft down. While we waited for the snow to settle I thought to myself now at least we will have a faster surface to slide on. So I went first making a few cautious turns before realizing how nice the avi actually made the surface. As I neared the base I suddenly realized that I was turning on snow that was still being pushed down hill. Weird cause I didn't feel it until I looked. So Jim went next and carved carefully down to the bottom and exited the slide path before debris got too big. Pile up appeared to be a couple of feet thick. He too noticed and felt the same thing. We tried to find our tracks but the slope was like a giant etch-a-sketch, erasing all with movement. And we did like the ranger had requested. The avi broke right along the boot track leaving it entact. The ride back to our gear went as fast as one could on dirty, suncupped snow. And at the same time keeping a lazy eye out for rocks and the occassional hole in the snow with running water below. Between the rain, sunbreaks, and breeze the hike out was quite pleasant. All in all a great day with lots of action. Watching snow slide and pile up is mesmerizing, much like the way waves march to shore and crash.
Right after breaking out of the trees Jim and I veered left and found a nice spot near the snow to stash our gear. Due to the frequent and large debris pile up all throughout the season we were able to skin from just below 6,000ft. I did take interest to the surrounding exposed layers. 2ft pile of dirt and root entanglement perched on top of 3ft of snow on top of earth. Interesting. Snow surface was suncupped like the moon and tainted with a variety of grime that's good for your skins. We picked our way up the moraine and avoided the sections where water could be heard below. Within a half mile and 700ft of elevation gain the snow cleaned up a bit but the soft suncups remained. As we rounded Mt Ruth, to our climbers left, the face of InterGlacier stood right before us. On the skin up we did take note of the recent slide climbers left/boarders right of glacier. Appeared to be a point release from the rocky cliffs off Ruth. Also the coverage on the glacier looks great. No real openings yet. Just hints. Well with what felt like a good boot pack Jim and I packed our splits and started the hump up.
On the way up I swatted and proded my poles numerous times to try and get a feel for the snowpack. Jim did the same. I found lots of variable conditions beneath. For the most part it was foot plus of mush. However there were sections where snow was rotten and hollowed underneath. Would catch you off guard on a pole plant. In some areas crust layers could be felt as they were penetrated thru. Also about an hour into our climb we witnessed a point release from the rocks off Ruth. Pretty much took the same path as the previous. Ran about 700ft. As we climbed higher the temps cooled and it started to snow. The surface and snow begin to firm up. Didn't last long. Within 15 minutes sun came out again and so did Mt Rainier. Jimjar and I decided to turn around just above 8,300ft. We had both realized the task at hand of descending so we chose to stop. That and the fact that we saw another avi but this time on the climbers right side of glacier. Cornice broke from the top and all the snow went off huge cliff before landing and triggering more snow.
So back to the descent. Right off the bat the snow was sticky deep mush. Hmmm...the best. Rode down to the head of the steep knoll and bumped into the ranger again. Did you here that helicopter I mentioned. Yup sounds like they spotted them cresting Liberty Cap he replied. After exchanging a few last words he said try not to take out the boot track and don't make me have to come down and rescue you. Can do. So far the pitch was around 25 degrees. This last section was 30 plus. After making sure no one was below I started cutting the slope boarders left, at a mellow angle, towards a shallow gully leading down instead of the main face proper. Within seconds there was a couple inches of snow releasing from beneath my board. Most of the snow broke up and balled up quickly while some sections were slabs and crumbled a bit before balling up. I must have cut about 75-100ft across and everything below me slid. It didn't show no signs of stopping at first either. The slide started slow before picking up speed and eventually slowing again around 500ft down. While we waited for the snow to settle I thought to myself now at least we will have a faster surface to slide on. So I went first making a few cautious turns before realizing how nice the avi actually made the surface. As I neared the base I suddenly realized that I was turning on snow that was still being pushed down hill. Weird cause I didn't feel it until I looked. So Jim went next and carved carefully down to the bottom and exited the slide path before debris got too big. Pile up appeared to be a couple of feet thick. He too noticed and felt the same thing. We tried to find our tracks but the slope was like a giant etch-a-sketch, erasing all with movement. And we did like the ranger had requested. The avi broke right along the boot track leaving it entact. The ride back to our gear went as fast as one could on dirty, suncupped snow. And at the same time keeping a lazy eye out for rocks and the occassional hole in the snow with running water below. Between the rain, sunbreaks, and breeze the hike out was quite pleasant. All in all a great day with lots of action. Watching snow slide and pile up is mesmerizing, much like the way waves march to shore and crash.
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