June 25, 2005, Flett and Russell Glaciers, MRNP
6/25/05
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
2650
0
First post for me on TAY. I have been enjoying the great trip reports for some time.
Saturday was a bluebird day above 6000 ft on the north side of Rainier. Hiked to Spray Park via the Wonderland Trail. Booted up the lower Flett and then went to skis/skins for the gentle climb up the Russell Glacier. I skied up the west side of the Russell to about 8600 ft where I ran out of energy and time. The skiing was fantastic for a few hundred feet below my high point...about 1/2-inch of corn over a firm base. Unfortunately, the surface turned to bottomless mush at 8000 ft...apparently the unconsolidated remnants of the recent snow mentioned in reports posted last week. (The big crash divot at elev 7999 marks the transition from good to bad snow). The snow firmed up again below 7000 ft on the lower Flett. It is still possible to ski to nearly 6000 ft with a few short carries.
Saturday was a bluebird day above 6000 ft on the north side of Rainier. Hiked to Spray Park via the Wonderland Trail. Booted up the lower Flett and then went to skis/skins for the gentle climb up the Russell Glacier. I skied up the west side of the Russell to about 8600 ft where I ran out of energy and time. The skiing was fantastic for a few hundred feet below my high point...about 1/2-inch of corn over a firm base. Unfortunately, the surface turned to bottomless mush at 8000 ft...apparently the unconsolidated remnants of the recent snow mentioned in reports posted last week. (The big crash divot at elev 7999 marks the transition from good to bad snow). The snow firmed up again below 7000 ft on the lower Flett. It is still possible to ski to nearly 6000 ft with a few short carries.
Reply to this TR
Please login first: