December 7, 2013, Tatoosh
12/7/13
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
3077
3
Exploratory mission to the Tatoosh yesterday (Saturday) yielded marginal skiing/riding conditions and incredible views (and COLD temps. Registered ~5F at Castle Saddle in the sunshine). The slope up to the road from the Narada falls parking lot was interesting... some bush pushing, then steep slippery, snowy boulders. Heard that the road might be an issue, but it had enough snow to skin on. Definitely some bare asphalt in places, though.
Snow conditions: variable styrofoam interlaced with textured rain crust. In the trees there was good powder, but too much brush, still. It seemed like there had been variable winds as deposition was highly variable and unpredictable.
Met a couple who had camped out. They woke up to -10F in their vestibule, and cut their trip short by one night.
Snow conditions: variable styrofoam interlaced with textured rain crust. In the trees there was good powder, but too much brush, still. It seemed like there had been variable winds as deposition was highly variable and unpredictable.
Met a couple who had camped out. They woke up to -10F in their vestibule, and cut their trip short by one night.
Cool you guys got out there! How was base up high on castle?
Met a couple who had camped out. They woke up to -10F in their vestibule
That is extreme!
author=Glacierbrains link=topic=29916.msg125437#msg125437 date=1386560582]
Cool you guys got out there! How was base up high on castle?
Glacierbrains: There was a decent amount of snow up on the saddle. None of the usual cornices, and definitely still early season, but not a problem. In the trees, the snow was great, but not enough of it to cover all the brush. Let's connect soon about me, Miles, and Andy heading up to Bham the last week of December.
author=altasnob link=topic=29916.msg125439#msg125439 date=1386562006]Right? We were a bit surprised to see campers.
That is extreme!
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