Home > Trip Reports > June 7, 2014, MRNP, WhitmanSarvantTamanos attemt

June 7, 2014, MRNP, WhitmanSarvantTamanos attemt

6/7/14
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
4996
5
Posted by Kenji on 6/8/14 4:01pm
Since connecting Sarvant Glacier and Tamanos has been on my go-to list, when David asked for an idea, I included Whitman Crest as an option.  We kinda decided to start with the max option, and adjust our plan as we go.  It is a >15mile/8k loop after all.

There were more Little T. climbers than Summerland skiers on this day. 2 SBrs, 2 ATrs, 4 Teles was a bit off the norm these days.  Some moisture in the air kept the snow cooler from the direct Sun, making ascent and descent pretty easy.  Ran into NickD at the high point, then three others came up.

From the crest, we skied~1800€™ toward the top of Meany Cirque, then had to negotiate a very steep 400€™ wall (~40 deg) with questionably soft snow.  Ski cutting back and forth slowly got us down.  It appeared rather ridiculous when looking back from some distance.

We then headed up to Panhandle Gap, continued up onto the Banshee ridge.  The surrounding views were truly spectacular, Rainier at some distance and very Alpine terrain around make up very unique scenery.  Since the rest of the loop looked still substantial and we were tired, we called it a turning point. At least we got enough info to plan a next trip.  Savant Glacier looked inviting, in fact we saw two tracks going down and then up onto Tamanos ridge.

Although we didn€™t complete the long loop tour, we still managed ~15 miles and 6800€™, we would have needed two more hours and extra energy to complete.  Anyhow, we had a great day, new scenery, and got new trip ideas especially slopes down toward Indian Bar, etc.















more Pics http://kenjikawai.smugmug.com/2014-06-07-Whitman-Crest/
Thanks for sharing.

How was the approach? Did you walk in via Fryingpan creek?

Those were our tracks on the Savant.  We entered and exited via Owyhigh.  In between  we skied from Banshee saddle and then booted up the adjacent steep face and skied  to the bottom of the glacier.  Your sixth picture is a great shot of our line and the black and white in the link is a nice shot of our tracks.  Great, smooth, steep turns.  From there, back up and over the ridge leading to Tamanos and out.  Picture is from the top of the steep face.  Spectacular day!


author=Norseman link=topic=31882.msg134058#msg134058 date=1402318091]
How was the approach? Did you walk in via Fryingpan creek?

Frying Pan trail is pretty much bare all the way to the last log bridge with some snow patches.  In general, much less snow than usual up until about 5000'.

author=blackdog102395 link=topic=31882.msg134062#msg134062 date=1402324911]
...we skied from Banshee saddle and then booted up the adjacent steep face and skied  to the bottom of the glacier....

We wondered if the traverse track was by a goat chasing some skiers...


author=Kenji link=topic=31882.msg134066#msg134066 date=1402331369]

We wondered if the traverse track was by a goat chasing some skiers...

No goats sighted, but we certainly were not alone:


Good to intersect with you and David, Kenji. BTW, nice hands forward form David in those shots!

If one had the energy to haul overnight packs in, there could be some fun fixed base skiing up there now.

Thanks to the BoeAlps folks for putting those steps in the headwall just in front of me. Pace adjusted to allow the job to be completed. ;)

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june-7-2014-mrnp-whitmansarvanttamanos-attemt
Kenji
2014-06-08 23:01:57