Home > Trip Reports > October 24, 2014, - Muir snowfield

October 24, 2014, - Muir snowfield

10/24/14
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
9039
5
Posted by ErikT on 10/25/14 1:03am
Since I work in a cubicle, I constantly check the UW GFS model - I noticed last week that Friday was looking quite nice... after our nice little atmospheric river event, we'd have a full day of no precip:




After going back and forth with plans, I finally landed on the old standard of driving down to Muir. I hate doing the drive twice in one day, so I drove down the night before to take a few night photos as well, and planned to get up early to catch sunrise on the way up.

Was a comfortable night but a chilly morning - sidewalk was uphill ice skating. I carried to the top of pan point, but probably should have been skinning earlier. From there it was rather firm with a raincrust or old harder layers exposed which made the skinning engaging. I was now fully awake. At about Anvil Rock, the snow quality was much better, and packed pow as the ski resorts would spin it, prevailed. Took a lap down to Moon Rocks on skiiers right... pretty good snow - no complaints for October. Met up with friends and a few other skiers and boarders for another few small bonus laps up high before picking my way out. I skiied down to Pebble Creek, which was actually quite good all the way after following tracks that showed where there fresh was instead of the hard ice...otherwise it was quite hard to see the difference. Did a few small carries, a few small slides, and then walked out the trail.


Mountain in the morning from overnight lot:
http://www.highpressurephotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/DSC02315.jpg" />

Heading up in the morning:
http://www.highpressurephotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/DSC02335.jpg" />

Small skier:
http://www.highpressurephotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/DSC02440.jpg" />

Lapping the upper snowfield:
http://www.highpressurephotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/DSC02450.jpg" />

Lowering cloud ceiling, right on cue:
http://www.highpressurephotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/DSC02482.jpg" />
Love that first night shot.  Thanks for the weather heads-up, Erik!

Great report and pics!  A few of us made the same call on the weather; a well-timed high-pressure is an opportunity hard to pass up.  Overall a very modest number of people yesterday.

There were definitely some smile-earning turns up there, but a lot of survival skiing, as well.  We joked that the crux of the trip was getting from the car to the steps at the edge of the Paradise parking lot without slipping on the death ice.

37F and raining at our well-timed departure of 16:30.

It was great to meet you all up there!

Snow was good wind-buff above Moon Rocks, worth grabbing that second lap. Below that was still good, except for scoured areas where a brutal rain crust lurked. I thought it was actually pretty good skiing for Muir. Friday was 'the day' and I'm glad you nudged me to go, Erik!

Great report and photos!  Thanks for letting us sleep in, at home, and enjoy your trip via our desktop!

Nice pictures, Erik! Thanks for the advice on skiing far right side, there were some fun drifts to play on.

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october-24-2014-muir-snowfield
ErikT
2014-10-25 08:03:11