May 9, 2015, MRNP Van Trump Park corn and mush

A very fine Saturday was spent in this corner of Mt Rainier on the annual pilgrimage.  I and my hiking Tirolean friend started right after 9 AM; with a bunch of cars already parked at the trailhead.  Trail is bare all the way to the small trees 1 mile above Comet Falls; reliable snow starts at about 5500' and higher up there is still plenty of it.  Snow was nice corn, maybe a bit overcooked on some aspects on this warm day and then definitely mushy and grabby on the way back at the bottom. 

Called it quits on the ridge somewhere around Turtle; skiing was fast to about the knoll above the last of the trees.  Encountered two groups of 3 skiers, one who were ahead of us and  higher up on the mountain and the second being Amar's crew aiming for Turtle or higher.