July 19, 2015, Naked Rainier Spray Park
7/19/15
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
2883
0
Echoing the write-up of July 11, we had a wonderful day skiing the Flett Glacier out of Spray Park. The day, or course was gorgeous and it was an amazing experience to be nestled in the arm of Rainier.
At the same time we felt a sense of sorrow/dread as we could only see hanging glaciers and rock - no snow up high...we discussed the thought that someday some of these larger glaciers may calve off if our summer/winters continue in decline. In fact we saw two smaller (well from a distance) pieces exfoliate leaving a trail of dust, snow "falls" and what looked like mist in the air. Impressive.
In any event we hiked up to Spray Park, took the turn at 6,300 feet and made our way to the foot of Flett. Skinned up to Echo and grabbed the summit there - then went to the top of the Flett off the east ridge of Observation to begin the turns. Some very nice ones down to the flats below Echo - then over to another rise underneath Observation for another good run back to the foot of the glacier.
We were skiing at about 11:30am and the snow was perfect, sun cups on the flat parts of the glacier, but not on anything steeper than 25 degrees. Perfect corn, nothing grabby either until we hit some dirty snow down low. Good coverage on the Flett - tracks were obvious from folks hitting the Russell which looked really good and a set off Obs Rock west/Flett Glacier too.
At the same time we felt a sense of sorrow/dread as we could only see hanging glaciers and rock - no snow up high...we discussed the thought that someday some of these larger glaciers may calve off if our summer/winters continue in decline. In fact we saw two smaller (well from a distance) pieces exfoliate leaving a trail of dust, snow "falls" and what looked like mist in the air. Impressive.
In any event we hiked up to Spray Park, took the turn at 6,300 feet and made our way to the foot of Flett. Skinned up to Echo and grabbed the summit there - then went to the top of the Flett off the east ridge of Observation to begin the turns. Some very nice ones down to the flats below Echo - then over to another rise underneath Observation for another good run back to the foot of the glacier.
We were skiing at about 11:30am and the snow was perfect, sun cups on the flat parts of the glacier, but not on anything steeper than 25 degrees. Perfect corn, nothing grabby either until we hit some dirty snow down low. Good coverage on the Flett - tracks were obvious from folks hitting the Russell which looked really good and a set off Obs Rock west/Flett Glacier too.
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