Home > Trip Reports > Feb 18, 2017, Sourdough Mtn, N. Cascades

Feb 18, 2017, Sourdough Mtn, N. Cascades

2/18/17
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
3236
4
Posted by MGoodwin on 2/20/17 3:36am
Given the awesome avy forecast of LOW, I knew this would be some of the finest skiing ever. Turned four times I think. Putting this up as a recon and beta for those looking for a good tree run (which is what I was looking for). Went in with a group of four snow shoers who were staying the night. I stopped at 4800' where you start to break out and get some nice views. Started skinning at 1700'. From bottom to top nicely spaced trees on a moderate slope. This place would be awesome in a higher avy condition day when good powder has come down. One side note for going up and down: at about 4200 and up, the forest about the summer trail gets notably denser. On the way down I went skier's right for this area and found the forest was much more open. Will try to get some pictures attached this evening.
Here are a couple pictures from the 3-4000' range. Transition point at about 1800' had a lot of small "lodge pole" pines. Tight but negotiable.

Thanks for the report!  Good idea to build a tree skiing inventory.

To what elevation could you reasonably ski, to your car at approx ______ feet?  Or was it the transition point you mentioned?

Car is about 8-900'. I transitioned right about 1700-1800', though that was also effectively in the open. Big disparity between open and forested areas. Think you could count on good snow 2-2300'.

Thanks, MGoodwin. A reliable and interpretable low-elevation snow report is pure gold.

Good luck and good decisions, hedonaut, whereever you're headed. We're not in the hunt on this unique weekend, but the hunting might be good.

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feb-18-2017-sourdough-mtn-n-cascades
MGoodwin
2017-02-20 11:36:17