April 15, 2017, Paradise.
4/15/17
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
1868
1
There is an amazing amount of snow on the ground at Paradise. And they have had a lot of wind. Cornices are big, and spectacular looking. Saturday was sunnier and warmer than predicted. West facing slopes and lower slopes remind us of why we have 93 different words to describe Cascade snow. A warm sunday will not improve things.
But a few pitches out of the direct sun were very nice.
Spring weather is here, as my sunburn patches show where I missed with the sunscreen. But the snow is definitely winter's snow.
Looking high up the mountain, the wind patterns on the more open snow fields are amazing. the upper kautz route looks like an MC Escher drawing all the way to the summit.
But a few pitches out of the direct sun were very nice.
Spring weather is here, as my sunburn patches show where I missed with the sunscreen. But the snow is definitely winter's snow.
Looking high up the mountain, the wind patterns on the more open snow fields are amazing. the upper kautz route looks like an MC Escher drawing all the way to the summit.