April 23, Tatoosh, Mt. Rainier
4/15/06
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
2794
1
After a great day in the Nisqually Chute on Saturday we slept at Paradise (hint - get a permit to camp on the snow - can be right next to the lot). A windy night and morning made a leisurely breakfast seem in order, trying to repeat our perfect late afternoon timing to soften the snow for the run down.
We drove down and parked at the entrance to the Reflection Lake road and had a pleasant stroll on the closed road (plowed well past the lakes). The wind kept the snow hard on the climb up to the saddle south of Castle, and had us wondering about skiing back down. We dropped down the south side a bit and found a nice spot out of the wind to eat lunch and relax. A 700 ft. run down the south slope was silky corn at the top, turning to deeper mush near the bottom. By the time we headed back down the other side around 2:30 the snow had softened up just enough to be fun.
The long drive back up north reminded me why I only make it down to Rainier a few times a year.
Photos: 1- Eric skiing the south side with St. Helens in the background, 2- Jim dropping from the Castle saddle, 3- Jim on the last steep slope down to the lake.
We drove down and parked at the entrance to the Reflection Lake road and had a pleasant stroll on the closed road (plowed well past the lakes). The wind kept the snow hard on the climb up to the saddle south of Castle, and had us wondering about skiing back down. We dropped down the south side a bit and found a nice spot out of the wind to eat lunch and relax. A 700 ft. run down the south slope was silky corn at the top, turning to deeper mush near the bottom. By the time we headed back down the other side around 2:30 the snow had softened up just enough to be fun.
The long drive back up north reminded me why I only make it down to Rainier a few times a year.
Photos: 1- Eric skiing the south side with St. Helens in the background, 2- Jim dropping from the Castle saddle, 3- Jim on the last steep slope down to the lake.
