June 22, 2006, The Turtle, Mt Rainier

Quick report on the Turtle snowfield just below Camp Hazard.   Parked at Christine Falls Trailhead, walked up to 6200 feet on Wednesday night.  Continuous snow about a 1/4 mile above Comet Falls.  Snow was very firm so I booted most of the way from 6200 to 10900 on Thursday AM.   Snow kept getting better and better up higher with corn and good spring conditions from about 6400 on up.  Sunny skies soften snow just right, although it was a little firm near the top.  Had I waited another 1/2 hour, even that would have been fine. 

Started down at 12:30 and enjoyed many nice turns to 6400 feet.  From there to 5000 feet runnels and sun cups were present.  All in all, the skiing down lower wasn't bad, just not great as it was on top.  Was able to ski to about 5000 feet or so, down into the trees along the creek that runs thru drainage just above the trail. 

Note-  the last bridge is gone (the one below Comet Falls) but the creek crossing is very manageable.