June 25, Fuhrer Finger, Mt Rainier

After a few thwarted attempts due to weather and work schedules Adam, Phil and I finally made a run at skiing the Fuhrer Finger this past weekend. With a high freezing level forecast, we left at 1:30am to cross the Wilson Glacier and climb the finger.  We saw at least 4 other parties above us but no skiers to be had in those groups.  It was several hours of rock hard cramponing through the hourglass and onto the Upper Nisqually.  When the sun began showing itself at the top of the Finger, we started experiencing a different kind of rock show than we'd like to see.  On the Nisqually we had to weave around a few large and several small crevasses enroute to the summit.  The route lived up to it's great reputation for skiing.  A little sloppy from the top but as we entered the Finger it became creamy corn snow. I suppose due to it's aspect it was shadowed longer than the upper mountain.  The lower quarter of the route was beat up and bumpy from rockfall and melting and very sloppy.  The ski back across the Wilson was straightforward.  I'd have to say with the high temp's this week the route is about done for the year- at the least the bottom portion.  I'll try to insert some photos at a later date when I'm not at work  ;) .