May 24, 2003, Interglacier/Steamboat Prow
5/24/03
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
2224
0
About 3 or 4 feet of snow still left at the White River campground, but the trail is bare in several spots where it gets sun.
The snow ranged from 6 to 20 inches of nice slush, firmer down low, and up high near Steamboat Prow. Somewhat challenging, but fun - good slushshots were had.
It was mostly sunny for most of the way up, but near the top the weather started moving in, with a few rain sprinkles, and gusty winds - some of the descent was spent waiting for open spots between periods of whiteout.
Tons of fresh avy debris in glacier basin, and we saw a few slides come down, including one into the trees.
We skied out the drainage instead of the trail, crossing back over the raging creek at the Emmons moraine trail - the skiing was more continuous (only had to remove skis at one spot), but it took longer.
The snow ranged from 6 to 20 inches of nice slush, firmer down low, and up high near Steamboat Prow. Somewhat challenging, but fun - good slushshots were had.
It was mostly sunny for most of the way up, but near the top the weather started moving in, with a few rain sprinkles, and gusty winds - some of the descent was spent waiting for open spots between periods of whiteout.
Tons of fresh avy debris in glacier basin, and we saw a few slides come down, including one into the trees.
We skied out the drainage instead of the trail, crossing back over the raging creek at the Emmons moraine trail - the skiing was more continuous (only had to remove skis at one spot), but it took longer.
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