May 25, 2007, Grand Park to 2 Burroughs, Rainier
5/25/07
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
3266
3
FS 73 was drivable to within 1 mile of the Lake Eleanor trailhead. I was expecting pretty poor coverage in the section leading up to Grand Park, but it was actually very good, though still very dirty and hard in the densest trees. There was enough snow filling in the nameless creek which drains the NW and W sides of the Grand Park plateau that I followed it and the final glades to Grand Park. There had been a good overnight freeze and so skiing across Grand Park was fast. Was able to ski part way down to the Cold Basin saddle, then hiked (route of trail) into Lodi Creek drainage, where mostly glades led into Berkeley Park. In shaded areas there was up to 6 inches of new snow (last weekend?), and overall very good snowpack - 6 or 8 feet. The north slopes of 1st and 2nd Burroughs were very well filled in. Skied up to saddle into Granite Creek Park - very short carry at top - then skied trees in to Granite Creek Park. From there took the easy way up W slopes to the top of 2nd Burroughs. Great view of the NE side of Rainier - Glacier Basin is very well filled in and Inter Glacier looked very smooth. Nice turns back into Granite Creek Park. From the saddle down into Berkeley Park the softened snow was a little deeper (3-5 inches), and the glide down Lodi Creek back toward Grand Park would have been nice, but I could tell that pollen was starting to accumulate on my ski bases. I hiked the Cold Basin saddle section back up to Grand Park, then started skiing again, but very little glide. Stopped in Grand Park and cleaned my bases (had some goo gone - worked well for getting the pollen out of the waxless pattern), leaving them unwaxed. Within a few minutes of skiing again I could tell pollen was accumulating, which made the Grand Park crossing less than ideal. Took glades NW back to the nameless creek (too slow for turns, just straight down), then skied right down the creek bed as it was so well filled in. In a reversal of my usual strategy, for the rest of the way out I tried to stay out of glades, and in the icy forest snow because the pollen provided just the right amount of braking. Saw other tracks between the nameless creek and the road but decided to ignore them, not wanting to be mislead by Don's previous adventures. ;)
Charles,
Good decision. That's a long out-and-back trip. How long a day was that?
Good decision. That's a long out-and-back trip. How long a day was that?
Charles - Nice report. It's good to hear about the coverage on Burroughs. I think I was suppose to bust you about something related to this trip but I forgot what it was...
Don - Charles does these type of trips in much shorter times than mere mortals ;)
Don - Charles does these type of trips in much shorter times than mere mortals ;)
Don, I didn't measure this trip but I did the same approach but to 3rd Burroughs a few years ago (http://www.turns-all-year.com/goldhome/hp34/index.html) and it measured at about 18 miles RT. The snow was really fast that day and no pollen problems.
Ron, I've come to count on your faulty memory! And yes, if the Sunrise road does actually open in mid-June and the coming heat wave doesn't last until then, there should be some good skiing in Burroughs chutes. I did take some photos but don't know when I will get to them.
Ron, I've come to count on your faulty memory! And yes, if the Sunrise road does actually open in mid-June and the coming heat wave doesn't last until then, there should be some good skiing in Burroughs chutes. I did take some photos but don't know when I will get to them.
Reply to this TR
Please login first: