May 27, 2007, Muir Snowfiled, MRNP
5/27/07
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
2706
1
4 of us decided that today was our day, despite worst forecast of the 3-day weekend, and experience with the low pressure system actually really coming in on its predicted 7 day cycle this month. The Paradise lot was fairly empty at 8:30, with one bedraggled and wet fox wandering around. the lot seemed smaller than usual due to construction and the fact that we could not even see the lodge or ranger station due to the clouds. Snow was mushy at up to base of Pan Pt, getting firmer and crusty on the winter route up, with a few rocks showing but snow from the lot on up continuous. 10 yards visibility most of the day. We followed the boot tracked crust on the way up and added our share of wands in the whiteness. Snow showers from the west between 7K and 8K. Reports from skiers on the way down were that is cleared at basically 1,000 ft above wherever we were at the moment, until we got to 8600 where they said it cleared at 8500. Then, miraculously, the sun came out, we could see the whole snowfield, the mountain appeared. for 30 seconds, and it closed in again. About and inch of yesterday's snow at this elevation. We pointed down at this point for about 1,000 VF of close together skiing on decent snow, then breakeable crust/boottrack to Pan Pt, then icy sideslpping and kick turns. It felt like it got colder through the day, and the telemetry confirms that. The mushy morning stuff had crusted up, until we got to Alta Vista, then the last of the ride was beautiful creamy 2 inches depth with nice easy cruising back to the lot.
Cool Don_B. I skied it on 5/26. Apart from the first hour, we spent the entire journey in the clouds. Always a good time though. --Scott
Reply to this TR
Please login first: