May 28, 2007, Paradise Glacier and Nisqually Chute
5/28/07
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
2495
1
I've wanted to combine these two into one day for quite a while, nice to have that box checked.
We headed out of SODO @ 4:30am, later than our original plan since the forecast was for cooler. Driving down the skies were clearing early which brought on thoughts of being too late.
Started out of the Paradise lot on skins a bit after 7. Got up to the flat area below burgschrund near Anvil rock at around 10, opted to start down from here in order to beat the heat for a safer climb up the glacier. Skied a mix of sweet corn and new foamy snow over corn. As others have mentioned the large crack (Iron Curtain) at about 8K is starting to unzip from the Cowlitz side, but was easily negotiated. We skied the steeper shot a little to skiers right, a couple of glide cracks here over the rock face. Skinned up the glacier keeping our eyes out for sagging bridges, but didn't see anything obvious, scooted quickly across the Iron Curtain and up to lunch at about 8500.
After a breif chat with some folks skiing up the ridge b/t Pardise & Muir (Ron J?) we traversed over to the Nisqually Chute. Poked around a bit to find the alternate entrance to get more of a fall line shot. The chutes have a bit of debris, but it was soft and quite enjoyable. Down the moraine, up and out, back to the car just before 2..
Good times by all
Good Things: We beat the heat and the snow held up nicely. I got month 80 in, first month after a new born baby! No traffic on the way home, even w/ the holiday weekend
Bad Things: Line was too long at Scale Burgers, had to skip the overload burger & shake :(
We headed out of SODO @ 4:30am, later than our original plan since the forecast was for cooler. Driving down the skies were clearing early which brought on thoughts of being too late.
Started out of the Paradise lot on skins a bit after 7. Got up to the flat area below burgschrund near Anvil rock at around 10, opted to start down from here in order to beat the heat for a safer climb up the glacier. Skied a mix of sweet corn and new foamy snow over corn. As others have mentioned the large crack (Iron Curtain) at about 8K is starting to unzip from the Cowlitz side, but was easily negotiated. We skied the steeper shot a little to skiers right, a couple of glide cracks here over the rock face. Skinned up the glacier keeping our eyes out for sagging bridges, but didn't see anything obvious, scooted quickly across the Iron Curtain and up to lunch at about 8500.
After a breif chat with some folks skiing up the ridge b/t Pardise & Muir (Ron J?) we traversed over to the Nisqually Chute. Poked around a bit to find the alternate entrance to get more of a fall line shot. The chutes have a bit of debris, but it was soft and quite enjoyable. Down the moraine, up and out, back to the car just before 2..
Good times by all
Good Things: We beat the heat and the snow held up nicely. I got month 80 in, first month after a new born baby! No traffic on the way home, even w/ the holiday weekend
Bad Things: Line was too long at Scale Burgers, had to skip the overload burger & shake :(
It was good times! Always special to be skiing or riding on the holiday that kicks off "summer." It will be interesting to see reports from this upcoming weekend as to the impact this heat wave has on the glacier. Many thanks to the folks who set the boot pack out of the moraine - it was much more efficient than breaking out the skins again.
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