25 Nov - Paradise and Sugar Snow in Birthday Bowl
11/15/07
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
2335
3
Started fairly early with Jen and JW to a Tall Timbers Sunday Muster with RonJ, Maddog, Darryl and the latest disciple - Skier Lyles.
After a hearty breakfast, the party moved to the Longmire Gate where we were joined by Stefan. There we chased Frisbees for an hour or two since the Nisqually hwy was blocked by a broken plow. There was really only a little snow on the road. The snow is just now starting to stay in the Nisqually talus field under the big bridge. The Paradise main parking lot is finally open, whoopee!
From the parking lot we skinned in the blazing sun to the Mazama Bowl where we split off from Ron J and Maddog and Darryl. There the temperature dropped suddenly in spite of the sun. The south aspects of Mazama were covered with a couple inches of sugary snow, on a 2 inch crusty layer, on top of a heavier sugary snow. Seemed safe on this day but hopefully it will get to settle before the next layers are added (BEWARE). Anyway, we skinned then boot packed up these sunny south aspects to the ridge which had a stiff though thin wind crust. We then got a couple nice turns down the north aspect of the Mazama.
We then climbed to another sunny ridge where we found ourselves looking down into more north aspects the Birthday Bowl!!! There we did lap after lap after lap of this glorious shaded bowl with its untracked sugary snow up past our ankles. It was decidedly VERY NICE and after we were all tired out and the bowl was all tracked out ;D, we made our way a little more to the south for some more birthday bowl action ;D.
As the sun was starting to get low, we headed back toward civilization and speedily met up with RonJ et al who were tired out after having made a big mess of the snow in the Fourth Crossing Trail :D. We skied down to the road and hiked back up packing the skis.
All in all a nice tiring day, possibly even a negative calorie balance for the weekend in spite of the late start. The company was superb once again. I am sorry Scotty could not join us, though I am grateful that he is back working again because it is good for the snow forecast. 8)
After a hearty breakfast, the party moved to the Longmire Gate where we were joined by Stefan. There we chased Frisbees for an hour or two since the Nisqually hwy was blocked by a broken plow. There was really only a little snow on the road. The snow is just now starting to stay in the Nisqually talus field under the big bridge. The Paradise main parking lot is finally open, whoopee!
From the parking lot we skinned in the blazing sun to the Mazama Bowl where we split off from Ron J and Maddog and Darryl. There the temperature dropped suddenly in spite of the sun. The south aspects of Mazama were covered with a couple inches of sugary snow, on a 2 inch crusty layer, on top of a heavier sugary snow. Seemed safe on this day but hopefully it will get to settle before the next layers are added (BEWARE). Anyway, we skinned then boot packed up these sunny south aspects to the ridge which had a stiff though thin wind crust. We then got a couple nice turns down the north aspect of the Mazama.
We then climbed to another sunny ridge where we found ourselves looking down into more north aspects the Birthday Bowl!!! There we did lap after lap after lap of this glorious shaded bowl with its untracked sugary snow up past our ankles. It was decidedly VERY NICE and after we were all tired out and the bowl was all tracked out ;D, we made our way a little more to the south for some more birthday bowl action ;D.
As the sun was starting to get low, we headed back toward civilization and speedily met up with RonJ et al who were tired out after having made a big mess of the snow in the Fourth Crossing Trail :D. We skied down to the road and hiked back up packing the skis.
All in all a nice tiring day, possibly even a negative calorie balance for the weekend in spite of the late start. The company was superb once again. I am sorry Scotty could not join us, though I am grateful that he is back working again because it is good for the snow forecast. 8)
Bluebird day and warm temps in preceding days meant nasty trap crust, lucky for us there were nice north facing slopes to terrorize. Still quite rocky out there so beware, hopefully with this next system lined up and ready to dump that I won't have to worry about core shots from the rocks.
Good day out folks and looking forward to next weekend! Let's hope that Scottie keeps working and the snow keeps falling :) Just kidding man, wish you were there with us.
Pics of JW getting his turn on, Rainier awash in a sky of blue.
Chris
Good day out folks and looking forward to next weekend! Let's hope that Scottie keeps working and the snow keeps falling :) Just kidding man, wish you were there with us.
Pics of JW getting his turn on, Rainier awash in a sky of blue.
Chris
So, bllitz, your theory is that there is little snow 'cuz Scotsman is out in it unemployed all the time? Makes sense to me. Put him on a chain gang somewhere! But let him out on weekends to still play w/us.
Reply to this TR
Please login first: