June 28-29, 2003, Sunrise Chute Fest MRNP
6/28/03
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
3336
4
It's been another great "corn harvest" for our second annual Sunrise "Chute Fest". There were 7 of us that enjoyed several platters of fresh corn on Saturday. Robie, Bob, Dorthea, Ken, Tom, Ron, and your truly were drooling over the mature corn fields ahead. Upon our arrival to clear skies and very warm temps we decided to head towards the Burroughs and knock down some of the goods. While the rest of the group headed out towards Burroughs 3, Ron and I decided to ski, as Robie calls it, Burrough 2 1/2, where we found our first helping of sweet creamed corn on a chute that we named "widow maker". 8) Our next helping came shortly after that with a short climb up, and another helping of "golden Jubilee". We skinned out of the valley and back to the car, pulled out the bbq and roasted up some hot dogs, where we ran into Kurt and his son, and chatted about the days harvest. Sunday was another fine day for ripe corn. We met up with Kam and Chris to show them the fields. We started off skiing some of our favorite chutes, taking in "Fear Factor" where we left the youngsters to manuver around a couple of skinny rocky spots, as us "old time" farmers went for the easier fields. ;D We cut our harvest a little shorter on day two because a thunder and lightening storm seemed to be following our tracks. We went back to the car, pulled out the bbq and beer, roasted up some "dogs" had a great time reminiscing of the days harvest, feeling like we had just left the Thanksgiving table. All in all the conditions were great. There was no evidence of any slide activity even though it was very warm on Saturday. Sunday was warm with a few scattered showers and an occasional thunder shower. If only the road would open sooner, >:( >:( our harvest would keep us all fat for quite some time. Ron should have some photos available soon.
With the warm temps, it's melting out fast, but should be good for another couple of weeks.
With the warm temps, it's melting out fast, but should be good for another couple of weeks.
It was a great weekend... including the hot dogs!
Lots of other skiers up there. Wish we could have met them all.
Here's a shot of MadDog having her way with the "Widow Maker":
More shots of the trip are posted at:
http://groups.msn.com/WildHeartsSkiing/sunrise6282903.msnw
Lots of other skiers up there. Wish we could have met them all.
Here's a shot of MadDog having her way with the "Widow Maker":
More shots of the trip are posted at:
http://groups.msn.com/WildHeartsSkiing/sunrise6282903.msnw
Great Pics Ron! Looks like great fun! I can't wait to hook up and toast some turns and burn some buns on the grill. I saw the mascot at Dege. It sure gets around!
Joe
Joe
Dang, looks like I missed a good one! Nice photos Ron. My Baker climb was good, though I'll never posthole down again >:( JW
First off "Its better to look good than ski good"
I sent my new sun shirt to the cleaners ,i want to protect that investment.
And now here is KEN's version of the Day -
Tom and I met Robie, Dorothea, Bob, Ron, and Jeanette
at Buzzsy's in Greenwater. Robie looked like a
distinguished Alpine mountaineer in his Tyrolean Hat,
Swiss shorts, and red suspenders. Tom also looked
quite dapper in his bright red polypro. We drove to
Sunrise and started walking at 9:40AM (trailhead at
6400ft.). Initially the dirt road was completely
melted out. However, by the time we came within sight
of the base of 1st Burroughs Mtn., the road was
covered with snow. We hiked up toward the low east
ridge of 1st Burroughs. The southeast face of 1st
Burroughs has a good but very short run high up. By
the end of the day, this southeast face of Burroughs
was covered with tracks.
We turned west and hiked/climbed up the north side of
1st Burroughs. We continued on to the south side of
2nd Burroughs where the snow was mostly melted out.
There were spectacular views of the glaciers on the
northeast side of Mt. Rainier (Frying Pan, Emmonds,
Winthrop) and also views of Panhandle Gap (with its
cornice), Whitman Crest, and Little Tahoma. In the
distance we could see Mt. Baker, Glacier Peak and Mt.
Stuart. Unfortunately, Ron and Jeanette had to leave
early. The rest of us proceeded to ski (north and
west) down a very short pitch off the west ridge of 2ndBurroughs to the saddle between 2nd and 3rd Burroughs. We then put the skins on and climbed 3rd Burroughs (7800 ft.).
There were magnificent views of Interglacier (very few crevasses open), Steamboat Prow, and Mt. Ruth (largely devoid of snow), St. Elmo's Pass, and the Winthrop Glacier. Bob and Dorothea pointed out Grand Park and all the peaks they had climbed: Skyscraper, Sluiskin chief and Squaw, Crescent, and, in the distance, Bearshead and East Bearshead.
After the lunch break, we skied down the bumpy rain
runneled east facing slope back to the notch and took
off our skis to hike up the west slope of 2nd
Burroughs. After we entered the snow, Robie expertly
led us down across rocks (north and east) to the
shoulder above the steep slopes (chutes) on the north
side of 2nd Bourroughs that lead down to Berkley Park.
The snow was excellent (as Ron had told Robie by
radio) and we all had good runs (600 ft.). I booted
back up 300 ft. for another run on a narrower chute
just a little further east. Again the snow was
excellent with a firm base and a softened surface. We
walked up the hiking trail back to the east ridge of
1st Burrough*s mountain (near frozen lake) and skied
down very gentle slopes to the dirt road and walked
the road back to Sunrise (arrived at 5:40PM for total
trip time of 8 hours).
While driving out we scouted the ski route down into
Panhandle Creek from the bowl north and east of
Panhandle Gap. Drive home was about 2 hrs. It was a delightful day with good skiing, great company, and
wonderful views.
I sent my new sun shirt to the cleaners ,i want to protect that investment.
And now here is KEN's version of the Day -
Tom and I met Robie, Dorothea, Bob, Ron, and Jeanette
at Buzzsy's in Greenwater. Robie looked like a
distinguished Alpine mountaineer in his Tyrolean Hat,
Swiss shorts, and red suspenders. Tom also looked
quite dapper in his bright red polypro. We drove to
Sunrise and started walking at 9:40AM (trailhead at
6400ft.). Initially the dirt road was completely
melted out. However, by the time we came within sight
of the base of 1st Burroughs Mtn., the road was
covered with snow. We hiked up toward the low east
ridge of 1st Burroughs. The southeast face of 1st
Burroughs has a good but very short run high up. By
the end of the day, this southeast face of Burroughs
was covered with tracks.
We turned west and hiked/climbed up the north side of
1st Burroughs. We continued on to the south side of
2nd Burroughs where the snow was mostly melted out.
There were spectacular views of the glaciers on the
northeast side of Mt. Rainier (Frying Pan, Emmonds,
Winthrop) and also views of Panhandle Gap (with its
cornice), Whitman Crest, and Little Tahoma. In the
distance we could see Mt. Baker, Glacier Peak and Mt.
Stuart. Unfortunately, Ron and Jeanette had to leave
early. The rest of us proceeded to ski (north and
west) down a very short pitch off the west ridge of 2ndBurroughs to the saddle between 2nd and 3rd Burroughs. We then put the skins on and climbed 3rd Burroughs (7800 ft.).
There were magnificent views of Interglacier (very few crevasses open), Steamboat Prow, and Mt. Ruth (largely devoid of snow), St. Elmo's Pass, and the Winthrop Glacier. Bob and Dorothea pointed out Grand Park and all the peaks they had climbed: Skyscraper, Sluiskin chief and Squaw, Crescent, and, in the distance, Bearshead and East Bearshead.
After the lunch break, we skied down the bumpy rain
runneled east facing slope back to the notch and took
off our skis to hike up the west slope of 2nd
Burroughs. After we entered the snow, Robie expertly
led us down across rocks (north and east) to the
shoulder above the steep slopes (chutes) on the north
side of 2nd Bourroughs that lead down to Berkley Park.
The snow was excellent (as Ron had told Robie by
radio) and we all had good runs (600 ft.). I booted
back up 300 ft. for another run on a narrower chute
just a little further east. Again the snow was
excellent with a firm base and a softened surface. We
walked up the hiking trail back to the east ridge of
1st Burrough*s mountain (near frozen lake) and skied
down very gentle slopes to the dirt road and walked
the road back to Sunrise (arrived at 5:40PM for total
trip time of 8 hours).
While driving out we scouted the ski route down into
Panhandle Creek from the bowl north and east of
Panhandle Gap. Drive home was about 2 hrs. It was a delightful day with good skiing, great company, and
wonderful views.
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