April 19-20, 2008, Paradise
4/19/08
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
3727
2
Spent an enjoyable weekend preemptively rescuing people from future crevasses with the Foothills Mountaineers at Paradise this weekend. Thanks again guys and gals!
Snow:
Saturday - fabulous. Cold, ~calf+ deep, and light. Sluffs ran relatively easily to varying degrees on a fairly solid crust. Universal agreement that conditions were excellent and exceptional for late April.
Sunday - Consolidating, continued sun breaks, and limited warming began to do their work with intermittent snow/graupel interludes- heavier and wetter, with some soft crust formation starting. We watched a not-small ski-triggered sluff widen and run the height of Mazama Ridge on a W facing slope. Shaded trees still had fluffy powder in Edith Creek basin at 6pm. Unless something evil happens weatherwise, nirvana may still inhabit the Tatoosh.
Snow:
Saturday - fabulous. Cold, ~calf+ deep, and light. Sluffs ran relatively easily to varying degrees on a fairly solid crust. Universal agreement that conditions were excellent and exceptional for late April.
Sunday - Consolidating, continued sun breaks, and limited warming began to do their work with intermittent snow/graupel interludes- heavier and wetter, with some soft crust formation starting. We watched a not-small ski-triggered sluff widen and run the height of Mazama Ridge on a W facing slope. Shaded trees still had fluffy powder in Edith Creek basin at 6pm. Unless something evil happens weatherwise, nirvana may still inhabit the Tatoosh.
I had fun slowshoeing in the Tatoosh Sat/Sun. Still recovering from shoulder surgery, so no skiing (falling) for me.
Saw a small ski-cut-triggered slab on a north aspect east of The Castle Saturday. Photo here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dennyt/2429407249/. Sunday morning heading up the same gully we strayed into some steeper territory until we heard one good WHOOMP. Enough of that, turned around, and went up a different way, only to see a natural slab ~10" deep and 20' across on a north aspect. It ran out ~300', and I'm guessing it was a 50 degree slope.
Saw a small ski-cut-triggered slab on a north aspect east of The Castle Saturday. Photo here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dennyt/2429407249/. Sunday morning heading up the same gully we strayed into some steeper territory until we heard one good WHOOMP. Enough of that, turned around, and went up a different way, only to see a natural slab ~10" deep and 20' across on a north aspect. It ran out ~300', and I'm guessing it was a 50 degree slope.
Thanks to all the instructors for giving up their precious powder time to teach us young bucks how to travel safely on glaciers. A great time was had, much was learned, and now I have a greater appreciation for those amazing ascents some of you all make. Hopefully I will have some epic tr's to come thanks to the invaluable lessons I learned this weekend.
Thanks again Foothills/ Seattle Mountaineers volunteers!
Chris
Thanks again Foothills/ Seattle Mountaineers volunteers!
Chris
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