October 19, 2003, Pan Point+, MRNP

With a forecast of continued high snow levels and few free days before the end of October, Sir Charles (Eldridge, our esteemed webmaster) and I chose the best of our bad alternatives.   Given the forecast of afternoon clearing, we made our start from Seattle for MRNP at the leisurely hour of 8AM.  As we headed up the well traveled Muir route from Paradise in slushy shallow snow, the breeze and showers gave no indication of relenting, so we stopped for lunch just above Pan Point ~ 7100' on the ridge toward McClure Rock.  

With the wind speed increasing and a lack of continuous snow above us, we decided to head down.   After 4-500' of corn meal mush in improving weather, we picked our way through the Edith Creek basin to the trail to Paradise.  We were able to ski most of the way back in snow alongside the bare asphalt trail.  In the parking lot we were greeted by Ron J, Mad Dog, jw, and sag who unfortunately did not have the usual BBQ fired up.

After a few glimpses of the mountain under a big lenticular cloud, we left at 3PM with more weather coming in from the southwest.  October is in the bag, hope the Pineapple Express heads south soon.