Where to take visitors in April

So a group of 5 friends is comingn out to visit during the second week in April and I am trying to put together some options for backcountry trips during that time. I know the Baker Backcountry is an option as is Paradise, but where would you take a visitor from PA who was looking for the cascads experience. We're not looking for a Mowach (sp?) Face type of day but perhaps a day on Adams, a Trip to Sahale Arm, or something else you suggest. Weather will obviously be an issue as it's early but we'll drive east/north if the weather is crap. Intermediate skiers/boarders.

I would think that Washington Pass/Silver Star might be at their peak right about then. Or Heliotrope Ridge. Or the Sulphide Glacier on Shuksan. Or Ruth Mountain.<br><br>That's a bit early for Adams, and maybe for Sahale.

So is lower a better choice in april?

So is lower a better choice in april?

<br><br>No, higher will have better snow. But the approaches to things like Adams might still be a bit long in April. The road usually doesn't open to Cold Springs until about June. Sahale won't have as much road approach by April, but it couild still be four miles to the trailhead. Washington Pass is usually open by mid April.<br>

Kinda depends on what weather has been - often mid-April has continuing new snow, but also warm and sunny days right after, so many tours are not quite setting up for corn yet. But it of course varies. I'd suggest going back through a few years' TRs for April to see what folks were reporting on. Tim mentions a few I've enjoyed in April, particularly Silver Star, which has that BIG mountain feel (just like Snoqualmie ), and which is a bit east so sometimes gets consolidated a bit sooner than things like the Sulphide (though if you hit it right Shuksan may have great snow and you can ski to the bottom of the clearcut, which is a nice treat).

If they are tourists, never been to WA I'd suggest Rainier/Paradise because it is a landmark area in WA.