Good advice on locations. I am thinking about locations central to a lot of different options that are just at the end of the typical day tour. Sounds like there is some interest in a few different areas. Anyone interested in trying it out at Snoq pass? Anyone have ideas of locations there or anywhere else that wouldn't create a hazard or offend the volunteer patrollers?
Hard to say -- some of the volunteers are pretty gung ho about collapsing caves and igloos others less so -- but that mostly happens in the designated "Group Camping" areas near Paradise where hordes of boy scouts arrive just to build igloos and snow caves and camp.
As I said earlier -- if you construct a shelter well away from marked routes and somewhat hidden -- it will last lonker and be less likely to have "squatters" occupying it when you return. Also when snow camping anywhere at Mt Rainier -- be sure to use to the "Blue Bags" provided by the park service for packing out your poo -- imagine how big the poo pile would be in the spring if your igloo got used every weekend Jan->Mar and no one "packed it *all* out"
In terms of Snoqualmie Pass areas -- I would say anything goes -- though Gold Creek gives me pause -- don't go too far up valley -- some of the cabins up there have been crushed by avalanches.
But for Snoqualmie Pass -- why bother with snow-camping? -- join the Washington Alpine Club and stay in the Guye Cabin instead -- dues are $45 for the first year and $30 to renew and cabin fees are a $15 per weekend or $70 per year. For this you get dorm style bunks, a full kitchen, heat, showers and nice living room with a fireplace.
