Hints/impresions of Mt Rainer NP

Hi TAY,

I’m planning to climb Mt Rainier summit this year using touring ski. This will be part of a holiday in Washington State, since I’m German and live close to Munich (Bavaria). I’m wanting to do the Emmons route, since if promises -- provided good conditions -- a nice trip.

Just that you see, that I know what I'm doing: I’ve done similar things in the Alps and have a certain experience in these kinds of things. See also here .

I thought of putting this posting in a different board, but I didn’t find one that fits perfectly.

I need again some hints on the conditions at Mt Rainier, since I have the experience in from the Alps, that locals (guides, people who to touring there) have better hints than the weather forecast(1). I have to book the flights for my friend and me, since they will become more and more expensive from more or less now on.

Here are my questions:

• a) What is your impression on the winter so far at Mt Rainier? Is there less, average or more snow compared to the last years? Are the crevasses covered with snow?
• b) Is the avalanche danger normal or are there some weak layers in the snow pack that remain there for a while?
• c) How is the road access (specially) at the White River valley?
• d) Do you now other sources for similar information (URL would be fine!)?
• e) We (my friend and I) are planning to stay four weeks from in June. Do you think June from Beginning to end or Mid June to mid July is the better chance to meet good conditions for our plan?

Despite these hints will be subjective, long term and unsafe, they will be valuable to me. Since my holiday is not so short we will have the chance to adjust our plan to the short-term weather.

Since we are only two, I will put a posting 4 weeks before that actual start in the “planned trips” section of the board. I would love to have a few locals to join us.

Looking forward to your hints, Michael.

(1) I also wrote an email on the same topic to the park rangers. The reply it not yet here.

Generally speaking Rainier is pretty safe from avalanches after the first couple of really warm days to consolidate the snowpack. I would be very surprised if there was not a good and safe window to climb/ski in June. Also I think the road to the white river campground is usually opened well before June.

Last year the White River rd opened about June 4th

Certainly Amar's site would have a lot of information:

www.skimountaineer.com/CascadeSki/CascadeSki.php?name=Rainier

I've only skied from the true summit of Rainier once. That was on June 6, 2003. I think June is a good month, in general. Still lots of snow, but usually not too much concern about instability (barring extreme weather events). The weather often improves in the Cascades after Memorial Day, in my experience. Late July is usually the best weather, but the snow may not be as good for skiing.

"Memorial Day" is at the end of May.
When you go is a balance of weather up top and coverage at the bottom. Even on a big snow spring the it will be a walk out for the last 2000 ft. by mid-July. It is good that you will be here a while, because while June can be very good it can also have some weather and having some flexibility will accommodate for that. The people that usually get in serious trouble on Mt. Rainier are out of town visitors who arrive on a bad weather weekend with a tight schedule and head up into a storm because it's that or go home. Bad idea.

The Emmons route is popular for skiing because of its relative lack of crevasses late into the summer and smooth slope from the top. Sunrise is spectacular too. Skiing down the steep, worry-free slope of Interglacier (below Camp Schurman) can be great.

Currently we are at 120% of normal snowpack. Long range forecast is for normal summer temperatures, however.

The White River road usually opens at the end of may and June is typically the best ski mountaineering month so I would start your visit on June 1st. Look for a good weather window (calm and sunny) and you're pretty certain to have an enjoyable trip. I might be interested in joining you. Send me a personal message.