December 7, 2003, Paradise, MRNP
12/7/03
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
3706
10
Met the normal gang for breakfast @ Tall Timbers, Eatonville. Jeanette,Ron,Darryl,Stefan and myself had plenty of time to B-S since the forecast gate opening went to 10:00 am. Arriving at Paradise I saw a couple of people fall on their asses on the ice rink like parking lot. Feeling confidant of my superb balance, I grabbed my skis and promptly fell on my ass (and elbow!).
We skinned up the summer trail toward Golden Gate, and decided on a run known as Bundy's Blunder. The breakable crust that was present about 4" down for the first 250 vertical disapeared leaving us about 10" of fresh atop a heavy crust. We dug a couple of pits all the way to the ground. I was surprized to see the 24" of snow we skied on 11-23,compressed into such a bulletproof layer. Darryl barely stepped on the Ruetch block and the top 3" slid, but that was all he could get to go. (negative comments removed in favor of good karma 8))
As it turned out we got three great runs, despite my now signature somersault. Everybody agreed it was a great time. As we skinned back up the road to Paradise the weather cleared revealing Castle and Pinnacle through the trees.
More Photos @ http://community.webshots.com/album/103834433SghKct
We skinned up the summer trail toward Golden Gate, and decided on a run known as Bundy's Blunder. The breakable crust that was present about 4" down for the first 250 vertical disapeared leaving us about 10" of fresh atop a heavy crust. We dug a couple of pits all the way to the ground. I was surprized to see the 24" of snow we skied on 11-23,compressed into such a bulletproof layer. Darryl barely stepped on the Ruetch block and the top 3" slid, but that was all he could get to go. (negative comments removed in favor of good karma 8))
As it turned out we got three great runs, despite my now signature somersault. Everybody agreed it was a great time. As we skinned back up the road to Paradise the weather cleared revealing Castle and Pinnacle through the trees.
More Photos @ http://community.webshots.com/album/103834433SghKct
Where's Bundy's Blunder? ??? did you go above golden gate and ski down? did you ski the slope that leads to the foot bridge across paradise river at the base of Mazama ridge? abc
O.K.!, thanks, that's what I kind of thought. ;) abc
Nice shots JW as always. Wish I coulda been there, looks like much better conditions than Sat.
Robie's "beta" from his Saturday tour gave us better insights as to where to go for the goods on Sunday. Thanks Robie.
While we didn't get great photo light until late in the day, there's a bunch of additional photos from this tour at:
http://groups.msn.com/WildHeartsSkiing/paradise12703.msnw
While we didn't get great photo light until late in the day, there's a bunch of additional photos from this tour at:
http://groups.msn.com/WildHeartsSkiing/paradise12703.msnw
Yeh, thanks Robie for the info and photo compliment. Good shots Ron,Stefan. thanks for putting them up Ron.
Where was this crust that you speek of? I noticed nothing ;D ;) That realy was a good time.Thanks for the info Robie. And you know Jerry is quite the freestyler, while falling down was the theme of the day. Jerrys tricks had the most style and precision. I don't think any of us besides MAD-DOG made a sinle run without falling.thank goodness for soft snow.
Great skiing and pictures from Jerry, Ron and Steffan. I didn't fall on any of my runs. I did have to abruptly interrupt serveral of my runs to dig in the snow looking for the skins bag that Jeanette lost. I didn't find it. I'm open to tips for weighting the rear ski and keeping my weight down hill.
I dunno, Darryl.
Every time I looked up your skiing looked pretty good to me.
It did get kinda old hearing about that skin bag, tho, didn't it ;)
Every time I looked up your skiing looked pretty good to me.
It did get kinda old hearing about that skin bag, tho, didn't it ;)
At least MY skin bag didn't blow off Mt. St. Helen's like someone else's I know. I just put it somewhere where I wouldn't forget where it was. You know how those senior moments are. ;D ;D Thanks for keeping an eye out for it Darryl. 8) Yeah, all Jerry has to do is get that flip going a little faster, and he'll be sticking that landing no problem!!
Just wait till you see my double 8)
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