Feb 6, 2010, Tatoosh
2/6/10
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
1628
4
Left Narada at ~10:30am, late start meant others had broken trail from Reflection Lakes road up into the Tatoosh - Thanks for that perfect route up to Castle and Pinnacle basin area. Snow was dense powder, and immensely skiable skier's right. Middle of bowl was very wind-effected, and wind slab was a bit hard to ski. Several parties up there, for sunny, powder ski day. Ran into ranger Dan too, what a great job he has! Another party dug a pit, maybe they'll post results here. Photo of Dave skiing last run, as clouds moved in mid-afternoon.
Thanks for that perfect route up to Castle and Pinnacle basin area.
Thank Gary Vogt he broke trail the whole way.
We were out there as well and headed further down the road, skiing up onto the slopes above Bench Lake where we found lots of very skiable dense powder on all the north facing aspects. Ski penetration about 8-10 inches while skinning up. We topped out at around 5800 feet and didn't find any wind slab similar to those seen around Castle.
No evidence of instability in the pack where we were aside from one slap that released from just below Peak 6524 that looked as if it had been triggered by a slough from above.
No evidence of instability in the pack where we were aside from one slap that released from just below Peak 6524 that looked as if it had been triggered by a slough from above.
This is the way we found Castle saddle on saturday morning With Gary leading.
Great morning to be out. Hope you were able to avoid the heinous breakable crust that plagued Paradise.
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