February 15, 2004, Paradise Mt. Rainier

After a hearty breakfast at the Tall Timbers,Eatonville. Jeanette, Ron, Ethan and myself were treated to a Longmire gate in the open position just after nine.
Skinned out of Paradise in light snow ,maybe 28 degrees. We made our way up to a west facing run we call Jerry's Run.(so named because I fell in a six foot deep hole there earlier this year). Initial prodding at the top of this 35 degree slope kicked loose a small bit of the freshest 4 inches. We then did a tree anchored ski cut/jump up and down as hard as you can test and were unable to produce any sliding. The eight to ten inches of medium to heavy fresh seemed well bonded to the tough crust below. We all got some good turns in ,not quite face shots but good skiing. As we got lower and into more forest skiing, the snow got way more grabby. Did some scouting in an area known as Maddog Ridge and found some cool lines just waiting for that next big cold front and major dump! Good time you guys! Here's Evan in deep.