July 6, 2008, Paradise Glacier Geezerpalooza
7/6/08
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
3494
4
Diana had been wanting to do the Foss Pk loop, due no doubt to her sixtyish youthful enthusiasm. After Obiwan Robie's bobblehead report, we shifted our sights toward Paradise Glacier, hoping to give Dorothea's 78 year old bones a smoother ride. We broke out of the murk at Pebble Ck. after carrying skis from the base of Pan. The gals were quite concerned about a poor overweight young pilgrim stumbling down the snowfield in jeans/no sunglasses, carrying a massive sleeping bag in his arms. Adventure is where you find it, I guess, but at least their pause allowed this geezer to catch up.
At about 8800' (Moon Rocks) I noticed the cloud layer was sloshing a bit higher. I was in new to me used boots (scored on TAY!) and fine as the fit and workmanship were, this was the excuse my feet were looking for. I suggested a traverse east to the Paradise Glacier 'before we lose visibility'. Amazing how in a couple hundred yards and a slight change of aspect, the snow went from dirty, postholed, moderate suncups to smooth clean corn that would have been considered excellent in May!
We reined in our enthusiasm as we descended toward the "Big Crack' just above 8000', but there were several earlier tracks and no problems. However, from the rocks below at 'Land's End', we could see a distinct shadowy lineation that extended diagonally down southward from the obvious open crevasses at the edge of the Cowlitz all the way beneath the 'Scree Island' in the Paradise Glacier. There is another crevasse about two feet wide and fifty yards long lurking beneath the final rollover at about 7400'.
Back into the fog at about 6500' on moderately large, but soft & fairly clean suncups. We all gave up on turning after a ten yard bare patch at the top of Mazama because of giant suncups filled with vegetable matter. A few wild traverses and a minor routefinding boo-boo on my part took us to the roadcut, where the only way down was to tarzan some branches. A marvelous day with inspiring companions!
At about 8800' (Moon Rocks) I noticed the cloud layer was sloshing a bit higher. I was in new to me used boots (scored on TAY!) and fine as the fit and workmanship were, this was the excuse my feet were looking for. I suggested a traverse east to the Paradise Glacier 'before we lose visibility'. Amazing how in a couple hundred yards and a slight change of aspect, the snow went from dirty, postholed, moderate suncups to smooth clean corn that would have been considered excellent in May!
We reined in our enthusiasm as we descended toward the "Big Crack' just above 8000', but there were several earlier tracks and no problems. However, from the rocks below at 'Land's End', we could see a distinct shadowy lineation that extended diagonally down southward from the obvious open crevasses at the edge of the Cowlitz all the way beneath the 'Scree Island' in the Paradise Glacier. There is another crevasse about two feet wide and fifty yards long lurking beneath the final rollover at about 7400'.
Back into the fog at about 6500' on moderately large, but soft & fairly clean suncups. We all gave up on turning after a ten yard bare patch at the top of Mazama because of giant suncups filled with vegetable matter. A few wild traverses and a minor routefinding boo-boo on my part took us to the roadcut, where the only way down was to tarzan some branches. A marvelous day with inspiring companions!
author=vogtski link=topic=10582.msg42910#msg42910 date=1215400635]
the snow went from dirty, postholed, moderate suncups to smooth clean corn that would have been considered excellent in May!
Gary, we've all been looking for it all weekend---sounds like you guys found it!
Always trust the old masters.
Great Geezer glacier going! Thanks for the info on the crevasses .
Based on your post, it looks like we were parked a couple cars down from you. Though she doesn't know me, I've seen Dorothea skiing twice now this year (the other time down @ Eagle Pk) and hope to be out skiing at that age! Very impressive.
We also saw the, uh, back-country traveler in jeans and had the same reaction.
We also saw the, uh, back-country traveler in jeans and had the same reaction.
Sunday, July 13 Diana & I had so much fun last weekend we had to repeat, unfortunately without the 'very impressive' Dorothea. Perhaps one of the gals will de-lurk & post photos. Quite a bit bumpier than last weeks creamy-dreamy, but still way more fun than the Muir snowfield. Even the Ice Cave flats are better for geezers than packing skis down the 'Staircase of Giants". One can still ski to within a hundred feet of the Valley Road at 4th Crossing, except for a couple 50-foot bare patches on top of Mazama Ridge
Thanks to the group of three who skinned from below and wanded the new crevasses below & south of "Big Crack'! Thanks also to the solo gentleman from Mt. Hood (friend of Charles?) who gave Diana a lift back to Paradise!
Thanks to the group of three who skinned from below and wanded the new crevasses below & south of "Big Crack'! Thanks also to the solo gentleman from Mt. Hood (friend of Charles?) who gave Diana a lift back to Paradise!
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