June 12, 2004, Mt Rainier - Da South Side

Jim (jimjar) and I headed to Mt Rainier in hopes of finding some freshies, despite the not so good forcast.  On the way there the clouds actually broke, leaving a lenticular cloud looming high above the summit and clouds below what seemed around the 8000ft level.  Once at the Paradise parking lot it was noted that the weather was from the south and it was just a matter of time.  We started hiking at 8:45 with overcast skies but the weather was already creeping.  Weather rolled in thick about a quarter mile from the traditional summer route to Pan Pt.  Once above Pan Pt we got out of the clouds and the visibility was clear to Muir.  We were scoping the Nisqually chutes as we threw our gear on.  The chute was covered with avi debris but a couple of sections looked real smooth.  So we skinned under overcast skies with the sun trying to beam thru at times.  Snow was perfectly smooth with an inch or two of fresh.  Jim and I continued skinning while I thought the clouds would hold out cause of the winds from the northeast.  We stopped at noon at 9200ft just above Moon Rocks.  We both noticed how the winds had shifted and clouds were starting to fill in the Nisqually basin.  We didn't waste anytime getting to the chute entrance.  The snow on the way to was super corn.  Some sections were perfectly smooth while others were wind effected.  Once at the entrance I did a board cut and we both noticed how slabby and poorly bonded the first inch or two was.  Nothing to raise any serious red flags since most of the chute had released.  Well we proceeded anyway with caution.  The whole upper and steepest section had naturally released.  A few quick hop turns and we were thru that.  We then proceeded boarders left onto some real smooth corn.  We did notice how the first inch or so would slab off but it took a while for it to catch up with us.  By this time that was the least of our troubles as the white out began.  We used the avi debris path, as much as visibility allowed, to give us some depth perception.  The rest of the way down could be described as the Vertigo Traverse.  One fall after the next as we swore we were going down hill but actually turning up into the slope.  Not only could we not see, the snow turned to sticky mush.  However we knew if we kept going that we would eventually come upon the boot pack leading up to Glacier Vista trail.  So we did and there was the boot pack.  By this time we were now below the clouds and visibility was back to norm.  We climbed out of the glop and strapped our boards on for the slowest straight line ever.  We used our poles, boot trail when we could, pine needles where we could find, and finally we were back at the car.  Just in time for our oranges which were now around room temp. ;D