June 5, 2010, Mt. Rainier, Camp Muir
6/5/10
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
2686
8
Met Aaron in Kirkland at 630 and arrived at Paradise around 845. Already quite a crowd, but it was a different type of crowd. Mostly hikers with snowshoes on their packs, and some skiers - but 95% of the skiers booted up? I even saw a couple of guys with their skis on their packs with the skins on? I skinned the entire way except for the upper half of pan point, so I am kind of confused.
Anyway, good conditions heading up ther snowfield, no skin track obviously. News off the missing climber and the avalanche made it's way down the mountain as plenty of guided groups were going back down. Quite a bit of new snow had accumulated on the upper mountain this past week, so there was plenty of danger up there. Mid mountain was pretty stellar. Nice hard crust with some cream corn on top. The last 1000' had some icy spots that I was hoping would warm up, but tha never happened.
A Chinook heli approached as we were heading up, as it was searching for the missing climber.
A smaller copter came in to transport the other victims off the mountain. Short video compiled here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwgCiyqz3OE
Beofre I arrived at Camp Muir, the smaller heli had taken off. I had never seen or heard of a heli landing at Camp Muir - so it was interesting.
Felt horrible at Camp, and it was quite chilly. The mood was pretty gloomy, and most people did their business and left. As we were about to leave, the ranger asked people to depart and get behind the public shelter. We bailed at that point and headed down the frozen sastruga.
From 9k down it was creamy corn and we had some sweet turns. I made a detour around 7500 and made a small descent of a steeper pitch on skiers left that was quite fun. Pan point was quite nice as well, everything below was "skis in tracks, head down fast and yell at the snowshoers".
As usual, total chaos at the Paradise parking lot.
The fox was even doing some circus acts for some tourists. I think he most likely makes a killing on the weekends.
Felt like we both got heat stroke afterward, and some major sunburns.
For once, Muir paid out nicely.
Photos here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=176797&id=550314213&l=698d2c26d8
Anyway, good conditions heading up ther snowfield, no skin track obviously. News off the missing climber and the avalanche made it's way down the mountain as plenty of guided groups were going back down. Quite a bit of new snow had accumulated on the upper mountain this past week, so there was plenty of danger up there. Mid mountain was pretty stellar. Nice hard crust with some cream corn on top. The last 1000' had some icy spots that I was hoping would warm up, but tha never happened.
A Chinook heli approached as we were heading up, as it was searching for the missing climber.
A smaller copter came in to transport the other victims off the mountain. Short video compiled here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwgCiyqz3OE
Beofre I arrived at Camp Muir, the smaller heli had taken off. I had never seen or heard of a heli landing at Camp Muir - so it was interesting.
Felt horrible at Camp, and it was quite chilly. The mood was pretty gloomy, and most people did their business and left. As we were about to leave, the ranger asked people to depart and get behind the public shelter. We bailed at that point and headed down the frozen sastruga.
From 9k down it was creamy corn and we had some sweet turns. I made a detour around 7500 and made a small descent of a steeper pitch on skiers left that was quite fun. Pan point was quite nice as well, everything below was "skis in tracks, head down fast and yell at the snowshoers".
As usual, total chaos at the Paradise parking lot.
The fox was even doing some circus acts for some tourists. I think he most likely makes a killing on the weekends.
Felt like we both got heat stroke afterward, and some major sunburns.
For once, Muir paid out nicely.
Photos here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=176797&id=550314213&l=698d2c26d8
I admit to bootpacking up Pan Point with skis on pack and skins on. :-[
Snowbell and Joedabaker skinned up but for me with really fat skis and no crampons, I find it takes less energy to bootpack that bit when its frozen hard which it was at that time.
I saw one guy tring to skin up it take a 100' slide in front of the crowds so I was happy with my decision. ;D
Great day. Glad you got some.
Snowbell and Joedabaker skinned up but for me with really fat skis and no crampons, I find it takes less energy to bootpack that bit when its frozen hard which it was at that time.
I saw one guy tring to skin up it take a 100' slide in front of the crowds so I was happy with my decision. ;D
Great day. Glad you got some.
author=Scotsman link=topic=16854.msg70872#msg70872 date=1275929321]
Snowbell and Joedabaker skinned up but for me with really fat skis and no crampons,
That would be fat-ass skis.
Remember we discussed as we approached Pan that since your skis are so wide that if you put wall to wall carpet and a specially designed heel lift blocks to extend your heel lift capacity you could walk straight up Pan. Problem solved.
We also boot packed up pan point, but it was a slush fest by the time we got there. 11ish? There was a lot of people hiking up with alpine gear, but most of the people on AT gear were skinning. Got the worst sun burn of my life on my face!
author=Joedabaker link=topic=16854.msg70876#msg70876 date=1275931736]
That would be fat-ass skis.
Remember we discussed as we approached Pan that since your skis are so wide that if you put wall to wall carpet and a specially designed heel lift blocks to extend your heel lift capacity you could walk straight up Pan. Problem solved.
I was scared that dressed in my vomit green shirt and boots that if I fell I would look like a glob of phlem sliding down the slope. ;D
I only got 1/2 way up Pan Point before I booted, but the rest of the trip was great skinning. The last 500' was a little challenging, but I get lazy at altitude.
I also discovered that my f'in ski crampons got bent somehow. They would not fit over my skis even though I have used them a dozen times or so - must have gotten bent somehow. I spent awhile trying to bend them back to no avail. Hardended aluminum does not bend well at all.
Someone slide down pan point on skis? Holy hell that must have sucked and been a blast to the ego.
I also discovered that my f'in ski crampons got bent somehow. They would not fit over my skis even though I have used them a dozen times or so - must have gotten bent somehow. I spent awhile trying to bend them back to no avail. Hardended aluminum does not bend well at all.
Someone slide down pan point on skis? Holy hell that must have sucked and been a blast to the ego.
I also got the worst sunburn ever on my neck. Sunscreen on in the lot when I had my zip t on, then as I was getting heat stroke I just had a crew t shirt on.
Holy hell am I in pain. Aloe vera neck from hell!
Holy hell am I in pain. Aloe vera neck from hell!
Vinegar.
Gently dab on with cotton balls or even better use a small spray bottle.
Best sunburn cure evar.
Gently dab on with cotton balls or even better use a small spray bottle.
Best sunburn cure evar.
author=scotteryx link=topic=16854.msg70885#msg70885 date=1275943086]
I only got 1/2 way up Pan Point before I booted, but the rest of the trip was great skinning. The last 500' was a little challenging, but I get lazy at altitude.
I also discovered that my f'in ski crampons got bent somehow. They would not fit over my skis even though I have used them a dozen times or so - must have gotten bent somehow. I spent awhile trying to bend them back to no avail. Hardended aluminum does not bend well at all.
Someone slide down pan point on skis? Holy hell that must have sucked and been a blast to the ego.
I took planks of wood shelving, inserted them into my crampons and pried with all my strength to get them to bend 5mm or so. Those things are tough!!
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