May 19, 2018, Interglacier
5/19/18
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
2872
4
Started out at 8:00 am with very low expectations due to weather.
Trail has about 5 trees across it and 3 require you to crawl under.
Started skinning at about 2 miles in but not continuous so repacked skis until about mile 2.5.
Crossed over to the left bank via a very dodgy snow-bridge. A very nice split-boarder waited at the crossing for me to make sure I was OK for which I was very grateful.
The apron below Mt Ruth was pretty mushy and the clouds still hung over the glacier but the split-boarder continued up ( far ahead of me by now) so I kept going.
Once on the Glacier the conditions were great. Only 1/4 to 1/2" penetration and everything was smooooth and consolidated. The clouds also started lifting as I ascended and the day was looking good although there were some worrying clouds over towards the Russell .
Approaching the top , 4 skiers descended and it looked good. Then the split-boarder passed and shouted that it was good.
Quick break and then I chose a fresh line right of the other tracks. Wow. Smooth as a billiard ball and very nice corn all the way to the Apron.
Started to get sticky and mushy on the apron but the Glacier skied primo top to bottom.
Got back to car just a big raindrops started falling.
Very grateful for a great day in an unexpected weather window.
Skiing was superb but the approach is pretty tiresome.
Go get some.
Trail has about 5 trees across it and 3 require you to crawl under.
Started skinning at about 2 miles in but not continuous so repacked skis until about mile 2.5.
Crossed over to the left bank via a very dodgy snow-bridge. A very nice split-boarder waited at the crossing for me to make sure I was OK for which I was very grateful.
The apron below Mt Ruth was pretty mushy and the clouds still hung over the glacier but the split-boarder continued up ( far ahead of me by now) so I kept going.
Once on the Glacier the conditions were great. Only 1/4 to 1/2" penetration and everything was smooooth and consolidated. The clouds also started lifting as I ascended and the day was looking good although there were some worrying clouds over towards the Russell .
Approaching the top , 4 skiers descended and it looked good. Then the split-boarder passed and shouted that it was good.
Quick break and then I chose a fresh line right of the other tracks. Wow. Smooth as a billiard ball and very nice corn all the way to the Apron.
Started to get sticky and mushy on the apron but the Glacier skied primo top to bottom.
Got back to car just a big raindrops started falling.
Very grateful for a great day in an unexpected weather window.
Skiing was superb but the approach is pretty tiresome.
Go get some.
Good report! Much Appreciated.
You must be a good judge of Snow bridges by now ?
You must be a good judge of Snow bridges by now ?
Hey Scotsman, appreciate the post. Does that mean the road to White River Campground is free of snow or did you start from somewhere farther away? Saw the campground was still listed as closed on the NPS site.
An update from a trip up there yesterday:
- Snow patches start shortly after the switchback where the trail is very close to the river bank but they are discontinuous for a while after that and not worth putting on the skis until another 20 minutes or so up the trail and closer to Glacier Basin. The snow on those patches is firm and easy to travel on by foot.
- Where the summer trail takes a hard right or you can skin out to your left to cross the creek, it was still possible to rock hop across the creek (the dodgy snow bridge is no more) and then ski all the way up the valley to the glacier but that crossing is likely to become more challenging as the warm temps persist. You will also have to walk a short bit on dirt/rock right up against the bank of the creek in one spot before you get to the main crossing.
- Things are not freezing overnight. The top 500 ft below the prow skied nicely, the next 500-700 ft were very soft and more challenging, while the bottom 1000 ft or so down to the basin was soft but easy turning. Not as grabby lower down as I expected but not the fastest snow in the world either.
- The crevasse in the middle of the glacier above the rock band is starting to open up but is easily avoided right now. No other cracks opening up.
In response to the last poster's question... the road to White River CG is open. A small patch of snow at the trailhead proper but walking from there for a while.
- Snow patches start shortly after the switchback where the trail is very close to the river bank but they are discontinuous for a while after that and not worth putting on the skis until another 20 minutes or so up the trail and closer to Glacier Basin. The snow on those patches is firm and easy to travel on by foot.
- Where the summer trail takes a hard right or you can skin out to your left to cross the creek, it was still possible to rock hop across the creek (the dodgy snow bridge is no more) and then ski all the way up the valley to the glacier but that crossing is likely to become more challenging as the warm temps persist. You will also have to walk a short bit on dirt/rock right up against the bank of the creek in one spot before you get to the main crossing.
- Things are not freezing overnight. The top 500 ft below the prow skied nicely, the next 500-700 ft were very soft and more challenging, while the bottom 1000 ft or so down to the basin was soft but easy turning. Not as grabby lower down as I expected but not the fastest snow in the world either.
- The crevasse in the middle of the glacier above the rock band is starting to open up but is easily avoided right now. No other cracks opening up.
In response to the last poster's question... the road to White River CG is open. A small patch of snow at the trailhead proper but walking from there for a while.
Much thanks, iluka
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