May 2, 2014, MRNP, Dawn Patrol in Paradise

Determined not to miss yet another sunny day, I arrived at Paradise at 5AM! Saw a brief, but firely sunrise.  Of course no one around yet.  The snow was barely crusty for crampons until the Pan Point.  Able to make one long traverse across the Pan face, surprisingly didn't see any recent wet slides here.  Once above the Pan Point, the wind picked up and never stopped, about 30~40 MPH.  Thought of hiding in a shelter at the Muir, but took a long nap at about 8500' instead.  The telemetry data later indicated 40~50 mph at the Muir all day.

Skied onto Paradise Glacier around 10:30, the wind was immediately calmer and the snow softer.  Nice skiing down, then up Cowlitz, explored its SE slopes.  More pixs

Castle/Pinnacle at sunrise:


Goat Rocks:


Changing weather: