Nisqually Shoot/Muir Snowfield June 5, 2010
6/15/10
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
2737
11
Sunny day with perfect smooth proto corn on the snowfield. No Avalanches there, just butta!
We were going to do the PG, but sastrugi snow guarded the entrance for what looked like a long way. I'm sure it was good lower, but we did not want to lose vert on marginal snow when such goods were on the snowfield. We skinned to about 9200 and the snow was getting less than perfect. Rather than marginalizing skiing for more efforts we stopped and skied down perfect, I mean perfect corn for 1600vft. We were just left, past the entrance to the main chute entrance on Nisqually staying on the snowfield. Skinned back up and skied the best corn conditions I have ever skied down Nisqually's main chute. No slide action there, but as we got lower into the moraine the perfect corn got deeper and stickier. With a quick skin out Alta we slid by the Paradise circus and back to the rigs. Superior day with questionable company. ;)
We were going to do the PG, but sastrugi snow guarded the entrance for what looked like a long way. I'm sure it was good lower, but we did not want to lose vert on marginal snow when such goods were on the snowfield. We skinned to about 9200 and the snow was getting less than perfect. Rather than marginalizing skiing for more efforts we stopped and skied down perfect, I mean perfect corn for 1600vft. We were just left, past the entrance to the main chute entrance on Nisqually staying on the snowfield. Skinned back up and skied the best corn conditions I have ever skied down Nisqually's main chute. No slide action there, but as we got lower into the moraine the perfect corn got deeper and stickier. With a quick skin out Alta we slid by the Paradise circus and back to the rigs. Superior day with questionable company. ;)
Joe,
Beautiful photos ! The snow surface looked fantastic. The pleasures of skiing smooth corn with and inch of cream allowing you rebound turn after turn as you descend a steep fall line. Yahooooo ! It feels so good - it must be illegal. ;)
Beautiful photos ! The snow surface looked fantastic. The pleasures of skiing smooth corn with and inch of cream allowing you rebound turn after turn as you descend a steep fall line. Yahooooo ! It feels so good - it must be illegal. ;)
Is that Scottsman with the new Dalbello Virus boots? How'd they ski?
Joe, I would prefer the notation to read KermittheScot please as I am not French.
I thought I cut a rather stunning figure in my Sounders green shirt and boots!!
And why do you keep taking photos of my ass!
My wide-assed skis as Joe likes to call them handled the corn and the slush with equal aplomb despite their drivers meager skiing skills.
Helicopters overhead most of the day.. hope they find the missing climber. On a sunny day such as yesterday the mountain feels so benign yet she can be so deadly as well.
I thought I cut a rather stunning figure in my Sounders green shirt and boots!!
And why do you keep taking photos of my ass!
My wide-assed skis as Joe likes to call them handled the corn and the slush with equal aplomb despite their drivers meager skiing skills.
Helicopters overhead most of the day.. hope they find the missing climber. On a sunny day such as yesterday the mountain feels so benign yet she can be so deadly as well.
author=altasnob link=topic=16833.msg70788#msg70788 date=1275840542]
Is that Scottsman with the new Dalbello Virus boots? How'd they ski?
They ski and skin just fine and despite the constant sarcastic remarks about their color from my partners, I like them more than any other AT boot I have owned.
They have improved my downhill performance from "bloody gaper" to just "gaper"!
author=Joedabaker link=topic=16833.msg70760#msg70760 date=1275794549]
We were going to do the PG, but sastrugi snow guarded the entrance for what looked like a long way. I'm sure it was good lower, but we did not want to lose vert on marginal snow when such goods were on the snowfield.
Thanks for that decision. The sastrugi were there but wimpy. The snow on the glacier was untracked and phenomenal until we got to the bottom then it was heavy slush with a breakable crust underneath. Lots of slide activity along the west side of the valley below the glacier. In some places whole sections of the ridgeline have gone way down. Also lots of hanging cornices.
Gotta love that butta! ;D
author=Scotsman link=topic=16833.msg70789#msg70789 date=1275840845]
I am not French.
I was asked if I was Scottish yesterday. Was asked if I was Gavein K-H.
Maybe the guy had seen me ski?
Nah.....
author=PNWBrit link=topic=16833.msg70818#msg70818 date=1275860325]
I was asked if I was Scottish yesterday. Was asked if I was Gavein K-H.
Maybe the guy had seen me ski?
Nah.....
WOW ,being asked if you were Gavin K-H quite an accolade!
Your performance on snow reaching great heights!
Nice job on hitting the corn guys!
Chris
Chris
author=Joedabaker link=topic=16833.msg70760#msg70760 date=1275794549]
Superior day with questionable company. ;)
A superior day to be sure but I found the company to be fine...of course I am referring to the lovely lady that I had the pleasure of sharing a portion of the climb with. ::) (Hi C)
Quite a contrast of tone on the south slopes of Rainier that day. I learned of the slide and missing climber upon cresting Pan Point. Given the density of people en route to Muir the news spread efficiently. My thoughts seemed to alternate between grief and concern for those involved and the simple joy of being in such an awesome place on such a beautiful day. Despite the hellis passing over head, the indulgence of the later perspective dominated for me but was somehow tainted by a subtle guilt. My heart goes out to those who lost friend that day.
The skiing on the snowfield was superb. We had our sights on the chute but as we skied by the entrance it just seemed wrong to stop milking buttery turns on the Muir. I followed the lead of my wise comrads and we gorged our way down until the pitch ran out. The question then was not wheather or not to climb back up to the chute but wheather we climb back up to 9,200' where the goods topped out. Alas, time marches on and corn waits for no man (it may wait for Jill - heal up quick) so we climbed to the entrance and dropped the line post haste.
Good thing too, it skied great. ;D
Thanks fellas, great day.
On a side note; does any one know about the slide that we heard to the west @ 1:50? It sounded HUGE.
author=Scotsman link=topic=16833.msg70789#msg70789 date=1275840845]
Joe, I would prefer the notation to read KermittheScot please as I am not French.
I thought I cut a rather stunning figure in my Sounders green shirt and boots!!
And why do you keep taking photos of my ass!
My wide-assed skis as Joe likes to call them handled the corn and the slush with equal aplomb despite their drivers meager skiing skills.
The thought did cross my mind when I named the photo there would be a possibility that we would have to convene a U.N. counsel to calm the fiery Scot for such blatant disrespect.
And I don't know why I keep taking photos of your arse. While attempting to capture some tremendous nature shots, some ass keeps getting in the way.
Here's one more shot of your ass. :D
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