November 20, 2005, Paradise-lower Nisqually Chutes
11/20/05
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
2027
0
Each time out this season has been with BC newbs, and this excursion was no different. Given the current inversion conditions, I figured somewhere with a variety of southern exposures would have the bets potential for good skiing. My guess is even the coldest and darkest north facing bowls have turned crusty by now. So, it was off to Paradise ... like a herd of turtles.
The usual comedy of errors (misfitting bindings, no screwdriver, mal-adjusted skins, poorly timed bowel movements, etc etc) got us on snow at the ripe hour of 1:30. As expected, our upward progress was nothing spectacular, so the rapidly descending sun was of some concern. Temps were very warm, we were in t-shirts, but I knew as soon as it went into shade the lack of cloud cover would form a crust.
At something around 3:30 we were near McClure Rock, and my hopes of reaching the top of the Nisqually Chutes were looking ever more dubious. Skiing into Edith Basin or back down the rapidly crustifying dog route was not appealling, so we decided to try our luck at some of the lower chutes.
The first few turns were not encouraging, alternating patches of semi-rotten corn and boilerplate, with a nice convex horizon line lurking below to the build the confidence. Nancy commented that she hadn't skied ice like that since her New Hampshire racing days. But, as soon as we crossed back into the sun the Green Giant of Paradise opened up one last can of premium creamed corn and we all dove in. Before long we were reskinning next to the moraine, admiring our last set of tracks.
Not long after that the sun set...
Once back up on the ridge, we crossed over into Edith Basin and basically made as few turns as we could back to the car, mainly to limit facial encounters with the thickening crust. It didn't ski as bad as expected, and I think all of us managed at least a half dozen gorilla turns on our way back down.
In the lot, the resident fox came and said hello as we sipped post ski brews. We then watched incredulously as a few remaining yahoos proceeded to chase it around the lot in their minivan like sleazy wildlife paparazzi. Ah, Paradise...
The usual comedy of errors (misfitting bindings, no screwdriver, mal-adjusted skins, poorly timed bowel movements, etc etc) got us on snow at the ripe hour of 1:30. As expected, our upward progress was nothing spectacular, so the rapidly descending sun was of some concern. Temps were very warm, we were in t-shirts, but I knew as soon as it went into shade the lack of cloud cover would form a crust.
At something around 3:30 we were near McClure Rock, and my hopes of reaching the top of the Nisqually Chutes were looking ever more dubious. Skiing into Edith Basin or back down the rapidly crustifying dog route was not appealling, so we decided to try our luck at some of the lower chutes.
The first few turns were not encouraging, alternating patches of semi-rotten corn and boilerplate, with a nice convex horizon line lurking below to the build the confidence. Nancy commented that she hadn't skied ice like that since her New Hampshire racing days. But, as soon as we crossed back into the sun the Green Giant of Paradise opened up one last can of premium creamed corn and we all dove in. Before long we were reskinning next to the moraine, admiring our last set of tracks.
Not long after that the sun set...
Once back up on the ridge, we crossed over into Edith Basin and basically made as few turns as we could back to the car, mainly to limit facial encounters with the thickening crust. It didn't ski as bad as expected, and I think all of us managed at least a half dozen gorilla turns on our way back down.
In the lot, the resident fox came and said hello as we sipped post ski brews. We then watched incredulously as a few remaining yahoos proceeded to chase it around the lot in their minivan like sleazy wildlife paparazzi. Ah, Paradise...
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