November 30, 2003, Paradise MRNP
11/30/03
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
3727
4
Charles's Run, Time Travel & Thanksgiving Leftovers
Sunday morning Charles, Silas and I, Matthaeus, drove up to Paradise to see what was "left over" of last weeks powder. The welcome at the parking lot was very pleasant with blue sky and sun compared to the last two weekend trips. But the snow conditions did not look that way. The snow surface allover the place showed obvious signs of water interaction leaving channel patterns behind. Fridays rain created an icy crost up to 4 inches thick at the parking lot. So it did not look like great skiing at all. We skied down the Paradise loop road and hiked up at the 4th crossing trail heading towards the slopes above. Silas was the first to figure out that hiking with skies attached to the backpack would be the most efficient way. We hiked up almost three quarters up to the ridge above the road on very hard snow. Here we changed to travel further on skies and Silas faced some problems with his skies. Unfortunately only Charles and I got the pleasure to enjoy the first run in its entire length of 656 feet altitude difference. Reunited at the bottom of the "Charles's Run" we could not believed what perfect conditions we encountered at this east/southeast facing slope. Charles mentioned some "Time Travel" stuff skiing in November on April snow conditions. So it paid out for us to believe in solar power. The sun did a great job softening only the uppermost layer. So the crust was still strong enough to support our weight. But underneath it we find soft snow where Charles was able to push down the entire length of his approx. 53 inch ski pole at 5905 feet. During lunch Silas draw attention of a crow with his "Thanksgiving Leftover" turkey drumstick. The crow became bold and bolder to pick up the remainings and finally succeded. So we did the third run in even more improving corn conditions. Afterwards we headed over to the more westfacing slopes above Paradise. Our intention was to ski down all the way to the car. On top of the ridge we came across some windblown patches. Charles saw to his suprise that there was not as much snow at the Muis Snowfield as he expected. We skied down again in great corn conditions. Down in the big bowl we tried to stay as high as possible to ski over to the car. This was the first time we encoutered icy crusty snow, not a real pleasure to ski on. Back in Seattle Silas invited us to a "Thanksgiving Leftover" dinner . So all in all there was not much powder left at all but the perfect corn conditions made it a great skiing day.
Sunday morning Charles, Silas and I, Matthaeus, drove up to Paradise to see what was "left over" of last weeks powder. The welcome at the parking lot was very pleasant with blue sky and sun compared to the last two weekend trips. But the snow conditions did not look that way. The snow surface allover the place showed obvious signs of water interaction leaving channel patterns behind. Fridays rain created an icy crost up to 4 inches thick at the parking lot. So it did not look like great skiing at all. We skied down the Paradise loop road and hiked up at the 4th crossing trail heading towards the slopes above. Silas was the first to figure out that hiking with skies attached to the backpack would be the most efficient way. We hiked up almost three quarters up to the ridge above the road on very hard snow. Here we changed to travel further on skies and Silas faced some problems with his skies. Unfortunately only Charles and I got the pleasure to enjoy the first run in its entire length of 656 feet altitude difference. Reunited at the bottom of the "Charles's Run" we could not believed what perfect conditions we encountered at this east/southeast facing slope. Charles mentioned some "Time Travel" stuff skiing in November on April snow conditions. So it paid out for us to believe in solar power. The sun did a great job softening only the uppermost layer. So the crust was still strong enough to support our weight. But underneath it we find soft snow where Charles was able to push down the entire length of his approx. 53 inch ski pole at 5905 feet. During lunch Silas draw attention of a crow with his "Thanksgiving Leftover" turkey drumstick. The crow became bold and bolder to pick up the remainings and finally succeded. So we did the third run in even more improving corn conditions. Afterwards we headed over to the more westfacing slopes above Paradise. Our intention was to ski down all the way to the car. On top of the ridge we came across some windblown patches. Charles saw to his suprise that there was not as much snow at the Muis Snowfield as he expected. We skied down again in great corn conditions. Down in the big bowl we tried to stay as high as possible to ski over to the car. This was the first time we encoutered icy crusty snow, not a real pleasure to ski on. Back in Seattle Silas invited us to a "Thanksgiving Leftover" dinner . So all in all there was not much powder left at all but the perfect corn conditions made it a great skiing day.
Matthaeus makes Arnold Schwarzenneger look like a weakling! When we decided to switch from boots to skins, my Tourlite binding heels seemed to be stuck in downhill only mode, he quickly twisted one with his "little finger", but the other failed to budge. So I tried to boot on up the hill but found some crust too thin for my burly belly, and began sinking knee deep and more.
I headed down, hoping to find a stiffer slope for my next venture up, but Matthaeus was able to loosen the other heel piece too when he and Charles arrived from their first run.
Our short slope was well protected from the wind, we could climb up in shirtsleeves. And the south facing must have allowed for some firming of it during sunny and partly sunny periods on Saturday? Anyway it was a pleasant little run compared to what we expected less protected slopes to provide elsewhere on the mountain.
A bird in the hand close to the car (instead of two in the bush or wind higher up) was well worth it yesterday! Our choice was good, so we did not have to "eat crow" that we saw. Charles may be posting photos soon?
I headed down, hoping to find a stiffer slope for my next venture up, but Matthaeus was able to loosen the other heel piece too when he and Charles arrived from their first run.
Our short slope was well protected from the wind, we could climb up in shirtsleeves. And the south facing must have allowed for some firming of it during sunny and partly sunny periods on Saturday? Anyway it was a pleasant little run compared to what we expected less protected slopes to provide elsewhere on the mountain.
A bird in the hand close to the car (instead of two in the bush or wind higher up) was well worth it yesterday! Our choice was good, so we did not have to "eat crow" that we saw. Charles may be posting photos soon?
Great report Matthaeus - one TR and you are already writing like a veteran! It was very interesting to hear and read reports from various locations and aspects, with lots of variability due to the previous rain below ~6500' and then sun warming (or lack thereof). We got a lot of good photos, some of which I will post on TAY homepage next Monday (12/8). In the meantime, a view of the object of our desires as we start up for a second run:
testing webshots.com, two photos at
http://community.webshots.com/album/102877402oPSVIl
http://community.webshots.com/album/102877402oPSVIl
Right on Mattaeus! Nice TR and cool photo. I'm glad that there were good conditions. In retrospect, I bet you're glad that I cancelled on Friday, it probably would have been miserable.
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