October 1, 2010, Paradise Glacier 5S

Back in the five day workweek mode, we had Toyota Lean, Boeing Version the five s:  sorting, sweeping, simplifying, standardizing, and self discipline (or some Boeing workers called it "Some Stupid Supervisor Said So".)   

I decided I needed a 5S for my new life and it now is: "Secret Summer Stash Ski to Scree."  Thanks to FreeBird, I decided to check out the Paradise Glacier today, since all the white corn from the past few weeks is now covered with the Rainier dust we all know so well.   At 8800', I traversed scree from the Muir Snowfield to the Paradise and skinned up to 9000', just below Anvil Rock.  The surface was smooth, turns were nice, and instead of traversing right to the 7700' col back to the Muir snowfield, I decided to see how much further down I could ski before reaching crevasses and icy conditions.

By traversing skier's far left, I was then able to ski good snow down another 700-800' (?) all the way to the flats, and decided not to ski back up to exit.  I don't think I've ever seen the glacier in such good shape for skiing so late in the summer (autumn now!)   The walk out was beautiful, lots of fall color on the hillsides, crisp pure white snow high on Rainier, not a cloud in the sky, light wind.   Great to revisit an old area, for the first time in a few years.   Although there was too much walking on the way out, it was more interesting and beautiful to me than the usual hike down from Pebble Creek.

Get out there, you will not regret it, even tho there's a lot of hiking, and slightly dirty snow.  Hope Monday's storm brings a new clean blanket to the snowfield and glacier.