TR Replies
Nice trip report and photos. Your trip reminds me of my first summit on Rainier in zero visibility. That was an incredibly long day. Your trip also reminds us that not every adventure has great snow and views from the summit. It is seldom that folks talk about those trips. But most importantly it was a "roundtrip" for everyone in your group. Zap
Hello Merk- we hit patches of snow just as we entered Spray Park, where the trees end and open area begins. There are long fingers of snow to the left and right as you gain elevation, so it's hard to describe which one you give you continuous snow. That said, you should be able to find continuous snow at around 5600 feet, off to the south/hikers right of the summer trail. The hike in to Spray Park is relatively fast due to the lack of significant elevation gain, and a great trail. It t...
Looks like a fun tour you all had. How was the approach? Where did you hit continuous snow?
Nice Kam, glad you guys had a great day. No doubt, you must have heard Michael's yodel at least a few times from Rainier. :)
Nice report and good pictures. We did Tumalo a few weeks ago and it looks like the snow is holding up well (we were able to ride down to Dutchman Flats). It was pretty foul weather though, so it's nice to see what it actually looked like off the summit this year 8)
Always good to see your smilin faces. MArkhof was there too later in day. Also Julie (Olympia) fresh from summitting Everest. Four us Tom Kress , Dave Somerseth ,Alpine rose and myself summited and had a fantastic ski back down std.route. Thanks for showing Ken and Kaine the traverse out of SW chutes. The were extremely pleased. I'm working on Kaine and his girlfriend Dave's sister to sign up for GTCR class.
Our original plan was to ski two days in row but bone/muscle structures w...
Our original plan was to ski two days in row but bone/muscle structures w...
Thanks for the report Snodger. Any pictures? I'm planning on heading up there in a couple of weeks. Sounds like there will still be plenty of snow by then :D
nice work everyone! the photos are great! Michael, i thought i heard you yodel from Mt. Adams.
Nice. Plenty of P-Tex still in Kelvin's basement!
I'm totally jealous. Stupid weddings and moms! At least one of Heather's vows was to encourage Ben to ski with us more...
I agree that Vincent gets the style points for skiing that line solo. I made the traverse out of there too soon to watch you come down. As for stamina, a couple more outings and you'll probably be good to go. However, none of us will ever catch the Peacock!
The 6pm solo descent was awesome, probably to my best run lifetime. Thanks for showing me the way and for grooming out the sluff.
You guys definitely brought home how out of shape I am... Thanks for the well deserved kick in the ass.
Cent treize, c'est pas mal! C'est excellent avec le ski!
You guys definitely brought home how out of shape I am... Thanks for the well deserved kick in the ass.
Cent treize, c'est pas mal! C'est excellent avec le ski!
Mfaoro, the best way to the South Route from Seattle area is to get to Elbe like you would if you were going to Paradise (I-5, I-405, 167, 512, 161 through Puyallup South Hill to Eatonville then to the road to Elbe). At Elbe, turn south on 7 to 12, east on 12 to Randle, then south on Forest Rd 23 to Trout Lake. I just skiied the South Route this weekend (June 30-July 1) with Robie (thanks again, Robie for a great trip), and the drive to Cold Springs took 5 hours, including the side t...
author=philfort link=topic=5043.msg21232#msg21232 date=1151851433]
Up high the snowpack seems a little less than last year.
From your photos it is hard to tell, but I'd say the face has about the same, if not more snowpack on it than last year at this time. Good stuff!
Thanks for the great pictures and reports!
This was a great trip with an awesome group! I was also very happy that Corinne managed to organize a last minute baby sitter and come along. This is a route I had been wanting to do for such a long time now - great to hit it in these perfect conditions.
I was really impressed with the upper section of the route on the upper Nisqually, skiing was just amazing with excellent scenery.
Greg cruising the upper Nisqually:
This was a great trip with an awesome group! I was also very happy that Corinne managed to organize a last minute baby sitter and come along. This is a route I had been wanting to do for such a long time now - great to hit it in these perfect conditions.
I was really impressed with the upper section of the route on the upper Nisqually, skiing was just amazing with excellent scenery.
Greg cruising the upper Nisqually:
Thanks for the great trip report and photos guys. Really an awesome trip with great companions. Was especially glad to join you for my first ski descent from the summit (a long time goal). Congrats Greg for your first ascent of Rainier! You really hit it right with the route, weather, and conditions. Was especially nice to have such a remote feeling and direct line on this route, and to have the concerns about rock fall and too low of freezing levels turn out for the best. Oyvind and Monik...
Pin!
One of the advantages of the Mazama/Old Chute route is avoiding the shrund. A good climbing route as well as ski - no steps kicked, but in the conditions we found on the 25th it was excellent cramponing. If I was there early morning before any ice/rock fall and there was no one on the route I'd just run up the standard which is more direct, but if other parties are on it this is a very good alternative, and usually a much better ski.
One of the advantages of the Mazama/Old Chute route is avoiding the shrund. A good climbing route as well as ski - no steps kicked, but in the conditions we found on the 25th it was excellent cramponing. If I was there early morning before any ice/rock fall and there was no one on the route I'd just run up the standard which is more direct, but if other parties are on it this is a very good alternative, and usually a much better ski.
Looking at your turns and a handful more coming off of the Turtle, I don't think I've ever seen so many fresh tracks on that side of the Nisqually.
JD,
What is the date of your photos? Looks great up there. Was your alternate climbing/ski route out of the line of the schrund? Recommend it as a solid up-route?
Good Job,
Chris O'
What is the date of your photos? Looks great up there. Was your alternate climbing/ski route out of the line of the schrund? Recommend it as a solid up-route?
Good Job,
Chris O'
Howdy, Have always heard legend of this. Good Job and thanks for the incentive!
Chris O'
Chris O'
Great tour description and photos. Zap
Right on Phil, way to get after it! I had a leisurely good time at Ben's wedding in Bellingham with Sky & others.
Way to go gang! Thanks for the link to your photos and story.
Chris O'
Chris O'
Great to have company on the route even if the 11:18 wake up call was too early, Oyvind, it was a great day of skiing. Really superior corn conditions from about 13,000 to 10,000 ft. Good thing we weren't there when that serac fall came down!
Monika and Oyvind
Paul
Monika and Oyvind
Paul
author=philfort link=topic=5043.msg21232#msg21232 date=1151851433">
Suprisingly, there was still quite a bit of snow in Phelps Creek, especially when you approach the Leroy Creek turn off.
Up high the snowpack seems a little less than last year.
Also of interest, whereas Jason Hu...
Nice adventure. Yesterday, Jill and I were returning from Camano Island with our grandsons and as we were driving south on I-5, I viewed Mt. Rainier and mentioned we would be skiing there. He pointed to Three Fingers. He must have seen you. ;)
Zap
Zap
Thanks for the beta Lowel, I've been planning to climb 3 Fingers this summer, but didn't think about taking skis - gotta get up there this week and repeat your trip!
I love seeing any skiing reports of the PNW Washington & Jefferson - having skied the New Hampshire Adams, Washington, and Jefferson, plus the PNW Adams, my goal is to ski the PNW Washington & Jefferson to complete a bicoastal Presidentials trifecta.
author=ron j link=topic=4994.msg21220#msg21220 date=1151724279]
Of course if you're after the highest score on the TP scale, do the "low left" exit. Just ski down until you run out of snow and then load up and start traversing left. this will take you across some of the most rugged drainages on this side of the mountain and make you a sure winner on the torture points scale ;D
Yes, wuhoo, that means that my brother Ben, Gape...
Thank you both! This is way helpful. I am still trying to work out the logistics with my buddies. We will see if we can work it out.
Michael 'torture point' Faoro
Michael 'torture point' Faoro
Good to see you too Telemon and glad that you enjoyed the turns. It sure is nice to get to ski from the top.
As for Michael's question about the chutes...Perhaps I'm getting lazy, but I no longer relish that traverse back to a camp above the RTM. My cohorts and I have decided that the wisest choice for a SW chutes descent is just camping at Cold Springs and going down and back in a day. When the snow continues below the chutes, there actually is quite a bit...
As for Michael's question about the chutes...Perhaps I'm getting lazy, but I no longer relish that traverse back to a camp above the RTM. My cohorts and I have decided that the wisest choice for a SW chutes descent is just camping at Cold Springs and going down and back in a day. When the snow continues below the chutes, there actually is quite a bit...
Everyone seems to have their own "right way" to do this route. And I just keep learning every time I go.
Having just done the route you seem to be contemplating if I we going to do it again this weekend I'd take the SW Chutes exit notch as high as possible skier's left (no lower than 7000) and traverse high left through a couple of tree/rock bands to a shelf overlooking a big bowl west of the Crescent Gl.
There I'd don skins again and climb up and across the...
Having just done the route you seem to be contemplating if I we going to do it again this weekend I'd take the SW Chutes exit notch as high as possible skier's left (no lower than 7000) and traverse high left through a couple of tree/rock bands to a shelf overlooking a big bowl west of the Crescent Gl.
There I'd don skins again and climb up and across the...
Never mind - that was stupid - finally got home and looked at Beckeys. My memory of the route was failin' me...
It looks to me like you have to put in some serious work (and not ski down a major portion of the route) if you want to camp at 8 or 9k. The most practical thing to do is camp at Timberline and do it in a day from there.
I would still be open to hearing others experiences if you are willing to share. I am considering going with south climb scrambles who want...
It looks to me like you have to put in some serious work (and not ski down a major portion of the route) if you want to camp at 8 or 9k. The most practical thing to do is camp at Timberline and do it in a day from there.
I would still be open to hearing others experiences if you are willing to share. I am considering going with south climb scrambles who want...
Another route question - this one of the snow kind...What elevation is it best to start traversing from the SW chutes back to the climbing route? Assuming you left a tent somewhere on it...I am assuming that if you camp at lunch counter you might have to climb to get back to your tent.
What is your favorite way to do this if you are doing an overnighter?
What is your favorite way to do this if you are doing an overnighter?
Thanks for the report. Nice to hear a report from there. Was planning to do Barrett a few weeks ago but just ran out of time.
Micheal,
Look here.
I go Tacoma to 7>12>23. From Tacoma the route via 23 is about 100 miles shorter than via Portland. It's about 140 miles one way from Tacoma to the south climb TH via 7>23. From Randle, I think trout lake is somewhere around 60 miles away. It seems like half of it is dirt road, but maybe it is actually less. It seems like a long stretch bein...
Look here.
I go Tacoma to 7>12>23. From Tacoma the route via 23 is about 100 miles shorter than via Portland. It's about 140 miles one way from Tacoma to the south climb TH via 7>23. From Randle, I think trout lake is somewhere around 60 miles away. It seems like half of it is dirt road, but maybe it is actually less. It seems like a long stretch bein...
Could anyone describe the route from Randle to the South Climb for me?
Is I-5 > SR 12 > 23? And 23 turns to dirt for part (all?) of the route?
Oh - yah one more question - how long would you estimate it takes to get from Seattle to the South Route going this route? It looks like it would be significantly faster than going south through Portland...
Thanks,
Michael
Is I-5 > SR 12 > 23? And 23 turns to dirt for part (all?) of the route?
Oh - yah one more question - how long would you estimate it takes to get from Seattle to the South Route going this route? It looks like it would be significantly faster than going south through Portland...
Thanks,
Michael
Jason,
Absolute quality shots, those are sweet - nicely done.
You should think about iStock.com, start makign extra cash to pay for new gear! :)
Absolute quality shots, those are sweet - nicely done.
You should think about iStock.com, start makign extra cash to pay for new gear! :)
Bro,
I thought we were going to call it "Secret Peak"....
...great photos!
CO'
I thought we were going to call it "Secret Peak"....
...great photos!
CO'
Thanks for the official welcome!
We probably saw each other on the summit. It seems everybody was up on Adams this past week and I must say if the mountain were not so far from Vancouver, BC I'd be skiing there every chance I got.
See you in the mountains!
We probably saw each other on the summit. It seems everybody was up on Adams this past week and I must say if the mountain were not so far from Vancouver, BC I'd be skiing there every chance I got.
See you in the mountains!
Yes it was a great trip with excellent snow and convivial company. We'll have to make it an annual event
author=ron j link=topic=5019.msg21137#msg21137 date=1151474108]
Nice trip you guys. You certainly brought the good weather with you.
Way to knock out a volcano road trip.
Nick, I got your message about joining you for a ski on Rainier. Unfortunately I was on Adams when you left it or I would have joined you.
I didn't get the message until my return on Monday. Next time, eh?
Yeah Ron it's a pity we cou...
The headwall is in absolutely ripper condition, just not at 4:30 in the afternoon when the sun has set on it and the surface of the snow has already refrozen. I skied about a dozen turns of it, decided it wasn't that enjoyable, then returned to the summit and skied the Boulder.
Something about not starting from the 2,700' trailhead until 7am... but that's a different can of worms!
THANKS for playing stupid just to get me all excited. Your ploy is...
Something about not starting from the 2,700' trailhead until 7am... but that's a different can of worms!
THANKS for playing stupid just to get me all excited. Your ploy is...
When did
start meaning
???
;)
good conditions
start meaning
too icy for me to ski
???
;)
we were up there yesterday and I've got to tell you that I've never seen the snowfield in such good condition. Hardly any suncups or runnels - weird, just the opposite of what we had experienced on Mt Ruth last weekend - and the hard freeze the night before made for some great corn. We skied the chute then climbed back to McClure Rock and skied the backside to Edith Creek. We managed continuous snow all the way to the parking lot except for one small patch of dirt at the top of Edith C...
Sweet. This just answered what I was looking for (why I didn't see this TR before I posted in the main forum I have no idea...)