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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    NH
    Posts
    127

    Current Rainier snowpack/conditions

    Hoping to retrieve some beta on current Rainier conditions and snowpack. Have read in places that it is looking more like late July right now. My group's plan is to ascend from Paradise and ski Fuhrer Finger on the weekend of the 20th -- but we are considering alternatives. Main concerns being large crevasses opening up and dangerous rock fall conditions.

    Any insight or advice is appreciated. Thanks.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    PNW -> MSO
    Posts
    7,889
    Here's the most recent tidbit of info I can find:

    http://www.turns-all-year.com/skiing...?topic=34364.0



    Last time I was up there was May 9th, when my partner and I skied the Fuhrer from 12.9k. That was probably one of the last weekends when skiing to the cars at Paradise was possible. I'm sure things have been toasted pretty well since then, with all the warm and dry weather we've had.

    You'll probably want to tread carefully on the lower Nisqually, since that was starting to open up a month ago... early start plus sureness of overnight freeze. Upper Wilson has some big cracks, but more obvious. Might be worth sneaking out to the base of the Fuhrer the evening before you climb, to set a track for yourselves for the dark approach. There's a large crevasse across the top of the Fuhrer, right as it splits from the Upper Nisqually. We had to climb through some mixed rock and snow to climber's left to avoid it. As far as rockfall goes... it's probably worth the 1am start time to be descending by 9 or 10.

    Good luck, man.


    A couple shots from a month ago...

    "Gandalf's Crack" across the top of the Finger:





    Lower Nisq in foreground, Wilson behind.


  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Cascades
    Posts
    666
    Picture from across the valley, June 7th. Lookin sketch to me...and Ive heard the past week wasn't kind to melting either.
    Click image for larger version. 

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  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    33,546
    Quote Originally Posted by BP Pow View Post
    Have read in places that it is looking more like late July right now.
    At least late July.

    Check Cascade climbers forum and the climbing rangers blog.

    http://mountrainierconditions.blogsp...aver-2015.html
    Quote Originally Posted by Downbound Train View Post
    And there will come a day when our ancestors look back...........

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    NH
    Posts
    127
    Thanks for the info guys. Will check out that blog and make some calls before we decide. Not looking likely but going to climb it either way.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    33,546
    Quote Originally Posted by BP Pow View Post
    but going to climb it either way.
    Good luck. Remember that climbing it is only half way...

    http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-...et-cook-stove/
    Quote Originally Posted by Downbound Train View Post
    And there will come a day when our ancestors look back...........

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    NH
    Posts
    127
    Hey all,

    Just an update that my group of 4 decided on Emmons-Winthrop as our route (no skis). We went up Inter Glacier to Camp Schurman last Friday afternoon and left around 2:30 a.m. Saturday for the summit. Spent the night in the summit crater along the rim and did some exploring of the local ice caves before bed. What an amazing sight that was. Descended Emmons and glissaded about 1K of Inter Glacier on Sunday. A successful and rewarding trip. Thanks again for the beta and advice.



















    Last edited by BP Pow; 06-22-2015 at 11:22 AM.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    PNW -> MSO
    Posts
    7,889
    Sounds highly enjoyable! Congrats.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    northeast
    Posts
    358

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Posts
    334

    Current Rainier snowpack/conditions

    I was ski touring on the mountain yesterday.

    The first layer was about 6 inches below the surface at 10am within 1000' of the parking lot at Paradise. It was snowing hard and white-out.

    The next layer seemed to be about a foot below that layer.

    Strong winds from the west seemed to create a weaker layer on west facing slopes.

    One in our party set off a small slab slide on one of these west facing slopes below Panorama Point. About 6 inches deep and 30 feet wide. It cut below him and he was fine.

    We were able to skin from the parking lot. First tracks, leaving shortly after sunrise on Thursday. Met many other people going up as we came down.

    Super horrible visibilityClick image for larger version. 

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