Mount Rainier, 2-29-2015

I'm new to the forum and wish I had discovered it sooner. The content and exchange of information is excellent. I'm lamenting the end of lift served ski season and hoping that I can get out for one or two more ADK backcountry trips.
I hope this is not inappropriate but thought I would share a few trip reports from earlier in the winter.

In February I traveled with friends to the PNW to ski the Cascade Range backcountry.
After skiing trees on day one we were off to ski Mount Rainier which is the most glaciated peak in the lower 48 and Washington's highest mountain. Rainier is by far the biggest mountain and most single run vertical I have ever skied. The scale of this mountain is so immense that it dominates Seattle’s skyline from two hours away.
Our plan was to skin up from Paradise Park to Camp Muir which sits 10,188 ft high on this supposedly active volcano.
As we skinned the 5000+ ft up to Camp Muir, our route took us first along the edge of the Nisqually Glacier then traversed north-east towards Paradise Glacier and eventually on to the Muir Snowfield. With 40+ mph winds on top we only hung around for one beer before the long ski back to Paradise. The trip up was a grind but skiing back down to Paradise was an awesome big mountain ski experience!

https://youtu.be/DSc6ehCQ3Q0

Last summer I hiked to Muir 2 times in 3 days. The walk down is pain..
It took me 4 hrs to hike up and 2 hr back to Paradise.
How long was the skin up? It looks like a great ski down..

Welcome to Skyrider.  

SkyRider wrote

I hope this is not inappropriate but thought I would share a few trip reports from earlier in the winter.

I hope not too... I've been polluting this board with reports and pictures from the PNW all Winter

I'm a transplant from the East, living in WA state on the East side of the Cascades.  I've been living out here for about 5 years.  I agree.  Ranier is an amazing spot.  I can see it from the ridge behind my house from about 70 miles, but you don't get the full magnitude of it until your ascending towards Muir.  It is truly an awe inspiring sight. I was actually going to head over there this past Tuesday, but my work got in the way.  

Where were you in the backcountry in addition to Muir?  

Not even close to inappropriate. IMO this stuff is GOLD.

NYSB is the New York Skiers Blog, if it's skiing or riding or winter sports it's all good in the TR forum.

Welcome SkyRider.

JasonWx wrote

Last summer I hiked to Muir 2 times in 3 days. The walk down is pain..
It took me 4 hrs to hike up and 2 hr back to Paradise.
How long was the skin up? It looks like a great ski down..

What month was it that you were out here?  Why didn't you bring your boards?

I was out climbing..Spent the week on the mountain..I love that mountain.
Got to the top of Disappointment , the weather beat the crap out of me..

JasonWx wrote

Last summer I hiked to Muir 2 times in 3 days. The walk down is pain..
It took me 4 hrs to hike up and 2 hr back to Paradise.
How long was the skin up? It looks like a great ski down..

Skiing back to Paradise from Camp Muir was really fun on mostly good but variable conditions. On the upper snowfield conditions alternated between wind scoured and wind slab. Skiing below the upper snowfield was the best with fairly light, boot deep powder which got heaver and more sun baked as we got nearer to Paradise.
Skiing down from Camp Muir to Paradise took approximately 1hr including stops to take pictures and enjoy the awesome day.

nepa wrote

Welcome to Skyrider.  

SkyRider wrote

I hope this is not inappropriate but thought I would share a few trip reports from earlier in the winter.

I hope not too... I've been polluting this board with reports and pictures from the PNW all Winter

I'm a transplant from the East, living in WA state on the East side of the Cascades.  I've been living out here for about 5 years.  I agree.  Ranier is an amazing spot.  I can see it from the ridge behind my house from about 70 miles, but you don't get the full magnitude of it until your ascending towards Muir.  It is truly an awe inspiring sight. I was actually going to head over there this past Tuesday, but my work got in the way.  

Where were you in the backcountry in addition to Muir?

Thanks Nepa! You are lucky to live in such an amazing place with easy access to back-country options everywhere. We also skied Heater Ridge near Stephens Pass and also Mount Baker back-country.

Harvey wrote

Not even close to inappropriate. IMO this stuff is GOLD.

NYSB is the New York Skiers Blog, if it's skiing or riding or winter sports it's all good in the TR forum.

Welcome SkyRider.

Thanks Harvey