David_Karen

Hey we were in the green MEC tent right near you guys. We left Vancouver BC Friday night & drove through the night - we got a total of two hours 'rest' at a pullout in the gorge. Started from Morrison Creek about 9:30 and reach Cold Springs in just over an hour. Road was mostly snow free except for the last mile. We were really bagged & didn't make good time up to the Lunch Counter - took us five hours! The ranger insisted we needed snowshoes on the approach but we didn't bother taking them - good idea since the snow was pretty firm until noon. Postholed a lot around the Lunch Counter - especially around the rocks - but that's to be expected. Views really sucked Saturday - there was a major haze happening and Hood was practically invisible - MSH wasn't much better. However it made for a grand sunset - lots of colour. Wind picked up that night but it was a good thing - beautiful clear sunrise. Started up at 6am, around 7am a thin black haze started to form around the 9000ft level but it eventually dispersed and we had superb views all day - Jefferson was visible and you could make out the Sisters as well. Reached the top of Piker's Peak just after eight and the true Summit around 9:30. Views of Ranier were fantabulos! Soon afterwards a steady stream of climbers joined us - but their company was welcome - we need all the nature lovers we can get. Those that wanted the view to themselves summited early however they denied themselves with the greatest thrill of all - the glissade back down Piker's Peak. We slid down about 11 o'clock and conditions were ideal. Not so icy that you bruise your backside and not so slushy that you wind up soaked. 2000ft in about 10 minutes - priceless! After a miserable stretch of postholing across the Lunch Counter we packed up the tent at 12:30 and reach our pick-up at three. 9.5hrs up/5 down. If anyone wants to check out any of our pictures they are up on our site at the link below. http://groups.msn.com/davidkarenshikingpage

Well there was only one significant patch in the first mile & a half of road - however there is no where to park - one wonders if the forest service will start locking the gate that's just past Morrison Creek Campground. There is solid snow for the last half mile before Cold Springs and it's still pretty deep - I wouldn't expect the parking area there to be clear for quite awhile.