tinkie_winkie

Mike, New to the site so I'm trying to figuer it out as I seek info on the Sunset Ridge route. Plan on climbin the first week of April. My sense is that this route does not see that much traffic. Sounds like you approach up the West Side Road (WSR) 11.5 miles, hike up to Klapatche Park, past Tokaloo Rock, and camp @ 8,000' on the Tahoma Glacier north of Puyallup Cleaver. I've heard that the WSR is washed out/closed 2 mile up so people are mountaining biking to the trail head. That necessitates a retracing of this route rather then a carry over. I've heard that coming down the Puyallup Glacier and hoping over the cleaver to find the Tahoma camp is doable. I'm most interested if this information is accurate? Also, due to a lack of snow this winter, is there any hard ice on the ascent up Sunset Ridge or down the Puyallup,especially where its the steepest between 11,400' and 13,00'? What would you think of skiing to our camp on the Tahoma via Van Trump Park? Is there enough snow? I've read you advice on climbing the mountain early this year cause things are opening up earlier d/t lack of snow, but I didn't get a sense of what was going on on this side of the mountain. Thanks a lot for you response in advance. Hope you have a safe season there. Jaysonringel@hotmail.com i.e: tinkie_winkie