tytyler Posted February 1, 2006 Posted February 1, 2006 Climb: Mt Rainier/ Paradise (snowpits)- Date of Climb: 1/31/2006 Trip Report: Decided to head to Rainier for the day and dig a few pits. I'm headed to Jackson WY for AV 3 and decided that I needed some practice before I went. Never did one last year......there wasn't any snow to dig last year! Of course I get there and realize I forgot a hat and some layers, needless to say I didn't stay out long. I got two pits in; one full on and another hasty. Pit 1: Just off the road into Paradise Valley out of the parking lot. On the walk over there was a crust almost the whole way that took a good jump to break through. I dug the pit on about 30 degrees/facing east and 5360ft, the wind was loading the slope and there was about a 3 in layer on top of recent snow. The wind slab went EASY & clean on a shear test, compression test and slid as soon as I stept on the Rutchblock. Under the windslab there was about 20cm of 1finger consolided snow, below that an 8cm layer of pencil hardness crust, then a 20cm layer of fist hardness (facets??), another thin layer of an old crust below that and all 1 finger below that. After the wind slab broke off, the next shear (in all tests) was at the top if the 4 fists layer and went easy & clean, and with a slight hop on the Rutchblock. Not very comforting. Pit 2: Was above the parking lot at about 6100 ft, WSW and at 28 degrees. The snow had started coming down from the new storm at about 1pm. I only did a hasty pit. There was a very dense slab layer on top of about 15cm that took a good effort to break through (I couldn't break through even with jumping) below that there was unconsolidated powder (4 finger) to a small fist layer and then all 1 finger. The slab layer on top went with a moderate pull on the shear test and 2 smacks from my elbow on the compression and a rutchbock of between a 1/2. The next shear was pretty poor quality on the shear test; I just fell through the rest of snow on the rutchblock and the compression didn't give me much of results. I wouldn't want to cause a slide on the top layer slab, it didn't break up at all, even as I tossed it down the slope....no thanks!! There were pockets of soft powder on some N and NW slopes, but the wind was starting to change all that. I got cold when the wind and heavier snow picked up so I headed home. I was surprised to see a few people out there skiing and boarding...none of which had shovels!!!!! Anyway, hope this helps. I'll be out somewhere next Tuesday depends on av conditions and I'll dig a few more. Approach Notes: I saw ice around Mikes Gulley area and Narada might be doable, if you want to get wet. Quote
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