Rainier by Kautz or Finger

[aws]

Anybody braved the snow and wind and gone up recently. I'm hopeing to make an attempt in two weeks. Any beta on snow and route conditions on the Kautz, Hazard, Wilson area appreciated.

 

Thanks, all.

 

Andrew

[scott_harpell]

i'm going up this weekend....i'll post when i get back.... should be great weather.... cold!!!!

[ted_mahon]

summited via FF and descended kautz on May 2- great conditions(forgetting about wind) minimal crevasse issues both up and down with really good frozen spring snow in the finger. near the top and down to kautz was wind blasted sastrugi, everything semmingly safe. scattered stretches of ice near bottom of kautz, not too much, most of the ascent to camp hazard was wind compacted snow. turtle snowfield was refrozen corn(ski tracks everywhere). would say it's in great shape, but then again it was my first trip to the area so i don't really know. crossing the nisqually was straightforward as well. Not a soul to be seen except trudging up to muir across the way.