Mowitch face routes

[dlando]

Anyone been up on the Mowitch face recently? What are conditions like?

[Lowell_Skoog]

From miles away last Sunday (driving through Enumclaw) the face looked like a hideous, melted out nightmare. I wouldn't recommend going anywhere near it, at least until we get a good autumn snow storm (if you want to climb it in "Ome Daiber" style). Myself, I consider it an early summer route.

[mrefranklin]

Rainier report here states that some folks were doing Mowich Face a couple of weeks ago:

 

http://www.nps.gov/mora/climb/climb_cd.htm

 

Also, Gator's guide puts the standard in-shape times for the route as May, June, July, and October. With the weather we've been having, shouldn't it be closer to October conditions than September - or is it just too friggin' warm? I might just be having a spout of denial and really hoping to squeeze it on before the end of the year.

 

How about this one: Has anyone in Cascade Climber land been up Mowich recently or during another melted out time in previous years? What does the route climb like in similar conditions (I assume much more scree to cross, rockfall, and circuitous glacier navigation).

[dlando]

Thanks Lowell - I think we will go to the North Cascades instead...

[mrefranklin]

Sorry for my misinfo on the Rainier climber report. Apparently the Mowich face info has not been updated in months. Thanks much to several private messages sent to me for my last post. Mea culpa.

[dudegnarly]

Cool TR on climbing Mowich face from mid-July:

 

http://students.washington.edu/dbb/mt_rainier/mowich/mowich.htm

[Mike_Gauthier]

we flew past the mowich face a few times yesterday... i'll have to agree with lowell, the climbing on the route looks TERRIBLE! there is VERY little snow and what ice there is, is covered in rock and debris.

i've climbed "mowich face" routes on a few occasions in the fall, usually october. at those times, they were in EXCELLENT shape. nice ice, cool temps, little snow to mess with. this year however is different. we've had a VERY dry summer and the mountain looks like a dirty snowball.

i suggest waiting for a few snow storms to make the route and your trip more appealing.

mike

[chilly]

Dudegnarly, That was an awesome looking trip, I am impressed with the use of good climbing technique and spirit of adventure, kudos to you and your team.....Have a on me and a little

 

quote:

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The breakfast of champions.......

[dudegnarly]

I'll take the and the but I can't take credit for having been on that Mowich trip--I'm just another lurker on alpine dave's great site:

www.alpinedave.com