[TR] Mt. Rainier National Park - Glacier Basin 1/19/2009

[rob]

Trip: Mt. Rainier National Park - Glacier Basin

 

Date: 1/19/2009

 

Trip Report:

Dan and I skiied up to Glacier Basin on Sunday, with a late start. No pictures, so if you want to see the views, you'll have to schlep yr own ass in there.

 

410 is gated at Crystal Mountain Blvd. -- it took us about 6 hours to ski the road to Glacier Basin trailhead, with lunch breaks, etc.

 

Snow was pretty firm in Glacier Basin, except up high on South-facing slopes, where it was like spring corn. One remarkable thing was the apparent lack of recent avalanching.

 

We skiied out Monday night. The road is hard and icy, but at least there are downed trees scattered randomly across the road. I tried to leap over one, but my right ski didn't clear it and went under the trunk. I was in tour-mode, and slammed face-first into the ground like a hinge. Total carnage.

 

Gear Notes:

bring mental entertainment.

 

Approach Notes:

long.

[DPS]

By my arithmetic that was 30+ miles skiied for ~800 vf of turns.

[rob]

So, I'm hearing from the parks department and several snowmobile clubs that snowmobile traffic along 410 is very off-limits -- something like a $500 fine per person, as well as having your sled confiscated.

 

Anybody heard of this? We saw several riders up and down the road on Sunday, including a pair who parked at the TH to board Burroughs.

[tomtom]

RTFM

 

Snowmobiling

 

In the southwest corner of the park, snowmobiles are permitted for 6.5 miles along the Westside Road from its junction with the main park road as far as Round Pass. Beyond Round Pass, the Westside Road is closed to snowmobile use. Snowmobiles are also permitted on all the road loops of Cougar Rock Campground. The campground is closed to overnight use during winter and the roadway is left unplowed. Contact a park ranger at the Longmire Museum for maps and additional snowmobile information.

 

On the north side of the park, no ranger station is open in the winter. The US Forest Service District Office in Enumclaw provides information, maps and permits for White River, Carbon River, and Mowich Lake areas. For more information, call the USFS District Office in Enumclaw at (360)825-6585. Highway 410 is closed near its junction with Crystal Mountain Ski Area road, at the North Park Boundary.

 

Snowmobiles are permitted on the 12-mile section of unplowed road from the North Park Boundary on Highway 410 to the White River Campground. Snowmobiles may not continue on Hwy 410 south of the White River Road turnoff. They are also prohibited from proceeding beyond the closure at the White River Campground road junction towards Sunrise. Snowmobiles must stay on the road corridor; they are not allowed to proceed beyond the campground towards Glacier Basin. Be aware of avalanche danger and the Mount Rainier weather forecast.

 

In the southeast corner of the park snowmobiling is allowed on the Stevens Canyon Road from the Stevens Canyon Entrance to the road tunnel at Box Canyon.

 

Wilderness permits, required for all backcountry camping, and climbing registration cards are available at the north boundary arch on Highway 410 and the US Forest Service office in Enumclaw or by self registration at the Ohanapecosh Ranger Station.

[rob]

Sweet. This is in direct conflict with what the ranger on the phone just told me.

 

thanks for the link. MRNP's website is so easy to find stuff, I should have noticed it right away.