[TR] Mount Rainier - Inter Glacier 9/3/2010

[AlpineK]

Trip: Mount Rainier - Inter Glacier

 

Date: 9/3/2010

 

Trip Report:

After looking at NOAA reports I got the idea that maybe I could find Freshiez! Then again reading a report saying, "chances of snow," doesn't mean you'll find new white stuff on the ground when you get to the area. In any case hauling a pack weighted with ski gear is good exercise, and a day out in the mountains is usually fun or interesting.

 

The Inter Glacier sounded like a good bet. It is north facing and somewhat protected from solar radiation, so chances of giant penitentes are reduced.

 

Things looked a bit grim at Starbow

[img:center]http://lh6.ggpht.com/_rxgbPHdbZ9I/TIJMld2OEQI/AAAAAAAAAqs/qjKVsDY48ik/32-IMG_3185.gif[/img]

 

After gaining a bit more altitude and getting a direct view of the Inter Glacier things looked better. I was worried about lots of blue ice. There was a patch part way up, but you could avoid it.

[img:center]http://lh6.ggpht.com/_rxgbPHdbZ9I/TIJMlb8eTvI/AAAAAAAAAqw/UpdP5k0mo2U/s576/1-IMG_3154.gif[/img]

 

 

I boot packed skis up the glacier/snowfield. About half way up the snow I started to see large patches of new snow that got bigger and bigger!

[img:center]http://lh5.ggpht.com/_rxgbPHdbZ9I/TIJMl_0j_FI/AAAAAAAAAq0/JuIT2W-fe-g/s576/8-IMG_3161.gif[/img]

 

The upper mountain looked nice, but ski conditions were less than ideal.

[img:center]http://lh4.ggpht.com/_rxgbPHdbZ9I/TIJMmDpdF8I/AAAAAAAAAq4/6CMHnR0qEfg/s800/Raindog_Panorama2-copy.gif[/img]

 

Then it was time to ski Freshiez. Well maybe slushiez, but it was new stuff.

[img:center]http://lh4.ggpht.com/_rxgbPHdbZ9I/TIJMmTkoZPI/AAAAAAAAAq8/JuRPOgTTU84/16-IMG_3169.gif[/img]

 

 

Partway down I had to ski skiers left to avoid blue ice, but then I cut back right to ski snow with the best looking condition. Things were a little weird. Summertime conditions made the surface somewhat like skiing a mogul field. I'd say it was interesting not annoying.

[img:center]http://lh4.ggpht.com/_rxgbPHdbZ9I/TIJM97D2YLI/AAAAAAAAArE/K9Gl_4PeSMQ/s576/29-IMG_3182.gif[/img]

 

 

After that I packed up the skis and started hiking.

[img:center]http://lh6.ggpht.com/_rxgbPHdbZ9I/TIJM-frSnPI/AAAAAAAAArQ/wGOhL3rMsTU/31-IMG_3184.gif[/img]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gear Notes:

I brought skins but didn't need them since boot packing is easy right now

 

Approach Notes:

The blue ice takes up a chunk of the glacier about 1/4th the way up. Right now getting around it isn't too bad, but with warm dry weather it could grow and get worse

[JoshK]

I knew somebody must have been out hunting for turns when I saw that "1 to 3 feet of snow" in the Mt. Rainer rec forecast!

 

[jjudd]

I think we were the party of 6 heading up the inter glacier when you were skiing down -- was great to see someone out on skis! 2 from our group reached the summit via the emmons route the next morning.

[dbconlin]

That's dedication!

[AlpineK]

I ended up on the Swauk Glacier a couple weeks ago. Cool snow, but a long walk.

 

A little new stuff [img:center]http://lh6.ggpht.com/_rxgbPHdbZ9I/TLhZaWm03GI/AAAAAAAAAts/ts8f7_feAAo/4-Turns-Squak-IMG_3320.gif[/img]

 

[img:center]http://lh4.ggpht.com/_rxgbPHdbZ9I/TLhZZ7JwgOI/AAAAAAAAAt0/sqc1wA67A2I/5-Baker-Afternoon_Panorama1.gif[/img]

 

Skiing from the car does have an appeal now

 

[Janine]

(After that I packed up the skis and started hiking.)

 

 

Be aware, encountered rock fall at the base of that glacier (last picture) 4 weeks ago that cut open my knee. Your ski tracks went directly to the same location I had been when hit by rocks, kind of a rough area for rock fall.

 

I'd go for the skiing in the parking lot, less dangerous.