To rope or not to rope on the lower Nisqually

[WildBlue]

I'm looking for advice about crossing the lower Nisqually glacier from Glacier Vista, as if you were going up the Kautz route. What is the crevasse situation there? Is it standard to rope up crossing the Nisqually, or do people just walk across it unroped?

Thanks

[DPS]

The Nisqually glacier is heavily crevassed. Some people do cross it unroped, others rope up. I am pretty conservative and prefer to rope up.

[Bronco]

Depends-

 

Are you going solo or with a team?

Is your team carrying a rope?

Would you feel bad/stupid if you punched through a snow bridge, plummeted into a crevasse and the answer to the first two questions is "yes"?

 

Other factors include weather, are you on skis, experience with glacier navigation, visibility, snow conditions etc.

 

Personally I wouldn't even consider going on the Nisqually at this time of year without a rope and competent partner.

[Dchromey]

its a moving glacier, and with the good weather coming on, snow bridges may be thin so be careful and rope up

[mattp]

I have skied down the lower Nisqually unroped several times, but have roped up for walking crossings. Assuming you are traveling in a party that has ropes, and you are walking, I see little reason not to rope up... and one reason to think it would be a good idea: you might fall in.

[ScaredSilly]

I have crossed it roped and unroped so it depends. When in doubt rope up as it is less weight to carry.

[mike1]

Rope up and decide if it was the right decision afterwards.

[Dale Farnham]

I've gone across there 40 or 50 times unroped, and roped once in september, when we used screws and 2 tools. But those other guys, above, are right.