[TR] Mt. Rainier - Steamboat Prow (Inter Glacier) 7/14/2013

[lukeh]

Trip: Mt. Rainier - Steamboat Prow (Inter Glacier)

 

Date: 7/14/2013

 

Trip Report:

My friend and I went up to Steamboat Prow last weekend to camp and take pics of the Emmons, Winthrop, etc.

 

Info might be interesting to anyone planning to travel the Inter Glacier, or who wants to see what the Emmons/Winthrop look like about a week ago. Or if you like composed alpine pics and a brief story!

 

Blog entry + route info, story, and even more pics | Larger pics on FB

 

Brendan overlooking the Winthrop as the sun sets (cell phone pic).

 

Those little dots are tents at Camp Schurman and the Emmons Flats, not skittles as I originally thought.

 

View back to Freemont Lookout, Burroughs Mt., Sunrise area from 9700ft.

 

Blog entry + route info, story, and even more pics | Larger pics on FB

 

Luke

 

Gear Notes:

DVD of the 1989 Tom Hanks/Corey Feldman classic film, "The Burbs". No DVD player.

 

Approach Notes:

Didn't see any bear unfortunately, just bear shit.

Edited July 23, 2013 by lukeh

[genepires]

I swear I see lots of old ski tracks in the camp sherman photo. do the climbing rangers still ski on patrol? I thought they stopped doing that due to command decision from upper management.

[lukeh]

Yes those are ski tracks above and below Emmons Flats. No clue as to whether rangers ski while on duty.

[CaleHoopes]

Gene, as of a few weekends ago - I don't think so. The snow conditions are the SUCK on the emmons (for skiing). Fine for climbing, suck for skiing. I helped a couple skiiers navigate around some nasty snowbridgy stuff and got accolades from them. They were pretty much having a scrape fest over stupid sun cups and we were coming down around 10-11 am so the sun was already hitting. Maybe if they make a late start and hit it around 5 pm it would be a little better, but honestly it didn't look great and they didn't look like they were having much fun.

 

The rangers did a few ascents while we were there and I never saw any skis leave Sherman. I have a feeling that in the wake of last years accident they are being extra cautious. They seemed pretty serious about talking to every team in a more pointed fashion than I've heard before - since their ability to rescue has been greatly diminished. I'd think that the NPS would consider them skiing down the route at this point - likely unroped - would be way too risky and they'd put an end to it.

[lukeh]

It appears that unfortunately this skier died after a fall 2 weekends ago on the Emmons at 13,500. It was the exact same day I skied down the DC side (was icy until closer to 13,000 ft where it started to soften in the sun). Very sad, RIP.

 

Edited July 24, 2013 by lukeh

[To_The_Top]

Regarding the post above, can you cite a source? The article referred here talks about the accident only.

[Water]

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/vancouversun/obituary.aspx?n=peter-almerling&pid=166015637

[lukeh]

White River rangers confirmed the death from the fall injuries as well.

[Alan Trick]

Pardon the thread hijacking, but I knew this guy. He was a member of both the mountaineering clubs in Vancouver. From my recollection, he was a careful and thoughtful climber. He was supposed to go to Mt. Baker with me next month.