[TR] Ragged Ridge - Easy Pass to the Ridge 4/17/2015

[AlpineK]

Trip: Ragged Ridge - Easy Pass to the Ridge

 

Date: 4/17/2015

 

Trip Report:

Skiing has been on the thin side this year. Three trips to the south side of Rainier produced some fun skiing, but more is better. When WSDOT announced HWY 20 was open I started looking at weather and snow reports, deciding where to go, and calling up some of the usual suspects. Plans to ski someplace new for me were resolved, but partners didn't coming through. In the end my automatic response was, "Screw you guys I'm going skiing."

 

The first complication was avoiding the early morning bee nightmare on 1-5. 405 worked out fine and gave me some nice views of a wrecked truck and people in bee-proof outfits

 

[img:center]http://wset.images.worldnow.com/images/7490167_G.jpg[/img]

 

On reaching the Easy Pass parking area I met up with a fellow looking for a jump start. Despite my offer to assist his truck died after a jump start. We then talked about the lack of cell phone reception and the closest town where he could find a mechanic willing to replace his alternator. Fortunately some road bikers arrived and offered him a ride to Winthrop, so I started skiing.

 

The snowpack was good enough for skiing to the bridge and crossing the log bridge

[img:center]http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/3068/medium/3-WEB-DSC02325.jpg[/img]

 

Unfortunately the snow went away not too long after

[img:center]http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/3068/medium/4-WEB-DSC02326.jpg[/img]

 

After a hike with skis they were back on my feet and I got a nice view of Greybeard

[img:center]http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/3068/medium/5-WEB-DSC02327.jpg[/img]

 

After more trudging Easy Pass was in the bag and I started heading west towards the ridge crest. Views of Mt Logan were great

[img:center]http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/3068/medium/9-WEB-DSC02331.jpg[/img]

 

After reaching the crest deciding whether to keep going to Mesahchie Peak were on my mind. Given the consistency of snow and lack of it at low elevation I took in the view and turned around.

[img:center]http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/3068/medium/14-WEB-DSC02336.jpg[/img]

 

Looking towards Fisher Peak

[img:center]http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/3068/medium/10-WEB-DSC02332.jpg[/img]

 

Looking northwest at a line I didn't ski

[img:center]http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/3068/medium/19-WEB-DSC02341.jpg[/img]

 

While a little funky in spots skiing back to the pass and below was fun

[img:center]http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/3068/medium/20-WEB-DSC02342.jpg[/img]

[img:center]http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/3068/medium/21-WEB-DSC02343.jpg[/img]

 

After finding my way back to the trail I was quickly back to the highway. There are some nice lines for future ski trips in the Ragged Ridge area on my list now.

 

Approach Notes:

Thin snowpack till you gain 1000 ft of elevation from the creek and it's melting.