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I think I'm going to hike up to Camp Muir tomorrow. I'm NOT bringing skis--just too damn lazy to lug ski equipment up 4,600 feet. Anyway, it's late notice, but if any Seattle area maggots are interested let me know. I'll probably get to Paradise around 9:00 am.
Burn a fatty in the hut when you're at Muir on Saturday.
It turned out to be a great day to head up. I was a little worried driving up, since it was pretty socked in. Miraculously things opened up right when I got to Paradise. All the clouds were just below that level.
I started up at 9:15 under clear blue skies. I believe Camp Muir is directly under the big rocky outcrop on the right side of the mountain.
http://home.comcast.net/~seussnelson/images/muir00.jpg
Here's a shot looking toward the Tatoosh Range with Mt. Adams in the distance.
http://home.comcast.net/~seussnelson/images/muir01.jpg
The snowfield begins at above 7,000' at Pebble Creek. From here it's just a matter of following the boot tracks and wands up to Camp Muir. There were lots of people with the same idea. No chance of getting lost on this one! Here's a shot looking back down from maybe halfway up the snowfield:
http://home.comcast.net/~seussnelson/images/muir02.jpg
It's a pretty good slog up to Camp Muir. About a 4,600' elevation gain. I admit I was tired once I past about 9,000'. I made it to Muir at 11:45. Pretty amazing how many people were up there loitering around, preparing for summit attempts, etc.
I headed back down at 12:15. Lots and lots of people heading up including a few with skis or boards. Honestly I didn't see much I'd want to ski. Yes, you could ski about 4,000 of vert easily, but it wouldn't be particularly fun with the slushy, sun-cupped snow. Not to mention the snowfield is pretty flat. Here's a shot that does show a few ski tracks in the snow:
http://home.comcast.net/~seussnelson/images/muir03.jpg
This is a good time to head up to Paradise to look at wildflowers. Lots of lupine and paintbrush. Also beargrass, monkeyflower, arnica and heather.
http://home.comcast.net/~seussnelson/images/muir04.jpg
It ended up taking nearly as long going down as it did going up. The slushy snow made things a little tricky. I'm glad I brought ski poles.
It's a pretty interesting hike. Different from your typical "walk in the woods." I'd never been up there, so thought it would be interesting, and it was.
good job man!
Nice photos.
I descended from Muir one time on a tarp (totally out of control, looking for Darwin) with two of my friends hog piled on it. We slid past a guided group who gave us some strange looks. Might have been more fun on skis, but didn't have any that trip. Made for a fast descent. I butt slid the entire Emmons Glacier on another trip after Liberty Ridge.
It would be nice to have skis one time.