Current Rainier snowpack/conditions

[BP Pow]

Hoping to retrieve some beta on current Rainier conditions and snowpack. Have read in places that it is looking more like late July right now. My group's plan is to ascend from Paradise and ski Fuhrer Finger on the weekend of the 20th -- but we are considering alternatives. Main concerns being large crevasses opening up and dangerous rock fall conditions.

Any insight or advice is appreciated. Thanks.

[Norseman]

Here's the most recent tidbit of info I can find:

http://www.turns-all-year.com/skiing...?topic=34364.0



Last time I was up there was May 9th, when my partner and I skied the Fuhrer from 12.9k. That was probably one of the last weekends when skiing to the cars at Paradise was possible. I'm sure things have been toasted pretty well since then, with all the warm and dry weather we've had.

You'll probably want to tread carefully on the lower Nisqually, since that was starting to open up a month ago... early start plus sureness of overnight freeze. Upper Wilson has some big cracks, but more obvious. Might be worth sneaking out to the base of the Fuhrer the evening before you climb, to set a track for yourselves for the dark approach. There's a large crevasse across the top of the Fuhrer, right as it splits from the Upper Nisqually. We had to climb through some mixed rock and snow to climber's left to avoid it. As far as rockfall goes... it's probably worth the 1am start time to be descending by 9 or 10.

Good luck, man.


A couple shots from a month ago...

"Gandalf's Crack" across the top of the Finger:





Lower Nisq in foreground, Wilson behind.

[TripleT]

Picture from across the valley, June 7th. Lookin sketch to me...and Ive heard the past week wasn't kind to melting either.

[PNWbrit]

Have read in places that it is looking more like late July right now.

At least late July.

Check Cascade climbers forum and the climbing rangers blog.

http://mountrainierconditions.blogsp...aver-2015.html

[BP Pow]

Thanks for the info guys. Will check out that blog and make some calls before we decide. Not looking likely but going to climb it either way.

[PNWbrit]

but going to climb it either way.

Good luck. Remember that climbing it is only half way...

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-...et-cook-stove/

[BP Pow]

Hey all,

Just an update that my group of 4 decided on Emmons-Winthrop as our route (no skis). We went up Inter Glacier to Camp Schurman last Friday afternoon and left around 2:30 a.m. Saturday for the summit. Spent the night in the summit crater along the rim and did some exploring of the local ice caves before bed. What an amazing sight that was. Descended Emmons and glissaded about 1K of Inter Glacier on Sunday. A successful and rewarding trip. Thanks again for the beta and advice.

[Norseman]

Sounds highly enjoyable! Congrats.

[Johnny Utah]

This seems normal...
http://snowbrains.com/162-of-snow-fo...n-next-3-days/

[mufasa5446]

I was ski touring on the mountain yesterday.

The first layer was about 6 inches below the surface at 10am within 1000' of the parking lot at Paradise. It was snowing hard and white-out.

The next layer seemed to be about a foot below that layer.

Strong winds from the west seemed to create a weaker layer on west facing slopes.

One in our party set off a small slab slide on one of these west facing slopes below Panorama Point. About 6 inches deep and 30 feet wide. It cut below him and he was fine.

We were able to skin from the parking lot. First tracks, leaving shortly after sunrise on Thursday. Met many other people going up as we came down.

Super horrible visibility