PNW Mags need beta on Muir snowfield

**yabyum** · 06-01-2006, 06:15 PM

PNW Mags or any one! when is the best time to do the Muir snow field? will you see crevases? what about staying over in the hut, would mid week be a sure thing or will you camp outside or head down? I have always wanted to do a tour up in the NW and this sounds like a good one...........any BETA would help

**Viva** · 06-01-2006, 07:17 PM

There's no crevases on Muir that I'm aware of. It's a snowfield! Beyond Muir, yeah, Then you'll be on the Cow...pie Glacier (Cow somethingoranother). I remember some small ones opening up not far behing Muir, but that was likely glacier material and it was in August.

Don't know about the hut- you don't have a tent? Stay outside, it's nice.

Have you visited the Cascadeclimbers site? I bet you get some good beta, delta, and, hell, even a little gamma there.

Have fun! Ranier's a kool mountain.

**AudioSkier** · 06-01-2006, 07:20 PM

There are some small crevasses on the snowfield just about a quarter to half a mile before you reach the Muir camp itself.
I'd be interested in doing this, too.

**Jumbuck** · 06-01-2006, 07:21 PM

Originally Posted by Viva

There's no crevases on Muir that I'm aware of.

What Audioskier said.

**belgian** · 06-01-2006, 07:48 PM

http://www.turns-all-year.com/skiing...orts/index.php

check out the BC reports, there's always some TRs from Muir this time of year. If you need an idea for a timescale you can go check previous years' reports as well.

Good luck in your endeavors, I might be attempting a Muir run sometime this summer as well, not sure of the time though

**corn dog** · 06-01-2006, 08:30 PM

Usually no crevasses but I think in low snow years a crack or two can open up. You might need a permit to stay the night there, hut or camping, check into it since I can't remember specifics. But you should be able to do it as a day trip no problem. Nearly 5k ft of elevation gain but its a steady gradual climb and there will probably be a cattle path to follow.
Yeah, check turns-all-year or cascadeclimbers.

**Zeedashbo** · 06-01-2006, 08:46 PM

be sure to carry up as much gear as you can. don't forget your prusiks.

**grrrr** · 06-01-2006, 11:40 PM

As far as time goes - I was up there last week and it was really nice. Not really any challenge in the main snowfield, but some decent sidetrips available.

**yabyum** · 06-02-2006, 09:16 AM

Great beta, Thanks for the insight, this is one of those trips I gotta do, (along with climbing some 14ers in Colorado before I get to much older

**PNWbrit** · 06-02-2006, 09:39 AM

Originally Posted by Zeedashbo

be sure to carry up as much gear as you can. don't forget your prusiks.

FYI You can hire sherpas at the 7-11 in Eatonville

weekends from late spring through fall look something like this

**BakerBunny** · 06-02-2006, 09:59 AM

**AudioSkier** · 06-03-2006, 04:07 PM

How would you be able to bring skis up there?
What permission would I need?

**Monique** · 06-03-2006, 04:18 PM

Originally Posted by AudioSkier

How would you be able to bring skis up there?
What permission would I need?

You have two choices for taking skis. You can have them helicoptered in, which is a little spendy, or for the price of a generous tip you can hand them off to the bell captain, who will schlep them up via private elevator whilst you take the escalator like everyone else.

Because Mt. Rainier National Park is listed with the Department of the Interior as an endangered species, permission to ski here is harder to secure than in other national parks, such as Grand Canyon. That said, a letter of introduction from the Prime Minister of East Timor will generally suffice.