Skiing in Rainier NP - 5/1/2010

This past weekend Aaron and I trekked up to Mt. Rainier to meet up with our friends Justin, Laila, and Jason (who is living in the park for the summer) for a last shot at winter for the year. As it tends to do in this area, the forecast went from sunny to rain a couple days before we left, but rather than pull the plug we decided to make the drive anyway, figuring that at least we'd be hanging out with friends. Surprisingly, in addition to seeing friends, we were rewarded with full-on winter conditions and some of the best ski conditions I've had all year. Unfortunatly we never got a view of the massive mountain lurking in the clouds right next to us, but I'm sure it will still be there the next time we go visit. Enjoy!

Day 1 - Mazama Ridge:


Taking a break in a little wind break behind a tree


Amazing winter conditions in May!


A look at the types of stuff we were skiing in


Lunch break in the snow (Credit: Justin)


Jason dropping a knee (Credit: Justin)


Me (Credit: Justin)


Skinning up after a lap: lots of happy people in this picture.


Looking back on the ridge... We just moved down the ridge all day skiing fresh lines.


The apparently famous Paradise Parking Lot Fox

Day 2 - Castle/Pinnacle Peak area (Tatoosh Range)

Our first glimpse of the peaks on our approach. They were in and out of the clouds all day.


Castle on the left, Pinnacle on the right. We skiied a run in this basin, and then another basin to the east


Nice way to spend a day!


If you look close you can see our tracks all the way back up (Credit: Justin)


Aaron drops into a "steeper than it looks" gulley on our second run.


More turns on our second run as the weather closed in.