Paradise Glacier, Glacier Vista Snowshoe — Friday, Mar. 4, 2005

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise

Decided to seek out snow where it is most likely to hide this year. But it is well hidden up high on Mt Rainier. Crossing the bridge over the Nisqually River and looking up there is NO SNOW. The friend I went with skied down to the bridge last March from the Nisqually Chute. Devoid of snow way up the ravine. We decided to head to the location of the former Ice Caves which we knew from past experience are gone but it makes a nice tour with some turns. Concerned about the potential high clouds keeping it too crusty were turned aside by reality. Nice conditions but I'm definitely out of telemark shape so did some kick turns on steeper terrain. Used ski-crampons to get up to the slopes below Pan Point to Golden Gates. The high clouds added to the interesting lighting. The mountain was out in the morning (we hit the Longmire gate at just around 9am but it may have been opened early). A lenticular covered it in the afternoon. GREAT DAY. Mellow temperatures and a bit of a breeze. Looking down from the vicinity of the ""ice caves"" toward Mt St Helens and Mt Adams. (note to editor: the last few times, pressing ""submit report now"" gets a very slow or NO response????)