Backcountry Ski/Snowboard - The Castle/East Ridge

This will be a moderate paced tour. It is the responsibility of each participant to stay within voice distance of the participant behind them.  We will tour up to the Castle Saddle via Stevens Canyon road.  There are many touring options in the area – we may alter our itinerary based on group consensus.

You must complete the appropriate sections of the AIARE field book or the first page of the Avalanche Hazard & Risk Assessment PRIOR to arriving at the trail head.  You will not participate in the trip without this information.  [If Avalanche Center forecasts have ended for the season, assess avalanche conditions based on the information available and be prepared for a team discussion at the trailhead.]  We will use the AIARE RED FLAGS AND OBSERVATIONS when performing our observations so bring a copy of it with you.

We will be using the map and the travel plan to lead the navigation to and from our destination.  Please familiarize yourself with the terrain.  We will return to the trail head prior to 3:30 pm.

Please check your email after 9 pm on the day before the trip, and in the morning before you leave for route changes due to avalanche and weather conditions. If you do not receive an email at either of these times, the route has not changed.

The actual route will depend on snow, avalanche, weather conditions and participants’ abilities. If needed, an alternate, safer destination will be chosen by group consensus.

We will conduct a review of the day at the cars.

Trip Details

Detailed information about this trip can be found at the following shared Google Drive.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vZLMDYTBj7fCuEztTlk3DEoUWPQw6-t1?usp=sharing

Contents include

• Castle Saddle Map.pdf
  • Blue lines indicate ascent/skinning paths
  • Red lines indicate descent/skiing paths
  • Gray links indicate alternate ascent/descent paths we may elect to follow on the trip
• Castle Saddle Profile.pdf
• Castle Saddle Trip Plan.pdf
• Narada Falls Parking.png
• Avalanche Hazard Risk Assessment.pdf
  
  

Be ready to leave the Narada Falls parking lot at 9:50AM - have skins on your skis or board.  A National Park pass is required to enter Mount Rainier National Park; a pass can be purchased at the gate.  ALL vehicles (including all wheel drive) must carry tire chains in the park.