Basic Snowshoe - Mazama Ridge (Mount Rainier)

We will meet at 7:30AM Feb 23 at the South Hill Park and Ride 3300 94th Ave E
Puyallup, WA 98373 
We will consolidate riders at the park and ride. There will be no alternative meeting site except Olympia Mountaineers only may join us at the park if prior notice is given.

Forget what the write up says, we'll be heading out of Paradise, down the Narada Falls Trail to the Stevens Canyon Road, back up the road to the Lakes Trail and up to the Saddle on Mazama Ridge. From there we go cross country along the ridge to Fourth Crossing, down the steepish hillside to the Paradise Valley road and up that to the cars. Plan on the full day even if we don't need it. We will go as slow as the slowest person needs and want plenty of time for a relaxed lunch and pictures along the way. Checking this out on a map makes pre-planning better. Since most participants will be students, expect to participate in leads and route finding. It's a learning experience. (I've been here a zillion times and won't let us go too far off route.)

This is toward the upper end of the basic (easy+) category of trip so make sure that's not intimidating. Going at a slower type pace, everyone has been able to make it easily so far.

I expect the trip to go ... rain or shine , anything short of really nasty rain/sleet... and if there is a gate closure issue or whatnot, we'll still make a trip that satisfies course requirements for Basic Snowshoeing. The alternate is probably Rampart Ridge.

It's still February and cold and wet should be factored into your pre-planning. Be sure to bring a lunch and snacks.

If the sun favors us, and you haven't done this trip before, I guarantee you will love it.