Trip
Glacier Ski/Snowboard - Paradise Glacier
A classic ski route with often fine ski conditions
Contacts
- Sat, Jun 19, 2021
- Foothills Backcountry Skiing Committee
- Backcountry Skiing
- Adults
- M2G Advanced Glacier Ski
- Challenging
- Mileage: 8.0 mi
- Elevation Gain: 3,600 ft
- High Point Elevation: 9,200 ft
- Pace: 800 ft/h
- FULL (8 capacity)
- FULL (1 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
8:00 AM
Paradise Parking Lot in front of the comfort station.
At this time due to COVID-19, I'm discouraging carpooling with non-household members. The trip plans and guidance may change at anytime due to changing conditions, this includes last minute cancellation.
The general idea is to ascend Mazama Ridge to Sluskin's Chair and then the Paradise Valley to just shy of Cowlitz Gap and then ascend the glacier , skirting the crevasse fields to "Little Africa" and then "Moon Rocks" -- The descent route with retrace the ascent route -- with a possible variation to return via The Golden Gate.
Here is a rough approximation of the planned ascent/descent route -- based on my several prior trips to the area
https://www.gaiagps.com/public/TFtSCQ24F6WNAXhsShC2yKGQ
Because this route mostly above timberline , good visibility is needed for route finding , particularly skirting the crevasse fields on the glacier.
If visiblity isn't great, we will discuss alternate destinations -- e.g. Cowlitz Rocks, the standard Muir route, Castle Saddle , etc.
Paradise Glacier
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USGS Mt Rainier East
Green Trails Mt Rainier East No. 270
Green Trails Mount Rainier Wonderland No. 269SX - See full route/place details.
Required Equipment
- The Ten Essentials
- Boots, skis/splitboard, poles (snowshoes not acceptable for uphill travel)
- Climbing skins
- Avalanche shovel (metal blade)
- Avalanche beacon (three antenna digital only)
- Avalanche probe
- Ski Crampons
- Self-arrest grip ski pole(s)
Glacier climbing gear:
- Seat harness
- Rescue pulley
- Webbing and carabiners
- Pickets or other anchor device
- Rope