Climbing News

Six inspiring climbs were nominated for a 2012 Piolet d'Or over the weekend. Ranging from Kyrgyzstan to Argentina, climbers were getting it done! Check the award's website here for more information/inspiration.

Snow is still accumulating at Mount Rainier, with just over 12 feet on the ground at Paradise. Keep checking the weather websites for the rare but glorious sunny breaks in the weather. Winter climbs, though challenging and rarely resulting in the summit, can be great training for climbers looking to summit in the summer.

Make sure to check in with rangers before any climb or overnight adventure. Local knowledge is priceless when trying to get out and have fun during the "off-season." Watch out for a significant winter storm this weekend. The importance of knowing weather and avalanche conditions cannot be over emphasized. Keep up to date!

Pit Profile 2/14/2012

If you are heading to higher elevations: the top of the slope heading up to Panorama Point was icy on Saturday under a light layer of snow which has now increased to a depth of about 6".

The current forecast is predicting almost a foot of snow at Paradise this weekend.

Waffles will be happening throughout the day on Monday February 20 in the Old Station at Paradise. Fuel your adventures. Again please bring your own cup/mug and a topping or fixings to donate.

Snowpack Profile Update. Waffles!

Wow, big news here at the Old Station in Paradise. We now have a computerized weather display running 24hrs and Waffle Weekdays will be starting this week!

The computerized weather display is located inside the Old Station in the windows to the left of the inner door.

You read that right. If you can't get enough of the Mountain during the weekend and can make it up on Friday you can join the ranger(s) in the Old Station for hot drinks and waffles. Start your weekend early between 11 and 3 this Friday, February 10.

Please bring your own cup or mug, donations of hot drinks, waffle makings and fixings will be gratefully accepted (new and unopened) to keep Waffle Weekdays happening.

Now for why you really read this, the snow pack profile update. No failures were observed in either the compression test or extended column test. All layers were fairly dense and well settled.

Weekend Conditions February 3-4

Some of the nearly twenty people that headed up to Panorama Point today

If today was any indication of what Saturday and Sunday are going to be like, Paradise is going to be a happening place.

Wind Crust above Paradise

With blue skies has come strong winds (20+mph at Paradise, with reports of being blown to the ground higher on the mountain).

Be prepared for a chill and remember to pay attention to your surroundings. The current wind is coming from the East instead of the usual West and is thus redistributing some of the snow pack. Combined with the sunshine there is quite a crust forming.