Early April Conditions

Mount Rainier from Panorama Point. April 4, 2019

After a warm and dry March, the total snowpack depth at Paradise is hovering around 120 inches on the ground. In fact, this is 71% of what an average year has as of April 1, 2019. Watch out for open holes or sagging snow surfaces in creek drainages and growing moats near rock outcroppings—give these a wide berth. Often these features are difficult to see until you are quite close to the opening, so consult the map, be observant, and plan a route that avoids these hazards. Avoid “dropping in blind” on convex slopes where the bottom isn’t visible, since it might end in a cliff, creek, or waterfall.

Lower Nisqually Glacier, The Fan, and The Turtle. April 04, 2019

The weather is forecast to become more typical for April over the coming week. This will likely mean result in many inches (or feet) of new snowfall at and above Paradise with rain below that elevation; this will create challenging navigation and travel conditions. Always be prepared to do all of your own navigation when traveling in the backcountry. The route to Camp Muir is not marked or wanded and there is no bootpack. Blowing snow can obscure your tracks in minutes, making the use a GPS a critical skill, especially above treeline or in areas with snow-covered trails. Always check the weather forecast as part of the planning process for your visit to the park and adjust your trip plans to match conditions.  Real-time weather data is available on the Northwest Avalanche Center’s website. Some of the low-elevation trails around Longmire are melting out, but higher elevation trails are still snowbound.   

The Tatoosh Range. April 04, 2019

With the change in the weather, avalanche danger is certain to change too. Always consult the Northwest Avalanche Center for the current avalanche forecast before your trip and use it during your planning process. Snow conditions can change rapidly this time of year, so be on the lookout for signs of snow instability and reduce or eliminate your exposure to avalanche terrain if necessary. New snow will be falling on a variety of surfaces, including melt-freeze grains, firm crusts, and sastrugi.

The gate at Longmire is currently closes at 5:30PM. Plan to depart Paradise with plenty of time to avoid getting locked in. All vehicles are still required to carry chains until May 1 including AWD/4WD. Consult the Mount Rainier Twitter Feed for road opening updates.