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| Storms stacked up across the Pacific Ocean. Photo: NOAA |
After an exceptionally dry and sunny period in early May, the weather and snow conditions on Mount Rainier have returned to a
more typical pattern for this time of year. The upper mountain has received well over a
foot of new snow in the past few days. Guides and the Northwest Avalanche Center have reported significant wind
slab and storm slabs above Camp Muir. In fact, no group has gone above Ingraham
Flats in the past few days due to this increased avalanche hazard. It may take some time after these storms for the snowpack instabilities to stabilize.
Visibility has been fair-to-poor for most of the week and
navigation has been challenging, even on the Muir Snowfield. There are no wands
on the snowfield and the bootpack has been frequently obscured by new snow. If
you are planning a trip up the snowfield, be prepared with a GPS and knowledge
of how to use it before you leave the parking lot. It is easy to get
disoriented on the snowfield, especially on the descent, and many parties have
become lost in similar conditions in the past.
Remember to check the Mount Rainier Recreational Weather Forecast
and the park webcams as part of your planning process before coming to the
mountain.
