Winter solstice snowshoe hike at Mt. Rainier

[hoosierdaddy]

Sarbar, Ford and I went for a snowshoe day hike at Mount Rainier National Park on the Winter Solstice day. We arrived at Longmire and the gate was closed for avalanche control and plowing the road up above. The restaurant inside Longmire was packed with SAR types from all over the region, here to search for the victim of an avalanche from several days before from the exact location that Yippikyo and I hiked a couple of months ago. (Found out after our return that they found the body today)

The gate finally opened at noon and we got up to the Narada Falls parking lot, put on the snowshoes and off we went.

Some snowy scenery on the way to Reflection Lakes:




The trail was wanded and there was easily 3' - 4' of new powdery snow! Breaking trail in snow this deep is a biotch and wore this old man out! MSR Lightning Ascent snowshoes with 8" tails and I still was sinking over my knees most of the time!
Here is what it looked like behind us after we had broke trail.


I broke out my thermos filled with HOT spiced apple cider when we arrived at the lakes.


The lakes were windswept and it was cold! Nice scenery, though.


Some interesting snow sculptures were found. This one looked like the embryo of a Yeti!

I slipped once on a small slope and when I fell, my REI Peak UL (Carbon Fiber) trekking pole snapped in half, shattering into very sharp pointy shards when I had jammed it down into the snow to stop my fall.


I said some choice "Potty words", too! Fortunately on my way back home, I drove right by a local REI store and they gladly accepted the poles and gave me brand new ones! The guy there said a buddy of his had the exact same problem when he was in the cold of Alaska earlier this year. Now, I gotta wonder if maybe cold makes carbon fiber more susceptible to breakage?? I've fallen on top of these poles in the heat of the summer without so much as a crack!

So, I got to tromp around in fresh powder snow, had lots of fun, ate some great food washed down with Moose Drool beer at the Copper Creek Inn on the return trip and got new trekking poles today. Whats not to like about winter?

[big_load]

Great snow! Potential brittleness is one reason I haven't gone for carbon fiber poles. Some are probably tougher than others, but it seems like reports of their breakage are disproportionate to their distribution among users.

[Reality]

Great snow pics. Thanks for sharing. Glad you got those poles replaced. And it's good that it didn't result in a serious injury.

Reality

[Random_Walker]

Originally Posted by hoosierdaddy

Sarbar, Ford and I went for a snowshoe day hike at Mount Rainier National Park on the Winter Solstice day.
Here is what it looked like behind us after we had broke trail.

Wow, you folks sure know how to break a fine trail there.
I'd follow you all winter! ;-]
Great pictures, thanks!

[yippikiyo]

As always, a mighty fine trip report! Maybe I'll print this one, put the photos on my house windows and set the air conditioning down very low so that I, too, might have a white Christmas.
I'm glad the pole break did not result in injury. I haven't snowshoed but I would imagine going pole-less is much more difficult.
Any pics of Sarbar and Ford and you in addition to the the fab scenery?
I have got to schedule time next winter to get up to the PNW! Such amazing scenery and pretty nice folks, too.

yippikiyo

[hoosierdaddy]

Originally Posted by yippikiyo

As always, a mighty fine trip report! Maybe I'll print this one, put the photos on my house windows and set the air conditioning down very low so that I, too, might have a white Christmas.
I'm glad the pole break did not result in injury. I haven't snowshoed but I would imagine going pole-less is much more difficult.
Any pics of Sarbar and Ford and you in addition to the the fab scenery?
I have got to schedule time next winter to get up to the PNW! Such amazing scenery and pretty nice folks, too.

yippikiyo

Thanks! The pole break could have been disasterous, cause the ends were REALLY sharp, and yes it is much more difficult to not have poles if you fall over in the snow. It's really had to get back up without them.

Ask and ye shall receive...

Here is Ford just starting on the trail:


Sarbar & Ford tromping through the snowy woods:


A last scenery shot above Narada Falls:


Absolutely, for you and anyone else that has never snow shoed, you just HAVE to do it someday…it is truly a special and wondrous time to be out in the crisp quietness of the mountains and woods in winter.

[tpeterson1959]

Beautiful! I'm going to have to stop reading your trip reports! I get too homesick!

By the way, you had Ford break the trail for you?

Here is Ford just starting on the trail:

Glad you shared these with us.

[Questtrek]

Truly awesome Hoosierdaddy.

Wow! Is all I can say, what scenery, and views! Nothing like it I'm sure. Great trip report and thanks for sharing.

[c4jc88]

Nice TR and pictures Hoosierdaddy. Breaking trail is certainly a pain.. I was breaking through about 6 feet on my way to Ollalie Lake on Friday night.. Hard work. I need to head up to MRNP and use your tracks... if they haven't filled in.

Jason

[hoosierdaddy]

Originally Posted by c4jc88

Nice TR and pictures Hoosierdaddy. Breaking trail is certainly a pain.. I was breaking through about 6 feet on my way to Ollalie Lake on Friday night.. Hard work. I need to head up to MRNP and use your tracks... if they haven't filled in.

Jason

Thanks Jason! I saw your Ollalie Lake TR on another forum...looked like a blast! My best guess that Reflection Lakes have received another 4+ feet of snow since I've been there, though. Good luck with the trail I made!

[PBF Support]