Sunset Ridge, Mt Rainier, 15 July 2010

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E_$
imminent whippage

Sunset Ridge, Mt Rainier, 15 July 2010

Post by E_$ »

So Dan Himmelschralper and I continued our budding bromance on the slopes of Mt Rain-yay, skiing a second aesthetic ridge within a week's time (skied Liberty a week ago w/ Casey and Tony). For various reasons, we approached separately on Wednesday, reuniting at a scenic bivy with running water alongside the Edmunds Glacier (the site used with Sky and Ryan a year ago for the Edmunds Headwall). En route, I played chicken with a bear, who ended up being the bigger chicken (not by much). Dan also saw the critter, and we hung food as a precaution. 2nd pic is Dan bouldering with cause.
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From Ptarmigan Ridge you must drop down disgustingly loose scree and talus to the N Mowich Gl -- I rock-surfed with about a tonne of my buddies for bit, until connecting with snow (quickly, thanks to my sometimes reliable memory). Here's some solid rock on the descent:
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A shot of the mountain from Ptarmigan Ridge, with Sunset Ridge on the right-hand skyline (a poorly lit route photo from near Orting v. early Wednesday morning was informative, but not worth sharing)--from this perspective, someone could see us ski the upper Mowich Face, then would only occasionally see us right on the horizon:
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From the climb:
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We started early and made good time, allowing us to take big breaks while we waited for the sun to ripen the slopes. We converged and climbed with Colin, Booth and Eduardo (they skied the Edmunds Headwall) on the home stretch to the summit, and enjoyed their comaraderie while waiting in the cold wind up top. When we all dropped onto the upper Mowich Face at ~3:30, it was blissful corn--steep, exposed and exhilirating turns.
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Then Himmelstrafer and I traversed over to Sunset Ridge, employing axes and skis to make a spicy connection approx. 20 feet below the ridge's summit. Dan contemplating the first of many turns down this long ridge:
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Turns on the ridge are exposed to the Sunset Ampitheatre on the left (and Puyallup Gl), the Mowich Face on the right. That's the S Mowich Gl background right:
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more pics
I had to grunt home that evening, whilst Himalschralper bivied another night and shredded the Central Mowich Face the next day. Wish I could've stayed...

Hannah
hates skiing

Re: Sunset Ridge, Mt Rainier, 15 July 2010

Post by Hannah »

Awesome!

Sunset is a great route; a wet and cool spring seems to set up the NW side particularly well.

That slope dropping down lower Ptarmigan is really one heinous pile of shit.

I'm digging all the man-love in these recent trip reports.

Thanks for the stoke, E.

ryanl

Re: Sunset Ridge, Mt Rainier, 15 July 2010

Post by ryanl »

Don't know if I'm more bummed at having missed out on the sweet turns or the man-love. Way to get 'er done Doc. You too Dan.

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skykilo
olikyks
from Santa Fe
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Re: Sunset Ridge, Mt Rainier, 15 July 2010

Post by skykilo »

That route was one of my favorites.

I'll be interested to talk to Colin about skiing again one of these days.

I'd be hating on both of you something fierce, but I just spent two days on sunny granite and life is good.

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Diamond Dachshund
from The Future
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Re: Sunset Ridge, Mt Rainier, 15 July 2010

Post by Diamond Dachshund »

It is going off this summer in the PNW. Good work guys.

Jason Hummel

Re: Sunset Ridge, Mt Rainier, 15 July 2010

Post by Jason Hummel »

Good god you guys. You are killing rainier...as in slaying...as in I'm frickin lovin seeing all this goodness. Awesome. I read Dan's TR's as well. Super rad.

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