This is Deadhorse Creek Basin on another day when it was sunny.  

If you are visiting Mt. Rainier check out the other journal postings with photos for the season you plan to visit. There are blog postings that date all the way back to May of 2007. Feel free to email with questions.

This photo shows Deadhorse Creek Basin area at Paradise but on a NICE DAY last year in February. As you read this posting you will realize that the mountain was hidden so I posted this old photo.

 

Saturday – February 6th……………

Hoping to see a nice mountain view after several days of pleasant weather in the city, we drove to Mount Rainier National Park on Saturday for a day of snowshoeing at Paradise. The journey to the mountain was damp and cloudy and, unfortunately, there was rain in the lower elevations as we traveled upward on the Nisqually Road. Past Narada Falls the rain finally changed to light snow. The mountain along with anything in the distance was hidden in a heavy cloud cover as we arrived at the foggy white Paradise parking lot. Greatly disappointed over the weather, we flipped up our hoods to protect against the snow and headed toward our destination Deadhorse Creek Basin. Our neighbors joined us for this trip so we guided them up toward the Nisqually Vista trail where we normally cut off to the right and snowshoe into the basin.

          

There was two to three inches of new snow partially hiding the snow trails but we found a trail after the weather station which is part of the ranger led tour through this area. We could see this trail had been traveled prior to the overnight snow so Tom, my husband, led the way making new tracks in the heavy wet snow.

At first this was fun since it was a different route for us. It was a gradual climb that went into the trees alongside a ridge. The visibility was poor so the trees were a welcome sight.

 

 

 

 

 

  

However, after a long slow slog upward through the trees, they disappeared and a steep ridge hill stood directly in front of us to climb unless we wanted to turn back. Deadhorse Creek Basin had to be directly over the ridge hill, so we slowly climbed up the hill stopping and sometimes gasping for air. Thank goodness Tom and I were correct and the basin was below or our credibility with our neighbors would have been lost. Everyone asked me whether I snapped any pictures while ascending the steep hill and I laughed in response because I couldn’t have balanced the camera at that angle. We stood on top of the ridge looking down into the whiteness of fog and the basin. There were several snow camps with tents but the visibility in the distance was still a blur.

 

Coming down through the heavy snow off of the ridge was just as exhausting as the climb upward. Looking toward the mountain with nothing but more climbing, we decided to call it a day and head back down to the car. We worked our way to the opposite side of the basin toward the sledding area above the new Jackson Visitor Center. There was nothing soft and fun about the descent. Our feet were tossed and turned by the heavy snow making for a bumpy uneven walk down. The snow had finally stopped by the time we arrived at the parking lot and the weather hinted at clearing.  Despite being dead tired and disappointed with the weather, we had a great time working off the lunches we ate sitting at the community center located across the wooden bridge at Longmire. 

Note: The weather has been unseasonably warm this winter in the city. And there is no snow in the lower elevations at Mount Rainier National Park. BUT…. Narada Falls and Paradise have plenty of snow and more snow piles up regularly. Therefore, this is a GOOD winter for snowshoeing and cross country skiing between Narada Falls area and upward to Paradise.  The roads have been easy to drive so come enjoy Mount Rainier in the winter!!

Written by: Sally Johnson

Winter Books for Snowshoeing & Cross Country Skiing are available here online at: www.mtrainierphotos.com or in Ashford at Whittaker Mountaineering Store.  $15.00

Also it’s not too late to get your 2010 Mount Rainier Calendar online here for $15.00

        

Photo from last  February climbing out of Deadhorse Creek Basin up higher toward the mountain.