Had some of the best skiing I've ever had on the Muir Snowfield on Sunday. 2-8 inches or so of dry, light, smooth powder and sunny, mostly windless conditions. Rare because the wind usually hammers all such snow or just blows it completely away. If you balanced just right you could mostly avoid getting down to the firm, icy layer beneath.
Was joined by friends Brandon and Ann, who are both lungs on legs types. Despite having either borrowed or ill-fitting gear they both plowed up the hill. It was Brandon's first tour and I think we've got him hooked. Nothing like another enabler around.
Had a bit of a detour on the way down as we came across a sick skier. Ended up mostly hanging around as back-up for the people helping him, but the hanging around meant doing the last bit of trail in the dark, and I carried his skis down. Details on that nonsense here.
With the road to Rainier closed earlier in the week, I drove to Mt. Hood for the first time and rode lifts at Timberline.
They stay open almost year-round on a patch called the Palmer Snowfield, which tops out at 9,000 feet and is like a 1/8 version of the Muir Snowfield with lifts.
It was nice to ride a lift and try out some of the heavy new gear, but the snow wasn't the best, and the terrain was very limited thanks to the lack of snow. Lots of rocks hiding just beneath in a lot of places, but no big damage was done.
It was about a 5-hour drive, so not something that will be repeated any time soon.
There's little or no snow at the Washington resorts, and we're in a dry pattern until at least the middle of next week. Patience.
