ClimbWashington.com: Van Trump Park Ski Tour

Inversion in full affect on this bluebird day. Very warm @ trailhead and gloppy mashed potatoes on the way up. Everyones skins got gloppy and sticky, especially Sergio; who lost a skin after serving it's full tour of duty, luckily, a crampon sufficed in the conditions.

Made it up to about 7k around 230pm and headed down. Decent turns up top, then it got gloopy and fast slow fast slow <crash> for me. The boarders seemed to do okay. As the shade started to affect some of the slopes with the sun setting, it seemed like we were racing away from the crust.

Down through the trees was a fight for me and my new crossbows. Stiff boards.

Directions: From Seattle take I-5 North and head for the great big white one. The Comet Falls trailhead is located three or four miles east of Longmire on the road toward Paradise.
Map: USGS Mount Rainier West, Mount Wow
Trail Conditions: Click Here
Road Conditions: Click Here
Web References:
Turns-All-Year photo gallery
Mount Rainier National Park
100 Classic Backcountry Ski and Snowboard Routes in Washington By Rainer Burgdorfer

Van Trump Park Ski Tour Highpoint Elevation: 6500 feet Region/Location: Mount Rainier National Park Trip Length: 1 day Route: Chrstine Falls/Comet Falls Difficulty: Moderate Elevation Gain: 3000 feet Roundtrip Distance: 7 miles Trailhead Elevation: 3670 feet Date: December 10, 2005 Photos by: Scott Harder [Click here to view the shutterfly photo collection]
Inversion in full affect on this bluebird day. Very warm @ trailhead and gloppy mashed potatoes on the way up. Everyones skins got gloppy and sticky, especially Sergio; who lost a skin after serving it's full tour of duty, luckily, a crampon sufficed in the conditions. Made it up to about 7k around 230pm and headed down. Decent turns up top, then it got gloopy and fast slow fast slow <crash> for me. The boarders seemed to do okay. As the shade started to affect some of the slopes with the sun setting, it seemed like we were racing away from the crust. Down through the trees was a fight for me and my new crossbows. Stiff boards. Directions: From Seattle take I-5 North and head for the great big white one. The Comet Falls trailhead is located three or four miles east of Longmire on the road toward Paradise. Map: USGS Mount Rainier West, Mount Wow Trail Conditions: Click Here Road Conditions: Click Here Web References: Turns-All-Year photo gallery Mount Rainier National Park 100 Classic Backcountry Ski and Snowboard Routes in Washington By Rainer Burgdorfer