Back-Country Skiing on Mt. Rainier

[Jim Dockery]

Late spring - mid-summer is the prime season for back-country skiing on Mt. Rainier. The snowpack has firmed up so there is little avalanche danger on most slopes and crevasses are more apparent and so avoidable (you still have to be damn careful near them). I normally carry my Sony RX100 (various versions over the years) so I can keep up with my younger partners in the thin air at high altitude. These are all taken on the Cowlitz glacier.

Upper Cowlitz

Mt. Goats on Mt. Rainier

Skiing the Cowlitz

Perfect corn snow on Mt. Rainier

 

[R.C. Golding]

What an awesome day and mountain goats to boot. Really liked the last one. We get spring skiing here in Calif. but nothing like that, WOW!!
Bob

 

[Bob Denton]

Great photos! I sure like the second and third ones.

 

[Travis Rhoads]

that last one really shows the steepness of the slope...wow...

 

[Mike Mancil]

All are great but the last one sings!

 

[Jim Dockery]

Thanks for all the comments. That last one is a full set-up. My partner Eric is sometimes cooperative, but sometimes he just wants to ski where and as he likes. This time we stood together and I described how I wanted him on the skyline and he traversed over just for that shot.

 

[BarryHamilton]

Spectacular scenes, nicely done! Really like the mountain goats as well!