In April, the commercial ski areas close down and most northwesterners start hoping against hope that there will actually be a summer, whenever the rain stops. That's when spring cross-country skiing season begins. All you need is snow, and at Mt. Rainier NP there's plenty of it (over 10 feet at Paradise Inn this spring day).
Photos: [Top] Steve at our base camp on the Mazama Ridge. [Middle] Denis skiing away from camp on day 2. [Bottom] Steve, in the nth fall.
There's a long story about this trip, involving several broken pieces of equipment. Suffice it to say, we skied in our shirt sleeves, got sunburned, and snapped many photos of the fresh snow-covered mountains.
Of course, it's important to remember that it's still winter at 5000'. By the time we made camp, a snow storm moved in and whited everything out. The wind and snowfall lasted from 4:30 until after 10 pm. But by midnight, you could see every star in the sky, but it was below 20F without the wind chill.
This area is very popular in summer, and almost deserted in winter. Some excellent trails for summer hiking start at Paradise, and several cross-country skiing opportunities are available at the various park entrances. In 1997, the park's superintendent announced the possibility of closing Paradise to cars. For more information, read the newsletter on the subject. Then get involved.
Stats: Mazama Ridge is about 2 miles from the trailhead, with a four-mile loop option. (Our route was longer.)
Note: This is winter wilderness travel. You are responsible for informing yourself and your party of the hazards, and taking the necessary precautions. Hazards include avalanche, hypothermia, and disorientation.
Getting there: The Park Service plows the road from the Longmire park entrance to Paradise every day. Check with them for times and temporary closures. (Click "Where to call," at left.) For overnight stays, a camping permit is required, but easy to get at Longmire this time of year.