Squirrel99 dropped me a line and baited it with a little St Helens. Freezing levels and forecast of sun created the perfect weather window for a 5,600ft run. Gregm and I arrived at Marble Mount snowpark by 6ish on Saturday and car camped at the trailhead. Squirrel99, Z-bo, Rob would meet us somewhere along the trail on Sunday.

It was a clear night but not too frigid. The next morning we started skinning by 7:30ish with our puffies on. Trail was frozen so it was easy boot but the skins were already on so what the hell.

Broke out of the trees an hour later and things were still frozen but this was our view. Safety meeting??

We continued a bit higher before realizing things weren’t gonna soften up too much today so let’s relax. I know the occupants in this shelter were. Safety meeting??

It’s not the Ritz but will do.

I decided to test out how my bd crampons would do with my new boots but not before another safety. Gregm put on the split-pons and continued upward.

Gregm skinning with Adams in the background.

During one of our safety breaks Squirrel99, Z-bo and Rob caught up. Gregm and Squirrel99 skinned to the summit with one short carry. The rest of us took advantage of the nice groomed boot track up. At the summit we marinated under the sun and did the things you do to keep yourself occupied while waiting for the corn to come out of the oven. Like taking bt’s cause someone hauled one up there.

So you take pictures among things.

Mt Hood amongst the clouds.

Z, Gregm and Dan Cortez lookalike Rob. Z and Rob look guilty as hell.

Adams looking might tasty.

Lava Dome.

Crater Rim, Spirit Lake and Mt Rainier.

And when the clock struck 2pm our party of 5 peeled of the summit in a hurry. Squirrel99 and I traversed a quarter mile east to find our flank steak and gravy gully. Gregm dropped near the boot pack and went for a solo harvest. Z and Rob…just like Silent Bob and Jay, wondered off for an adventure of their own.

Here’s a few of Squirrel…

Squirrel on a steeper section.

Squirrel enjoying his flank with the moon in the background.

Not even halfway yet.

While Squirrel and I were waiting back at the cars we chatted with a member of SARs. He spoke of watching 2 from Climbers Bivy dropping west instead of east. We laughed at first and Squirrel was like they might have rode with me. One by one the rest of them made it back to the trailhead where warm cars and Sam L. Jackson lager were waiting.

Other notes worth mentioning:
No fees for climber permits, just self register outside at Jacks. However don’t forget your snowpark parking pass. I watched a climber return to his car with a broken snowboard just to find a ticket waiting. Bummer!

Snow surface conditions were variable and vary similar to what one would find on the Muir Snowfield. An inch on ice to couple inches, small ribbons of windpacked powder, sastrugi and creamy corn.