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- Jan 21, 2014
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Education and Epic Corn Skiing on Rainier
This past weekend’s Avalanche Level 1 course started out with two very fun, lively lectures at Evo in Seattle. Once it was time to head out to the field to practice our lessons, we head out to Mt. Rainier National Park. Three of our five students had never been to Paradise on the south side of Mt. Rainier before and what an absolutely amazing first day to visit. With perfectly clear skies and a 11,000 foot day time freezing level, Mt. Rainier rose unobstructed over 9,000 feet above us to its 14,411 foot summit. We left the busy parking lot full of children sledding and other ski-tourers skinning up. Before heading into the backcountry, we went over the basics regarding beacon care and how to preform a function check. Once that was completed, we started our tour, covering basic skinning technique and fundamental touring tips. Our group toured up Edith Creek Basin, stopping in a flat open area with fantastic views of Mt. Rainier, Mazama ridge and the nearby Tatoosh Range.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_5790.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=0c828627e6bc2e51dc444d872194f52b 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_5790.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=0f0d3b51a68cf3f0155a22b03d591029 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_5790.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=9e9ba3f75fd569dcc74e65c30ba5bed4 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_5790.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=926b98785aff66c96a3206cdf0add43c 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_5790.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=72131899c2fce2026cfdb708985d98cc 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_5790.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=3ff28ddc455ff3ad68465468364f2b9f 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_5790.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=7adb20e33827164f227b727d11dd43f1 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_5790.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=0bb4a490a5ebd7759b77a53ab44e4e9b 1024w)
Getting ready to head out! Ian Nicholson photo
Over the next few hours we further refined beacon, probing and strategic shoveling skills. From there we continued our tour up to the northern end of Mazama Ridge, working on our “on-the-fly” observations like hand-shears and feeling the different layers in the snow with our poles while relating our observations to the bulletin. After touring up to the elbow in Mazama Ridge, we found a perfect spot to work on snow pit skills. After digging our pits we made a sensational run down nearly 1,000 feet to a snow-covered road where we skinned back up to the parking lot.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_5816.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=9bc0b375389e5ba1daa9b7b432408c0f 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_5816.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=4e9feda861b10194f53bcf331e18c329 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_5816.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=21e82d44138300d2dab37232c475e6ab 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_5816.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=d78dfc5201c6f566b7cc6f99395bc2d1 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_5816.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=97ea8bb28db7ae7e69ccbf6fcfde1cdd 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_5816.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=0a809f8cd75cd099d6b011303018fc61 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_5816.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=4c08bdf72a4724b6f4dcf8abeef89a43 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_5816.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=ce4a023b354d82761f72d0018942b64f 1024w)
Getting to work with great slopes in the background. Ian Nicholson photo
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_5798.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=c5ef2e80b99eba17548c6a345d7da63f 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_5798.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=45fa0d806dbd747a4613d267c2fa3a53 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_5798.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=a9abefefe38f55d7001be5a9d59f5415 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_5798.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=3a3e12c03600b4d073a483116e72d93e 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_5798.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=664769a12a3896b43eaecb0876c1f12c 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_5798.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=687e9c362dc5f4590bf3eccceed66fa1 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_5798.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=c9998dab2bcf254c308b4ac3a9046e5d 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_5798.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=0069ba5c213dab14dd89923f5b86fe4f 1024w)
Starting the search. Ian Nicholson photo
The next day at Paradise was quiet. With the Seahawk-49er game looming later that afternoon, there were less than 10% of the people from the previous day in attendance. While maybe a couple degrees colder, the day was no less perfect, with little-to-no wind and a mostly cloudless sky. Mt. Rainier again rose above us proudly and powerfully. The students used their new skills and chose to start off the tour up Edith Creek Basin toward the ridge hoping the snow would be softened the most quickly by the morning sun. The views from the top were spectacular with Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Adams peaking out in the distance. The group was poised with some challenging decision making as to where along the ridge to drop in, which they handled flawlessly. After our adjusted entrance point, we dropped in and enjoyed some of the better corn skiing I have ever experienced. Students worked their way down the terrain hooting and hollering as we went. The corn wasn’t just good, it was epic good.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_5828.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=01768d8376d07211cc2a8af4f8245653 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_5828.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=a77d30d852f59bcad9c9b9b89c3c2611 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_5828.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=20e6c738887b334146f65f51604b6444 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_5828.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=d1387c1ec5f3b1a2539f63f6cff30e43 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_5828.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=ed823e821ba48e9d167086bc58993ef7 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_5828.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=facab81b940810013f2aee106f6f035e 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_5828.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=b2a714466538a9fdd4e888ff0efe12d4 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_5828.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=b426f5d686e0c6688acc30fafdb5573c 1024w)
Ian Nicholson photo
After nearly 700 feet of perfectly creamy and carveable snow. We put the skins back on and headed back up, continuing to dial in the group’s skills. After our first run, we skinned back up below two side-by-side bowls that looked similar to the Golden Gate Bridge, and are appropriately named the “Golden Gate Bowls”. On a bench below the bowls we preformed a larger group rescue where the 5 students have to find 4 buried backpacks, 1 without a beacon, and only small visual clue for aid. The group nailed it and combined their recently learned rescue skills from the previous day perfectly. After completing our scenario we skinned up the right side of the Golden Gate and ripped skins near the top. Just when we thought the skiing couldn’t get any better, it did. Dropping into the perfectly shaped bowls on somehow even better corn snow, we carved while listening to the rest of the group cheering and hollering all the while as we watched each other ski the final run of the course. Thanks to everyone for a great course and tour!
~ MM Guide Ian Nicholson
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fphoto_2.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=3f35e83ba03162087c491ed8e9a2e8f0 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fphoto_2.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=81828584818c9183bdbc4eb6085ffc6e 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fphoto_2.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=d7742a2d40b6dfd90ab35ff255b476ee 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fphoto_2.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=f64331653eba0c25ab58acda589dbd9e 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fphoto_2.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=9511a5b4d795d082b222de823234a9b4 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fphoto_2.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=894d6acb9a1442559fed264869511bf8 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fphoto_2.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=3eddad98107a3b8747377249a897d2d7 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fphoto_2.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=2ad623e3bbe1d25e2093d132258873fd 1024w)
A great day for the slopes! Ian Nicholson photo