Winter / Snow Overnight at Mount Rainier

I have always had an attraction to Mount Rainier.  I enjoy the emotional connection I have with the park and the mountain and the inner-connections that I feel when I visit.

On March 31, 2018, I set out for a winter overnight on the Mazama Ridge near Paradise.   Paradise is the only part of the park that is open year-round, so it makes a desirable destination for winter activities.  I have winter camped between Paradise and Panorama Point, but I have most frequented the area in and around Reflection lake – including the area below the Castle / Pinnacle Saddle for winter excursions. 

For this outing, my plan was to park at Narada Falls, and access Mazama Ridge via the Stevens Canyon Road and summer Paradise valley outlet.  This is the safe route and avoids the avalanche slope above Narada Falls; however, my route took me in a different direction anyway. 

I set off from the parking lot around 11:30 AM – with the plan of spending two hours to access the ridge.  Narada Falls sits at 4,400 feet, and my destination on Mazama Ridge is about 5,600 feet.  The trail is fairl straightforward, but the route from the Reflection Lake Junction on Mazama Ridge is unmarked.  This can make route-finding difficult. 

Upon arriving at my winter camp, I began setting-up my tent and other accessories.  Gear selection in the winter is absolutely critical.  I was using a Mountain Hardwear Direkt 2 single-wall tent as my shelter.  Typically, three-season tents that work fine at lower altitudes in the summer are not designed for winter conditions – including wind and snow.  Additionally, the poles and fabric of these tents are not designed for the rigors of the alpine environment. 

I was able to capture a Black & White of the Tattosh Range during the afternoon.  I also captured a 7-shot panorama of the Tattosh Range at sunset.  My attempt at a tent photo was mixed; both the conditions and the composition were a challenge. 

I hope you enjoy my video journal of this trip.  If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Regards,

Tim