Snowshoers can experience Mt. Rainier’s winter landscape with a gentle, family-friendly climb through the meadows above Nisqually Glacier to Glacier Vista.
The fun begins behind the Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise. Basically the route to Glacier Vista follows the Deadhorse Creek Trail. Glacier Vista is more of a bench than a prominence though it is the highest point below Panorama Point. From Glacier Vista, experienced mountaineers can head up to Panorama Point and/or points beyond, including Camp Muir when avalanche danger is minimal.At the Nisqually entrance ask for the winter recreation map; it designates points of interest, identifies areas prone to avalanche and offers a simple rating system to help you assess how far you’d like to snowshoe. Be sure to get a weather forecast and avalanche forecast before you set out for Paradise.
It’s always a treat to visit Paradise on a sunny day though you must always be prepared for rapidly changing conditions. We timed our visit to take advantage of a brilliant sunny day in February.
Looking south we turned around from time to time to enjoy crystalline views of Mount Adams, Mount Saint Helens and closer peaks of the Tatoosh range including Castle and Pinnacle peaks.
Our plan was to descend the ridge that separates Dead Horse Basin from the Nisqually Glacier but we jettisoned that plan – the snow was too unstable for the descent on steep slopes with few trees to serve as anchors to keep snow from sliding. Instead we continued following the ridge to see how far we could climb given our turnaround time. The ridge was mounded with swirls of snow, like swirls of white icing on cupcakes. Above were several rounded bumps and benches; any of which would serve as a good turnaround or a rest break.
Before we reached Glacier Vista we veered toward Panorama Point to check out a snowy high point covered with trees, the branches so heavy with ice they almost hung to the ground and looked like white paper cutouts against the blue sky. Though we didn’t have time to reach Panorama Point, the tracks of skiers and snowshoers beckoned us onward and upward, at times we utilized the ready-made snowshoe steps, at other times making our own. Speaking of tracks, it’s not only skiers and snowshoers that make tracks in the snow; we also saw faint deer, elk and mouse tracks leading into and out of stands of rime-coated subalpine trees.It may be fanciful to believe no harm can come to one in such an inspirational setting but you would be wrong. Skiers and snowshoers themselves can accidentally set off an avalanche by traversing across a steep slope (when in doubt head straight up or down steep snow rather than traverse). Especially avoid snowshoeing under Alta Vista as those slopes are prone to avalanche. Seek gentler slopes and travel close to trees or boulders that help hold the snow in place.
As always turnaround time came too soon so we turned around at Glacier Vista. Here you can get a dizzying view of the Nisqually Glacier but don’t venture too close to the edge as there may be cornices along the ridge.
The snow was too dense to glissade so we plunge-stepped down making the descent short and sweet. There’s something strangely satisfying about punching through untrammeled snow, akin perhaps to the joy that kids feel when they break the ice on a mud puddle or stamp on bubblewrap used in packing.As we headed down we watched the front edge closer; looking back to Mount Rainier we watched a cap settle on the summit; mist and lack of visibility would be sure to follow.
To get there: From the Nisqually Entrance of the park drive to Paradise via the Nisqually-Vista Paradise road to the Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center and parking (5,411 feet). The Paradise Road closes in the evening at Longmire; double-check with park rangers at the entrance on road-closure times. Also, remember chains are required for all vehicles, November 1 – May 1.
– Karen Sykes, Visit Rainier Hiking Expert
For other snowshoeing route around Mt. Rainier, click here. For more information on visiting Mt. Rainier, go to visitrainier.com.
Visit Rainier is a not-for-profit, non-membership destination marketing organization that promotes tourism in the gateway communities around Mt. Rainier.