[TPayne]

The road to Paradise from Longmire opened around 10:45AM after 7 inches of new snow overnight, around 18 feet of snow on the ground. It was a gorgeous day with warm sunshine. I explored the northern part of Mazama Ridge. A few people were making the loop towards Panorama Point. Not much to report other than a few pictures. I can't seem to get enough of this place!

Melting parking lot

Paradise Valley. Mazama ridge under the clouds

Creek basin

Following a previous track to Mazama Ridge

Rainier from the climb to Mazama

Peaks on the Tatoosh Range

18 people crossing the Muir snowfield to reach Camp Muir

Back of three story Paradise Inn

Clearing the snow off Paradise Inn

[Hikingqueen]

You picked a great day! Wonderful pics as always.

[Bryan K]

Damn fine shots as usual! Glad to see you getting out.

[dicey]

I'm guessing you were up there on Saturday, the 19th? I was camped on Mazama ridge with a large group Friday and Saturday night - perhaps you came across our tent village? Friday, it snowed all day, which made for some really good skiing. Saturday was absolutely beautiful. I'm likely in your shot of folks heading up to Camp Muir. Sunday was VERY windy!

[TPayne]

Oops, yes, Saturday the 19th, not 18th as posted. Around 3PM or so, I watched a skier climb up a small peak, then his buddy record a video of him making a few turns off the cliff. It was crazy steep! Did you see the "Super Full Moon" on Saturday night? I'd guess it to be bright up there with light reflecting off the snow, if it was clear. As I was heading down Mazama back to Paradise Valley, I talked to two people who were going to set up camp for the night. I'd love to try that sometime, couldn't pick a better place than up there.

[Anne37]

Wow, incredible weather. It's so hard to predict when one of these bluebird days is going to sneak up on you - that's why sometimes you've gotta just go and hope you get lucky. I have to remind myself of that when I get mopey. Thanks for the report. Camp Muir looks so much more accessible in your pics than when I went in September!

[Tigerotor77W]

That's gorgeous... glad you had such clear weather when you were out there!

[dicey]

It was clear that night, but the 'super moon' was behind a ridge/trees when it came up, so not super impressive. More memorable, were the foxes wrestling and chasing each other up and down the moonlit slopes that night.

[Tigerotor77W]

I'm heading out to Seattle over Easter weekend ( ), so a quick question (knowing that conditions are going to change between now and then) with potentially more to come -- did you need snowshoes to get to Mazama Ridge when you went?

[TPayne]

Leaving Paradise parking lot in the AM, there was only a skiers trail heading down towards the base of Mazama. With a few skiers behind me, I decided to break a snowshoers trail for 1/2 mile, sinking nearly to my knees with them on. Nothing more frustrating to have a snowshoer come down later and pass me on the skiers track.