Van Trump Park is a great alternative to the Paradise are with massive open slopes and barely any people. Knowing the area had some great potential for ski touring Joe and I decided to see something different than the Muir Snowfield. Being the base of numerous summit climbs we were going to head out there to go find some great spring snow.

I received a phone call from Joe Bell late Wednesday night merely minutes after getting home from another ski tour. He was looking to take advantage of the sunny forecast and was ride something unique within Mount Rainier National Park. We passed ideas back and forth until coming upon a decision to check out the Van trump Park area.

Heading up the Van Trump Park Summer Trail

As we arrived at the empty parking lot it quickly became apparent that skinning wouldn’t be efficient for the 3 mile approach. We donned crampons to take advantage of the firm snow conditions and started hiking up the Van Trump Park summer Trail.

With our gear on our backs we followed the summer trail that was packed down from recent hikers. Soon enough we reached a steep section in the trail and our fast pace slowed down to a crawl. A step at a time we made our way across hoping not to fall into the creek below.

Before long we were passing Bloucher Falls and climbing towards Van Trump Park. We were breaking in the trail as it was still to steep and firm to skin. While the approach was much more difficult than anything up at Paradise it a stunning area.

Arriving in the Alpine

After two hours of traversing through dense old growth forest and countless waterfalls we finally broke into alpine . From our view Mount Rainier rose almost 10000 feet above us as we rested under the early morning sun. This was the main climbing route for both the Kautz Glacier and the Success Glacier Couloir. We could see an easy ramp that would allow us access to the high country and would allow minimal avalanche exposure while maximizing vertical gain. With our route decided we quickly threw our gear of our backs and put on our skis for our ascent.

Skinning was quick and efficient with only a few inches of snow on top of an ice layer. Before long we were at our high point of around 8800 feet underneath the Turtle with an upper close view of the full climbing route on the Kautz Glacier.

Hanging out on the rocks we checked out the views while we were transitioning. From our spot Mount Rainier ramped up in steepness and it looked like the area would be great in different conditions.

To the southeast was astounding views of the Tatoosh Range and the Mount Adams jutting out of the horizon. With nearly windless conditions we packed up for our descent and decided upon the most aesthetic route line down Van Trump Park which would deliver a 3000 foot run only, followed by a 2 mile hike back to the car.

Riding Down Van Trump Park

From the start we could tell conditions down lower would be firm as we took advantage of the wind blown powder up top. Skiing down the mellow angled high moraines we were careful to follow the ridge making sure not to get stuck in the terrain trap below. In the distance we could see Wahpenayo Peak in the Tatoosh Range and Mount Saint Helens.

One at a time we ripped through the featureless terrain milking every turn that we had worked so hard to get. Occasionally we followed the skin track we had laid hours earlier. Making sure not to go to far off our ascent route.

The snow conditions were everything from windblown powder to corn skiing. Heading down the lower slopes it quickly turned to icy conditions where every turn chattered our teeth.

Before long we were reaching the end of the alpine and heading down towards the steep forests below. Since we knew this was our last view in the alpine we stopped for a few seconds before the painful descent.

Exiting to the Car Below

We carefully followed our uphill tracks navigating carefully through the dense forest. Once arriving to Bloucher Falls we felt the terrain was too exposed and steep to safely traverse. We donned our crampons for the final few miles back. Within the 6 hours we had been gone there had been a lot of activity with snowshoe tracks stomping out the trail. With the steep sidehill now packed in we kept a fairly fast pace as we raced the setting sun. With headlamps out just in case arriving back at the car under the dusk sky.

Thank you for reading this trip in Van Trump Park. If you want to see more ski tours within Mount Rainier Backcountry check out this link.