October turns on the Flett Glacier is a tradition for the Turns All Year people in the Pacific Northwest. With the glacier being the closest permanent snowpack to Seattle it’s the perfect place to keep the streak going. While it is raining in the lowlands usually that means snow in the high country. With just a few inches of powder the Glacier is smoothed out and the perfect place to get the first turns of the season. With a storm arriving in the PNW my friend Scott and I made plans to go get our first turns of the season.
A Little Bit of Info About the Flett Glaciers
The Flett Glacier is two separate glaciers on the northwest side of Mount Rainier National Park. Both lobes run off the Northern and Eastern flanks of Observation rock above Spray Park and can be accessed via Mowich Lake. The Northeast flank runs is situated between Echo and Observation Rocks and runs from 7,600 feet to 7,300 feet. The Northern flank runs from 8,000 feet and runs down to 7,200 feet and is fed by the Flett Glacier Headwall.
An Early Morning Drive to Mowich Lake
By Thursday night, I was excited with anticipation for my first pow turns of the season. My friend Scott was thinking the same thing as we decided to head out to Mount Rainier National Park. We began our drive up early on Friday morning did and although it was raining it did little to dampen our enthusiasm. Soon we found ourselves at Safeway and loading up on bananas, apples, and caffeine. As we began to properly wake up, and drive further out to Mt. Rainier, we started to get worried. It seemed the closer we got, the worse the rain got. We were questioning if the weather would clear up or if it was raining on the new snow ruining our October turns on the Flett Glacier.
Hiking up the Spray Park Summer Trail
When we arrived at the Mowich Lake parking lot the weather showed no signs of letting up. From where we were, there was no evidence of new snow, either. Although it seemed discouraging the forecast called for a freezing level at 6,500 feet and soon we would arrive in the snow. We told ourselves that somewhere, higher up, the rain would turn to snow and we’d get fresh tracks. Soon we set out, hiking up the muddy trail in our ski and snowboard boots, hopeful that things would change and we would be on snow soon.
Finally, after we’d been soaked to the core, the rain turned to sleet and then to snow! We changed into drier clothes, and after three quick miles, arrived at Spray Park. A small dusting of snow covered the small lakes and bright red rocks.
The great thing about the Flett Glacier is that directions to it from Spray Park are fairly straightforward. Heading straight up hill the visibility started to improve and it seemed that we were about to get blue skies.
Occasionally, we’d get astounding views of the mountains that surrounded us. The clouds were moving fast and the weather seemed to be improving. When we got to the base of the Flett Glacier the light was flat so we dropped our bags and deciding to eat some food hoping conditions would improve.
October Turns on the Flett Glacier
We hoped that if we sat there long enough the light would change and views of our intended line would open up. Sure enough 10 minutes later the sun beamed down upon Echo Rocks and and the glacier started to light up.
Four inches of wind-scoured snow over ice made for quick climbing conditions. Near the top of the glacier we were psyched to find some additional inches of wind-blown. While the angle wasn’t as steep, it was smooth and carvable powder. We took it upon ourselves to lap the upper 300 feet a number of times before dropping down to the main glacier. We were getting great October Turns on Flett Glacier in mount Rainier National Park.
Once on the main glacier my faith in the Flett Glacier and the forecast was rewarded. We were pleasantly surprised by the softness of the new snow. Enjoying the turns we rode all the way down the glacier to its base milking every turn. Once there we used our bootpack to head up for another short lap.
Once arriving at the base of the glacier we spotted little ice cave carved into the glacier’s toe.
We decided to take shelter inside and explore the underside of the deep blue glacial ice. The snow was dirty but the crawl into the amphitheater was fun, though there wasn’t room to stand up.
Hiking Back Through Spray Park to Mowich Lake
After checking out the cool frozen landscape within the cave, we decided to head up again for a final lap. As we ascended, clouds rolled in again, and we found ourselves in a white out for the. final descent. Before long we were hiking back down into Spray Park and back on the Spray Falls trail. After the final six mile hike back to the car at Mowich Lake.
In Conclusion About October Turns on the Flett Glacier
All in all, it was fun albeit the clouds and rain but we were happy to get some October Turns on the Flett Glacier. With relatively easy access and scenic views this is a great alternative to the Muir Snowfield for early season turns. Being a bit sheltered between Echo and Observation rock the area usually has the best October turns in Mount Rainier National Park. Long story short I highly recommend the area if you don’t feel like driving up to Heliotrope ridge on Mount Baker.
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