On our trip to Pratt, the snow started as we entered the Talapus Lake basin. By the time we got to Olallie Lake it was feet deep and well consolidated. I much prefer big fluffy powder, but Treen isn't discerning. She rolled across the hard snow because that's how she rolls. (Get it?)

From Olallie we headed straight up the slope to connect with the Pratt Mountain ridge. There's a trail that runs above Olallie Lake and circles the basin, but when there's snow covering the brush it's much faster to just head straight up. Warning, though, it's steep and with the snow as hard as it is a slip could be a long slide. An axe and crampons were handy to stay secure.

The ridge itself is easy to follow because each side drops away. Half way up there's a huge rock that blocks the ridge. Left, right, or over? We poked left, but there was a big moat. We looked up, but Treen wouldn't be able to accompany us. We carefully negotiated the slope on the right while Treen dropped far lower and then walked back up to the ridge on the far side just to show us up.

A few trees to navigate and a beautiful sunset on Mount Rainier and we were at the base of what I remember as the final push to the summit. It's an unmistakeable snow field and I was sure were almost to the top... except we weren't. The ridge continued another quarter mile of undulating snow. By the time we got there we had pretty much missed the sunset proper. Bummer.

Thankfully, there were plenty of opportunities to glissade on the way down so our exit was expedited. In a few more weeks the snow will have melted enough that the brush and rocks will make this route less enjoyable and eventually not worth doing. (There is a summer route that involves a ton of talus walking so Pratt won't be completely neglected.)

Too much snow and the mountain is too far. Too little and there's too much brush. Just right... that's now and it's a good time to get out.