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Day trip to Rainier to ski the Nisqually Chutes. The Chutes start mid-way up the Muir Snowfield and descend at 30-40 degrees for about 1500 feet down to the lateral moraine of the Nisqually Glacier. This was a great weekend for this route because the mid-winter snowpack allowed skiing all the way to the bridge near the Narada Falls parking lot, and the weather had been clear for a few days allowing the snow to settle until it was nice and firm. On the way up, we were a little concerned because the snow was so icey, but when we got into the chutes, the significant change in slope angle caused the sun's rays to hit at a more direct angle and it warmed into perfect corn.