MTTA Backcountry Conditions

M3 MountainCam Images - Recorded Earlier

NOTE:  Our webcam equipment was removed during the High Hut's expansion.   We hope to reinstall the webcam next summer.   The following images were recorded earlier.   For the latest conditions, please see our Trail Conditions report below and/or check


Mt. Rainier

High Hut Deck & Bear Basin

Mt. St. Helens

M3, MTTA's Mountain Monitoring system, is located at High Hut, at nearly 5000'.   The M3 MountainCam has a 270 degree view of the Cascade Range, including Mt Rainier, Mt St Helens, Saw Tooth Ridge and the Goat Rocks Wilderness area.  

M3 equipment was funded by a very generous grant from REI , with additional funding provided by Whittaker Mountaineering in Ashford.   If you like this system, please let them know and support their businesses.


Trail Conditions Report
as of Saturday, Mar 13th

With a new dump of snow, the spring skiing is about as good as it gets!   We hope you can take some time for a spring time getaway to MTTA!

Snow starts at both SnoParks, and there is still 8 feet of snow at the huts.  The snow is going to ease up by Sunday afternoon and by the end of the day tomorrow, the trails to all the huts will have been groomed.   The spring skiing is really great!

Mid-week use at the huts has dropped off, providing a good opportunity for hut reservations, plus there is some room on Saturday nights.  We should have good skiing at the huts well into May.

Our trail grooming fund has dropped to $39 and now would be a good time to mail a donation, checks payable to: MTTA, P O BOX 206, Ashford, WA 98304 or provide a gift via our Paypal system .   Donations are tax deductible and April 15th is Monday!

Sno-Park Permit and Discover Pass Requirements:  All vehicles parking in a Sno-Park or on a Sno-Park Access Road must have a season or day Sno-Park Permit.   If you have a season Sno-Park Permit, you do not need a Discover Pass.   If you only purchase a day Sno-Park Permit, you must also have and post a Discover Pass.

Spot forecast links for key locations in our backcountry plus satellite images, thanks to ski patroller Gene Glasanow:

Our trails await with some fantastic spring skiing conditions -- we hope you can join us soon for some backcountry adventures and fun! Be sure to carry chains for our steep mountain roads, and be prepared to use them.   And don't forget the required Sno-Park permit (and if you only have a Day Sno-Park permit you will also need a Discover Pass).  See you on the trails.


Full Size M3 MountainCam Images - recorded earlier

Mt Rainier, ~2000' to 14,410'



Upper Camp Muir Snowfield, ~8000' to ~11,000'



High Hut's Deck with a view of Bear Basin and the Anderson Lake Trail



Trail approaching High Hut



Snow Depth just South of High Hut
(if you can't see a number, there is more than 9 ft of snow!)



Thermometer on High Hut's Deck
(morning sunlight causes high readings)



Mt. St. Helens



High Rock Lookout