Intermediate Snowshoe - Mazama Ridge (Mount Rainier)

A fine though windy trip. The destination was changed from Panorama Point to Mazama Ridge due to high winds, low visibility, and higher chance of wind slab accumulations above Paradise. Temperature was about 32F at Paradise parking lot. The wind was predicted to be 50+mph higher on the mountain, and I think that was accurate. There isn't a lot of snow accumulation, and we had to be careful to cross Edith Creek above the bridge, and other creeks carefully. Visibility started out ok (a half-mile or so), but dropped further and further the higher we climbed, ending up at about 6' viz and very flat light for a good share of the trip. The wind blew us over a couple or three times on Mazama Ridge. There was a crusty, hard layer that made for relative easy walking (except when we busted through). We made our way up from the parking lot, over to Edith Creek basin, and up onto the ridge. Blowing snow and ice was at our backs ascending, and no one wanted that in our faces on the way down, and it was painful to face into! Then, we traversed the ridge until reaching the 180-degree bend in the road, and found a good way down from the ridge to the road at that point. We felt a bit pressed for time, as the NPS advised that they were closing the road to Paradise at 3pm due to deteriorating conditions. Everyone on the trip loved it and had a great time. The technical requirements of the trip were easily met by all members of the party.