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May 15-16, 2009 Timberline
- Zap
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16 years 9 months ago - 16 years 9 months ago #215005
by Zap
May 15-16, 2009 Timberline was created by Zap
We awoke on the 14th in the Mt. Bachelor parking lot to fog, wind and drizzle – no way were we skiing even with a free pass. So we trundled down to Bend for a bike ride in the sun, and then headed for Timberline. When we arrived in the Timberline parking lot that evening it was cold and windy, but the skies were clearing. The mountain had a firm coating and the Palmer lift chairs were all in the stable. It was amazing that the snow pack looked about the same as when we skied here a month ago. We awoke Friday morning to bluebird skies and sunshine and no wind. The lifts started rolling at 9am and we skied the groomers on Stormin’ Norman until the Magic Mile quad terrain appeared to soften. The groomers along the Magic Mile were creamy. Any ungroomed terrain had a shiny/glassy look which we knew would soften. About 10:30 we tried the oven-warmed, off piste terrain and it was perfect – Jill and I cycled the untracked “firnspiegel” under the Magic Mile chair. The icy crystals just crinkled and sheared as we cut figure 8 turns. You could hear the crinkle of the surface behind you as you ripped down the slope. What a great feeling.
Finally they loaded the chairs onto the Palmer lift, and it was a repeat of the experience of the Magic Mile “firnspiegel”. By 1pm things were getting sloppy, and we returned to the campervan to cold bottles of “hops”. As the afternoon and evening passed, the climbers arrived and crawled into their vehicles for an early morning start.
On Saturday, the 16th, it was another bluebird, sunny morning and was even warmer than yesterday. Today, we pulled out the backcountry gear with plans to cycle the lifts and eventually skin up to Illumination Rock. The crowds arrived early, but there was never more than one person ahead of us in the lift line. We cruised Stormin’ Norman first with the young boarders. Then we started working the groomers off the Magic Mile. The race camps were setting up their gates, so we cruised their slopes which were perfectly groomed and “salted” until they started using them. The Palmer lift started loading at 9am and the groomers became slushy by 11am. From the top of the Palmer lift at 8500’ we traversed towards Illumination Rock. I stopped below it and was preparing to skin up the 800vf when Jill suggested that we not waste time skinning but just ski down the 1500vf of perfectly untracked sun-softened “firnspiegel” and then cycle back via the chair. A brief calculation revealed that we could cycle the perfectly creamy corn 3 times in the amount of time required to skin up to Illumination Rock. I love skiing with smart women – we cycled the corn versus skinning up. It was deserted out there as we descended and barked and yelped. You just need to keep veering skier left so you don’t get sucked down the Zig Zag Glacier. It was sooooooo enjoyable and easily accessible. We stopped for a peaceful and relaxing lunch looking down the Zig Zag. What a great way to end our month long ski trip through Oregon and California.
Photo 1- Coverage at Timberline
Photo 2 - A deep snow pack as seen at the top of Palmer lift
Photo 3 - Smooth corn field below Illumination Rock
Finally they loaded the chairs onto the Palmer lift, and it was a repeat of the experience of the Magic Mile “firnspiegel”. By 1pm things were getting sloppy, and we returned to the campervan to cold bottles of “hops”. As the afternoon and evening passed, the climbers arrived and crawled into their vehicles for an early morning start.
On Saturday, the 16th, it was another bluebird, sunny morning and was even warmer than yesterday. Today, we pulled out the backcountry gear with plans to cycle the lifts and eventually skin up to Illumination Rock. The crowds arrived early, but there was never more than one person ahead of us in the lift line. We cruised Stormin’ Norman first with the young boarders. Then we started working the groomers off the Magic Mile. The race camps were setting up their gates, so we cruised their slopes which were perfectly groomed and “salted” until they started using them. The Palmer lift started loading at 9am and the groomers became slushy by 11am. From the top of the Palmer lift at 8500’ we traversed towards Illumination Rock. I stopped below it and was preparing to skin up the 800vf when Jill suggested that we not waste time skinning but just ski down the 1500vf of perfectly untracked sun-softened “firnspiegel” and then cycle back via the chair. A brief calculation revealed that we could cycle the perfectly creamy corn 3 times in the amount of time required to skin up to Illumination Rock. I love skiing with smart women – we cycled the corn versus skinning up. It was deserted out there as we descended and barked and yelped. You just need to keep veering skier left so you don’t get sucked down the Zig Zag Glacier. It was sooooooo enjoyable and easily accessible. We stopped for a peaceful and relaxing lunch looking down the Zig Zag. What a great way to end our month long ski trip through Oregon and California.
Photo 1- Coverage at Timberline
Photo 2 - A deep snow pack as seen at the top of Palmer lift
Photo 3 - Smooth corn field below Illumination Rock
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