Feb.12, 2005, NCHighway, Lost Ski

Location:<br>Rainey Pass<br><br>I managed to lose my lime green Fischer Extreme with a dynafit binding on Saturday. We climbed and did a ski descent of Black Peak. After cramponing up to the pass above the lake, I did not check my pin holes. In the dark I took a slight hip check fall and the ski popped off of the front pins and was gone into the trees above the lake. I am going back on Saturday to look for it but if anyone sees it before then let me know.<br><br>Thanks,<br><br>Gregg

Sorry to hear the bad news, Gregg. When last seen the ski was headed for Wing Lake, or Lake Ann? If you stated unequivocably that the Heather and Maple area has lots of good skiing on all aspect and elevations I might be tempted to help search this weekend.<br><br>I've wondered about Black Peak. This was a daytrip? How low did you drop towards Woody Creek before climbing back over the divide? How was the skiing? (I'm not nearly so heartless as to ask, "How was the postholing?")<br><br>Mark<br><br>

The post holing was very inconsistent.  I had to make 10-15 steps on the surface before I would get a decent leg plunge up to my crotch.  &gt;<br><br>We dropped down to 4,500 ft. before we bailed on our traverse idea.  Isothermic snow with minimal coverage.  Someone mentioned bivy if we kept going with the wallow so we returned to GO.<br><br>Day trip....hmmmm......If you consider 14 hours out a day trip.  The skiing off of Black was really fun.  In a normal year it would be a great descent.  Fun scramble to the summit as well.  The snow the rest of the day was bullet proof ice or avy debris.  It was easier to put on the crampons and climb up rather than skin.  Mike discovered how great ski crampons are on the ascent to Black's south ridge.  (He didn't have them, the rest of us did).  Great day with Monica and Paul from Seattle.  Except for losing the ski it was a fun thrash.<br><br>Gregg

Gregg - It was great to ski with you and Mike.  I have some good pics I can send you if you drop me your email in a PM.  Sorry about your ski and hope you find it.  Maybe I'll find time to do a brief TR (would be entertaining). <br><br>Paul

Just curious, was the Wing Lake area covered in heli-ski tracks? We saw tons of heli-skier tracks in the basins below Easy Pass and Fisher Peak. Nice frozen ruts to ski over Also saw their orange landing stakes. Hopefully they remove them?

No sign of heli skiers at Wing lake, no ruts and no stakes.  I suppose they can ski on that side of the ridge.  The S side is in the Park.