Gnarly Alpental area tracks: who skied that????

The prominent lower chute below Cave Ridge (skiers left looking down on main parking lot) is commonly called Kevorkians (or Bobs Ramp) and was first skied by Bob Hornbein, followed shortly by Donnelly Miller in 1997 I think. It has been skied on numerous occasions since then and is about 50 deg at the bulge when it has filled in.<br><br>Shot 8, directly above the Alpental lodge at the end of WAC Bluff is commonly skied most every year. I imagine mostly by patrollers since it marks the end of the WAC Bluff avalanche control route. I would not be surprised it Craig was the first to have skied this line. It is quite steep, measuring 52 deg up against the upper left wall and is in a permanently closed part of the ski area.<br><br>Shot 4 is the sort of skiable line skiers left of the prominent wall at the east end of the main Alpental cliff band. It has seen a number of descents over the years and been the source of quite a few ugly accidents as well. It is often in icy and bony shape due to regular avalanche control work directly above it. It is permanently closed.<br><br>There are lots of obscure billy-goat lines in the valley that have seen tracks over the years. The ones accessible by chair lift seeing the most use.<br><br>Twin Lakes Couloir is an excellent little chute that appears much steeper from Windy Pass than it really is as Phil notes. Bruce Jahnke and I skied here in 2004 but it certainly may have seen tracks before then. It is easily accessed from around the back of the ridge and the entrance is quite straightforward. The rocky bulge at the bottom is easily avoided by veering right about 500 ft above the creek - this is actually the natural draw of the chute. Cross logs at the lakes exit to regain the nordic trails.<br>

Thanks for the write-up JKordel. That's fun stuff. I've been wanting to ski Kevorkians. Maybe this year. <br><br>I know of people who've skied all of the other routes, but I haven't gotten out on any of them  &gt; <br><br>McClellens Butte is another great route, offering a nice, sustained line. I found powder there in '99. Good stuff. <br><br>You can see it on the drive to Alpental, just off of the freeway.   <br><br><br><br>

Kevorkians is also sometimes called the Rat Ramp. The tracks you saw were put there by two dumb friends of mine. Snowboarders both. The Twin Lakes chute is referred to locally as "The Zipper". Keep your eyes peeled for the resident mountain goat. I'm going to burn in hell...

thanks for all the posts!<br><br>So about Shot 4 (and of course I have no intention to ski it -- really -- way, way over my head ...it makes "Air Jordan" at Whistler look like a blue run ...)<br><br>Is there any public film footage of anyone skiing Shot 4?  I'd be really interested in seeing it done.<br><br>Also, I was recently told by an older Alpental employee that several years ago a lifty/snowboarder fell 300 feet descending shot 4.  Reportly when the patrol got to him he was trying to ride away with a broken hip so as not to lose his pass and his job.  Any truth to that story?  Or just a tall tale about a tall cliff?<br><br>thanks -- very interesting info so far!<br><br><br>

The thing and the deal about Shot 4 is it is subject to regular avy control so the good snow is cleaned down to a difficult crust or ice. Mostly. Theres ways around that of course but like you said, " way,way over my head." Go to the top and look down it to see if that changes your perception of its steepness. It was skied recently in a big snow year.<br>Edit: I just looked up to see that I'm repeating Jan. Information overload.

Keep your eyes peeled for the resident mountain goat.

<br><br>Haha... that's funny. I saw one up there a few summers ago during a scoping hike, walking around the cliffs at the top...<br>