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Safe tour this weekend?

  • telemack
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17 years 1 month ago #184835 by telemack
Replied by telemack on topic Re: Safe tour this weekend?
There will be a number of options at Paradise this weekend, but you'll need to stay on low-angle terrain and choose your route carefully.  Alta Vista, Glacier Vista, Devil's Dip, etc.  But you'll have the usual high-snow volume dilemma:  it may be hard to get enough speed for turns on a slope that is under 30 deg.

Check the NWAC avy Friday; as of this AM they have not forecasted for the weekend yet.

Also check the "Avvy warning" in the Random Tracks page.

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  • Randito
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17 years 1 month ago #184838 by Randito
Replied by Randito on topic Re: Safe tour this weekend?

Can someone recommend some avalanche safe tours perhaps?


Given the depth of snow that has fallen -- my personal opinion is that "anything steep enough to ski is steep enough to slide".     

But if your idea of a "tour" is simply to get out and enjoy the snow and the forest and you don't need to make turns to make it worthwhile -- here are a couple of suggestions:

o The old "Nordic Pass" backcountry route from Hyak  www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/wa/hyak/179442912481

o The Amabalis Mtn tour -- except avoid venturing on the southern part of the summit loop -- stick to the main road.  www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/wa/hyak/718054938683

o Hex Mtn near Salmon Le Sac -- but forego the actual summit and stick strictly to the ridgeline on the upper portion of the tour -- I wouldn't attempt to ski the clearcuts on either side of the ridge.    www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/wa/cle-elum/742416582460  

I expect trail breaking with will be a lot of work.  Personally I'm going to either lift ski or ski groomed XC trails until the snow pack settles -- for both safety and enjoyment reasons.

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  • CookieMonster
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17 years 1 month ago #184839 by CookieMonster
Replied by CookieMonster on topic Re: Safe tour this weekend?
You could also go to Crystal Mountain and tour in Silver Basin. Not 100% safe but the slopes there are usually avalanche controlled ( unless southback is closed ). I always carry the appropriate hardware because Silver Basin is big terrain.

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  • prestonf
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17 years 1 month ago #184841 by prestonf
Replied by prestonf on topic Re: Safe tour this weekend?
If you have to ask...

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  • Robie
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17 years 1 month ago #184842 by Robie
Replied by Robie on topic Re: Safe tour this weekend?
Re silver basin touring . North aspects  of Silver basin are not ever avy controled. Someone might correct me here but I believe no patrol work is done beyond 3 way peak. Another good thing to do is check in with Crystal Ski patrol Doesn't take long and just might improve your tour. They are very helpful. Will let you know if they are doing any control work. Sign in and get thier number so you can sign back out over the phone.
My guess is today they are discouraging anyone from Backcountry touring. We just came back from Greenwater and hwy 410 was shut down eastbound at Mud mountian damn road. Major tree downage up 410 and was still happening when we left  Crystal mountain blvd. at 9am.We bailed! Best bet today is take in a movie or sharpen gear.

In general beyond today

If the road is open to Paradise -There are some very safe trips up there. Devil's dip was mentioned, Edith Basin ,Alta vista , MAzama ridge etc. One has to make good terrain choices here as well .

Oh yes The Hogback area at White pass. Buy a one way ride and tour out to the ridge,ski gentle north faces and back to the lodge. We are losing this tour to lift expansion next year.

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  • Gary Vogt
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17 years 1 month ago #184843 by Gary Vogt
Replied by Gary Vogt on topic Re: Safe tour this weekend?


If the road is open to Paradise -There are some very safe trips up there. Devil's dip was mentioned, Edith Basin ,Alta vista , MAzama ridge etc. One has to make good terrain choices here as well .


Robie's suggestion of the glades north of Hogback at White Pass is a pretty safe one, but probably more than two hours from Seattle & too flat to turn in deep or heavy snow.  At Paradise years ago, a ranger was partially buried at Devil's Dip  It's not unknown for the east side of Alta Vista to go bigtime into Edith Ck basin, even across the Valley Road far below, which I personally would avoid this weekend.  Then there's the ongoing 'Waitgate' scandal at Longmire:
[img]http://PASTEimageURLhere[/img] picasaweb.google.com/vogtski/SKIING#5286442565100166706

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