Heliotrope Ridge Time Estimate

Working on tour plans for this weekend. Thoughts on whether two experienced, fit enough folks could get in a worthwhile tour on Heliotrope Ridge in 6 hours, car to car?

While I am at it, might as well mention that I'd be stoked to meet up with anyone in the Bellingham area looking to tour. I'm not new to the Northwest, but this is going to be my first season in Bellingham. Since graduating from UPS in T-town, I've spent a season bumming in Nelson BC, worked outdoor ed jobs in the summer and now I'm back in school at Western. Been touring for 6 some odd years (more if you count skinning up the single chair at Mad River with Alpine Trekkers) and I have my Avy II.

Some TRs that should be pretty representative of my style of touring:

www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboardi...32.msg38494#msg38494

www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboardi...44.msg38862#msg38862

www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboardi...62.msg37742#msg37742

www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboardi...34.msg34176#msg34176

Cheers.

Maybe a week, if we're lucky. Depends on what you call "worthwhile" I guess.

By worthwhile I mean at least one decent (at least 500vf) run. I guess I should be more specific: How long is the approach to continuos snow? To peak 7242? Col below Colfax?

How long is the approach to continuos snow?

Last Sunday our crew left the trail head at 9:20. We were about 500vf up Heliotrope's "snow" by 12:40. After removing our skis, it was a two hour trip back to the car. I don't think that we doodled, but we (me, in particular) certainly wouldn't be described as fitness freaks. I think that you would be cutting it mighty close if you wished to achieve your goal in 6 hours.

Keep in mind that the lower snow level on Heliotrope is a lot higher than it has ever been before in the last, say 10,000 years.    :-[   Which adds to the time on foot, rather than skis.  On 10-18 I started my stopwatch a little past the trail register and checked it when we got back to the car.  It still says 7 hours and 32 seconds.  I would say there was minimal screwing around and we never backtracked on our way up thanks to Travertine's excellent route finding.  Climberdave and I ended up on a beeline for the car once we got back to the trail proper.  I see that you are in top physical shape, and if you are only looking to go to the top once and get one run in, it might be possible in 6 hours.  But I agree with Telemon, 6 hours would be cutting it close with the conditions that have been up there lately.  Maybe, plan to have 7 and see if you can do it in 6.

Dan the man,  car to summit to car in a little over 7 hours... with a hangover.

www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboardi...ex.php?topic=10689.0