Trip report count

So not to start a full blown argument here but it seems that the TAY trip reports here are becoming slightly more biased towards lift served riding/skiing.  Much as I love to read these it is the backcountry trips that make the best photos/info/stoke factor.  Is it because BC touring in Washington is becoming more "surf spot localesque" and folk don't want to divulge where their secret stashes are?  Every time I go out and find some tracks there is hardly ever anyone on this forum that writes a report on having been there.

I remember a lovely day on Crystal corn mid Jan last year and upon reaching Crown point, 3 skiers (all on this forum) asked if I had read thier trip report from the previous day as fuel to go to Crystal.  No was the answer but words were muttered about never writing a report ever again and I do believe I can't find another by the author!  Sharing is caring children but with all the people these days maybe we all want a piece of the BC pie to ourselves.

Year over year TRs:

2009        2010
Jan 119    Jan 109
Feb 138   Feb 139
Mar 124   Mar 112

I think it's just confirmation bias, looking at the numbers.  It's also been, from my perspective, an odd year for skiing, given the snow we've had (though I've had a lot more commitments than prior years as well).

That said, I'm all for encouraging folks to keep writing the TRs and sharing the stories.  That's why the site exists, at its root.

Twice I've been asked how I found out about an area, and each time I was asked to "keep quiet". Is a secret stash a place akin to the location where one would manufacture moonshine? You know what would be great? People should publish their secret stashes.

My Secret Stashes:

Crystal Lakes Basin
North Side Yodelin
Jim Hill Mountain
North Side of Chair Peak
Lundin Peak
Mt. Snoqualmie

I have had incredible powder days at all these locations, and most are easily accessible with 2-3 hours of touring. Henceforth it is my fondest wish that all TAYers come trample the powder, because god knows, the north side of Chair Peak only has enough snow for two people per day.

Hope I don't get killed!

I mostly just quit reporting out of respect for peoples clicky time. I really don't give it enough effort to make it worth reading. Besides, how many trip reports from heather ridge can one read?

Keep 'em coming, John! The conditions reports alone are worth it, IMO.

The only time I write a trip report is when it contains some useful information or it is an interesting route. Sharing with everyone with everyone that I skied the Slot for the third this season while offering no new information to offer seems pointless. There are a lot of people who ski tour in the PNW and I am will to bet more then 1/2 of them have never use this site. It would be interesting to see how many registered users have posted more than one TR.

Many people see writing TR’s as chest beating and that may be true in some cases. Other may feel that their tour up Commonwealth Basin is not worthy of a TR because someone else that day posted a trip where they spent 3 days touring through a blizzard to summit an unclimbed peak and skied a 5k ft 58 degree couloir and got it all on HD video that was linked to their web site that showed all the other incredible trips they had been on.

I like reading trip reports and hope to see many more of them as the season continues.