A very windy Mt. Baker backcountry day.
3/15/11
WA Cascades West Slopes North (Mt Baker)
2072
3
Myself, Travertine9 and Ben all where anticipating a windy day up in the Swift Creek drainage. When we arrived at the upper parking lot at the ski area we where greeted by winds that were blowing so hard that it would knock you off your feet if you where not ready. The forecast was for 11-20 mph winds with gusts up to 33 mph, that forcast was already blown out the window. (This mornings check of the NWAC recording station of yesterdays data at MT. Baker, located on top of the ski patrol hut above chair one, showed a MAX wind speed for 10 am of 116 and 11 am at 110.) We decided to drive down to the lower lodge and see what we could find north of the ski area off the Chair 8 access road. Travertine9 figured this would be somewhat sheltered from the wind and the avi dangers should be somewhat lower. Personnally I was very cautious and my AVI danger radar was on high alert. Friends let me tell you there is a great gladed area just off the area a very short distance from the Chair 8 lift station that I have passed by for years. After a little exploring of a couple different gladed areas and digging a pit. (The block test showed fairly stable conditions) We yo-yoed one of the stashes hidden in the trees for a few hours. My fatty powder skis where the perfect choice for the day. What started out as very poor outing was salvaged by Travertine9 having the idea to explore the slackcountry. ;D
Technically I would not call it slackcountry since we rode no lifts, we were just kind of near them, just over the rope. But as 8 was not running anyway, and when we came back in bounds we found the whole place deserted; they must have shut down the ski area way early.
It was evil out; we were lucky to salvage the day by finding somewhere that was somewhat out of the wind and just high enough to be above the rain.
Thanks Don for the impetus to bail from work and get outside, regardless the conditions.
It was evil out; we were lucky to salvage the day by finding somewhere that was somewhat out of the wind and just high enough to be above the rain.
Thanks Don for the impetus to bail from work and get outside, regardless the conditions.
I've always wondered what the rules where for defining "slackcountry". Oh well it is still a day on the ski's. Lifts or not.
If you ride lifts, it doesn't count as skiing...
... but maybe perhaps a gravity ASSisted variant!
... but maybe perhaps a gravity ASSisted variant!
Reply to this TR
Please login first: