April 22, 2004, Little Navaho Pk, Navaho Peak
4/22/04
WA Cascades East Slopes Central
2328
2
Here's the access info: hike the Stafford Creek Trail about 3 miles to 4000 feet. Then ski the trail to 4800 feet at the point where the stream draining the saddle between the two mountains crosses the trail. Here you have choices. Erik S. and I booted up 200 vertical of scree to solid snow at 5000 feet and skinned up to the saddle. Then we ascended the short north spur of Little Navaho (6400 ft), meeting Larry R. at the top. Larry camped the night before and had already done two runs off the sun warmed east side.
Erik and I skied a nice 1000 ft. vertical run off the northeast spur down to 5400 feet in Negro Creek. We then donned skins and went up the head of Negro Creek to Navaho Peak, beautiful subalpine country. We descended the big south blaze to 5100 feet, just shy of the creek valley where we had to boot pack back down to the trail at 4800 feet. We met back up with Larry and retraced our steps out. Snow above 5000 feet on all but dead south exposures probably has a couple more weeks left of worthwhile skiing. We managed about 3000 vertical of turns and a bit of fun trail skiing.
Erik and I skied a nice 1000 ft. vertical run off the northeast spur down to 5400 feet in Negro Creek. We then donned skins and went up the head of Negro Creek to Navaho Peak, beautiful subalpine country. We descended the big south blaze to 5100 feet, just shy of the creek valley where we had to boot pack back down to the trail at 4800 feet. We met back up with Larry and retraced our steps out. Snow above 5000 feet on all but dead south exposures probably has a couple more weeks left of worthwhile skiing. We managed about 3000 vertical of turns and a bit of fun trail skiing.
Forgot to mention: on all exposures, except north facing, the skiing was quite good all day on firm corn with 1 to 2 inches of wet new in shady spots. A trap crust over 4" to 6" of dense powdery snow was what we found on north exposure above 6000 feet.
What a great trip! The best way for me to keep up with John & co. is to leave a day early. :-)
Of the three runs I did off the east face of Little Navaho, the first one at 8:30 am was the best. Silky smooth snow, just beginning to thaw; very fast. The terrain is delightful. It's rolling with a number of nice breakovers, clumps of trees with open paths between, and great scenery. The west facing run from the saddle back to the trail was likewise just thawing and very fast when I skied back to camp about 1:00. This run is very much like Iceberg at Crystal Mtn, except that it is 1000 v.f., and there are no bumps! It's heaven.
Larry
Of the three runs I did off the east face of Little Navaho, the first one at 8:30 am was the best. Silky smooth snow, just beginning to thaw; very fast. The terrain is delightful. It's rolling with a number of nice breakovers, clumps of trees with open paths between, and great scenery. The west facing run from the saddle back to the trail was likewise just thawing and very fast when I skied back to camp about 1:00. This run is very much like Iceberg at Crystal Mtn, except that it is 1000 v.f., and there are no bumps! It's heaven.
Larry
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