April 23, 2006, Granite West
4/23/06
WA Snoqualmie Pass
2900
3
This is a straightforward trip following the directions in the Volken book. Glad I got an early start. There was a supporting crust, for the most part, in the cold morning wind. Mild to moderate breakthroughs slowed climbing the upper part. The first run from the top was wonderful in gentle glades and rolls, with the snow supportive and untouched. For the second run, I retraced my steps and climbed to a point about 300 vf from the top, then dropped back. Nice. For the third, I joined John and Darryl for some of their climb back up to Granite Real. By the time the I went down, the lower part of the descent on the Granite West run was breakable crust: nasty. The rest of the return was predictable. (Upper) Tuscohatchie Lake looked totally wintery and was surrounded by slides on the sides I could see.
Which aspect(s) did you ski, dkoelle? Thanks for a Snoq Pass area report as I am looking for something to do tomorrow.
John
John
I found good snow on mainly SW facing slopes, especially first run about 10:30. I think that is because they were less baked. On the second run, maybe 11:30, near the top of Granite West, the SE facing slopes that face "in" to the ultraviolet reflector oven of the W face/bowl of Granite Real were already too soft. Anything that had caught longer morning sun was not good, so I turned SW. I would mention that the supporting morning crust overlay several to many inches of lower density, airy small-grained snow (not corn). I stuck to maturing snowshoe tracks on the initial ascent in a conservative line from tree patch to tree patch to attain the summit area. Even this required a final, open slope that was broken up by a few rock piles and had a mini-ridge down the center. There should be some skin tracks from the afternoon that sought out the cool of the trees, in the upper Granite/Granite West junctional zone. There were definitely some bowls I stayed out of. The cornices at the ridge were N-overhanging.
Thanks much, I was considering the west side down to Ollalie Lake but I may just head up the Cle Elum valley instead. It got quite warm today!
Thanks Again,
John
Thanks Again,
John
Reply to this TR
Please login first: