April 25, 2004, silver star, n. cascades highway

Big Daddy Chris, Physics Richard and I headed up to silver star last weekend. camped the night before at the campground about 4 miles to the east on the north side or Rt 20.  The road to the campground was nearly obscured by a fallen tree, but just enough room to get around.  We slept in a little later than planned and as a consequence didn't get hiking until about 8 am.  headed up the east side of the silver star creek drainage. post-holing frequently in the manky crud  of the lower forest.  Once we broke out of the trees, we skinned up, easily following the contour around to the west.  Rested for a snack beneath the big rock horns that lead up to the summit saddle and then continued skinning up the western gully.  (the east one is steep and shaded, not good snow).  gained the final bowl/gully and continued skinning up but the top 500 ft or so were pure powder. Turned out boot packing was easier so we did that up to the saddle where we enjoyed views and pb+j at about 2 pm. (note: being in better shape would have gotten us up faster but we are weak and infirmed)

had a fantastic ski down.  The first section was great pow, well bonded super stable.  the rest was perfect, smooth-as butter- corn, and even though we were late in the day, the north facing aspect allowed for continued great stability. We made the small mistake of taking the middle or more eastern gully down, which was steep, shaded with basically poorly consolidated snow.. not dangerous, because it was very shallow, and to the ground in spots, as most of it had already slid or rolled down the hill, which made for  bumpy ride out into the less steep, open plateau area.  The rest was pure fun, following our circle back around the west side of the multiple creek drainages, down to where they consolidate to the silver star creek and the trees thicken up.  Tried to keep our skis on as long as possible... there are a few hidden open areas for good turns down low - up the hill from the east side of the creek.  had to finally take them off and hike down the lower 500-1000 ft as the the forest-floor-crust and pine needle was too painful to ski.

weather: blue bird
skiing conditions: perfect: stable powder up top, followed by perfect corn.

what more could you ask for?