December 14, 2002, Heather Pass/Rainy Pass
12/14/02
WA Cascades East Slopes North
2857
3
after careful consideration and looking at loads of weather data, we decided the only place where it most likely won't rain was, ironically, rainy pass. got there and were rewarded with beautiful 28 degrees weather, couple of inches of fresh fluffy snow, and more coming down from the sky. and no one there but us. peaceful winter wonderland.
mightily pleased with ourselves, we pushed on to lake ann, the excitement of turns in fresh snow building up...only to notice cracks shooting for feet as we were traversing in the forest, whumping noises, fresh slides on anything steeper than 30 degrees, the works... the top couple of inches of snow were not bonded at all to what was below, although there was no obvious layer separating them.
we turned back at lake ann, after just a couple of turns, as the terrain got steeper and more exposed.
as we were cleaning the fresh snow from the car and wondering how come the hwy 20 was not plowed, we noticed a message in a ziplock bag: 'pass is now closed, head west, we are locking the gate at 5pm. will come back tomorrow, good luck' signed 'state patrol'. lucky thing because of the avy conditions we turned back early! talked to the ranger on the way back, they were closing the road because couple of avalanches had rolled over it.
mightily pleased with ourselves, we pushed on to lake ann, the excitement of turns in fresh snow building up...only to notice cracks shooting for feet as we were traversing in the forest, whumping noises, fresh slides on anything steeper than 30 degrees, the works... the top couple of inches of snow were not bonded at all to what was below, although there was no obvious layer separating them.
we turned back at lake ann, after just a couple of turns, as the terrain got steeper and more exposed.
as we were cleaning the fresh snow from the car and wondering how come the hwy 20 was not plowed, we noticed a message in a ziplock bag: 'pass is now closed, head west, we are locking the gate at 5pm. will come back tomorrow, good luck' signed 'state patrol'. lucky thing because of the avy conditions we turned back early! talked to the ranger on the way back, they were closing the road because couple of avalanches had rolled over it.
Thanks for the report on your near-epic trip. From the State Patrol's note, it sounds like you wouldn't have been the first to spend an unplanned night on the wrong side of the gate? At least they were willing to check for survivors the next day!
That is funny. I had friends with a very similar experience at the blue lake trailhead.
That is funny. I had friends with a very similar experience at the blue lake trailhead.
That was us at the Blue Lake trailhead. Breaking trail in flat old growth we heard tons of whomping as our weight caused the snowpack to settle. Nearly instantanously, trees almost buried but not quite would spring up as the inch of settling was enough to free them, sometimes 30ft from where we were standing. Trailbreaking was extremely difficult and we called it an early day. Too much of a good thing I suppose. All this is probably irrelevant as I suspect the highway will stay closed until spring.
Driving past your car Ema, we wondered how you were doing and hoped things were safe. Glad to hear they were.
Reply to this TR
Please login first: