Feb 5, 2012, Mt. Shuksan, summit via White Slamon

Hoped to attempt a steeper line on Mt. Shuksan's north side but heard discouraging conditions reports from some friends. So we turned instead to that old favorite fish - the White Salmon. Watched another group ascend the BYS couloir to North Face during our ascent out of the creek. Arrived at the summit pyramid smoothly where, due to deplorable refrozen/tracked/runneled snow, we left the skis and continued climbing.

We followed the old boot track up the gully which led R at the top before dead-ending in a dangerous rime and ice gully, stopping some 20' short of the summit. We took a different line and stood on top for a few minutes - Wil's first summit, my second - before beginning the tiring downclimb. During this time we saw another group of two arrive on skis from the Sulfide route and begin their descent from the base of the summit pyramid.

Finally got out of the gully and clicked into skis as the sunset colors were peaking, and donned headlamps as we wrapped back onto the Upper Curits. Looked like a lovely evening in Vancouver, BC. The descent of the WS by headlamp and cloud-filtered moonlight was utterly astounding. From the ridge, down the rolls in the glacier, the forested knob, even the old avalanche debris in the creek - everything was blanketed in consistently soft and creamy boot-top powder. "Epic."

Expected profanity and frustration on the exit skinner followed, and then we had to enlist a Baker emoployee's help to unlock the gate to get our car out of the White Salmon parking lot. We were apparently the fourth such victim so far that night - be warned it is locked at 6pm!