February 5, 2005, Kendall Knob and Lakes
2/5/05
WA Snoqualmie Pass
5637
7
Erik S. and I started at Exit 53 and broke a skin track to the main Kendall clearcut knob. Got a beautiful run in 8" of lee slope powder, on the east side of the clearcut for 800 vertical feet. Then we skinned up into the lakes basin to find really nice deep and light powder tree runs around the top two lakes. I made a mistake of traversing high and west around the middle lake (thought there were only two lakes) into steep open slopes that were getting rapidly sun warmed. Only tree and cliff point releases above us, but we descended a tree run to the middle lake to be safe. Next time I'll follow the map more closely. I then went onto the highest lake to view the route to the ridgecrest. Great turns on a tree run back to Erik at the second lake.
By the time we got back to the clearcut a lot of people had skied the east slope of the knob.
The final 500 vertical was usual 4" of wet snow on a breakable crust back to the parking. Great day for south/east facing type stuff though all in all, considering the wind slab potential from last night.
By the time we got back to the clearcut a lot of people had skied the east slope of the knob.
The final 500 vertical was usual 4" of wet snow on a breakable crust back to the parking. Great day for south/east facing type stuff though all in all, considering the wind slab potential from last night.
Thanks for the report John,
I sure wish my gimpy old legs would have had the strength to go with you today. All this new snow of late is taking its toll on me. :)
I sure wish my gimpy old legs would have had the strength to go with you today. All this new snow of late is taking its toll on me. :)
High, open west facing slopes were very hard, lower down glades were soft (even west facing), tree skiing was best, but later in the day snow was melting off the large old growth trees on south slopes, so could make tree skiing less pleasant tomorrow. Maybe north and northeast slopes will remain powdery and dry.
Great windless blue sky weather this afternoon, with good powder skiing on well chosen aspects.
Great windless blue sky weather this afternoon, with good powder skiing on well chosen aspects.
Late-posted video here
Nice vid Jim!
Oh but for some soft snow!
Oh but for some soft snow!
Yeah, but you did a darned good job of taking advantage of the lack thereof...
Thanks for the report about the Kendall Knob area.
I have been wanting to ride up there. What is the best trail to take to get to the Kendall Knob area. One guide book I have read suggested approaching from the Common Wealth Campground road and another said to go up from the exit 53 area by climbing up through some of the private cabins in that area.
I was wondering if I could get a few deatails of where to park and where the trail is located.
Thanks.
I have been wanting to ride up there. What is the best trail to take to get to the Kendall Knob area. One guide book I have read suggested approaching from the Common Wealth Campground road and another said to go up from the exit 53 area by climbing up through some of the private cabins in that area.
I was wondering if I could get a few deatails of where to park and where the trail is located.
Thanks.
Depends on where exactly you want to tour (not to be a wise guy). exit 53 gives you a pretty direct line up to the clearcut climb to the high open knob across from Summit West. If you want to do a loop over the ridge and down into Commonwealth Basin (there are some cliffs to navigate around as you drop into the basin, by the way), the other approach makes some sense. Or you can park by the porta-potties off exit 54 and ski a road up toward the Kendall Lakes. The first two options don't really have trails that I'm aware of though you have a fair chance of seeing ski and snowshoe tracks going in various directions, especially from exits 53 and 54. It's not exactly difficult navigation, but it's not just following a trail either. If you're on a snowboard, you probably want exit 53 for a relatively direct climb/descent w/o a lot of flat-ish travel. Enjoy the higway noise.
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