January 7, 2012, Snoqualmie Pass backcountry
1/7/12
WA Snoqualmie Pass
2574
6
Lift skiing Thursday night at West gave us hope that today might be good in the high country. Sadly we found variable conditions on SW, N, NE, and E slopes above 4300'. Finally we found good 4-6" settled snow on S and SE slopes that wiser folks had found long before us. Good mental and physical exercise. Many others were out there having fun with various modes of self propulsion. No wind nor precipitation to speak of.
Down the road a bit, we also had a blast on south facing open slopes above 4K where the new snow was as you describe, and the crust beneath quite carvable with some soft snow beneath. Moderate pitch woods above 5K were pretty fun too, especially where we were able to time turns in the drifts.
One thread is better than two:
Susan, Gerhard, and I took a peek into the Crooked. Aspirations among the three of us included exploration, pow, and exercise. All were had, some more than others.
On the up, met several friends out and about on the mountain. Above treeline, wind had swept away the pow in places and left it in hollows. The midweek rain crust hid beneath 0-6" of new. Where bare, the crust was mostly supportable on skis, and varied from firm to eggshell with boots. Crust/new bond was reasonably good almost everywhere. One experienced party turned around above the phantom with an easy shear at the crust in a windloaded hollow; we got a test slope to shift there, but it was about the slabbiest thing we saw all day. Only loose sluffs for us in the Crooked. Best skiing snow seemed to be in the lee of NW wind, and perhaps out of the sun.
Summit deliberation led to booting steep crust down into the Crooked, 6" pow turns in the upper bowl, firm scratchy turns below. Various hijinks ensued. The only one of us to reach the choke reported knee deep fluff over ice, and was unable to see if the final roll would go. Made good time climbing out. Phantom/trees skied rather well; waterfall bypass has excellent coverage for January, but very firm.
Two whippets for three people seemed not nearly enough on the firm crust. A rope may not go amiss at the moment at the choke. Adventure and home in time for dinner -- thank you Snoqualmie!
Susan, Gerhard, and I took a peek into the Crooked. Aspirations among the three of us included exploration, pow, and exercise. All were had, some more than others.
On the up, met several friends out and about on the mountain. Above treeline, wind had swept away the pow in places and left it in hollows. The midweek rain crust hid beneath 0-6" of new. Where bare, the crust was mostly supportable on skis, and varied from firm to eggshell with boots. Crust/new bond was reasonably good almost everywhere. One experienced party turned around above the phantom with an easy shear at the crust in a windloaded hollow; we got a test slope to shift there, but it was about the slabbiest thing we saw all day. Only loose sluffs for us in the Crooked. Best skiing snow seemed to be in the lee of NW wind, and perhaps out of the sun.
Summit deliberation led to booting steep crust down into the Crooked, 6" pow turns in the upper bowl, firm scratchy turns below. Various hijinks ensued. The only one of us to reach the choke reported knee deep fluff over ice, and was unable to see if the final roll would go. Made good time climbing out. Phantom/trees skied rather well; waterfall bypass has excellent coverage for January, but very firm.
Two whippets for three people seemed not nearly enough on the firm crust. A rope may not go amiss at the moment at the choke. Adventure and home in time for dinner -- thank you Snoqualmie!
author=Charlie Hagedorn link=topic=23086.msg98152#msg98152 date=1326005486]
and was unable to see if the final roll would go.
Yeah, it was a real pu-pu platter of snow conditions out there yesterday for sure. We skied the slot, which was interesting getting into, but was pretty soft after the dogleg to the left. The bottom of the crooked looked like it could use about 10 feet of snow. I'm pretty sure it was just rock and a frozen waterfall.
We did the phantom the 7th. Good/mixed conditions; 6" of new snow on top of firm snow, with some spots of exposed crust away from trees. Getting around waterfall at bottom pretty iced up and scraped off.
JPH- Thanks again for setting the skin track.
Mike- Thanks for a fun day.
Mike- Thanks for a fun day.
We were up there as well and got the first runs down the Slot. the entry was really icy but the main chute skied really well, nice blown in powder. Tons of sluff but the snow was stable.
Charlie, glad to hear you made it to the crooked and out. when we saw the exit it looked a little dicey.
Charlie, glad to hear you made it to the crooked and out. when we saw the exit it looked a little dicey.
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