July 15, 2006, - Another snowdome trip report...

This is my first post to the board, but hopefully only the first of many to come.  My skiing partner, John, was moving away to California a couple of weeks ago, and we decided it would be a fitting send off to make a few runs on Snow Dome.  Our skiing season was peppered with injuries (one broken leg, and one torn rotator cuff)... so it was late in the season before we were able to get our final turns in.

The four of us arrived at Cloud Cap on Friday night, and had a big dinner of steaks, ribs and baked potatoes... along with a beer or three.  Following a wonderful restful sleep, we got a late start up the mountain around 8am... well behind the other climbers.  We climbed the Cooper Spur side of the route, before crossing over what I believe to be Elliot Glacier... then heading up Snow Dome to around 9500'.  There was a wonderful butterfly migration going on near our high point, and we were in a constant storm of beautiful orange butterflies during our whole lunch break.

Descending started around 11am... and the snow was just the right softness for some great turns... my three buddies being on split boards... with myself being the last holdout on randonee gear.  Got back to the truck around 2pm... before a nice beer break, more steaks... and a great night's sleep under the stars!  Picutres can be seen here:

http://sugar23.com/gallery/v/Snow+Dome/


For those that are interested, there are also some pictures of an Orizaba trip to Mexico in March:

http://sugar23.com/gallery/v/orizaba/