June 15, 2003, Silver Peak
6/15/03
WA Snoqualmie Pass
2125
0
This report for Father's Day was written by my good friend, Dave Metallo. It was a short, but sweet (Cream Corn, that is!) tour, with bluebird skies. The snow's goin' away quick, though!!!...Greg
Yesterday's Fourth Annual Father's Day Corn Festival was a hit !! The corn I speak of is the white, spherical frozen type that is indicative of the late spring ski season. This particular batch of beautiful kernels was located on the north facing aspects of Silver Peak, which overlooks I-90 (some distance away) on the western side of Mt Hyak. After a "drive" up some intense old logging road (could be in the land rover commercial) we took my truck to the end of the line. A short hike through some low scrub country lead to the precious corn commodity. The time was about 6 am and the clear sun rise gave a spectacular opening to the festival. My 2 ski buddies and I had the festival grounds all to ourselves as we climbed through the lower, but rather steep, wooded bottom slopes which guard the entrance to the upper corn fields. This was complete with a 6 foot valley break area / water fall which provided some nice hucking on the way down. Once in the upper bowl the festival was in full glorious swing ! The kernels were ripe and we knew what we had to do. So we decided that the central couloirs (steep tight shoot) extending down from Silver Peak's east ridge would be a the tastiest treat this year's fes' had to offer. So onwards and upwards we went into the 45 / 50 degree couloirs to a point where, for the lack of crampons and ice axe we called it good (hey only about 40' from the very tip top !!). Well the corn was a fly'in as my comrade's and I took full advantage of the sun ripened splendor !! No actual pictures of me as I had the camera, but the really sweet carve lines in the snow of the upper bowl and coulior photo's - well let's just say they were the tracks of the only hydrogeologist on the trip !! My one friend Bruce gets automatic extra credit as he was on a telemark set-up. The way down was shear delight. The coulior, the upper bowl and the valley transition, complete with a nice water fall jump were the crowning jewels. But the steep tree skiing on the way out was a nice treat as well. A short time later we were back at my truck and heading down the Snoqualmie-Burma road, feeling quite good and we dispensed information about the trip to those less willing risk takers that were actually WALKING up the road !! A quick stop back in North Bend to check in with our buds at Pro Ski and Guiding Service to give them some info. Then it was back to Seattle with plenty of time to gear up for the next adventure of the day - Gil Meche pitching against Greg Maddox (what a game) - but that's a whole other story. Hope you had a great father's day !!
Dave Metallo, R. HG. , Project Manager
The Environmental Co., Inc.
425-453-4040 (office)
360-340-4239 (cell)
TECINC.com
Silver Peak 6-15-03.zip
Yesterday's Fourth Annual Father's Day Corn Festival was a hit !! The corn I speak of is the white, spherical frozen type that is indicative of the late spring ski season. This particular batch of beautiful kernels was located on the north facing aspects of Silver Peak, which overlooks I-90 (some distance away) on the western side of Mt Hyak. After a "drive" up some intense old logging road (could be in the land rover commercial) we took my truck to the end of the line. A short hike through some low scrub country lead to the precious corn commodity. The time was about 6 am and the clear sun rise gave a spectacular opening to the festival. My 2 ski buddies and I had the festival grounds all to ourselves as we climbed through the lower, but rather steep, wooded bottom slopes which guard the entrance to the upper corn fields. This was complete with a 6 foot valley break area / water fall which provided some nice hucking on the way down. Once in the upper bowl the festival was in full glorious swing ! The kernels were ripe and we knew what we had to do. So we decided that the central couloirs (steep tight shoot) extending down from Silver Peak's east ridge would be a the tastiest treat this year's fes' had to offer. So onwards and upwards we went into the 45 / 50 degree couloirs to a point where, for the lack of crampons and ice axe we called it good (hey only about 40' from the very tip top !!). Well the corn was a fly'in as my comrade's and I took full advantage of the sun ripened splendor !! No actual pictures of me as I had the camera, but the really sweet carve lines in the snow of the upper bowl and coulior photo's - well let's just say they were the tracks of the only hydrogeologist on the trip !! My one friend Bruce gets automatic extra credit as he was on a telemark set-up. The way down was shear delight. The coulior, the upper bowl and the valley transition, complete with a nice water fall jump were the crowning jewels. But the steep tree skiing on the way out was a nice treat as well. A short time later we were back at my truck and heading down the Snoqualmie-Burma road, feeling quite good and we dispensed information about the trip to those less willing risk takers that were actually WALKING up the road !! A quick stop back in North Bend to check in with our buds at Pro Ski and Guiding Service to give them some info. Then it was back to Seattle with plenty of time to gear up for the next adventure of the day - Gil Meche pitching against Greg Maddox (what a game) - but that's a whole other story. Hope you had a great father's day !!
Dave Metallo, R. HG. , Project Manager
The Environmental Co., Inc.
425-453-4040 (office)
360-340-4239 (cell)
TECINC.com
Silver Peak 6-15-03.zip
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