March 19, 2006, Skyline Ridge
3/19/06
WA Stevens Pass
2773
3
Today we joined some friends of ours for their first set of self earned turns. The six of us (3 splitters, 2 on slowshoes, and 1 AT) left the lot around 9am and began ascending to the ridge top. The sun was out and the skies were blue...we greatly appreciated the slight breeze on the ascent. We made slow but steady progress to the ridge top and then ascended directly north of skyline lake.
We then stopped to bask in the sun and have some lunch. We proceeded to the north side of pt 5547 and dug a pit. We found the top 6-8" on unconsolidated snow would move with 4 wrist taps. We then found a second layer to move after 5 blows from the elbow.
Taking this into account we began to make our way down through fluffy, fluffy pow-pow. Yum! We then came across a great natural terrain feature (a boulder with a great landing and about a 3-8' drop) and did mini-laps in the sun protected clearing, launching ourselves from the boulder top.
Eventually the slope began to get some sun and once it had and trees began bombing we began to climb in an easterly direction to the ridge top qnd made our way down moonlight bowl to the PCT. This run ranged from slightly sun-baked to frozen sun crust to super pow (where the sun was unable to do its damage).
All in all a great day! My only complaint would be the traffic home....I despise that stop light in Sultan. Hwy 2 was backed up and not moving starting a few short miles past Index.
*zoom*
We then stopped to bask in the sun and have some lunch. We proceeded to the north side of pt 5547 and dug a pit. We found the top 6-8" on unconsolidated snow would move with 4 wrist taps. We then found a second layer to move after 5 blows from the elbow.
Taking this into account we began to make our way down through fluffy, fluffy pow-pow. Yum! We then came across a great natural terrain feature (a boulder with a great landing and about a 3-8' drop) and did mini-laps in the sun protected clearing, launching ourselves from the boulder top.
Eventually the slope began to get some sun and once it had and trees began bombing we began to climb in an easterly direction to the ridge top qnd made our way down moonlight bowl to the PCT. This run ranged from slightly sun-baked to frozen sun crust to super pow (where the sun was unable to do its damage).
All in all a great day! My only complaint would be the traffic home....I despise that stop light in Sultan. Hwy 2 was backed up and not moving starting a few short miles past Index.
*zoom*
We were up in the same area that day and spent one VERY long drive back in the same traffic jam on Rt. 2. That was the worst I've experienced on that road. We were half expecting to see some big car wreck and lots of flashing lights somewhere along the way to provide some justification for the slow down but alas... it was just those darn lights in sultan! At least you and we both had the memories of some good pow to ease the pain of the traffic
I got stuck in the same traffic. Often there is an accident that may have occurred hours before and is long cleared by the time you pass. I have been stuck in traffic similar to this but usually once past the first light it usually spreads out. That did not seem to be the case this time. The light does not explain the very long periods of completely stopped traffic in my opinion. A couple of weekends ago, there had been an accident, and the traffic behaved the same. In that case by the time we moved past the area of the accident there was no evidence of it at all.
Last weekend was the first weekend this year that skiing ended at Stevens at 4PM. Night skiing ended the weekend before. So...since there was no night skiing, the exodus from the area was much more abrupt than in past weeks, probably adding to the congestion. Otherwise with night skiing, many people continue to ski past 4PM.
I still pity those poor skiers/boarders who were still showing up at 4:30 to ski unaware of the closure.
Alan
Last weekend was the first weekend this year that skiing ended at Stevens at 4PM. Night skiing ended the weekend before. So...since there was no night skiing, the exodus from the area was much more abrupt than in past weeks, probably adding to the congestion. Otherwise with night skiing, many people continue to ski past 4PM.
I still pity those poor skiers/boarders who were still showing up at 4:30 to ski unaware of the closure.
Alan
If one misses the opportunity to vege out on the Hwy 2 parking lot, there's always the Monroe-Woodinville Hwy 522 parking lot.
It's not just during ski season, either. I've had the opportunity to cool my heels on those roads on nice summer and fall weekends as well.
It's not just during ski season, either. I've had the opportunity to cool my heels on those roads on nice summer and fall weekends as well.
Reply to this TR
Please login first: