March 4, 2006, Peak 5,456, 261 Snoqualmie Pass
3/4/06
WA Snoqualmie Pass
1369
0
Day 42
3-4-06
Peak 5,456, '261', Snoqualmie Pass
128" 140" Base, 1" new and snowing
2,300 VF skied (5,456' 3,100')
It was great to experience the contrast of snow conditions on different exposures found at Snoqualmie Pass as of late. Pick the right elevation and exposure and youre pretty much guaranteed a good ski. Pick a bad one and you'll be hating life up to your eye balls in breakable crust or crud and everything else in between.
Yesterday, Friday morning, I had explored a SW facing couloir from the Alpental parking lot, and found a breakable crust in the shady areas and trees, a light 4" dusting of cold graupel over sun crust in the open, as well as huge unruly piles of avalanche debris and other nasties scattered under the steep cliff lines. New terrain is a siren and it was not the right condition to push the envelope. I had retreated tail between my legs.
The avy conditions checked out as pretty stable in the area, however, so I decided to return and sample a N facing shot to see if the shady snow faired better and kept the recent snow unconsolidated. I mean, the temperatures have been cold enough the last couple of days, there must be remnants from the two prior (albeit meager) storms?
I arrived in the Alpental lot at 5:15 am. It was snowing lightly and that was a great surprise and general good omen. Out onto the exit trail I was glad for my early departure, allowing unfettered travel out past the dangerous cat track. It would be a couple hours before traffic would begin, time enough to move to higher ground.
As I crunched up the cat track I suddenly had a panic attack like I would be jump turning on hard pack (again), so I careened to the left edge of the wide boulevard and checked out the snow pack.
Deeeelightful! What a change an aspect can make.
The snow falling now added to a layer of unconsolidated powder that rested, one to two feet below, on a hard base. Not too deep, aiding in travel, but deep enough for good skiing. Oh, yes, this was a good choice. My goal was the peak on the left side of Pineapple Basin, the one directly across from the Tooth, Peak 5,456. I was hoping the altitude would also improve the snow, and above 4,000 it was down right powder.
I made easy time and rose up through the steeps of Big Trees and the benches of Draft Dodger Ridge, generally working my way back toward Piss Pass. I ogled the lines as I went, but darkness hampered a proper inspection. Above Draft Dodger Ridge I could see powder turns down the steep shot of 261, a possible descent route from Peak 5,456. It looked pretty good as it seemed sheltered from the wind, and the few tracks that were on the ridge would help in contrast in the gathering snow. That was it, I decided, I had my line - 261. Now how to get to the top of it?
I reached Piss Pass (4,940') at 7:00 am and the snow settled in with force as the light from dawn colored the sky yellow. I could see the boot pack up to Peak 5,456 was well formed, but proved annoying as the narrow boot pack hampered snowshoe effectiveness. At two instances I was perched on all fours, three pointing my way up the crux steeps, stabbing the Whippets fang deep into the snow for purchase. The clouds rolled in and out, the gray and black monoliths of the Tooth and adjacent spires appeared and disappeared like trolls in the mists across from me, Pineapple Basin below a yawning chasm.
I reached the summit at 7:20 am. The visibility was questionable so I took my time getting ready and then jumped to it when the snow let up and the route below revealed itself.
The upper ridge was a slow ski as I made sure I didnt get too close to the shear cliffs dropping into Pineapple Basin, but eked out the good powder on the more wind sheltered N aspect. I followed a good set of tracks down the upper ridge and then chose an untracked line down 261. Wow. Fantastic snow billowing up and pounding my jacket. Light and unconsolidated. I stop and watch as a wave of my powder washes down the steep face and settles.
Once down from 261, I trend right toward Stokes Bowl, and untracked lines down through the steeps, trees, chutes and gullies endemic of Denny Mountain's North Face.
3-4-06
Peak 5,456, '261', Snoqualmie Pass
128" 140" Base, 1" new and snowing
2,300 VF skied (5,456' 3,100')
It was great to experience the contrast of snow conditions on different exposures found at Snoqualmie Pass as of late. Pick the right elevation and exposure and youre pretty much guaranteed a good ski. Pick a bad one and you'll be hating life up to your eye balls in breakable crust or crud and everything else in between.
Yesterday, Friday morning, I had explored a SW facing couloir from the Alpental parking lot, and found a breakable crust in the shady areas and trees, a light 4" dusting of cold graupel over sun crust in the open, as well as huge unruly piles of avalanche debris and other nasties scattered under the steep cliff lines. New terrain is a siren and it was not the right condition to push the envelope. I had retreated tail between my legs.
The avy conditions checked out as pretty stable in the area, however, so I decided to return and sample a N facing shot to see if the shady snow faired better and kept the recent snow unconsolidated. I mean, the temperatures have been cold enough the last couple of days, there must be remnants from the two prior (albeit meager) storms?
I arrived in the Alpental lot at 5:15 am. It was snowing lightly and that was a great surprise and general good omen. Out onto the exit trail I was glad for my early departure, allowing unfettered travel out past the dangerous cat track. It would be a couple hours before traffic would begin, time enough to move to higher ground.
As I crunched up the cat track I suddenly had a panic attack like I would be jump turning on hard pack (again), so I careened to the left edge of the wide boulevard and checked out the snow pack.
Deeeelightful! What a change an aspect can make.
The snow falling now added to a layer of unconsolidated powder that rested, one to two feet below, on a hard base. Not too deep, aiding in travel, but deep enough for good skiing. Oh, yes, this was a good choice. My goal was the peak on the left side of Pineapple Basin, the one directly across from the Tooth, Peak 5,456. I was hoping the altitude would also improve the snow, and above 4,000 it was down right powder.
I made easy time and rose up through the steeps of Big Trees and the benches of Draft Dodger Ridge, generally working my way back toward Piss Pass. I ogled the lines as I went, but darkness hampered a proper inspection. Above Draft Dodger Ridge I could see powder turns down the steep shot of 261, a possible descent route from Peak 5,456. It looked pretty good as it seemed sheltered from the wind, and the few tracks that were on the ridge would help in contrast in the gathering snow. That was it, I decided, I had my line - 261. Now how to get to the top of it?
I reached Piss Pass (4,940') at 7:00 am and the snow settled in with force as the light from dawn colored the sky yellow. I could see the boot pack up to Peak 5,456 was well formed, but proved annoying as the narrow boot pack hampered snowshoe effectiveness. At two instances I was perched on all fours, three pointing my way up the crux steeps, stabbing the Whippets fang deep into the snow for purchase. The clouds rolled in and out, the gray and black monoliths of the Tooth and adjacent spires appeared and disappeared like trolls in the mists across from me, Pineapple Basin below a yawning chasm.
I reached the summit at 7:20 am. The visibility was questionable so I took my time getting ready and then jumped to it when the snow let up and the route below revealed itself.
The upper ridge was a slow ski as I made sure I didnt get too close to the shear cliffs dropping into Pineapple Basin, but eked out the good powder on the more wind sheltered N aspect. I followed a good set of tracks down the upper ridge and then chose an untracked line down 261. Wow. Fantastic snow billowing up and pounding my jacket. Light and unconsolidated. I stop and watch as a wave of my powder washes down the steep face and settles.
Once down from 261, I trend right toward Stokes Bowl, and untracked lines down through the steeps, trees, chutes and gullies endemic of Denny Mountain's North Face.
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