March 5, 2011, Cannon Mountain West Slopes
3/5/11
2564
10
Scott (Ale Capone) and I were out for a little redemption after last week's 21 mile day up to Stuart in which we didn't even peel off the skins. One can be reasonably assured of some decent skiing on Cannon Mountain, whether it be the CMC, shots down into Coney Lake, the NW face or West Slopes. There's usually something for everyone, if you're willing to suffer the approach and relief, which aren't trivial.
There has been significant snow the past week, and this allowed a top to bottom run that was relatively free of the usual debilitating windfall of dead snags that litter the lower 1/3 of the west slopes.
We skinned up to within a couple hundred feet of the entrance of the CMC (7,600' on my GPS), and called it good under winds and spindrift. We were a bit confused as we stripped off our skins, as we've become very fond of down-skinning. I'm almost sure Scott looked disappointed. Serious.
On Cannon, there IS a wrong way to descend, as the snowpack can vary between a couple inches over snags, or a few feet of stable white smoke. We picked our way down, and managed to connect many powder-filled gullies all the way to the creek. In short, we did it right this time, and enjoyed turns all the way to mountaineer's creek with only the occasional, unintended rail slide over thinly veiled logs. Ever the snowboarder, Scott was in jibbing heaven!
Attached is a small vid. Keep your expectations low.
There has been significant snow the past week, and this allowed a top to bottom run that was relatively free of the usual debilitating windfall of dead snags that litter the lower 1/3 of the west slopes.
We skinned up to within a couple hundred feet of the entrance of the CMC (7,600' on my GPS), and called it good under winds and spindrift. We were a bit confused as we stripped off our skins, as we've become very fond of down-skinning. I'm almost sure Scott looked disappointed. Serious.
On Cannon, there IS a wrong way to descend, as the snowpack can vary between a couple inches over snags, or a few feet of stable white smoke. We picked our way down, and managed to connect many powder-filled gullies all the way to the creek. In short, we did it right this time, and enjoyed turns all the way to mountaineer's creek with only the occasional, unintended rail slide over thinly veiled logs. Ever the snowboarder, Scott was in jibbing heaven!
Attached is a small vid. Keep your expectations low.
Way to persevere! I gotta get you guys to show me the right way up there, all I remember is crawling downhill over snags...
It seems especially thin over there this year. Did you have any thoughts on what elevation the snowpack is deep enough to provide average mid-season travel conditions?
It seems especially thin over there this year. Did you have any thoughts on what elevation the snowpack is deep enough to provide average mid-season travel conditions?
I'd say in spring, when the thin snowpack is frozen in the morning is the best time to skin over the snags, or get lucky and hit it right after a dumping. I could only imagine the run(s) one could have if all of the crap were covered under a few more feet of snow.
Nice one John.
Starting to get some reattachment between my head and body. Maybe we'll get out soon......
Starting to get some reattachment between my head and body. Maybe we'll get out soon......
Good job, John. The first photo makes me think you went up the standard summer route, more or less, not via Rat Creek, right? Where did you leave 8M road--around 3000' (0.5 mi before 8M TH) as per the wenatcheeoutdoors map? Thanks, N
Niko,
Scott and I skinned the road just past the 8 Mile lake trailhead, then headed up the slope, connected with the old logging road, following that to nearly its end.
Scott and I skinned the road just past the 8 Mile lake trailhead, then headed up the slope, connected with the old logging road, following that to nearly its end.
The approach seems trivial compared to heading all the way to Stuart. ;) Thanks for all the good info on Cannon.
Sometimes the conditions just aren't there for a good downhill skin. Dissapointing, but you just have to suck up and take the safe way down. I kept my poles out for good measure and style points.
I'd be lying if I said I didn't straddle any down fall. Both skinning and riding. Pretty minimal considering. snow was great on the decent though. No core shots, but I do have some black ash marks.
Limited exposure.. it seems like the snow pack is lower, but over all thinner then last year? It's been building nice the past few weeks.
Great to see a TR of an area I've only visited in the fall. Thanks.
author=Zap link=topic=20006.msg84846#msg84846 date=1299461696]
Great to see a TR of an area I've only visited in the fall. Thanks.
I highly recommend it in the winter!
author=jwplotz link=topic=20006.msg84797#msg84797 date=1299372471]
I'd say in spring, when the thin snowpack is frozen in the morning is the best time to skin over the snags, or get lucky and hit it right after a dumping. I could only imagine the run(s) one could have if all of the crap were covered under a few more feet of snow.
And therein lies the problem. It is an area that would rarely get a deep snowpack.
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