March 6, 2011, Arrowhead Mountain west slopes

We started at the ventilator pullout, which appears to be legal just west of the driveway of the ventilator itself.  There are no signs here that indicate "Authorized Parking Only" and can fit 4 to 5 cars tight.  On the access road we clipped the first 2 switchbacks and crossed Henry Creek.  Then after 100 more yards of road we turned up into the forest through what I believe are skyline logging corridors.  After poking out on the upper road we turned left on the road toward the northwest basin of Arrowhead Mountain.  Clipping the upper switchbacks we skinned the east edge of the upper clearcut on a rising traverse that eventually led to the SW Ridge of Arrowhead at 5500 feet.  The ridge had less wind rolls this year and we were quickly on the summit.  Along the way our ski pole tests and hand shears on this west aspect were producing no obvious layers of concern. We felt increasing density snow with depth, and pole baskets could not detect any wind slabbiness, or crusts, or lower density snow beneath.  Ski penetration was 8 or so inches in light recycled powder.  The west slope had only slight wind effect in places, and little solar effects from the afternoon before.  This was quite a contrast to Friday in Commonwealth where ski penetration was knee deep without exaggeration.  That much settlement and recycling, or did Arrowhead receive considerably less snow than Snoqualmie Pass?

The descent was great!  After one run of 1000 vertical in the west facing glades we climbed back to the summit for another.  We diagonalled skiers right through more glades to the upper clearcut.  More great light and fast powder the whole way to the bottom of the upper clearcut.  A fast trail ski in our skin track to the top of the skyline corridors and then one more fun descent through the trees and corridors all the way to 3100 feet.  In many times skiing here this was the first "top of the peak-to bottom at the highway" quality powder skiing I have ever experienced!

I left Roslyn with pink sunrise color up the Teanaway valley mountains and returned with the same glow from the west at sunset.  One of those, "what could ever be better days" than spent in the beauty of the Cascades, in great snow on a fine descent, and two great friends to share it with.  Oh, top it off with shakes at the 59'er Diner could be better---and was!