May 2, 2004, Alpental
5/2/04
WA Snoqualmie Pass
2435
2
Ah, the uncrowded slopes of Alpental. Dave Metallo and myself challenged each other that we could get in a run before breakfast at home. So, 5:30 AM at the parking lot (mysteriously full of autos?), and we were off. There was a bit of a drizzle, and, being the spoiled spring skiers we are, decided that the top of Lower Intl. was the destination. An hour later, we de-skinned, just as the cloud ceiling dropped to the parking lot. A pleasant ski down (aren't they all? I mean, who's gonna say, "I wish I would have WORKED more during my life!"?); passed 2 pedestrians on the way up. I always wonder why people would rather walk up in the snow - my climbing cohorts, no offense meant. A wonderful 1500 feet of ripped misty Cascade corn, and it was off to Georg's Bakery for the ritual buttermilk bar. In the door, in Edmonds, by 8:45 AM, to kiss the wife and kids, shower, and off to church. Since I'd already worshipped with Ullr and Skadi, it was kinda anti-climatic, but what the hell; challenge met!
Greg -
I was on the same program the day before. Tried to get a "3-hour tour" in and still spend time with the family.
The destination planned was the east face of the S Chair Peak Shoulder. It was a warm day and I quickly realized that my 6:15 departure was too late - the snow had not frozen much the night before. I was delighted to see that the Bryant/Chair col gully (ie. Wonder Gully) was still intact and looked to have a couple of weeks left. As I climbed up above Source Lake I found the snow much more rotten than what I had been spoiled with on my previous couple of weeks off Hwy 20. My plan was to traverse left onto the ramp that leads to the objective SE face. At this point I changed plans and spiraled up the NE bowl below Chair Peak and found refuge from the sun on the steeper shaded slopes. Near the top a short scramble led to the S Shoulder for a snack before enjoying the near cornlike snow of the shaded NFacing slopes. Once in the sun it was soup all the way down to source lake and back to a crowded parking lot by 9:00.
Back home w/ the kids still in there PJs - and a full day of yard work after a winters worth of neglect. You got to love spring tours....
I was on the same program the day before. Tried to get a "3-hour tour" in and still spend time with the family.
The destination planned was the east face of the S Chair Peak Shoulder. It was a warm day and I quickly realized that my 6:15 departure was too late - the snow had not frozen much the night before. I was delighted to see that the Bryant/Chair col gully (ie. Wonder Gully) was still intact and looked to have a couple of weeks left. As I climbed up above Source Lake I found the snow much more rotten than what I had been spoiled with on my previous couple of weeks off Hwy 20. My plan was to traverse left onto the ramp that leads to the objective SE face. At this point I changed plans and spiraled up the NE bowl below Chair Peak and found refuge from the sun on the steeper shaded slopes. Near the top a short scramble led to the S Shoulder for a snack before enjoying the near cornlike snow of the shaded NFacing slopes. Once in the sun it was soup all the way down to source lake and back to a crowded parking lot by 9:00.
Back home w/ the kids still in there PJs - and a full day of yard work after a winters worth of neglect. You got to love spring tours....
It's all worth it, though, to have the 2-year-old say,"Daddy all done ski. Next time me go!"
Good job on the Chair Peak climb. It does seem as though the snow structure is degrading quickly. Hope the cool fron this week drops some firmness into the mix.
Good job on the Chair Peak climb. It does seem as though the snow structure is degrading quickly. Hope the cool fron this week drops some firmness into the mix.
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