May 4, 2008, Lundin Peak
5/4/08
WA Snoqualmie Pass
2195
2
Victor and I set off into commonwealth basin for a look at Red and Lundin with thoughts of skiing Red Mtn. Once in the basin, as predicted, the slides began and more frequent they came sliding off Snoqualmie Mtn. With the heavy snow and frequent thunder of rock and snow fall, we debated on continuing.
I thought about my brother and how he died in similar conditions from a Spring slide many years ago just a valley away. I did not want to put my parents through that kind of grief again.
After some discussion we agreed to ski Lundins southwest flank as the slope had already sloughed maybe a couple days prior and there was no overhanging snow in sight. We felt it was a safe option and continued to the top. We descended quickly not wanting to push our luck. Skiing the debris was not too difficult the snow was soft enough that turns could be managed with some skill, but little grace.
We made it back to the car quickly on the now well traveled trail of snowshoe and skiers hard packed snow, and off to Alpental to meet up with Dave Coleman, have a drink and watch the chaos of Quatro de Mayo.
http://picasaweb.google.com/victormesny/LundinPeak
I thought about my brother and how he died in similar conditions from a Spring slide many years ago just a valley away. I did not want to put my parents through that kind of grief again.
After some discussion we agreed to ski Lundins southwest flank as the slope had already sloughed maybe a couple days prior and there was no overhanging snow in sight. We felt it was a safe option and continued to the top. We descended quickly not wanting to push our luck. Skiing the debris was not too difficult the snow was soft enough that turns could be managed with some skill, but little grace.
We made it back to the car quickly on the now well traveled trail of snowshoe and skiers hard packed snow, and off to Alpental to meet up with Dave Coleman, have a drink and watch the chaos of Quatro de Mayo.
http://picasaweb.google.com/victormesny/LundinPeak
Those trees were broken like toothpicks!
Nice work staying safe. I spent the day on the lifts at Alpental. After trying a few small shots of untracked slurpee snow, I ended up sticking mostly to well-skied snow which was a lot more fun. And the festivities at the base drew down the lift lines toward the end of the day, which was also nice (fun to hear the cheers for the costumes from up high, though).
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