Nov 7, 2010, Mt. Baker Wilderness, Skyline Ridge
11/7/10
WA Cascades West Slopes North (Mt Baker)
2253
5
Forecast was not too optimistic and there was a good change that lots of snow melted during the preceding week (and it did) but we gave it a try. Road is in good shape, 5 cm fresh snow above 1100 meters (mostly transformed into roadside wet slush on our way home). Parked at the trailhead and hiked all the way to the ridge. The last 1/4 of the trail has enough coverage for skinning but also bare patches under the trees.
Did a couple of short exploratory runs in areas where the ground is grass, it seemed we needed to be another 300-500 meters higher. Shallow and uneven 10-30 cm wet base with fresh snow on top. Skinned along the ridge until we found a wide shallow gully on the lee side, about 100 meters wide, 70 vertical meters with 50 cm wet snow base and 10-15 cm of fresh on top. The wet base made for some bouncy turns. Skied it 9-10 times then went home. Variable visibility for most of the day, strong sun and a partial clearing around 3 PM.
Good day anyway!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/runningclouds/sets/72157625351146786/
Did a couple of short exploratory runs in areas where the ground is grass, it seemed we needed to be another 300-500 meters higher. Shallow and uneven 10-30 cm wet base with fresh snow on top. Skinned along the ridge until we found a wide shallow gully on the lee side, about 100 meters wide, 70 vertical meters with 50 cm wet snow base and 10-15 cm of fresh on top. The wet base made for some bouncy turns. Skied it 9-10 times then went home. Variable visibility for most of the day, strong sun and a partial clearing around 3 PM.
Good day anyway!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/runningclouds/sets/72157625351146786/
What a difference a day makes, eh? Skinned from the TH up the whole trail the next day. Could only ski down about 1/2 of it though.
That's cool. Must have been quite a dump overnight. Hopefully more snow coming to the higher elevations only keeping the roads open for a while yet.
Photos from yesterday (9 November 2010). Looks like the snow is piling up while the road is still driveable.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/makkamikka/sets/72157625228447301/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/makkamikka/sets/72157625228447301/
How was the snow yesterday? Looks like there is some more coming in the next day or two. I was thinking about maybe heading up that way on Saturday if it doesn't rain up high.
Lolob I did not go up on Tuesday (unfortunately). I found the photo set on Flickr, judging from the pictures the skiing was awesome. It also says somewhere that they were able to skin up right from the parking lot (as did TobyT) but not able to ski the trail all the way down.
Let's hope the freezing level stays low!
Let's hope the freezing level stays low!
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