Understood, Kamtron - we felt as though there was pretty minimal overhead exposure skinning up the (climber's) right hand side of the Nooksack - you're out from below the icefall further left, and there's not much in the way of cornices or similar features. To me, that seems less intimidating then trying to find a way down the Nooksack headwall without being able to see it - one
Skinning up the Nooksack glacier with all those cornices above you sounds... scary. I think that's why everyone goes the other way, to minimize exposure time and maximize gliding
I'm the proud owner of the Moonbike in question. I plan on doing a full review of the Moonbike as a backcountry skiing tool once the "snow covered roads" phase of the ski season is winding down. It will be available on my blog safesexandgoretex.com, so check in there around April or May.
Until then, here are my thoughts. I primarily use this as a single rider when I am skiing solo, or towing another person behind...
I think if you're really wanting to earn it that bad, go back and do it again without any tracks. But really, it's good to just appreciate that you made it down a very serious line without any mishaps in probably as good dry snow conditions as you will ever get! Take that for what it is. That desire to push further can get you into some fun lines, but it can also lead to the kinds of situations we all want to avoid
Thanks Doug! Unfortunately Red Bull hasn't come knocking, although I did make $50 from skiing this year, so my childhood dream of becoming a pro skier was finally realized.
We skied the main vein and then down silver creek to a camp at gold on Saturday the second! We attempted Alaska mtn south face but turned around and skied Alaska lake drainage for fear of avalanche. We crossed your skinner on the bottom of Alaska and couldnāt believe it! Props! Yāall were waaay out there!
that line is sweet! you scored good conditions; when (coincidentally) Ryan (sorry bud) and I skied it years ago, there was a short section of sp-icy downclimbing, made spicier by some poor equipment decisions at the car...
thx for the report, good to see the snowpack is more robust up high--might bode well for bigger and higher lines this spring.
Nice work guys! Hope to see more TRs like this coming out of the Cascades. I'm not sure if hearing about the party atmosphere makes me want to ski it more ("now everyone and their grandmother has skied the Coleman Headwall, why haven't I?") or less ("Coleman Headwall is the new Muir Snowfield"). Something tells me I'll go do it anyway ;)
As far as I can tell- yeah, we're at about 100% of snowpack in the front range, we've had a few solid storms delivering around a foot/week. The part that I keep struggling with is looking on maps at what should be great, easy traverses over ridges, getting up to the top, and forgetting I'm in Colorado, where the snow falls light and gets completely blown off the top! The elevation on those high ridgelines is 11-13k in my photos, and really aren't that steep, but conditions out here aren't con...
I really enjoy your updates and videos from the road Tim, even if I am too mired in work and family to ever dream of going on them myself! At least in the next 5-10 years....
Unfortunately (sort of) Iām leaving for a week at Whistler, and will be leaving the skin track unattended. A few years ago Mike Rolfs called me in Maui asking for directions for the final 1500ā, then posted powder pictures that had me so jealous! It really looks like perfection up there while Iām goneā¦Itās very rareā¦I hope some folks get the chance to enjoy. I will send a track if asked.
Yeah the the bottom 2ā of the 12ā snowpack is basically missing. Didnāt worry me there, but I made an observation that if widespread this could be a big issue later on.
Absolutely. The thing is, where those pictures were taken, the top can be good for a large portion of a normal winter, but the bottom1000ā is crap most of the time. So to have enough base at the bottom (2600ā) is unusual. Right not there is barely enough for me, but not really enough to show it off. That could be Sunday, possibly, or more likely Wednesdayā¦Or it might not happen. Iām probably going up tomorrow to see if there is more snow from 2ādays ago. I'm also hoping someone has put in a t...
Things are definitely going to get better. I will be doing the resort, side country and the bc at white pass in the coming week depending on the weather.
Have never been over to Blewett touring, but maybe I could get you to hook up for a show me around sometime.
Boot Top Powder! Havenāt seen that since last Spring. Skintrack Expedition planed for Tuesday to a Little Ridge SE of there..Very low expectationsā¦Good job finding that.
The CBA has been a thing for about a year. We haven't talked to Martin specifically. We have gone into Pro Ski a few times to connect with Mike, who was involved in advocacy in the past, but have never managed to speak with them because they were always too busy. Maybe we should reach out to them again, since they probably has some good perspectives.
Hey Kyle - how long has the CBA been a thing? Have you connected with Martin Volkien about this? I assume yes... he has some well articulated opinions about winter access and the need for advocacy there.
