TR Replies
This is the best looking recent run posted. KUDOS! Do you happen to have a GPS track you'd share? I'm coming from Utah and am unfamiliar with the area.
Nice job there Mr. Rusty Knees & Co. As the snow gets firmer, shorter, and steeper, the falls get ouch-ier.
I'm getting concerned about August turns but will look at Bagley or OP.
How was the hike around the lake? I've not done that trail in summer in many years. Last time I did it we were able to ski across the lake ;-)
Don, The reality of the "trip" is enjoyable.😀 Your style of writing the trip report is GREAT.
I have learned "Bladder Management" from my urologist.😄
HAHAHA! Bladder Management! One of the TAY problems that can't be mitigated with lighter gear :)
Every camping trip I wrassle with "get up and pee" vs. "I can make it". Nice to see I'm not alone :)
Thanks - Not sure how much has melted out in the past week.
I wouldn't be surprised if most of the 300' vert that I saw off the summit is still there.
The pass is dry.
Nice TR. I am thinking about vesper this Saturday to notch a July tour. Planning on hiking to the top, how much vert do you think I’ll have to ski?
Just seeing this. Some wicked shit out there.
Nice job! When Ryan and I did this traverse we thought it was a classic but it took ten years for someone to confirm it😎. Very impressive time and bike solution to getting back to start. Loved the video, especially where you poured out water from the shell. We found the hardest part skiing by the ski area and not stopping.
Thanks for the report. Making a loop out of it by bike is an elegant solution.
Long day! Nice job - liked the video - short and to the point - I'm tired just watching it. 😀
Thanks for sharing that TR, Kam. That's real commitment. 3pm start with margarine in the backpack and no ride back from the trailhead. I haven't done any of the other traverses up there, but it felt pretty classic and uncontrived.
Color me impressed!
Aka the Monika Traverse. Perhaps a first repeat? Kudos on adding the bike deproach, dang.
https://turns-all-year.com/trip-reports/july-2-2011-mt-shuksan-via-mt-baker
Looks like a great trip. That was some gnar in the Success Couloir. Loved the ending of the video.
Cool route to end the season. You've been skiing some great stuff!
Ingenious
Ever done the chutes at Bagley Lakes with a car shuttle? Not as cool temps, but even lazier sidecountry.
Cool clouds in your pictures!
@lowell_skoog, nope there's a solid bridge across the Cascade river perfectly suitable for any vehicle. the wooden bridge we crossed had its Western support beam collapsed but the span still intact though at a 30-40 degree angle forcing one to straddle the Eastern beam. no big deal, but a neat feature of the trail.
Wow -- a lot of snow reduction from when I was there 6/19
What is that wooden structure? Is that the bridge over the Cascade River? I haven't been there in over 30 years, so it's not familiar.
Thanks for the update!
Snow is holding on from about 5100' and up
Very cool and off the radar Mike. Thanks for sharing!
Went up the Squak yesterday (July 1) trail is mostly melted out now. Transitioned to skinning at 4800'. T-shirt and shorts to the summit. Skied off the top all 11 (perfect timing) All crevasses still covered or well bridged. Great skiing from summit to crag, a bit cuppy (but not sticky) below. Van survived the parking lot untouched.
Looks like that exit onto lower Noofner was a lil weird with all those pepper corns. That upper glacier looked like it skied super well. That giant ice section on the upper Noofner looks nuts. Never seen it melted down to raw glacier ice this early before...Definitely changes my mind on heading in there after all this heat.
Mike, yes that was me! Glad to have met you, I really enjoy reading your TRs. Next time I'll leave the skins at home. Somehow I missed you on my way down, I was hoping to see ya up there. I bet you hit it at just the right time--hope you got some enjoyable turns in.
Cham, I have to confess that I ran out of time to go for a dip, which was badly needed in that heat!
I think we met in the parking lot around 5am, you were packing k2's with skins on them. I was waiting for my buddy to show up. We were later than you, and got to watch you ski the upper bit from the moraine. With some hijinx I was able to ski to the lake! Thanks for the TR. Keep it up!
@seawok: yes, there is a lot of water running all over the mountain in places it shouldn't be.
@kamtron: agreed, the NFNWR is looking much worse than when I skied it 2 years ago.
Cool. I saw a report from some acquaintances from that a week or so back and it looked a bit better.
Pretty sad shape for the N side of Adams to be in this year. Big ice patch and rocks in the NFNWR.
Looks big & sporty 😳
Was the face route messed up from an early date due to high altitude spring issues?
@kamtron we were thinking the same thing, but there is a much cleaner way through the lower Mowich that is not visible from the angle this photo was taken from.
Hard to believe that Central Mowich is in "good" condition from your pic.
Way to score on the face! Quite the line.
Meth conditions appear high on FR13 now. [At least?] three cars had their windows smashed in up there this week, numerous others clearly "inspected." Not surprising, but highly disappointing and inconvenient.
This puts a hamper on the ideal "vehicle bivy one-day ascent" mode unfortunately, putting our windows, cookwares and basic sleeping gear at risk. Presumably campervans are also highly vulnerable.
Someone was up there installing critter cams for a research project... Not s...
@lilb907 agreed! On the way out I was thinking that if I want to top that I'll probably have to go to Alaska. I remember seeing your trip report last year and wishing I was up there too. That's an impressive route to solo!
Stable pow on that face might be as good as it gets in the lower 48. Inspiring stuff. 👍
We were the dad and daughter team who you met at your tent. I can verify the lack of snow in the drainage beneath the Easton. Carrying skis through the Boulder Field was definitely not in the morning plans but things got better quickly and it was nice being alone til we met up with the Squawk route.
Ha! You two killed it on the up and downhill compared to us pokey Medicare folks.
Nice bumping into you guys! Great day out on what might be my last day of the season with the forecasted scorching temps! Couple photos:
