TR Replies
author=mikerolfs link=topic=32018.msg134651#msg134651 date=1404430764]
I am saying that. The ranger told us if we camped below a certain elevation (6400 I think) that we had to carry a bear can. It was late in the afternoon and I didn't want to commit to getting that far, and I didn't want to carry a bear can, so I said "we'll just sleep at the trail head". He replied "I'm obligated to tell you that you can't do that&...
Well thank God they were only "OBLIGATED to tell you that you can't do that". I lied; that is a new level of stupid from OUR NP Service. :(
BTW, very nicely done TR and photos. I enjoyed that part. ;)
BTW, very nicely done TR and photos. I enjoyed that part. ;)
author=Boot link=topic=32018.msg134648#msg134648 date=1404425653]
...are you saying they wouldn't let you camp at the trail head...?
I am saying that. The ranger told us if we camped below a certain elevation (6400 I think) that we had to carry a bear can. It was late in the afternoon and I didn't want to commit to getting that far, and I didn't want to carry a bear can, so I said "we'll just sleep at th...
"Add to the drive that NCNP's desire is to dictate where you sleep, crap, and how you carry your food,"
No level of stupid coming from NP would ever surprise me anymore, but are you saying they wouldn't let you camp at the trail head or are you just talking about restrictions of camping up on the mountain?
Don't ask, don't tell??
No level of stupid coming from NP would ever surprise me anymore, but are you saying they wouldn't let you camp at the trail head or are you just talking about restrictions of camping up on the mountain?
Don't ask, don't tell??
nice of you to smooth some of those suncups.
author=danpeck link=topic=32018.msg134633#msg134633 date=1404369395]
Oh, and I don't think that was Forest... I believe he's currently in the alps.
We didn't think to ask the guy's name until too late. Nice young guy who looked competent.
I was planning on trying trail 112 but the Forest Service Ranger said the road was still snowed in. I don't know if 112 gets you high enough to allow for a continuous ski. If it does, please let me know.
The way out was tricky. At camp there was no visibility beyond the tips of my skis so I was using GPS and map/compass. Staying on or near the trail while it was covered in snow was tough. Almost skied into a lake in the fog but no swamp issues. It helped to have a GPS route...
The way out was tricky. At camp there was no visibility beyond the tips of my skis so I was using GPS and map/compass. Staying on or near the trail while it was covered in snow was tough. Almost skied into a lake in the fog but no swamp issues. It helped to have a GPS route...
Yep its been my favorite place so far. Itching to go to Cascade Pass area and change it up!
You can bypass the crossing altogether if you follow the old road grade past the bathrooms to the right, after road starts to peter cut straight up through the trees to crag view, then go up to the right of big house and bee line to the crater.
Oh, and I don't think that was Forest... I believe he's currently in the alps.
Oh Man! Nice work fellas! Super envious. Now you know why I can't stop going back to this place.
I was actually just in the area with my family. We drove through HWY 20 and stayed in Mazama for some climbing and hiking. I was lucky enough to get a quick lap at the hair pin.
But as we drove into the North Cascades I felt this sense of awe, wonder and sacred fear for the place. The mountains there really are something to behold.
<...
I was actually just in the area with my family. We drove through HWY 20 and stayed in Mazama for some climbing and hiking. I was lucky enough to get a quick lap at the hair pin.
But as we drove into the North Cascades I felt this sense of awe, wonder and sacred fear for the place. The mountains there really are something to behold.
<...
I think it will be fine next weekend. It seemed like one of the cases where the snowdepth increased pretty rapidly once we hit snowline. I imagine some of the grassy meadows below snowgrass flat will melt further, but perhaps still skiable. Above should have plenty of snow - treewells were roughly 2-3 feet deep at treeline, from what I remember. But who knows, it has been pretty darned warm this week.
Thanks for the write-up.
I've been up Middle Sister a handful of times, does that line ever soften up?
I've been up Middle Sister a handful of times, does that line ever soften up?
Thanks for the comments! Stay safe out there!
WOW nice lemonade out lemons! And huge huge polar bear points, sure glad I was not on that trip, or I would have been honor bound to get wet!
Way to get in there!
Curious: how does trail 112 look? As 'crow flys', it appears shorter but of course, does it really get you to where you want to go?
That "diamond" snowfield looks sweet? Did you have any problems staying on the trail or did you just gps it out etc.. Heard there are some nasty swamps that one can easily slop into if off route exiting...
How were the mosquitoes? They are starting to gear up for a drilling fest down here...
Curious: how does trail 112 look? As 'crow flys', it appears shorter but of course, does it really get you to where you want to go?
That "diamond" snowfield looks sweet? Did you have any problems staying on the trail or did you just gps it out etc.. Heard there are some nasty swamps that one can easily slop into if off route exiting...
How were the mosquitoes? They are starting to gear up for a drilling fest down here...
Here's the text Jake was unable to post last week. Plus some more photos below.
author=Jake the Brit]Snow is still continuous from the Cascade Pass lot up to Cache col, as long as you’re prepared to zig zag.
Frank Frank & I strolled through the picnic tables & dived into the brush & we were onto the snow, booted up with an exposed, left traverse through the cliffy bit to Cascade Pass. The Mixup arm traverse looked a bit grim...
Cool. Enjoyed the pictures. Looks good up there. :)
Good choice -- after some hard experience, my attitude is now "no new scar tissue".
author=PhilH link=topic=32014.msg134617#msg134617 date=1404325822]
"Nope, not for me" is sometimes a hard choice.
Agreed, and good for us all to hear once in a while. Thanks for the post.
I had a not-for-me moment this weekend, and it was really hard to walk a part that I could have skied. The ego hurts, but your partners thank you.
Good post and valuable (for me anyway) insights into your decision making process. "Nope, not for me" is sometimes a hard choice.
Pigtail Peak snotel just below top of 6000' WP main area chairlift holds 2 feet of snow with 13" SWE and losing ~3" snow/day. Hogback ridge at 7000' just above top of expansion area should still hold lines to the east for those that want to play on approach to McCall Basin. The drop to Tieton Pass and...
I think there will still be snow at Snowgrass Flat and above. But what do I know. I went up for 3 days of rain...
Good to meet you too, bcjunkie. Thanks for the kind words everyone, heres a little video
knowing this is a loaded question and difficult to answer, I'll ask anyway: What do you think about conditions and coverage in about a week and half? I was really hoping to make this trip happen sooner rather than later, but it was not meant to be.
We followed the prominent ridge up to treeline at the next flat bench around 6400', this is where the 5th picture was taken from. From there, the possibilities are endless. Old Snowy is at far left in that picture. Ives is middle-right. We did most of our skiing on the back (east) side, then came up and over the ridge on the far right.
I don't have a GPS of our path, but it was nice to set a couple of waypoints (one being the red circle in the map above) for finding our way...
I don't have a GPS of our path, but it was nice to set a couple of waypoints (one being the red circle in the map above) for finding our way...
Thanks! Yeah all the video was taken with a Go Pro 3+.
A short vid from the trip.
http://youtu.be/FnJYVZ_mMi8
http://youtu.be/FnJYVZ_mMi8
We (Avajane, Phil and I) camped just about where the end of the line appears on bfree's map. We toured over to Snowgrass Flat, and around/beyond the flat area between the 5860 and 5880 contours.
Thanks for the reply. I think we were very close. We lost the trail where you did but picked it up near the end of the first meadow area and before it became steeper again. We camped at the second meadow area. Where did you climb from? As we couldn't see anything we just weren't sure where to start. I think the bypass trail may have led to the PCT. Perhaps if you were hiking that trail you'd come down to camp at the flats.
author=avajane link=topic=31981.msg134594#msg134594 date=1404115903]
Great report. You guys nailed it. We just got back and didn't...Rain and fog all weekend. Good approach from Snowgrass. Your skin track was all washed out. We never saw the mountain or the good slopes. Where exactly did you make your camp? We saw a trail sign that said Snowgrass Trail with arrows showing the way and another arrow going to a bypass trail. We continued up the Snowgrass tra...
Great report. You guys nailed it. We just got back and didn't...Rain and fog all weekend. Good approach from Snowgrass. Your skin track was all washed out. We never saw the mountain or the good slopes. Where exactly did you make your camp? We saw a trail sign that said Snowgrass Trail with arrows showing the way and another arrow going to a bypass trail. We continued up the Snowgrass trail about another 3/4's mile before camping. We explored the area below the fog/cloud line quite a bi...
The most concise trip report I've seen from you yet, Sir Jake!
I've got photos of you guys on the traverse and NF, taken from Fernow. Shoot me a PM if you want them. We were hoping that we could watch you descend the NF, we had the best seats in the house!
Thanks for the lovely shots. Will be featured on my FB page tomorrow. Of course credit given.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shot-8-Freeride-Team/561702940520155
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shot-8-Freeride-Team/561702940520155
Testing a reply here, since you've been having trouble posting text. Odd. Nice pics, looks moist-ish!
Great pics, such a cool area. Looks like a fun trip.
We've approached GR from the W and the E. I preferred the latter w/camp in McCall Basin when the road was open to the TH, but a W access might be the ticket after the bridge closure.
We've approached GR from the W and the E. I preferred the latter w/camp in McCall Basin when the road was open to the TH, but a W access might be the ticket after the bridge closure.
Your pictures are a visual treat as usual, thanks.
Nice work ZAP if you have the time have a cold one at Ten Barrels, or better yet get a growler from Boneyard, I particularity like the IPA.
Great pictures.
What was the condition of the approach to gain snow? We are planning to approach in the dark and I would like to waste minimal time messing around with the river crossing and all that. I know it may have changed but I'd like a general idea.
Thanks
What was the condition of the approach to gain snow? We are planning to approach in the dark and I would like to waste minimal time messing around with the river crossing and all that. I know it may have changed but I'd like a general idea.
Thanks
Sounds like you skied the Big Tuna. Thanks for the info!
But will you still be skiing your age at 83, Silas? :D
(to those who may wonder, that would mean touring 8,300 vertical feet)
Didn't ask the guy's name, but that 83 year old looked great and skied well! Definitely an inspiration.
(to those who may wonder, that would mean touring 8,300 vertical feet)
Didn't ask the guy's name, but that 83 year old looked great and skied well! Definitely an inspiration.
Thanks Core. I HOPE I am skiing couloirs when I am 83. Frank Neumann (73) and Wolfgang Stefan (80) are my inspirations, but maybe sometime I will also spot the 83 yr old out there! And of course there is Tom Szwedko (68) with his 35 year anniversary (420 months) of TAY coming up in September 2014.
Winning. In a way. That I don't wanna win. But probably will anyway in the near future.