TR Replies
Strong work navigating some tricky terrain, exposure and rockfall! Awesome pics. Did you ever need a rope on the ascent aside from the quick belay on the ice bulge? By chance did you get eyes on the Skillet -- looking to ski that next month.
Perfect timing on the lake -- stunning colors and yet some ice for a fast glide across. Well done!
author=LangleyBackcountry link=topic=31791.msg133621#msg133621 date=1401385459]This time of year, that's a good approach for people who prefer hiking a ways up and down on dirt with skis on their ba...
Is the W run toward Annette still worthwhile? Can you ski all the way down to the trail/lake elevation? I was thinking of approaching from that side sometime in the next week, probably earlier rather than later based on the sunnier forecast.
I was a business partner with Jim for 10+ years. He's a good guy to have on your side.
True adventure! It is not an obviously beautiful line but what an exposure, and the top looks pretty sweet. Congratulations
Just a few more pics and vids from sat 24th and tues 27th
https://www.flickr.com/photos/11723786@N06/sets/72157644919783054/
several ski action shots were hijacked from Snakeman's Silver peak 5-24-14 post (without permission!) thanks Snakeman for the awesome action shots!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/11723786@N06/sets/72157644919783054/
several ski action shots were hijacked from Snakeman's Silver peak 5-24-14 post (without permission!) thanks Snakeman for the awesome action shots!
author=silaswild link=topic=31802.msg133647#msg133647 date=1401405473]
Beautiful clearing weather. 2" slushy fresh snow above 4800' 1-2" nice corn skiing.on west slopes for 1000-1500'.
My First "Real Tour" on AT Gear. Kicked my butt aerobically, but was amazing. Thanks Silas, Zach, Todd, & Eric.
Are those your leashes? If so, I have to ask - clothes line rope or parachute cord?
Thanks all, glad I could provide some pics and words people are stoked on. Gonna be a long summer!
Thanks for sharing - great pics and an entertaining read! I checked out the full report on your blogspot site. My crew had planned on attempting GP over Memorial weekend as well, but changed plans based on the weather forecasted. Your report affirms our decision. Sounds like a reasonable approach on skis is all but over for this season on Glacier Peak. Maybe next year. I love the part about not setting alarms for an alpine start. So true!
Wow! Fabulous. Thanks for posting. That is great adventure.
Great post! Really enjoyed the story and the pictures. Nice to see high quality stuff from other locales.
Another party skinned with ski crampons to the summit of Middle that day, which must have taken some finesse on the ridgeline. As for whether axes/crampons were required: like usual, it was up to the softness of the snow. The difficulty by the summit routes we took was comparable to a slightly-steeper variation the south side of Adams (and slightly glaciated in the case of the WR of S. Sister); just as on that route sometimes you can skin all the way, and sometimes you can't, I imagine that...
author=Charlie Hagedorn link=topic=31786.msg133633#msg133633 date=1401396291]
We were surprised with how accessible the Pole Creek trailhead is; it's barren and dry. The snowline was approximately where our plotted tracks diverge on the approach/exit. The impression we'd gotten from road/trail conditions reports and a call to a ranger station had us expecting a lot more low-elevation snow.
Bring shoes for the fun walk through the Pole Cree...
See all the pics now...very cool and what a great adventure and write-up. Keep posting!!!!!!!!!!!!
author=Edgesport link=topic=31794.msg133634#msg133634 date=1401398478]
Incredible mountain. Is that the route Bill Briggs took to the top?
I'm not sure about his route of Ascent, he descended the east face and down the Stettner instead of down the Ford and then the Chevy, which intersects the Stettner.
Incredible mountain. Is that the route Bill Briggs took to the top?
We were surprised with how accessible the Pole Creek trailhead is; it's barren and dry. The snowline was approximately where our plotted tracks diverge on the approach/exit. The impression we'd gotten from road/trail conditions reports and a call to a ranger station had us expecting a lot more low-elevation snow.
Bring shoes for the fun walk through the Pole Creek Burn.
@rslg - I think if we'd had to get out without the assistance of general/special relativi...
Bring shoes for the fun walk through the Pole Creek Burn.
@rslg - I think if we'd had to get out without the assistance of general/special relativi...
Thanks for the report, I have had my sights on Middle Sisters for a few years, and for one reason or another can't quite seem to get it done. Good to know the trail head is accessible now, great pic as well.
Seems to me that if you chose to participate in a community of skiers such as TAY, and you read, post, and comment here, that it is contradictory to suggest what trip information someone else shouldn't share. The whole point here is to share experiences.
If there is a "local ethic" about sharing information, that is fine for the locals. But unless you are part of that local community there is no way to know if such a prevailing ethic exists. The local may choose to keep...
If there is a "local ethic" about sharing information, that is fine for the locals. But unless you are part of that local community there is no way to know if such a prevailing ethic exists. The local may choose to keep...
Thanks for the great TRs and pics, esp. this one - love those runnels leading down.
author=LangleyBackcountry link=topic=31791.msg133621#msg133621 date=1401385459]
Is the W run toward Annette still worthwhile? Can you ski all the way down to the trail/lake elevation? I was thinking of approaching from that side sometime in the next week, probably earlier rather than later based on the sunnier forecast.
Worthwhile? - yes.
Skiable to the lake/ trail elevation? - no. maybe down to elev. 4200-4300ft...
THE DESCENT
After topping out we looked at the watch and it was just after 10am, upper section was perfect soft carveable corn. There was another group of mountaineers at the top which we passed. on the descent.
Ian making a turn off the top
After topping out we looked at the watch and it was just after 10am, upper section was perfect soft carveable corn. There was another group of mountaineers at the top which we passed. on the descent.
Ian making a turn off the top
Is the W run toward Annette still worthwhile? Can you ski all the way down to the trail/lake elevation? I was thinking of approaching from that side sometime in the next week, probably earlier rather than later based on the sunnier forecast.
Out of all my Grand ski adventures, this one is probably my favorite! Fun climb, too.... Nice job!
author=Rowan Stewart link=topic=31794.msg133588#msg133588 date=1401324477]
sweet photos! Its cool to see a splitboarder climbing with guys sporting skimo gear - nice work! I'm also stoked to see part two...
Ian splitboards as well, but chose the skis for this trip. Wait til we get Matt on some Aliens, watch out!
author=Kyle Miller link=topic=31794.msg133607#msg133607 date=1401338330]
Matt is such a great guy and a very competent ski mountaineer.
Been very fortunate to have toured with him a small bit in the Wasatch.
Please tell him I said hello.
Yep, both Ian and Matt are great mountain partners! Matt is probably lurking, but I'll say what's up.
Looks like an awesome climb! Interested to see how many raps required on descent. Looking forward to the next installment.
The last thousand feet was more-firm, but still soft-enough to be fun. Anything fully exposed to the wind was more firnspiegely, but temperatures were warm enough to keep it soft. Once we were onto sunny slopes out of the wind, it was great!
Nikwax makes a waterproofer for climbing skins that may help, I think wetness is the root cause.
Matt is such a great guy and a very competent ski mountaineer.
Been very fortunate to have toured with him a small bit in the Wasatch.
Please tell him I said hello.
Been very fortunate to have toured with him a small bit in the Wasatch.
Please tell him I said hello.
Interesting track ghosts in that first picture, Silas. Do you think the arc tracks under the cornice are snowmobile highmark tracks? Liked the sunset photo, wolfs.
author=rlsg link=topic=31794.msg133597#msg133597 date=1401330438">
Sounds awesome--unfortunately I can't see any of the photos...
They show up for me.
this one is pretty amazing:
author=Jonn-E link=topic=31470.msg133585#msg133585 date=1401322828]
That is some heinous glop.
Yeah, I was the only one with issues. My skins are 3 years old, think it's time for a new pair.
Sunset shift, missed you.
Not sure if the Scotts Dairy Freeze double cheese I had while gearing up was fuel, or ballast.
Snow was nice. West slope to Annette was really excellent. Thanks to the pair that put in fresh bootpack just prior. Nicely placed climbers left.
On run back towards car sun was almost down, temps cold with breeze, and there was a little bit of refreeze. But the tracks have become practically groomer snow so the trapping crust wasn't an issue.
Cover in...
Not sure if the Scotts Dairy Freeze double cheese I had while gearing up was fuel, or ballast.
Snow was nice. West slope to Annette was really excellent. Thanks to the pair that put in fresh bootpack just prior. Nicely placed climbers left.
On run back towards car sun was almost down, temps cold with breeze, and there was a little bit of refreeze. But the tracks have become practically groomer snow so the trapping crust wasn't an issue.
Cover in...
Man, what's average age of that Wenatchee crew? Has to be getting way up there!
Thanks for the report and photos!
Thanks for the report and photos!
Hmm, might have hit my bandwidth limit for the month on photobucket. Time to upgrade.
Welp, wasn't that. Not sure why you can't see the pics. Anyone else having issues?
Welp, wasn't that. Not sure why you can't see the pics. Anyone else having issues?
I think we hit snow at around 5500'. Those lines off the east side look excellent!
Sounds awesome--unfortunately I can't see any of the photos...
Back before GPS ("back in the day") we got "off route" --so many tracks going every which way in the snow--and so bivied in construction grade rain gear--before gortex-- (a can of lighter fluid was a wonderful thing that I had brought along "just in case") for the night since we couldn't figure out triagulation/declination etc before the sun set. All ended well as we were able to get our game together in the morning using Black Crater Butte and N. Sister...
sweet photos! Its cool to see a splitboarder climbing with guys sporting skimo gear - nice work! I'm also stoked to see part two...
That about raps it up, can't wait for next year!
DAY ELEVEN:
John and I decided to take a rest day, we were beat from touring the last 10 days in a row. Adam was a bit fresher from his rest day on day 9, so he decided to do a long circumnavigation of the glacier we were camping on. It ended up being a 17 mile day with 2300 feet of vert for him, nice effort! John and I made a dinner of Chicken Alfredo and threw some in Adam's insulated mug, I'm sure he was happy to have dinner made when he rolled in...
John and I decided to take a rest day, we were beat from touring the last 10 days in a row. Adam was a bit fresher from his rest day on day 9, so he decided to do a long circumnavigation of the glacier we were camping on. It ended up being a 17 mile day with 2300 feet of vert for him, nice effort! John and I made a dinner of Chicken Alfredo and threw some in Adam's insulated mug, I'm sure he was happy to have dinner made when he rolled in...
What elevation did you hit snow? About this time last year we didn't get onto snow until the Timberline Trail, but previous years before the Dollar Lake fire we were on snow a mile or so below the T-Line Trail. It seems that the snow melts out earlier due to the burn.
And I really like the line off of the east side of Barrett Spur, it's nice and steep.
Nice pics too.
And I really like the line off of the east side of Barrett Spur, it's nice and steep.
Nice pics too.