TR Replies

The Muir Games, sponsored by Patagonia's new line of woolies and Washington apples

The statistical and operational arguments for restriction are pretty solid on multiple levels. I had always been under the impression that the cool guys knew how to get keys and then didn't talk about it. I've never been that cool though.

4/22/14 8:27am

swaterfall

author=hedonaut link=topic=31441.msg132221#msg132221 date=1398200415]
This is an interesting tension. Restricted access to MRNP and the N Cascades sometimes seems to defy reason.

This road and HWY 20 are open for snomo traffic all winter. There are closures in effect during Spring periods when snow removal equipment is active. I don't see that as overly restrictive.

If the NPS decides that they want to shu...

4/22/14 8:20am

Scotsman

author=tabski link=topic=31441.msg132230#msg132230 date=1398204566]
What would John Muir do? He would be pissed they paved the road in the first place. He would keep the gates closed all year. He would walk the 15 miles in wearing wool pants and leather boots, sit in a tempest for hours to observe the glaciers, eat an apple and walk back out.

Though the closures can be frustrating, the footprint of your average American visitor is more so.

4/22/14 8:18am

jwplotz

Isn't Dave a federal employee? I wonder how that factors into his decision, if at all?

4/22/14 8:17am

ryanl

Been off the radar a bit trying to de-TAY myself, but then I read this and laugh out loud. Way to giv'er John!

4/22/14 7:56am

tabski

What would John Muir do? He would be pissed they paved the road in the first place. He would keep the gates closed all year. He would walk the 15 miles in wearing wool pants and leather boots, sit in a tempest for hours to observe the glaciers, eat an apple and walk back out.

Though the closures can be frustrating, the footprint of your average American visitor is more so.

4/22/14 7:48am

Jim Oker

author=Charlie Hagedorn link=topic=31518.msg132219#msg132219 date=1398195923]
Perhaps everyone should ski slowly in bad visibility?

Quoted for truth.

Ditto on being glad you only cracked a few ribs, Silas. That sounds like there was medevac potential had that gone slightly differently.

You should stay away from people who make you laugh for a few weeks. ;)

4/22/14 7:09am

Pete_H

author=hedonaut link=topic=31441.msg132221#msg132221 date=1398200415]
This is an interesting tension. Restricted access to MRNP and the N Cascades sometimes seems to defy reason.

I can see why folks are getting their knickers in a twist about these guys breaking the law. On the other hand, what damage has been done by a snowmobile on a snow-covered ROAD? What's the motivation of the NP blocking access to reasonable use of a road, the same r...

4/22/14 7:00am

BillK

As far as I know, snowmobiling is very limited in the park...allowed on just a few stretches of snow-covered road.

4/22/14 6:58am

drescj

My impression from the TR was that the poster thought there would be snow at the gate, found none, and cut the lock to drive to where sledding was possible. Could be wrong.

One possible motivation for leaving gates locked would be to reduce damage to water-saturated roads in the spring until the road bed/surface can dry out.

If NPS and other agencies (USFS, etc) would explain their reasoning for locking off roads it would probably help alleviate the tension between agencie...

4/22/14 6:54am

dale_72

Not trying to hurl accusations, but Kyle's post makes me wonder. I was up around Colchuck Lake on the weekend of this TR...

http://www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboarding/trip_reports/index.php?topic=31381.0

... and parked at the gate closure at Bridge Creek CG on Saturday. On the way out Sunday we passed two vehicles parked pretty far up eight-mile road. I was confused but figured they knew something/someone we didn't because the gate was still closed.

4/22/14 6:47am

hedonaut

author=ash_j link=topic=31441.msg132202#msg132202 date=1398181297]

The need for public management of public resources, vs. being routinely locked out of said public resources... What would John Muir do?

This is an interesting tension. Restricted access to MRNP and the N Cascades sometimes seems to defy reason.

I can see why folks are getting their knickers in a twist about these guys breaking the law. On...

4/22/14 6:21am

Charlie Hagedorn

Whoa - hope the Doctors Wild are taking good care of you.

author=silaswild link=topic=31518.msg132173#msg132173 date=1398133237]Old people should ski slower in bad visibility, eh?

Perhaps everyone should ski slowly in bad visibility?

From Jeff's video, it looks like there are plenty of rollers that hide big drops on the NW side?

4/22/14 6:00am

jwplotz

author=Jake the Brit link=topic=31511.msg132203#msg132203 date=1398184930]
Phoito's excellente.
I was beginning to think you'd abandoned skiing for the entire season. Nice to see you out.
Also I have a couple of old ropes you can have to carry around all the time, just for shits & giggles!

Save the ropes for Slesse, coming up soon.

4/22/14 4:45am

Marcus

Ouch, holy crap Silas. Glad it wasn't worse and you made it out okay. Did you at least get a little daffy-twister-spread in there?

4/22/14 4:32am

Chrols

So glad it was only ribs Silas. Heal quick man!! Fun day and great to meet you all. We'll keep the skis on the snow next time eh?

4/22/14 4:20am

Charlie Hagedorn

It would appear that they did: https://plus.google.com/photos/+AlexLeone/albums/6002308739623361137/6002308748986636850

4/22/14 4:06am

skykilo

This trip report (these trip reports) now officially blow(s) my mind. Kudos on wanting it that badly! ;) :D ;D

But there is a question I feel compelled to ask: do you normally carry bolt cutters in your vehicle? I want more details. Hacksaw? I am truly curious. In any situation where I've encountered such an obstacle, I've never had adequate tools with me. (Not that I would ever do such a thing! These days I am a letter-and-spirit of the law abiding prude who would...

4/22/14 3:08am

Jake the Brit

Phoito's excellente.
I was beginning to think you'd abandoned skiing for the entire season. Nice to see you out.
Also I have a couple of old ropes you can have to carry around all the time, just for shits & giggles!

4/22/14 2:09am

skykilo

April 20, 2014, Diamond Peak, OR

Nice looking adventure, looks difficult and exhausting. Prepare to be brutally second-guessed

The need for public management of public resources, vs. being routinely locked out of said public resources... What would John Muir do?

Can't wait to see how Fox News spins this :p

4/22/14 1:42am

jtack

Thanks for the report, it's on my list, have climbed it in the summer a few times, but would love to ski it.

4/22/14 12:41am

BillK

OK, now this is getting just plain strange!

4/22/14 12:04am

dave095790

OK, the cat's out of the bag.

I cut the lock at the gate. We had a discussion about the options that we had, and we chose this one. Looking back, it was obviously the wrong choice; but at the time, it's the one we went with.

The first two of us met the NPS on Sunday. When we came out on Monday, we met the NPS at the gate. I told the ranger I cut the lock without attempting to conceal anything. We were issued fines and citations for the violation

4/21/14 11:57pm

Lowell_Skoog

author=Alex L link=topic=31441.msg132189#msg132189 date=1398143285]
For future reference, if you call the NPS, they can give you road conditions for closed roads, and tell you if a snowmobile can make it down the closed road, or if you need to bring bikes. Bad planning on our part for not doing this before we drove out there. Lesson learned, won't happen again.

Which is to say... you're not denying that you cut the loc...

4/21/14 3:31pm

Rusty Knees

great video Jeff and Brianna! The music was excellent.
Thanks,
Rusty

4/21/14 2:40pm

Alex L

April 7, 2014, Terminal Cancer Couloir

For future reference, if you call the NPS, they can give you road conditions for closed roads, and tell you if a snowmobile can make it down the closed road, or if you need to bring bikes. Bad planning on our part for not doing this before we drove out there. Lesson learned, won't happen again.

4/21/14 2:16pm

runningclouds

A beautiful objective! What a couloir!

4/21/14 2:08pm

runningclouds

My Gear:
Bolt Cutter: Workforce 24 in. from Home Depot. Awesome, pops lock in no time.
Boots: Dynafit TLT5P
Skis: Dynafit Nanga Parbat, 179cm. Amazingly light for how well they ski.
Bindings: Ski Trab Race
Axes: Quarks
Crampons: Grivel G20. The vertical mono-point's were great for the rock-hard glacier ice sections.

4/21/14 1:59pm

jwplotz

April 21, 2014, Summit Central/Silver Fir

Nah. No rope needed. Easy booting. We had planned to tool around on the north side of Cashmere, and had the rope as a just-in-case. Plus, it's super fun to carry around all day.

4/21/14 1:50pm

Zap

I posted a TR in the wrong area. I came to the same conclusion around 11am. Moguls on the upper slopes. :)

http://www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboarding/trip_reports/index.php?topic=31523.0

4/21/14 1:36pm

runningclouds

18-19 April 2014, Glacier Peak via White Mountain

Erik, you made the right decision 24 hr before we did ;)

I had to google Chiwaukum traverse. It looks very nice, I am adding it to my ever expanding list. Thanks for the pointer and good luck next time.

4/21/14 1:11pm

JasonGriffith

18-19 April 2014, Glacier Peak via White Mountain

I've wondered about that last bit above the col when looking at Cashmere from the Colchuck environs. You need a rope for the last bit, eh?

4/21/14 1:09pm

ErikT

Nice!! I love reading about bold (but safe) objectives shot down... gotta try it! We tried a Fri-Sun Chiwaukum traverse, but ended up making it a Friday day trip with lots of training weight. Given what you guys saw on Saturday - glad we were sleeping in town :)

4/21/14 12:58pm

filbo

Hogback creamy snow and crown slide 4/20

It's the Hogback bowl of Hogback Peak and the cordillera that runs for about a mile or more just a hop skip and a jump from chair 6 of white pass ski area. A primo spot that stays untraveled due to the $50 lift ticket for those without a season pass.

4/21/14 12:23pm

rlsg

Hogback creamy snow and crown slide 4/20

LOCATION?

4/21/14 10:47am

rlsg

April 20, 2014, Tatoosh Range, Castle

Looks cool THANKS!!

4/21/14 7:13am

truthlives

Nice little island in the sun you found

4/21/14 7:11am

jwplotz

author=mikerolfs link=topic=31511.msg132146#msg132146 date=1398098261]
This report makes me think I should go ski Mt. Cashmere this weekend. Great photos John. I like the boot shot with Stuart in the background the best.

I wonder if Loren knew how big a day he was getting himself in to? Bottom of Bridge Creek to Mt. Cashmere, that's around 6300 feet isn't it?

I think Loren believed the skiing:suffering rat...

4/21/14 2:30am

mikerolfs

This report makes me think I should go ski Mt. Cashmere this weekend. Great photos John. I like the boot shot with Stuart in the background the best.

I wonder if Loren knew how big a day he was getting himself in to? Bottom of Bridge Creek to Mt. Cashmere, that's around 6300 feet isn't it?

4/21/14 2:09am

jtack

John, I have to agree with Sol, you were conspicuous in your absence, now you are just like the rest of us, suckered in to a season of frustration and waiting for the weather to change! Welcome to the club!

4/21/14 1:37am

powdherb

I was a bit blasé in regards to the trip report but this cutting the gate move... shit. You're lucky they only cited you. In my experience you would have gone straight to Guantanamo. In any case, I'm sure the next time you set foot back in the park you'll be pummeled with human feces by the numerous TAY'ers that routinely patrol the lower reaches of the mountain. Chapeau.

4/20/14 11:14pm

jwplotz

Exactly Sol. I have no mountain touring cred built up this year.

4/20/14 10:37pm

Sol Wertkin

I guess that's what you get for going skiing this year.

4/20/14 1:39pm

mikerolfs

THat looks fun. I need to get over to that side of the mountains one of these days and visit Mt. Pilchuck.

4/20/14 1:28pm

rlsg

April 14, 2014, Mt. Maude - North Face

very nice!!!!

4/20/14 11:58am

rlsg

AWESOME !!

4/20/14 8:51am

mikerolfs

April 14, 2014, Mt. Maude - North Face

awesome! Sounds like a huge day! That photo from the summit down the line looks pretty intimidating.

You know I think that road is long in a truck. I bet on a snowmobile it feels like a really long way.

4/20/14 8:42am

swaterfall

Two people were citied by NPS for cutting the lock on the 410 gate driving up the road to the White River CG and parking there while they attempted to climb and ski Liberty Ridge.

The supreme lameness of that move could only be made more lame by double posting a long-winded TR about a poorly strategized and executed mission, without claiming the cut lock.

4/20/14 7:47am

tabski