Great trip! Must have been pretty neat to see those bear tracks.

One suggestion for the skins issue would be to pack a few Voile straps. They're light, and 2 per ski will keep the skins on for most terrain.

4/15/14 12:21am

Shred

April 13, 2014, Paradise

Great day to be on the hills!
Saw some sweet lines thrown down this weekend, like the Kautz Headwall and the Wilson Headwall!
A little vid of the days conditions. Everything is Phat, go get it!
https://vimeo.com/92012861

4/15/14 12:06am

Shred

April 10-12, Stuart range circumnavigation attempt

"Like". Dig the ambition!

4/14/14 11:48pm

dave095790

11-14 April Liberty Ridge with Partial Ski Descent

author=Lowell_Skoog link=topic=31441.msg131870#msg131870 date=1397537577]
Was there a route around the ice that was skiable snow?

Lowell, there was not a continuous route around the ice. There were some sections where you could possibly have linked some jump turns, but it would have been short and you would have needed to pull into a rap station to move through ice, or transition back to crampons and down climb.

Beyo...

4/14/14 11:09pm

Lowell_Skoog

11-14 April Liberty Ridge with Partial Ski Descent

I've climbed Liberty Ridge a couple times, but never skied it.

Looking at Photo 6 in Alex's google photos, I was struck by this view:

The ice field on the east side of the Black Pyramid is clearly visible.

You can tell it's bare glacier ice by the color, and it appears to span the entire face around 12,600ft elevation. In most years, this section is all snow (th...

4/14/14 2:33pm

Eckels

April 14, Mt. Thomson Thompson, E ridge

Awesome! That's been at the top of my list for the snoqualmie area especially after 2 attempts!

4/14/14 1:52pm

dave095790

11-14 April Liberty Ridge with Partial Ski Descent

author=tabski link=topic=31441.msg131864#msg131864 date=1397534131]
Can you explain what observations you made that convinced you the slope would be skiable after seeing what you did while climbing?

Strong effort.

We skied a completely different route than what we climbed. Which is semi-against my general technical skiing philosphy (see "Thought/Note 2" above), for the exact reason that you DON'T know w...

4/14/14 1:49pm

LukerBee

April 14, Mt. Thomson Thompson, E ridge

Awesome touring objective, a full days work I'm sure.

4/14/14 1:21pm

tabski

11-14 April Liberty Ridge with Partial Ski Descent

Can you explain what observations you made that convinced you the slope would be skiable after seeing what you did while climbing?

Strong effort.

4/14/14 1:09pm

jtack

April 13, 2014, Lake Louise, Surprise Pass

Looks looks a great day, is the line you skied in the first picture? If so, left or right of center.

4/14/14 12:55pm

Alex L

11-14 April Liberty Ridge with Partial Ski Descent

My pictures: https://plus.google.com/photos/103764998885643953728/albums/6002308739623361137

Overall a spectacular climb. Better snow conditions definitely would have made the descent much more enjoyable. The vthread raps and all the ski-to-boot crampon transistions were good experience though. I think we did a good job of minimizing risk without slowing us down too much.

My Gear:
Boots: Dynafit TLT5P
Skis: Dynafit Nanga Parbat, 179cm. Amazingly light for how...

4/14/14 11:51am

clane

11-14 April Liberty Ridge with Partial Ski Descent

Great report. Way to take advantage of the weather window and get after it!

4/14/14 11:40am

kerwinl

April 10-12, Stuart range circumnavigation attempt

1 mile in from end of pavement.

4/14/14 9:51am

mikerolfs

11-14 April Liberty Ridge with Partial Ski Descent

I'd have wet my pants trying to descend LR in the conditions you describe. Especially with skis and only 30m rappel ability. You guys are harder men than I.

I once climbed Liberty Ridge in prime solo conditions, never put on a rope and kicked easy steps all the way up. Even in that condition I would not have wanted to ski the line; too steep, too long, too scary to imagine a fall.

My hat is off to you two.

4/14/14 8:51am

JPH

April 10-12, Stuart range circumnavigation attempt

author=Good2Go link=topic=31425.msg131840#msg131840 date=1397498285]
the snow line on the road (currently 1 mile in),

1 mile in from where?

4/14/14 6:57am

skiseattle

April 13, 2014, MRNP, Wilson, Van Trump, and Evac

Snoholic,

thanks, I think we were still in the parking lot drinking a beer at that time. The visitor center is closed during the week, so I hope my message to the NPS lost and found works.

Jim

4/14/14 6:36am

avajane

April 10-12, Stuart range circumnavigation attempt

I've met all the Ingalls Creek Bears and they are friendly. I'm not so sure about the Cougars, and I know they are about now. Next time you could go down Ingalls to my cabin at Valley High. Good news your ski boots are all broke in for walking! I want to bust in to the Enchantments via Crystal Creek some time. Sounds right up your alley. I like the way you didn't complain! "If you're not good at planning - it's good to be tough." bai

4/14/14 5:15am

snoholic

April 13, 2014, MRNP, Wilson, Van Trump, and Evac

Your poles were in the parking lot near the bathrooms at 6:15. I almost grabbed them, but with so many people still around I was not sure if the owner may still be around.

4/14/14 3:38am

Good2Go

April 10-12, Stuart range circumnavigation attempt

Outstanding! I've always wanted to ski Porcupine Creek. Do you have any more pics of that descent? If so, please post em.

We skied Ulrichs Couloir on Saturday didn't see any snomo tracks anywhere in the wilderness. Very disappointing to hear about your findings up Jack Creek. Few bad apples. . .

BTW - Stuart was literally mobbed this weekend! We encountered a solo sled-access day tripper at the snow line on the road (currently 1 mile...

4/14/14 3:11am

Skier of the Hood

April 13, 2014, Lake Louise, Surprise Pass

1 more pic

4/14/14 2:58am

z-bo

April 10-12, Stuart range circumnavigation attempt

bad ass effort. athletic tape would have saved you from post holing.

4/14/14 2:47am

jtack

April 10-12, Stuart range circumnavigation attempt

Side stepping or post holing, I hope you have that out of your system, but I fear you may not! Nice evening picture too, and of course 15 miles of ski boot walking, what could be better than that! Insanely over zealous!

4/14/14 12:15am

davidG

April 10-12, Stuart range circumnavigation attempt

nice. bear tracks and awesome cornices add a great touch to any spring tour. pattern base skis are a fine asset when conditions get sloppy.

4/13/14 11:22pm

Jake the Brit

April 10-12, Stuart range circumnavigation attempt

That's an insane trip - you should have a medal for being so insane.
Rock on.

4/13/14 11:00pm

mikerolfs

April 7, 2014, Terminal Cancer Couloir

Spectacular photos! Your boot track looks like it takes up half the width of that couloir, it looks super tight! Great decision to go hunting for this gem. Wow.

4/13/14 2:02pm

Floater

April 7, 2014, Stevens, Jim Hell no more

I was worried about something like what happened in the last pic when I was soloing JH the week before. However, the snow was a bit more powdery and probably a tad more stable, but there is some exposure and got me thinking.

Glad you were not on the tracks when the train went by.

4/13/14 10:48am

kevino

April 10-12, Stuart range circumnavigation attempt

Looks like a fine outing. If you ever need a partner for a similar type trip in the coming weekends I'd be happy to join you.

4/13/14 10:40am

jwplotz

April 10-12, Stuart range circumnavigation attempt

I forgot to add the 4 miles of approach road! So you walked a total of 14 miles dry rd. on this tour. You're crazy obsessed Mike!

4/13/14 5:49am

jwplotz

April 10-12, Stuart range circumnavigation attempt

Excellent trip Mike! So, you essentially walked from Grindstone Mtn. to Bridge Creek Campground?! Isn't that approaching 10 miles? Wow...

Adam Vognild and I did a similar trip a few years ago, but went up Sherpa Glacier and around from there. Skiing down the Cascadian probably saved us a bunch of time, especially as we contoured West towards Stuart Pass as we descended.

Thanks for posting your adventure!

4/13/14 12:22am

aaron_wright

April 10-12, Stuart range circumnavigation attempt

I'm proud of you Mike, I know it was hard not to follow your original plan.

4/13/14 12:13am

Floater

Nisqually Chutes conditions report??

It was very good on Saturday in the afternoon, but today is warmer. I would be a bit cautious with regard to wet slides.

4/12/14 11:55pm

lojok

April 12, 2014, Muir Snowfield

And a word to those who descend via Mazama Ridge - they've plowed the Paradise Road (but still no car access). Prepare to walk (not skin) back to the car.

4/12/14 11:54pm

T. Eastman

April 10-12, Stuart range circumnavigation attempt

Meet nature's needs not some stupid goal...

... looks like a fine trip!

4/12/14 10:18pm

mikerolfs

April 10-12, Stuart range circumnavigation attempt

Oh yeah, I meant to work this in to my report, but missed it:

Snow bike tracks from Wednesday

I saw this and several snowmobile highmark tracks on the Jack Creek side of Stuart Pass well within the wilderness boundary.

4/12/14 3:10pm

mikerolfs

Enchantments, 4.6.14

love this one:

author=kevino link=topic=31381.msg131639#msg131639 date=1396845609]

author=dave095790 link=topic=31381.msg131674#msg131674 date=1396929578]
You could drive about 2 miles past the gate. A pleasant walk before and after. Should be getting less and less snowy by the...

4/12/14 2:52pm

hop

April 7-8 Keith's Hut #hutlyfe

author=Kyle Miller link=topic=31403.msg131781#msg131781 date=1397302016]
#AWESOME #WORK #MAN!!!!!!

wtf are you doing checking TAY from Norway???!?!? Get back in your kayak.

4/12/14 12:22pm

Kyle Miller

April 7-8 Keith's Hut #hutlyfe

#AWESOME #WORK #MAN!!!!!!

4/12/14 8:28am

Jason4

April 10, 2014, White Salmon Glacier

We went in from the ski area and rode fall line down skiers left of White Salmon Creek to about 3000'.

4/11/14 8:26pm

danpeck

April 7, 2014, Terminal Cancer Couloir

Awesome.

4/11/14 1:53pm

danpeck

April 10. 2014, ONP, Mt. Angeles environs

David:

Thanks for the report. We need to get out eh?

Now that the road is open 24 hours and 7 days I might be able to sneak in a dawn patrol or two. I've really been wanting to get out into the Olympics this season and haven't yet.

4/11/14 1:42pm

peteyboy

April 10, 2014, White Salmon Glacier

Sounds like you went down pretty far but where did you enter/exit from?

4/11/14 1:41pm

Floater

April 7-8 Keith's Hut #hutlyfe

Is there still firewood at that hut for the stove?
How is the condition of the hut?
I was there a dozen years ago and it provided excellent skiing and gave us easy access to ski Matier and Joffre. We lucked out only moderate avvie conditions with nice calf deep powder for three nights. It was during midweek and then the hut got a lot less use. Probably now it is heavily used.

4/11/14 7:52am

Good2Go

April 7, 2014, Stevens, Jim Hell no more

Yikes! That slide looks super serious. Glad you guys timed it right.