TR Replies
Great report and what a trip! Thanks for telling the story. An inspiring read.
Cool report! Sounds like a sensible respect for the mushy conditions in the mountains last weekend.
I wish I'd had the sense to look for the northern lights on Friday
I'm not sure why some of the pictures aren't showing up, but the site won't let me edit my replies. I guess you gotta just go out there and see it!
One more thing I will add-- the South facing slopes immediately following the Ice-Elation couloir and up Isolation peak were frightening and dangerous in the conditions we had. If you are doing this route plan accordingly, we were forced to wait until sunset to cross the avalanche paths on Isolation, which meant we had to descend to the la...
yeah, beautiful but touchy window! I can only imagine...
I think I've seen that bear, older fellow? Super mellow, I've got a great pic of him (tho could be her) somewhere
Neat idea for a traverse link-up! Appreciate the pics, info., and solid TR debut.
Yes, the ski down from Pyramid features some fine Cascades arboreal combat. Or if you're feeling it, the avy path goes too. Neither is particularly straightforward...
(Would like to see more pics if you can fix their posting.)
yeah you know nature, ephemeral, things change, just like this report, last of the snoqualmie powder then boom! here we are
You've been there before Eric, with these two, looking down the line--
visibility was better Sunday tho, and fatter--and you're right Kam, not oft "in"
As for the ski, not sure, couldn't see anything for a couple second...
Thought twice about leaving that report up eh? I doubt it will become super popular on that line.
What happened to your ski?
That pic is sic! Reminds me of a backlit wave. Thanks for sharing.
Lowell,
That's a good point and actually an interesting discussion point as it pertains to the NWC in particular. There are other routes that I would not descend without climbing, such as the North Face, as that route is nearly always wind hammered. I've actually climbed the NWC in the past and at the time deemed that particular route safer to drop from the top for a couple reasons:
1) Muradh makes a good point that on the NWC there is a risk of someone skiing...
ps44: The drive time for this trip was around three and a half hours so a bit longer than something on CRR or up at Baker. It also seems the access is generally poor in the Olympics requiring a lot of hiking verse starting at snow line in the North Cascades. Lack of trip reports and observations and less robust avalanche forecasting also makes planning a bit more challenging.
Well done!
In regards to Lowell's comment, considering how quickly someone can ascend the WSG and drop in on you climbing NWC, climbing the descent route in some cases poses a potentially more likely risk.
Looks you had a great time. How do you compare logistics of Olympics (travel time from Seattle, hassle) to a trip, say, to N. Cascades?
Lowell, that is certainly the smarter way to go...
Back in the day, it was thought to be essential to climb any seriously steep line you intend to ski. That doesn't seem to be the practice on the NW Couloir of Shuksan, but it sounds like it might have saved some intense moments this time.
When we did the Watson Traverse backwards (1974), we chose to ascend to Ptarmigan Ridge just past the cockscomb. Saves goofing around with Bergschrunds and crevasses. On that day (early March) it was a good decision.
Nice report and shots, was out mid march and traverse was pretty crusty then as well. I agree that steep skiing is one of the finest drugs, and i love getting zapped. Maybe time to check out HG...
Beautiful pictures. Too bad the clouds moved in. What a fun glacier powder ski though! I’d go there for that!
Loved the write up - especially the argument with ice tools and the shitfuck snow. Not dying is always good, buts its also interesting how “not dying” - but maybe almost - is such a part of all types of high angled adventures. The edge really does fuel some of our trips - but like Kamtron - I’m not looking for that 12’ section of white ice above a death fall anymore. With age, the amount of risk needed for full on fun has mercifully declined...Anyone for a long traverse of a beautiful, sunny...
That does sound like a heck of a slog! Skiing all that pow down the glacier and Coleman pinnacle bowl must have been really nice, though.
The schrunds (there are 2) are usually passable until late season without any hucking on the far looker's left (which avoids the lower of the 2 cracks), closer towards Boulder/Park cleaver than the Cockscomb. That place pinches off, whereas part towards the Cockscomb seems to open up every year pretty wide. Worth a read:
Great report, Russman, with a nice psa value. Glad you guys scratched past the ice to the hero snow. I'll be trying to avoid that white ice and explore other runs this year!
Risk assessment in the mountains is an inexact science.
Nice! Do you think the headwall would ski fall-line through the shrund or would you have to traverse around?
@danthemtnman possibly...might be a small hop
We just did that route yesterday. Amazing. The exit was like a 2 mile half pipe. Able to mostly glide the road all the way back to our car. A bit of poling / skating.
Crazy how there's corn in Oregon and even southern WA, it's been dumping snow up at Baker.
Great TR more of those good pictures as well. Me, I want to ski the whole thing in boot top powder, or perfect corn. Thanks!
Tuesday conditions sounded fantastic! Along with a friend I took my 15 year old up Helens Monday the 5th for his first ski. Not many people at all considering reports of pre-permit season! I didn't anticipate how amazing it would feel to do the route with him, just a really amazing day!
Monday the top 2k was awfully firm and never corned up. In retrospect, it gave Quinn a full experience, from skins to ski pons down low to booting the last bit 😂 <...
A partner and I skied St. Helens on Saturday Mar. 27th. Like you experienced, the conditions were very nice for climbing and skiing, although ski crampons were a must early in the morning. Because of the number of skiers the Swift Glacier descent was quickly getting skied out. We shifted over and skied down west of the climbing route, toward Monitor Ridge, to find fresh corn. The forest service estimated there were upwards of 1,000 people on the mountain that day. Cars were parked 2 miles dow...
Looks like a nice outing. Those are some big cornices. -Ben
Helluva first post, Reid! Thanks for the inspiro, and please keep it up : )
Here's a quick video edit with some ski footage from Cashmere & Axis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJWoTv58qXA
Been there but was not aware of some of those lines - nice map and pics. Looks like a great day
Awesome photos and report! I was looking off the summit of south around 11am, you were probably hidden between Middle and North. I've been itching to get out and do this as well... 10k is a legit day.
Pretty epic adventure right outside town.
The snow firm. Few hard patches but I could edge. The road is snow covered after the power lines, but not good enough to skin on unless you like taking skis off every couple hundred yards to cross rock sections
We did a similar after dark descent a couple of weeks ago from the base of the top cliff band. Tons of snow! Super fun.
Approach is hiking shoes for a few miles.