TR Replies
Juneuary 16, 2014, Mount Rainier, The Turtle to Nisqually Bridge via Van Trump Glaciers
An exceptionally nice day with exceptionally good snow conditions, a pleasant surprise to find the snow surface already well-consolidated on all aspects and mostly smooth corn on steeper southerly aspects just 2 days after the major storm cycle ended. What a way to get Juneuary really rolling!
An exceptionally nice day with exceptionally good snow conditions, a pleasant surprise to find the snow surface already well-consolidated on all aspects and mostly smooth corn on steeper southerly aspects just 2 days after the major storm cycle ended. What a way to get Juneuary really rolling!
WITH APOLOGIES TO ARLO GUTHRIE
Leavin’ Kitsap County on Hood Canal Bridge,
Onto the Olympic Peninsula.
Skiin’ the inversion with a friend of mine-
Could we ever feel much cooler ?
Comin’ into Port Angeles
Fog so thick I thought that I’d freeze;
Don’t check for chains if you please,
Mister Ranger Man.
Climbin’ up on Mount Angeles
One boot is on snow, one on screes
Why on earth did we bring skis,
Mister Runcle Man?
...
Leavin’ Kitsap County on Hood Canal Bridge,
Onto the Olympic Peninsula.
Skiin’ the inversion with a friend of mine-
Could we ever feel much cooler ?
Comin’ into Port Angeles
Fog so thick I thought that I’d freeze;
Don’t check for chains if you please,
Mister Ranger Man.
Climbin’ up on Mount Angeles
One boot is on snow, one on screes
Why on earth did we bring skis,
Mister Runcle Man?
...
The north side looked pretty rough. We decided not to ski it as it looked crusty, icy, windblown and frankly more trouble than we thought it would be worth. I think you could find some turns on the west side of the bowl but they would be hard won.
Saw my buddy Alex booting across from Second Top and he said he thought it was not worth it for turns as well.
Saw my buddy Alex booting across from Second Top and he said he thought it was not worth it for turns as well.
Well now that looks like the place to be!
Hey… I hope the hear a report on that one! N facing looks like it at least has snow ;D
Nicely done. Great pictures and write up.
I think anything south facing and getting a lot of solar radiation are the only viable options right now..nisqually chutes. In the case of Heliotrope ridge (not an expert at weather and such), but we thought that maybe the warm air currently in the area is slowly melting the snow during the day and then freezing during the evening. Especially on north facing slopes. Repeating this process everyday creating essentially a sheet of ice with nothing to grab an edge on. Just a...
That sounds rough. I wonder how the south side would be. Maybe ok as long as you ski down when its corn vs an ice sheet?
Wow, great effort. Sounds like rough conditions. Hope we get at least a smattering of new snow before the race.
Flickr hides their URLs pretty well, for sure. I should probably add a Flickr-specific section to the photo instructions.
Flickr hides their URLs pretty well, for sure. I should probably add a Flickr-specific section to the photo instructions.
Thanks Lowell, we relied heavily on your previous report(s) for preparation.
Nigel and I were both in awe of the old-timers once we hit the 5-hour mark and realized how much farther there was to go.
Sorry about the links to Flickr, it's a hassle to get the URL but I think I have all of them corrected now.
Nigel and I were both in awe of the old-timers once we hit the 5-hour mark and realized how much farther there was to go.
Sorry about the links to Flickr, it's a hassle to get the URL but I think I have all of them corrected now.
Now that's a BC skiing photo. Thanks - way to get it! Updated cover shot, Marcus?
Strong work guys. Especially with splitboards.
Narrow skis make a big difference when traversing hard snow. Brandon and I were on 65mm-underfoot skis. With ski crampons you can be pretty comfortable on skis that narrow. Still, having whippets, an ice axe, or even boot crampons is a good idea on the Silver Peak trail right now.
You really have to respect the old-timers who r...
Narrow skis make a big difference when traversing hard snow. Brandon and I were on 65mm-underfoot skis. With ski crampons you can be pretty comfortable on skis that narrow. Still, having whippets, an ice axe, or even boot crampons is a good idea on the Silver Peak trail right now.
You really have to respect the old-timers who r...
You need a permit for overnight camping. Parking allowed only at Narada & Paradise.
http://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/upload/Winter-Camping-Nov13-Wmap.pdf
http://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/upload/Winter-Camping-Nov13-Wmap.pdf
What is the current process for overnight parking? Are you supposed to obtain some sort of pass? Is anybody up there doing rounds after 5?
author=Pete Alderson link=topic=30446.msg127457#msg127457 date=1390350548]
The person working the front desk at the Longmire Inn has the gate code, so I don't think its possible for anyone to get locked-in on the uphill side.
I think the Longmire Inn desk clerk goes off-duty at 11 pm. After that, one might need to call 911 or start knocking on doors in the Longmire residental area. :-[
I enjoyed the story too. "used to be a free-skier" :)
Cool write-up on your blog, man. Nice photos of your Hood tour, too.
"The difference between communists and facists is that at least facists take the time to lie to you"
author=andybrnr link=topic=30446.msg127543#msg127543 date=1390507674]
This sort of ridiculous access policy is why I cannot favor expansion of North Cascades National Park (or really any others for that matter).
Amen!
Both Larry and I ski on Trabs- they are awesome! I was at Crystal on Wed and was skiing with an ex patroller from Oregon whose nephew was a Randonee champion. There was much talk about the all mountain capabilities of these skis. As we headed down to the bus he cautioned me not to leave my skis alone for even one minute at the bottom… Don't think that someone won't recognize them.
well now that that has all been said....
Hi Larry's sister - nice to see the Sasse mtn team at work this year.
Noticed your TRAB set up - my second year on those skis - love 'em! Great fun in so many conditions.
Noticed your TRAB set up - my second year on those skis - love 'em! Great fun in so many conditions.
author=savegondor link=topic=30446.msg127546#msg127546 date=1390513522]
Clearly it's going to take an act of Congress. NPS probably just needs to go away. ...
No, it is going to take a Congress that has not been bought and sold by corporations and the military-intelligence-industrial-civilian conractor complex and one that is interested in the welfare of the people, the environment, and the forests and parks.
author=kamtron link=topic=30446.msg127541#msg127541 date=1390501219]
We were late last Saturday (by 30 min), and the rangers said they may start giving fines to repeat offenders.
Randy said
One way to test the situation is to be a repeat offender and see if they follow though on their threat of ticketing. If they actually do then contest the ticket and use it as means to challenge the current operat...
author=vogtski link=topic=30446.msg127454#msg127454 date=1390348245]
The plow drivers and much of the Maintenance Division have worked ten-hour days for decades. It wouldn't surprise me if many of the LE rangers currently do too. ...
Could have, would have, should have. The voice of god (Supt. King) said they could keep open 7 days/week with a 9-5 schedule. What counts as LEO hours? DO YOU KNOW? Tra...
author=savegondor link=topic=30446.msg127546#msg127546 date=1390513522]
... Let the states manage the parks like the states manage Medicaid. ...
LMAO!!!! Washington has decided its parks have to be operated off user fees only; they have closed some and threaten to close others. Our WA Parks are a mess!
I've heard the Longmire people do take down your name & plates. Plus, you'll see the rangers taking down license plate numbers at the end of the day.
One way to test the situation is to be a repeat offender and see if they follow though on their threat of ticketing. If they actually do then contest the ticket and use it as means to challenge the current operating scheme.
Just wondering, when they open the gate for you after five -- do they ask to see ID and take a record your ID and the vehicle plate number? If they aren't doing that...
Just wondering, when they open the gate for you after five -- do they ask to see ID and take a record your ID and the vehicle plate number? If they aren't doing that...
Clearly it's going to take an act of Congress. NPS probably just needs to go away. Let the states manage the parks like the states manage Medicaid. The Feds can give incentives to states that manage well and shut down the parks in those that don't. Use it well or lose it (like Medicaid). Or hand it over to the Forest Service...I've had much better costumer services/PR experiences with those folks. And for God's sake take away the guns from...
This sort of ridiculous access policy is why I cannot favor expansion of North Cascades National Park (or really any others for that matter). This mindless bureaucracy is nuts. Heaven forbid people decide for themselves when to come back down... They're content to let you camp out overnight, but exit after twilight and we fine you? How many people are now going to risk injury trying a speed descent to get back through the gate so they don't get put on "the list"? Madness.
We were late last Saturday (by 30 min), and the rangers said they may start giving fines to repeat offenders.
When we first started going to Sasse Ridge over 15 years ago we would talk about how each year was a gift and we never knew if we would be back the next year. After all these years the accumulated memories are the best ever! We often talk for hours in the dark at "happy hour" outside our tents, remembering this or that year, and all the different conditions that make backcountry ski camping so unique. Every year we look out over the valley in the dark and wonder if anyone else is out t...
,great area, I never really remember it until it gets posted. A bit of a hidden gem, gold mines and all!
Thank you all again!
Yes, it does seem that knowing how to build an igloo is an essential part of the Canadian curriculum. The 10-year old boy told me he has been skiing since he was 18 months old. I am not quite sure I knew how to walk at that age. He was also using terms like "slab" and "crust" like a pro - I doubt his peers would even know what he is talking about.
Feel free to share pics! There are a few more here: http://radkaandchris.smugmug.com/S...
Yes, it does seem that knowing how to build an igloo is an essential part of the Canadian curriculum. The 10-year old boy told me he has been skiing since he was 18 months old. I am not quite sure I knew how to walk at that age. He was also using terms like "slab" and "crust" like a pro - I doubt his peers would even know what he is talking about.
Feel free to share pics! There are a few more here: http://radkaandchris.smugmug.com/S...
Wonderful pictures, thank you sharing. If ok, I would love to share one or two this Monday on my skiing related FB page for the "Monday Shot".
Nice one boys!
Jake, there are some good photos of the whole area in this report on nwhikers...
http://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8009180
Jake, there are some good photos of the whole area in this report on nwhikers...
http://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8009180
I came into this post late, but want to add that the photo's are beautiful. By now I would have thought that Washingtonians should know that Canadians know how to party, ski, and certainly build Igloos. Building Igloos is part of an intensive 8th grade examination they all have to go through! I will be watching the Super Bowl with my Canadian Friends in a couple of weeks as it is my monthly duty to travel to the frozen north and check out the Igloos, Whistler/Blackcomb skiing, and the "...
author=Jake the Brit link=topic=30467.msg127499#msg127499 date=1390412110]
Have you got any more pics?? Looks great.
I only took a few iphone snapshots. My brother took some pictures. Perhaps he'll post later.
Have you got any more pics?? Looks great.
author=smsherman link=topic=30456.msg127488#msg127488 date=1390373693]
Marcus - good eye! I didn't see the chief there. I think I can see the top of Angel's Crest ;D
Radka - the photos and report are great! thanks so much for sharing!
Ha! Hi Stephen - yup, and the last couple pitches of the buttress. Bet it's nice and dry right now too, maybe I should skip my schoolwork...
Marcus - good eye! I didn't see the chief there. I think I can see the top of Angel's Crest ;D
Radka - the photos and report are great! thanks so much for sharing!
Radka - the photos and report are great! thanks so much for sharing!
Radka, I'm throwing in with everyone else, absolutely wonderful photo's. Thanks!
Really great photos, Radka. Please post more!
author=ND link=topic=30458.msg127452#msg127452 date=1390346162]
It still beats walking in to colchuck in ski boots and crampons........not that anyone in our party would know anything about that ::)
I know not of what you speak...I've never had a sufferfest in crampons!
I have to say accurate TR and great photos. Now I guess we know why there weren't other reports from people getting out in the Tatoosh. #icec...