TR Replies
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.
has any ever gotten truly stuck above the gate? I'm going to guess that the lawsuit from freezing to death behind a locked gate would be worse than the one MRNP would get from letting people decide their own fate and keep the gate open. Public land should always be "use at your own risk" kind of land.
of course...seems to me a parking garage style gate would be the solution with unidirectional pavement teeth to keep people out but not in.
of course...seems to me a parking garage style gate would be the solution with unidirectional pavement teeth to keep people out but not in.
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. Are we supposed to believe they all clock out at five? Who's making that occasional seven AM tweet? Who's on call for evening emergencies at Longmire Inn?
They could have two staggered shifts from 6 am to 8 pm with six hours of overlap. In the past, Carbon River and Ohana rangers routinely supplemented th...
They could have two staggered shifts from 6 am to 8 pm with six hours of overlap. In the past, Carbon River and Ohana rangers routinely supplemented th...
author=Andrew Carey link=topic=30458.msg127427#msg127427 date=1390328084]
The gleaming slopes this week did not encourage us to go to the Tatoosh.
It still beats walking in to colchuck in ski boots and crampons........not that anyone in our party would know anything about that ::)
Awesome trip Radka! And great photos as usual. I love that place.
Has anyone given you an explanation as to why the heel is falling apart?
author=Patarero link=topic=30449.msg127438#msg127438 date=1390331266]
Are there any snow bridges to get across the creeks to access the middle fin?
Not that I saw but the river is very low so getting across wouldn't be a problem as evidenced by the snowshoers I saw further up the valley.
Great photos. I have been to the hut mid week so its been "quiet". The snow pack was deep at my visits and the low entry was covered. :)
author=Andrew Carey link=topic=30446.msg127430#msg127430 date=1390328425]
The park does not want to have two shifts of LEOs on duty in one day--that means 9-5 open hours.
This seems to be quite clear. Given the forest of alder brush that is required to navigate the MRNP administrative system, it also seems quite clear that it would be futile to suggest that having an employee or two work shifts of four 10 hour days each week wou...
Are there any snow bridges to get across the creeks to access the middle fin?
Sweet trip! Next time, please twist my arm harder, or both arms. btw, have you noticed I don't need those heel things, never had, never will ;D
I have tried and failed for years now to effect some external influence on the spending choices made by park management to absolutely zero effect.
As near as I can tell there is zero accountability of MORA management to anyone or anything; they do as they please, nod their collective head and public input, and continue doing what they want.
The current attitude seems to be that any reduction or even threat of reduction in their budget results in immediate additional access...
As near as I can tell there is zero accountability of MORA management to anyone or anything; they do as they please, nod their collective head and public input, and continue doing what they want.
The current attitude seems to be that any reduction or even threat of reduction in their budget results in immediate additional access...
After turning my car inside out to find it, with no success, I believe that it's mine and just sent you an email.
Thank you!!
Jill
Thank you!!
Jill
Stunning photos, Radka, as usual ;- )
Thanks for reporting out on this area.
Thanks for reporting out on this area.
author=blackdog102395 link=topic=30446.msg127393#msg127393 date=1390280496]
I like this idea. Here's another: Why not make the gate closing 1 hour after sunset/dark? This solves multiple problems.
The park does not want to have two shifts of LEOs on duty in one day--that means 9-5 open hours. Of course, this weekend was a 3-day no-fee weekend, so they obviously could afford multiple shifts of LEOs because even tho th...
Last week, as we were driving to Paradise, we were amazed to see the amount of rime plastered on Pinnacle but especially on Stevens and Unicorn. The gleaming slopes this week did not encourage us to go to the Tatoosh.
Some more video from the day...
https://vimeo.com/84559895
https://vimeo.com/84559895
Sweet day up there and so nice not to have gated road issues.
Nice.
Flocks of birds have flown high and away;
A solitary drift of cloud, too, has gone, wandering on.
And I sit alone with the Ching-ting Peak, towering beyond.
We never grow tired of each other, the mountain and I.
--Li Po
"....lets talk about the insanity that is the 5PM gate closing time. "
I was up there a few years ago when I tried coming back after the gate was closed. I talked to the people at the Paradise Inn, and they came out and unlocked it for me. Not sure if that is normal operating procedure though.
I was up there a few years ago when I tried coming back after the gate was closed. I talked to the people at the Paradise Inn, and they came out and unlocked it for me. Not sure if that is normal operating procedure though.
Nice Photos! Skied the chute for my first time the day after you!
Thanks so much Garth,
In lieu of much of a trip report, I hoped that the pictures at least gave some idea of the snowpack in the area.
Larry
In lieu of much of a trip report, I hoped that the pictures at least gave some idea of the snowpack in the area.
Larry
author=blackdog102395 link=topic=30446.msg127384#msg127384 date=1390276796]
...lets talk about the insanity that is the 5PM gate closing time.
...for me, the 5PM closure is wholly unreasonable any day of the week, holiday or not. As the days get longer, it will become more problematic. Any ideas as to how affect change?
NPS culture is that they are in possession of holy truth and their purpose is to educate (and control)...
The glacier had no visible openings, at least where we normally ski. We turned around mostly because of the strong wind, skiing was actually quite good despite wind sculpted hard surfaces, occasionally hitting ~1/4" packed powder! Of course the corn lower was delightfully care-free skiing.
On Sat the wind kept the higher snowfields quite firm despite the sun. I opted for drops off Mazama ridge and had wonderful skiing. Looked good in Nisqually but was pretty chunky from Pan Point up..
We went up today to check it out. Crampons of all sorts remained in the pack all day. We probably hit the middle and upper slopes a bit later in the day than cascadekid, but I think ski crampons would perform sufficiently. The corn was prime for lapping on the upper mountain by midday.
Thanks for the pics and report. I have been looking at the mountain for the last week wondering what shape the route was in. Do you think ski crampons would have sufficed through the middle and upper mountain or were boot crampons ideal?
I like this idea. Here's another: Why not make the gate closing 1 hour after sunset/dark? This solves multiple problems.
Of course brother, check is on it's way. Seriously thanks a lot it was such a great shot. I look more for artistry and beauty in shots than it being the coolest or biggest or baddest. Though sometimes they both come together.
Appreciate the kind words. I enjoy sharing my long love affair of skiing with anyone that will listen.
Appreciate the kind words. I enjoy sharing my long love affair of skiing with anyone that will listen.
Sound advice from someone that has put in the time and has the experience to make such an assessment; nice post Christoph, looking forward to doing some Mt Hood backcountry with you later this week.
Thanks for sharing.
Sure looks like the same slope that one of my ski partners triggered with some test-stomps at the top back around '97-ish. It was a day when a few test pits nearby showed moderately easy shears, and we'd skied some mellower slopes on roughly the same aspect just a ways south of there. We decided to go check out what I think was this slope, and Dave started the stomping. Nothing. Thought about going for it, and he stepped down to put his uphill ski where...
Sure looks like the same slope that one of my ski partners triggered with some test-stomps at the top back around '97-ish. It was a day when a few test pits nearby showed moderately easy shears, and we'd skied some mellower slopes on roughly the same aspect just a ways south of there. We decided to go check out what I think was this slope, and Dave started the stomping. Nothing. Thought about going for it, and he stepped down to put his uphill ski where...
author=calvinh4 link=topic=30424.msg127352#msg127352 date=1390251905]
I believe it is ~35 degrees. I went back and doubt checked the topi, and it appears to be 35 degree depending where you measure.
35 degrees and wind loaded. I guess that will do it. I like the looks of those trees in the middle. Especially after seeing how even those small trees seemed to provide anchorage. I remember reading about that fatality. It was during a period of instability -...
The area where a skier was killed in late 2002?
http://www.nwac.us/media/filer_public/e2/fb/e2fb0ee1-0994-4fb8-8a91-1095b773f491/cement_basin_report_12_29_02.pdf
http://www.nwac.us/media/filer_public/e2/fb/e2fb0ee1-0994-4fb8-8a91-1095b773f491/cement_basin_report_12_29_02.pdf
author=avajane link=topic=30424.msg127350#msg127350 date=1390248021]
How steep do you think that slope was?
I believe it is ~35 degrees. I went back and doubt checked the topi, and it appears to be 35 degree depending where you measure.
SF
Interesting, I've never actually seen that slope slide before.
How steep do you think that slope was?
Thanks for additional info via nwac web site.
Glad you made it to your favorite mountain hang out!
Another perspective of the upper slopes of MSH as you reached the rim.
Looked like an awesome day.
Looked like an awesome day.
Thanks for the nice report. I said hello to Kenji at VanTrump memorial.
That cornice slide happens almost every year and more than once.
Was the crevasse covered /partially covered at 8200 ?
That cornice slide happens almost every year and more than once.
Was the crevasse covered /partially covered at 8200 ?
Lowell, thanks for the report, I'll be hoping for more snow as well. If you thought some of the conditions were survival skiing, I'm not sure what they would be for me, maybe; "better stay home!". Looks like you were rigged for fast travel.
My friend and I saw you folks up there and then we continued up a ways higher only to find very icy slopes. In fact he chatted with you Kenji. We skied back down sat and had some homemade hard cider about where we met you. We should have not gone up further and just shared the cider with you. It made the ski out really enjoyable. We hardly noticed the ice after that. The snow felt great all the way back to the parking lot and it skied fast. :)
Interesting how the crown goes right around the trees. Scary. Have traversed that slope many times .
Thanks for the great post Lowell. Let's keep our fingers crossed for more snow to make things a little more enjoyable. It looks like the "snow crux" that I was worried about (the Lodge Lake trees area) is still quite thin.
Thanks for sharing your trip, Dick. Here are a few pics including the slide. More here
Nice report! Conditions like that really make every step count!
Conditions were pretty ripe for skating today along the west shoulder of Hurricane Hill ...fairly rare this time of year :) Cougar tracks in the foreground.
Conditions were pretty ripe for skating today along the west shoulder of Hurricane Hill ...fairly rare this time of year :) Cougar tracks in the foreground.