TR Replies
So cool!
I was in the party of three that watched that giant rock fall at you guys, I thought for sure Jordan was a goner!!
Fancier footwork I have not often seen.
Glad to see you guys gave it another go and had some sweet turns!
The route you are presumably referring to is published in a guidebook that's been out since 2014, and that is owned by virtually every backcountry skier in Washington. If you don't want to share the mountain with other people I'd suggest choosing a route that is not in the guidebook. In the Napeequa Valley alone there are multiple other lines you could have skied where you would have been guaranteed to not see another person all day.
Thanks for sharing. I thought we were crazy to go that way.
Awesome Nick! I've been wanting to check out the north side of Sherpa & Stuart for a while now, glad you guys were able to get it in good conditions.
Such a good corn slope. Last spring it was in prime condition for a number of weeks in April
Gib chute is one of my favorite lines up there despite the menacing ice cliff.
Nice work
No, they definitely didn't ask permission. They were entitled and walked across private property to the "sick" line they read about on the internet (as I guarantee you they never would have found it on their own just being creative and browsing topos). Yeah, it sucks man, i feel ya. That area was deserted 10+ years ago but, yup...the internet. That and BC skiing becoming trendy.
Advice to any others who will listen to a curmudgeon like me: sharing your sweet trip is best done with fri...
@stefan, I don't keep track but a rough estimate is 25K.
Well, at least you don't have to wonder about it from afar anymore, 😂 (Nice work, tho).
When I skied this three years ago, we were the only party on it that day, but when we got to the bottom no less than just shy of a dozen people were making camps for attempts the next day. Good call turning around.
Nice! -- that western slope on Silver down to the lake it pretty perfect.
I've been lazier than you in doing this tour -- I typically leave a car at exit 47 and then as a season's pass holder ride the Silver Fir lift and follow the XC trails to the top of the "Windy Acres" clearcut. Twice I have skied down and across the lake and then followed the open slopes on the western side of Humpback Creek. down to the P2C and then shuffle up that a bit to follow the...
Its a tough one Mike. Id love to blow the internet up with you and take me back ten years to the cascades of my youth but those days are loooong gone. I hate how busy everything is but its just a fact these days. The good news is that 98% of these newer folks dont have the skills to asses when a mountain will be prime for skiing, they rely on facebook and instagram to know when they can go ski something...you and Jaime have lifetimes worth of mountain knowledge to get the jump on everyo...
Continuous snow from the cars. But 2 of us used trail runners til we ventured off the well trodden Annette lake trail. On skins you’ll have to cross several bare creeks and a few other obstacles. Iron horse was solid snow.
BTW, what was the snow like on the Cascades to Palouse a.k.a. Iron Horse, and how where did continuous snow begin?
Thanks for posting - one year I'll have to get to Silver from the Annette Lake trail. Typically, I wait for the forest road to melt out, and drive in (as close to the PCT crossing as possible), or slog it from Silver Fir. I agree - this is some of the best 2K of vertical to ski near Seattle (especially on corn).
First of all kudos to you for making a challenging decision with respect to your own safety margins early in the morning. I'm sure it wasn't a happy experience to drive out there and sleep over only to pull the plug without even skinning out to the line.
I guess I am a little surprised that you would describe this line as obscure, when most people that I ski with have been talking about trying to ski it for some time. Remote and committed, but not obscure at all. Given that someone po...
Whoa. How much elevation gain did you do in 4 days???
How was access to the Colchuck trailhead? FS road still closed? Skiable to the gate?
Sounds like the right name for it - Gibraltar chute. It is next to the Gib ledges. Timing was good - no icefall when we were passing. We heard icefall early morning, on the way up.
It looks like you skied Gibraltar chute on the way down. Are you saying you experienced icefall in the chute?
I have a bit of experience leading WI4+ so I didn't think twice about the pearly gates, there were nice kind of icy steps the whole way up and only one 2 foot 70 degree section of ice that might make someone think twice. We did see one group in front of us though that was dual wielding quarks and very securely kicking in monopoints to get through. I just collapsed my pole and whippet, and used them as per normal.
We were still rocking some fresh snow that hadnt frozen yet, so...
The park has been very good this winter in providing access, even on days I would have thought they would have closed the gate to Paradise. They did close for something like two weeks when they got 100 inches of new snow accumulation--the snow walls along road going up when they opened were actually at bit scary, especially the upper left side of Frog Hollow.
Here's a quick video edit of some ski footage from Ruby & the Triad: https://youtu.be/bPB8YKG4co0
Started the descent at 14:00. Never saw another party the whole day, no fresh tracks before me.
Sounds like an awesome time and sound decision making! Congrats!
Wow, great photos! Awesome week!
Best TR on the front page right now by far!
Thanks for the TR! Were the pearly gates in good condition for just one axe? And about what time did you find the corn ready for harvest in the old chute?
@r1de, we got up there pretty early, and waited while several groups made their (firm) descents. by 12:45 it had started to soften, but not all the way. clouds were moving back in and we were worried we would lose any solar gain we had, so we opted to go for it. the top was firm, but it quickly improved. of course by the time we were back to the car, it was bluebird again 🙃. what time did you drop in?
Mossy has taught you to read "the eyes" and write the thoughts. You "may" move up to the next "level".😀
Great photos. Impressive work!
Monster session! We watched you ski the bottom of your Shuksan route as we climbed up the White Salmon. Nice work
Heard from some people who checked out the NW couloir that it was very busy and had a little ice above and in the traverse.
Points for dog cuteness and small legs going up a big hill - looked like a fun day
I was up there today, unfortunately not the same level of solar as yesterday we waited for a while but can't say it was hero corn...still excellent day though.
Sweet video Mr Ride.
I'm unsure of the PM thing works on new TAY. I'd love to see a high res version of your 1st photo, looking at Thompson. I've wondered about getting over that ridge into the Thompson bowl from Gravel/ Ridge lake area. I'm gonna try to PM you.
Rock on!
Hahaha, only booted up to the ridge and above where your dropped in, so your skin track should be safe.
ARE YOU THE ONES WHO PUT A BOOTER IN MY SKIN TRACK???????? not cool.
It was actually just past the second switch back, so a little less than a mile up FS 1540