TR Replies

*Correction: 1,400 ft added (not 3,500!).

1/7/14 2:47am

dpforestry

Great TR, thanks, K!

Despite the unanticipated 8 miles, 3,500 ft gain, and neverending ice, the company on this trip was 5 star, and I would totally do it again...with um, a few minor adjustments (i.e. steel crampons, microspikes, and mountaineering boots!)

I also posted a summary on Cascade Climbers with some additional trip info: http://cascadeclimbers.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/1118582#Post1118582

1/7/14 2:35am

Chamois

Jan 5, 2014, Rainier, Whitman Glacier + Ice Cave

It's not an adventure unless the outcome is uncertain. ;)

1/7/14 2:31am

Amar Andalkar

We continued skinning upward for a bit more, mainly trying to quickly find a spot that was somewhat out of the wind. Topped out just after 3pm at about 8300 ft on the edge of Whitman Glacier below Point 8446, with a rocky rib providing partial shelter from the gusty wind. A quick changeover and we were ready to ski down. The snow was mostly smooth windpack, pretty good skiing could be found by following the smoothest strips of snow.

1/7/14 1:46am

tele.skier

author=alpine-earth link=topic=30240.msg126626#msg126626 date=1389073997]
I've heard the stories of him! If the tales are true he's breathtakingly handsome and the Snoqualmie Valley's equivalent of this stunner

Granted that Hansi is much better at posing with birds, but Hansi couldn't carry his bootbag,... if he actually owned a boot bag...

1/7/14 1:34am

kciari

author=Chamois link=topic=30242.msg126632#msg126632 date=1389111689]
You just need to change your transportation strategy next time - maybe something like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EG7kLjpzsM

It's funny that you said that. We all actually joked about how having ice skates would have been much more appropriate. lesson learned!

1/7/14 1:28am

flowing alpy

January 6, 2014, Alpental

the A for the V >C
b

1/7/14 1:26am

flowing alpy

i have a job for the man in the middle that appears to be on hold.
b

1/7/14 12:59am

Jan 4, Cascade Pass

Thanks guys, I really wish that Devin hasn't of forgotten his SLR in the varying light. Oh well it could of been worse, he could have forgot his boots ::)

1/7/14 12:49am

Chamois

You just need to change your transportation strategy next time - maybe something like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EG7kLjpzsM

1/7/14 12:25am

Snoqualmonix

author=tele.skier link=topic=30240.msg126571#msg126571 date=1389044042]
His casual "Badassery" is obvious to all... as he rockets upward. He's so fast going uphill that the forest service wants to classify him as a heli service. No really, I'm serious...

I've heard the stories of him! If the tales are true he's breathtakingl...

1/7/14 12:21am

Shred

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10202824722558163&l=253313358503958308
A little vid I threw together.

1/6/14 1:53pm

telemack

Way to do the beat-down

author=Lowell_Skoog link=topic=30242.msg126619#msg126619 date=1389069153]
:) This is a breeze...

:D I'm trucking now.

;D Wahoo!

??? Um, how do I stop?

:-[ Oh man, this doesn't look good.

:'( Ouch.

>:( Shoulda kept my crampons on!

1/6/14 1:33pm

Lowell_Skoog

author=lrudholm link=topic=30242.msg126612#msg126612 date=1389065989]
Wow. That first photo needs to be framed.

Scary how fast you could go if you skied down the road in that condition.

:) This is a breeze...

:D I'm trucking now.

;D Wahoo!

??? Um, how do I stop?

:-[ Oh man, this doesn't look good.

:'( Ouch.

1/6/14 1:15pm

md2020

Nice trip report, Frank. Good to see you're getting out.

1/6/14 12:32pm

Pete_H

I slipped on the ice and landed on my back the other day taking the dog for a walk and I think I gave myself whiplash. The ice is an epidemic over here!

1/6/14 12:02pm

lrudholm

Wow. That first photo needs to be framed.

1/6/14 12:01pm

Jonn-E

December 28, 2013, North Cascades Environment

I am so glad you didn't call me! As much as I enjoy our long ski boot walks, that shit looks hideous.

1/6/14 11:39am

Jonn-E

Something about that photo breaks my brain a bit....like the camera shifted during the exposure.

1/6/14 9:44am

kciari

author=mikerolfs link=topic=30242.msg126595#msg126595 date=1389057744]
Trip reports like this just make my heart sing. Keep after it! Good for you for getting it and thank goodness I wasn't there with you. Although if I had been, there is no way I would have let you start up to the col without your skis.

Well thank you very much! It's definitely fun to get out! If you were there I would hope you would have advised me to ju...

1/6/14 9:37am

mikerolfs

Trip reports like this just make my heart sing. Keep after it! Good for you for getting it and thank goodness I wasn't there with you. Although if I had been, there is no way I would have let you start up to the col without your skis.

Also, since the east side of the cascades has been an ice rink for the last month, I have used my Microspikes a lot. For the kind of trail and road walking you were doing, they would have been perfect. Way easier on you...

1/6/14 9:25am

kciari

author=ND link=topic=30242.msg126593#msg126593 date=1389055976]
Also always bring mountaineering boots in the trunk, worst case scenario you look stylish getting beers after.

Yeah....I should really get a pair of those. I only have BC ski boots and hiking boots, and I mostly go ski mountaineering so there's never been a use for mountaineering boots. I think this trip will make me change that tune.

1/6/14 9:22am

Thank you for convincing me that slide alder was the right choice of approach issues! Also always bring mountaineering boots in the trunk, worst case scenario you look stylish getting beers after.

1/6/14 8:58am

kciari

I was trying not to be gross....but since you mentioned it, here are three more pictures. One climbing related, one hiking with crampons on bullshit ice-trails related, and one....well, really gross related.

1/6/14 8:52am

davidG

Jan 4, 2014, Sloan N ridge

@ActiveLifeKC, no comment on the choices... but those are impressive [Instagram] blisters... ;)

1/6/14 8:51am

trees4me

Rad!
So did you get any turns in on the north side or did you stop at the saddle? It'd a great basin, but I figured the snowpack was still too thin. Good to know it's in enough.

1/6/14 8:36am

Vento

Man, you got some great shots. Maybe I should hire you to follow me around one day and make me look good!

1/6/14 7:56am

Mofro

As the song goes, It's a long way to the top, if you want to ROCK and ROLL.

8)

1/6/14 7:16am

Vento

That was my first trip up there, that will be the last time on a weekend for sure. or I need to leave the parking lot by 5:00am. But it was fun thinking about the million people over at Stevens. That parking lot was a junk show.

And we had to stop to take some pictures for a nice lady and her dogs.

1/6/14 7:05am

JimD

My favorite shot from the last run.

1/6/14 6:54am

pipedream

author=ND link=topic=30238.msg126577#msg126577 date=1389046047">
So that was two minutes for photos and the other 13 to take in the scenery? ;)

If by "take in" you mean consume and "the scenery" this (well, the tallboy variety), then yes.

1/6/14 6:50am

Pete_H

Ha. Classic Skyline Ridge trail gongshow.

1/6/14 6:40am

author=pipedream link=topic=30238.msg126567#msg126567 date=1389042157]
the hoard of slowshoers on your tails delayed our first lap by fifteen minutes

groups of athletic women in stretchy ski pants...

So that was two minutes for photos and the other 13 to take in the scenery? ;)

1/6/14 6:15am

pipedream

January 5, 2014, Alpental.

Saw the post on NWH and was confused that it wasn't mirrored over here yet. Excellent shots of what looked to be an excellent tour on an excellent day.

Bonus points for making like the temperature and getting inverted! TR of the year so far, IMHO.

1/6/14 6:07am

pipedream

Too bad the high pressure ridge blocking us from our regular winter weather is breaking down - I was hoping to ski icy moguls down Upper Nash before the chairs started turning ;D

1/6/14 6:04am

pipedream

when the sticker on the rocketbox in the first photo gives the location away, can you really call it secret, much less supersecret anymore?

1/6/14 5:44am

LukerBee

January 5, 2014, Alpental.

Excellent report. I promise not to tell anyone.

1/6/14 5:43am

weaver

Confirming on the stellar sunny conditions. It was a nice contrast between skiing the warmed up Edelweiss bowl and then the cool dry shadowed run down International. Exiting out the lower hill required just a bit of attention and no bases were harmed.

1/6/14 5:38am

LukerBee

author=pipedream link=topic=30238.msg126567#msg126567 date=1389042157]
If I'm not mistaken, you two were the fastest moving splitboarders I've ever seen.

Right, most are slow as molasses. And more attracted to pow pow than Shoer's in tights.

1/6/14 5:23am

pipedream