TR Replies
Arg! So sorry to hear about the break Mike - I've been skiing vicariously through you ;) Heal up fast.
to the bridge? really? perhaps you are joking and i haven't had enough coffee yet this morning to realize it. didn't look skiable that low as of a few days ago.
nicely done... looks like good conditions.
nicely done... looks like good conditions.
Mike, do you have a TAY streak at risk here? ???
Luckily 6 weeks is a very short time. Certainly not long enough time to risk a more prolonged injury/condition by pushing it. If we ever get some some snow on Blewett, I'll try to get you over to some of the areas I go to. We can send Mike pictures to help with his rehab!
We actually had a conversation about what if's and decided it would be tough sledding to get out of where we were.
He is to modest to say, but Mike managed to ski off under his own steam. I stopped in for a visit he is fine, just totally discouraged, and trying to think of a way to be skiing quicker than six weeks!
He is to modest to say, but Mike managed to ski off under his own steam. I stopped in for a visit he is fine, just totally discouraged, and trying to think of a way to be skiing quicker than six weeks!
"I don't always mix with Alders, but when I do I prefer the mix to be Devil's Club."
My friend Scott Presho introduced me to Alders and Devil's Club many years ago. He paid the price that day by letting a dormant Devil's Club head slip off his boot and lodge in his forehead.
My friend Scott Presho introduced me to Alders and Devil's Club many years ago. He paid the price that day by letting a dormant Devil's Club head slip off his boot and lodge in his forehead.
"Nasty beating by Alder" is quite the picture of backcountry skiing! Sure sorry to hear of Mike breaking his leg. In retrospect it was a pretty good deal it didn't happen in the middle of nowhere (where he's been skiing lately). Dragging him out through the brush, and rocks, and iced over dirt trail would have been much more of a problem!
Beautiful photos, and an inspired trip.
The shame and irony of getting hurt skiing slow on a groomer at the ski area. Ug.
Jamie that was a great trip and although the soft snow exposed us to rock contact potential, the skiing was better and more consistent than what is available next door at the ski area. Here are a couple of the hazards encountered at Mission Ridge the next day:
My sis getting buzzed by a snow biker
Jamie that was a great trip and although the soft snow exposed us to rock contact potential, the skiing was better and more consistent than what is available next door at the ski area. Here are a couple of the hazards encountered at Mission Ridge the next day:
My sis getting buzzed by a snow biker
It's always nice to have a little quality Alder time to calm the nerves.
Thanks for the wonderful pictures, particularly the sun set shots.
Just a little side note lol.
Will be missing his awesome trip reports!
Will be missing his awesome trip reports!
Lets see how many slide alder jokes we can make before the next avy cycle. :)
Should have borrowed a saw from NC Heli.
What a great place; only seen it in April.
Nothing like a good slider alder "meadow" for skiing.
Nothing like a good slider alder "meadow" for skiing.
way to earn those turns, looks awesome! great photos too
@AMAR
I found it first buddy ;)
For everyone else......
If you go, be careful you can ski it in blower pow from top to bottom instantly becoming an addict. Then suddenly you'll find yourself on your knees and elbows muttering and cursing in an endless thicket of alder.
I found it first buddy ;)
For everyone else......
If you go, be careful you can ski it in blower pow from top to bottom instantly becoming an addict. Then suddenly you'll find yourself on your knees and elbows muttering and cursing in an endless thicket of alder.
I need to live closer to the north cascades! To me, the views up there are worth any amount of suffering… which is usually not so bad and the rewards are tremendous
Very cool!
I agree that the advantages to a late winter with lots of clear weather is climbing and access opens up adventures that are normally unsafe. Nice work.
I agree that the advantages to a late winter with lots of clear weather is climbing and access opens up adventures that are normally unsafe. Nice work.
It was the winter of despair…. :(
I am very hopeful for a good, or at least, better spring.
Great story Amar. I enjoy your keen observations.
I am very hopeful for a good, or at least, better spring.
Great story Amar. I enjoy your keen observations.
Great trip! I really enjoyed the photos. The gulley ascent looked serious.
Thanks for inviting me on the trip Eric, always great to get out with you and Chuck! Nice to meet Owen also( and thanks for the photos!). See you guys this Spring, and hopefully will have a good snow pack to slide on when I get back from AK !
You are a badass. Nice work. Some great looking turns.
nice write-up with beautiful pics!
author=telemack link=topic=30152.msg126309#msg126309 date=1388523071]
Beautiful photos!
In the second pic, where are the gentleman's skis?
Thanks! We did a little exploring towards the summit after dropping off our skis. Good eye...
Beautiful photos!
In the second pic, where are the gentleman's skis?
In the second pic, where are the gentleman's skis?
Looks like a gem of day! Thanks for the snowpack update.
PS. I hope Volken's new book finally lists this tour. It's gonna be the new slot! ;)
PS. I hope Volken's new book finally lists this tour. It's gonna be the new slot! ;)
Approach like that ... the secret is safe.
author=Amar Andalkar link=topic=30157.msg126286#msg126286 date=1388475694]
Stop posting about my Secret Stash©™!!!
Anyway, glad to see that you guys found some good snow (way) up there.
Does anyone have GPS coordinates for that tour? :)
looks like fun!
Stop posting about my Secret Stash©™!!!
Anyway, glad to see that you guys found some good snow (way) up there.
Anyway, glad to see that you guys found some good snow (way) up there.
Looks "fun"
Thanks for the report!
Thanks for the report!
Skinning with alacrity? I'll take that! :)
And speaking of good ski buddies-- having someone along who can save your life and another who will rid the world of war and nuclear threats is not a bad way to go eh!
And speaking of good ski buddies-- having someone along who can save your life and another who will rid the world of war and nuclear threats is not a bad way to go eh!
Nice to run into you Oyvind. I have been skiing off the summit area for the past few days. Surprisingly good snow was available on most aspects above about 4500'.
Zack
Zack
author=danpeck link=topic=30125.msg126247#msg126247 date=1388421829]
yea… Brethren, let us all join hands and pray for snow
Amen....................
Glad I'm still working 7 days a week, otherwise I'd have to think up another excuse not to go up there.................... ;)
Coincidentally, Jan hiked out to Hurricane Hill on Friday, brought back some similar pictures.
Gary
Yeah, Mack. I had mentioned to Dan that even if the skiing isn't the best, I have no doubt we're making the most of what's available.
Can't help but mention that we saw NO OTHER SKIERS beyond the resort boundary on a sunny Saturday during the holiday break at one of the few accessible areas with skiable snow.
???
I know there are times when some feel the backcountry is crowded. These are not those.
Can't help but mention that we saw NO OTHER SKIERS beyond the resort boundary on a sunny Saturday during the holiday break at one of the few accessible areas with skiable snow.
???
I know there are times when some feel the backcountry is crowded. These are not those.
re: slides
Ah, the ones we saw must have been the Christmas eve slides you describe. We assumed they were fresher. There are one or two photos in the linked photo album...
Ah, the ones we saw must have been the Christmas eve slides you describe. We assumed they were fresher. There are one or two photos in the linked photo album...
author=kneel turner link=topic=30145.msg126254#msg126254 date=1388429998]
Remember, kids:
A good ski buddy:
-Possesses Wasatch hemoglobin and breaks trail all day.
-Has the restraint to not post pictures and video of you skiing like a Gaper.
Yes, Dan sets skin tracks with alacrity and speed.
Ed, you looked good in that one vid! 8) Better touring than I've had in a while.
Thanks Dan,
Another great day out on skis. You're a good ski buddy.
Remember, kids:
A good ski buddy:
-Has a beacon, shovel, and probe, and knows how to use them.
-Skis challenging terrain in control.
-Possesses Wasatch hemoglobin and breaks trail all day.
-Has the restraint to not post pictures and video of you skiing like a Gaper.
Another great day out on skis. You're a good ski buddy.
Remember, kids:
A good ski buddy:
-Has a beacon, shovel, and probe, and knows how to use them.
-Skis challenging terrain in control.
-Possesses Wasatch hemoglobin and breaks trail all day.
-Has the restraint to not post pictures and video of you skiing like a Gaper.
author=mattgoyer link=topic=30144.msg126236#msg126236 date=1388374026]
We saw a few small slides ...
Thanks for the report Matt. Good call to not travel the White Salmon valley without much snow.
I am curious what you mean about the “small” slides? Were you referencing the existing slides on the north side of Table (which are not small)? These slides broke at the base of the cliff bands on much of Table’s north s...
Cool. We were in there on Saturday. Took the tree-farm and didn't think it was that bad, we even skied down it. The pond looked pretty blue in the center, so we hugged the edges... It was a solid frozen rain crust on Saturday, but it sounds like Sunday was better with a bit more warming.
Google "Twin Lakes Couloir" and that should lead you to it. It's a pretty sweet line.
Google "Twin Lakes Couloir" and that should lead you to it. It's a pretty sweet line.
I was up there with some other TAYers on the 26th. As mentioned, the off-piste scoured surfaces are terrible if not unskiable. Breakable water-ice broccoli. However, the White River glacier held decent skiing, and we were able to exit without removing out skis.
We saw some totally ignorant snowshoers come close to getting creamed by rockfall. One of them also nearly slid into the fumarole, and they had no idea the insanity of what they were doing!
We saw some totally ignorant snowshoers come close to getting creamed by rockfall. One of them also nearly slid into the fumarole, and they had no idea the insanity of what they were doing!
Nice write-up and pics(!) on the blog. I always enjoy a dicey trip report with a happy ending. Thanks for sharing.
yea… Brethren, let us all join hands and pray for snow
looks like a cool tour for sure. Glad to hear the conditions are holding out. is the usual approach up the smith brook drainage?
Nice, thanks for the report. Glad you made it down without crashing (like a buddy of mine did).
More pics and a couple videos unedited to show conditions.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/danpeck/sets/72157639181103954
http://www.flickr.com/photos/danpeck/sets/72157639181103954
Also I should add that I spied a nice looking couloir on an unnamed mountain across from Twin Lakes. It's pretty obvious. Has anyone done this line before? Is it as fun as it looks?
Two thumbs way up on the TR. That col looks super fun.