TR Replies

Dec 29, 2013, Silver Peak

thanks for writing that up, leyland! despite all the hiking and shwacking, it was still a great day. "a bad day in a slide alder thicket is still better than a good day at work". and yeah, there was some devil's club in there, too. fortunately, i managed to avoid that thorny brand of "face shots"!

one of my favorite photos of the day:

1/2/14 4:50am

cjm720

author=Charlie Hagedorn link=topic=30146.msg126383#msg126383 date=1388681109]
Also called the Zipper.

I always called it "Butt Crack Couloir"

A friend did it within the last couple years and said it was dreamy.

1/2/14 4:47am

samthaman

Jan 1, 2014, - Skiing in the land of the Vikings

I was expecting a TR from Ballard

1/2/14 4:28am

Libteched

Dec 29, 2013, Silver Peak

author=Jonn-E link=topic=30146.msg126241#msg126241 date=1388381473]
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?

Super fun line that I have always know as "The Zipper"

https://vimeo.com/75367166 - Seen at 0:47 and 3:16

Also TNT over at The Snow Troopers made a...

1/2/14 4:27am

RonL

The alderman would make a good username ... Or lame superhero

1/2/14 3:55am

mikerolfs

author=telemack link=topic=30170.msg126368#msg126368 date=1388646272]
Mike, do you have a TAY streak at risk here? ???

38 months right now, and I did it on the 31st, so January is NOT in the bag.

author=Marcus link=topic=30170.msg126379#msg126379 date=1388679921]
Arg! So sorry to hear about the break Mike - I've been skiing vicariously through you ;) Heal up fast.

1/2/14 3:02am

IanB

author=John Morrow link=topic=30152.msg126387#msg126387 date=1388683273]
Yep, with good tree skiing in right conditions on high avy hazard days. Access to the summit has steepness unless you traverse all the way to the south ridge:

http://www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboarding/trip_reports/index.php?topic=23906.0

Awesome, thanks!

1/2/14 2:34am

John Morrow

author=IanB link=topic=30152.msg126386#msg126386 date=1388682721]
As we were skiing down we saw some people climbing up the SE face of Silver. Does anyone know how you get there? Is that accessible via the PCT from Windy Pass?

Yep, with good tree skiing in right conditions on high avy hazard days. Access to the summit has steepness unless you traverse all the way to the south ridge:

http://www.turns-all-yea...

1/2/14 1:32am

IanB

As we were skiing down we saw some people climbing up the SE face of Silver. Does anyone know how you get there? Is that accessible via the PCT from Windy Pass?

1/2/14 1:21am

trees4me

Dec 29, 2013, Silver Peak

Very cool. That couloir looks like a nice mix of mountaineering. Keep exploring!

1/2/14 1:12am

Charlie Hagedorn

author=trees4me link=topic=30146.msg126252#msg126252 date=1388427649]Google "Twin Lakes Couloir" and that should lead you to it. It's a pretty sweet line.

Also called the Zipper.

1/2/14 12:47am

Charlie Hagedorn

Muir to Bridge New Years Day 2014

author=telemack link=topic=30170.msg126368#msg126368 date=1388646272">
Mike, do you have a TAY streak at risk here? ???

It hadn't occurred to me in a TAY context before, but perhaps an adaptive skiing program would be willing to help TAYers with streak-threatening leg injuries?

Josh Dueck certainly was having fun in the Freedom Chair. It's been more th...

1/2/14 12:45am

holmtech

Yeah, bridge? Snow looks great. Nice little edit. And way to start out the year!

1/2/14 12:32am

Marcus

Muir to Bridge New Years Day 2014

Arg! So sorry to hear about the break Mike - I've been skiing vicariously through you ;) Heal up fast.

1/2/14 12:25am

Pete A

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.

1/2/14 12:25am

telemack

Mike, do you have a TAY streak at risk here? ???

1/2/14 12:15am

avajane

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!

1/1/14 3:04pm

jtack

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!

1/1/14 12:57pm

avajane

"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.

1/1/14 9:07am

avajane

"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!

1/1/14 5:59am

Charlie Hagedorn

Beautiful photos, and an inspired trip.

1/1/14 4:22am

mikerolfs

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

1/1/14 4:04am

jtack

Dec 25+29, 2013, Muiry Christmas and Almost New Year

It's always nice to have a little quality Alder time to calm the nerves.

1/1/14 3:43am

jtack

Thanks for the wonderful pictures, particularly the sun set shots.

1/1/14 3:31am

lrudholm

Just a little side note lol.

Will be missing his awesome trip reports!

1/1/14 3:22am

lrudholm

Lets see how many slide alder jokes we can make before the next avy cycle. :)

1/1/14 3:20am

Joedabaker

Should have borrowed a saw from NC Heli.

1/1/14 3:06am

ebeam

What a great place; only seen it in April.

Nothing like a good slider alder "meadow" for skiing.

1/1/14 1:56am

lrudholm

Looks like a fun adventure.

1/1/14 1:32am

Rowan Stewart

way to earn those turns, looks awesome! great photos too

12/31/13 1:21pm

lrudholm

@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.

12/31/13 12:38pm

danpeck

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

12/31/13 12:02pm

danpeck

Dec 25+29, 2013, Muiry Christmas and Almost New Year

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.

12/31/13 11:14am

danpeck

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.

12/31/13 11:06am

mikerolfs

Great trip! I really enjoyed the photos. The gulley ascent looked serious.

12/31/13 11:01am

scottb

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 !

12/31/13 10:13am

dberdinka

Dec 25+29, 2013, Muiry Christmas and Almost New Year

You are a badass. Nice work. Some great looking turns.

12/31/13 9:43am

Andrew Carey

nice write-up with beautiful pics!

12/31/13 9:36am

IanB

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...

12/31/13 8:53am

telemack

Beautiful photos!

In the second pic, where are the gentleman's skis?

12/31/13 5:25am

trees4me

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! ;)

12/31/13 4:51am

ShailCaesar!

Thats F*&%ing HILARIOUS!

12/31/13 4:12am

HillsHaveEyes

Approach like that ... the secret is safe.

12/31/13 3:30am

samthaman

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!

12/31/13 1:28am

Amar Andalkar

12/31/13 12:16am

hedonaut