TR Replies
Wow, that's a lot of mileage! I guess you walked from Gold Creek to Hyak, then lift assist up? Then walk back to Alpental? I give you right to claim a circumnav of the Summit-I90 corridor ;)
Sorry to hear Blewitt wasn't everything you wanted. It was a beautiful day from the look of your pictures. Snow usually comes pretty reliably from Thanksgiving through December and then the storms don't make it there as often. Look at Mission Ridge's snow depths and you'll see that 50 inches is a good base there (and it's high). I think I know the area you skied. I approached it from a logging road to the north a few weeks ago but the snow was very bad so I didn't g...
Good photo and the coverage to the HW. Those old guys still breaking trail. ;)
Where did you park? In the little pull out on the south side of the road, just west of the tunnel fan and the old parking area that has signs prohibiting parking?
Thanks for the conditions report Chris. We came close to signing on with you guys, but seeing as how we're headed to High Camp Tuesday for a week, we figured against it. Sounds like we need a bit more to bury that crunchiness. Tuesday looks hopeful...
-Dave
-Dave
Love it back there. Such a fun and interesting approach. Any snowmobiles along the ridge?
We went from... well, at least the view is good...
to "dirting"
to this is looking a little better...
to "dirting"
to this is looking a little better...
Nice work and thanks for the good beta. I was up with my kids at summit central, annoyed at the whiteout, wondering what it was like elsewhere. Conditions improved for us, in terms of snow softening, later in the day, but it seems that visibility gradually deteriorated.
Holy Cow! That sky looks beautiful. Glad you found the sun. We found none such today at snoqualmie pass
Very nice meeting everybody today. Great to ski with a strong experienced group. If anyone wants to ski/stay in touch you're welcome to facebook me. I'll take you on some ridgelines at Le Grande Blewitt! If it snows again...
I may try some more groomed high country over on Nason Ridge by Lake Wenatchee tomorrow - it should be a beauty. I need the exercise to keep up with the likes of the group I was with today...
Brian Izdepski, Edmonds, WA
Groomed acc...
I may try some more groomed high country over on Nason Ridge by Lake Wenatchee tomorrow - it should be a beauty. I need the exercise to keep up with the likes of the group I was with today...
Brian Izdepski, Edmonds, WA
Groomed acc...
I had the feeling on friday that things were pretty stable up there but I didn't have a platoon size group to prove it ;)
Nice work! I really need to get familair with the Snoqualmie area BC, thinking of going out tomorrow!
Nice work! Sounds like you were smack in the clouds the whole day.
Appreciate the detailed findings. Really nice pic too...
Thanks!
Thanks!
author=Robie link=topic=27410.msg115371#msg115371 date=1360390307]
Arigato!
Yuki Oishi des :)
Love the music! Thanks for all your recent travelogue films for those of us who can't justify driving down there as often.
Dang, I was hoping to hit Granite solo tomorrow. That deep slab may deter me though :(
good to here that it was only the clouds that were broken ;-)
When I read the actual lease a few years back, what it said was they the ski area operator could exclude anyone from the area for any reason at any time (in almost those exact words). This was during the winter that they said you couldn't park in ski area lots around Alpental unless you had a lift pass, effectively locking everyone out of the backcountry around Souce Lake.
Andy Fitz, who was with the Access Fund at the time, got involved and the whole thing evaporated, but I'...
Andy Fitz, who was with the Access Fund at the time, got involved and the whole thing evaporated, but I'...
author=Mtnbound link=topic=27303.msg115270#msg115270 date=1360214322]
Hmm...was Kyle using the new (for 2013/14) K2 Kwicker system on that tour?
very astute observation there! i'll withhold my opinion on the interface i haven't ridden and let kyle speak on it. though i think he's out riding wasatch pow today...
Awesome trip! I have dreamed of riding and climbing in Japan for years.
author=bs. link=topic=27337.msg115245#msg115245 date=1360194859]
as i recall there was a bit of a chute down to lost lake from right about where your track stopped on that map. i think it would have made for decent climbing or maybe even a fun little mini run. it's good to know about the better exit--there's certainly enough cool stuff back there to justify a return trip!
Exactly! We wanted to drop in but ran sho...
Thanks Edgesport, they're my buddies pole. They are the new body weight designed backcountry gate racing model.
Bummer about Sunday.
Bummer about Sunday.
From the top of the summit there was a lot of burn as you skied down which made the tree spaces real nice and fast for descents. Don't know how recently they burned but yep and how did you know that have you skied the bc there?
Very cool. Thanks for the TR. I need to make it to Hokkaido.
Hmm...was Kyle using the new (for 2013/14) K2 Kwicker system on that tour? Am I even allowed to ask that?!
Wonderful trip report, looks like you defiantly had some skin in the game. Skiing in the dark through brush, and breakable crust is a contact sport!
as i recall there was a bit of a chute down to lost lake from right about where your track stopped on that map. i think it would have made for decent climbing or maybe even a fun little mini run. it's good to know about the better exit--there's certainly enough cool stuff back there to justify a return trip!
i finally got through sorting my photos... it always takes me longer when most of them are scenic shots. i have an easier time picking out my favorite action photos, but when i'm shooting people skinning through big mountains under great light, i have a hard time culling any of them out! most of our downhill was in the shade, so not to many riding shots here.
kyle skinning through the mank down low. this is when you start to wonder what the exit will be like.
kyle skinning through the mank down low. this is when you start to wonder what the exit will be like.
I had hoped to ski up Saturday but had some obligations. I thought maybe conditions would still be good on Sunday so I talked my wife and a friend into giving it a try. Started skinning up at 9am, switched from skins to crampons at 6000' and went to about 6500 before admitting it was getting too late and the extra vertical on ice was no enticement. Returned to 6000' and put on skis. Dropped 600' or so in weak 3:00 pm sun on in icy snow that left no edge impressions. Just as snow s...
Ha, I just saw this, busted! I had to start training after how my legs felt after the last race! Besides, you're getting race skis and I have to try and keep up!
author=bfree32 link=topic=27358.msg115191#msg115191 date=1360125233]
Don't think it ever really goes.
http://www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboarding/trip_reports/index.php?topic=23625.0
Interesting... also from February. Maybe a chance it could fill on a big snow year as there is definitely some funnel effect that could help fill that in, but it's also super steep so not sure it would compile enough. We had...
And now for something completely different... Thanks for taking us somewhere else! Safe travels.
Don't think it ever really goes.
http://www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboarding/trip_reports/index.php?topic=23625.0
http://www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboarding/trip_reports/index.php?topic=23625.0
Yeah, it was hard to motivate through the white-out but once you got above Pan Point, it was actually a really beautiful day. I thought the ski down was pretty fun too; smooth and fast. Winds were practically non-existent.
Ski in to the hut is pretty quick about 1.5 to 2.5 hrs depending on how loaded down you are. It is the busiest area on the whole road and the hut is more like a party town than a skiers destination. If you are going in on a weekend bring a tent and expect a full house.
As for the ski area lots of options in that drainage. All aspects from steep techy descents to mellow glacier runs. Pick up the Baldwin duffey lake road map and just explore. Lots of options.
As for the ski area lots of options in that drainage. All aspects from steep techy descents to mellow glacier runs. Pick up the Baldwin duffey lake road map and just explore. Lots of options.
How long is the ski into Keith's Hut? I'd like to head up there in early March and would love any tips and tricks you may know about the area/hut/ski zones. Thanks!
Super awesome. Must be fun to get on some bigger lines instead of the usual 'mini golf'.
Nice to see a cool report from somewhere else. Looked like great fun.