TR Replies
Thanks for the comments, all. These shots were almost just a toss-off at the time of shooting, so I have been thinking all week about how I could go back to get an even better photo. (This one was 6 or 7 exposures with an old 135mm lens on a Pentax K5iis, quickly shot handheld, then stitched together on the computer with Hugin.) But I'm also realizing I was lucky to get the combination of good visibility and good light with all that interesting human activity on the beautiful snowcover. We'll...
I went back today and didn't find any stuck cars, so no huts or jumps unfortunately. After the storm on Monday there is no way someone is getting up there with a car!
Wow! I just skied that road. That was beyond foolish to have tried to drive it! Snowcats only!
Good way to get out there!
I agree, Friday was totally bust. I missed out on Saturday but had a nice ramble to finish the weekend.
Crowded in the nearby zones, I think I'll abstain from posting in those areas to not encourage the herds
Nice photo, Frank! The large shadows on the right beneath Little T closely coincide with the most active slab avalanche zones each winter.
"Does this mean we have a new hut in the Central Cascades?"
Naw -- it's a jump for for snow machines
"The road was pretty interesting - at least one person made it all the way to Smithbrook TH (probably slower than skinning). On the way out we saw 3 stuck cars carrying Christmas trees just a few hundred feet from Highway 2. There was a tow truck trying to get in from Highway 2 but it didn't look like he was having any luck."
Does this mean we have a new hut in...
...sounds like you had a stout weekend. Congrats!
That's a compelling photo of Shuksan (unless I'm wrong?) wearing it's winter outfit, with extra uptrack action.
Beautiful day out there! Wonder if we crossed paths, was there a party of two right behind you when you skied off the summit? We skied the same couloir then went over to McCausland.
The road was pretty interesting - at least one person made it all the way to Smithbrook TH (probably slower than skinning). On the way out we saw 3 stuck cars carrying Christmas trees just a few hundred feet from Highway 2. There was a tow truck trying to get in from Highway 2 but it didn't look like he wa...
Complex on the whiteout navigation scale, simple/challenging on the avalanche terrain exposure scale.
Great TR! Skied a couple of these yesterday. Such a beautiful area. Those icy volcanic cliffs are pretty unique - haven't seen anything like that in Washington before. Reminds me of Hyalite.
Also, for the exit, we started skiing W from the peak N of East Peak and gradually traversed S skiing a good bit of fall line. Intersected the road at the northernmost switchback at about 5,000'. Found some great preserved powder here - best snow of the day. Good option for the sunny days to avoid...
That's a great photo. It's no wonder people get lost on the Muir Snowfield when the clouds roll in. The photo shows how complex the terrain actually is.
Stellar, photo Frank. I reckon there's some substantial work behind the scenes, thanks.
Photography on TAY has always been so strong.
Really enjoyed the telescopic view. Thank for posting.
Thank you for the great photo. I enlarged and could "see" many of the "lines". It provides a look of areas you have skied or some have mentioned in a ski report.😃
Who needs to get home for tea when you bring it with you?
Sounds like a nice ramble
This reminds me of a too early in the season tour on Jim Hill a few years ago. We went up via Lanham Lake and found it so heinous in low snow conditions that we decided to descend via Henry Creek. "Couldn't be worse than what we climbed up . . ." How wrong we were. I remember a point, in fading light, where I threw my skis down a 10' drop and then jumped after them, aiming for what looked like a deep enough patch of snow that I might not break both of my legs on landing. Good times!
This crew gets the prize for November turns - I think you squeezed all the juice Nov had in it (saying this in reaction to this and other TR's of yours this month). Well done!
Wow, good on you, guys - we were thinking about Catherine yesterday, but gave that idea up quickly, thinking it'd be a leg-breaker coming down the steep chute(s) in the dense trees. I bet you found solitude up there, which is worth a lot.
A GREAT team for a steep couloir. We have skied "Cascade Concrete" but the photo of Zach skiing thru the trees explains it.
The photo of Zach and Kyle viewing the "objective".😀
Nope! Clear sailing yesterday. a little compact snow/ice on the road but very manageable. Biggest risk in parking lot are people and dogs roaming about.
Sounds like a blast! Any snow on the roads/trouble getting to the parking lot?
Great TR. Thank you
Which mapping software did you pull those maps from?
Nice report! Only 10 cars at Smithbrook mid day. Good day to be out!
It was been a decade since I was there. Your trip report and photos bring back good memories. Kyle with the "soaring eagle" pose and Zach flying down. Thank you. 😂
Very nice. And the main reason I've given up lift skiing and easily accessible backcountry on weekends! See the photo of Crystal in the lift accessed reports as evidence. Good for you guys getting out and thanks for the conditions report.
Cool shot of the alien invasion. Now we know where meet them in the spring.
When a friend & I discovered that backside full of couloirs 35 years ago it was something special and given the heavy touring equipment at the time, a hard day. It's been mentioned but one time I know of & the avy run-outs tell you it's potential on a bad day. Once, a herd of mtn. goats ran up the ridge to maybe 50 feet before they saw us & retreated. After the laughter died, did a ski cut, thought it safe and a final jump sent the hill. Good on your team for pulling this off.
That's a tr that makes mine look so small. Great photos and prose. Well done. If you ever want to check out the Hogback cordillera of the Goats Rocks Wilderness accessed from White Pass I will guide you.
Hi all - For all TAYers (and other users of public lands) concerned with Vail restricting access beyond what is reasonable, I have initiated discussions with USFS regarding these concerns. For those of you interested in voicing your concerns, helping with the effort, etc, please PM me. I will be creating an email distribution list to start with, and add additional social media as this progresses.
I'll echo above but skied down from top around Noon. Lot's of snow and fun turns upper half but really tough the lower half of the mountain.
Great day and views all around.
Drinking at the High Mountain Lodge sounds like its something Id be adapt at!😄
The resort will not open until the 27th so your best bet for skiing would be to hike to the top of Pigtail Peak which is where the Great White chair deposits everyone at 6,000 ft. From there you just think about skiing down to the base or lapping places you liked the look of on your hike up. The backcountry is still a ways wsw from that summit and a good hike without the aid of the lifts. It's about an hour and a half to two hour hike from the base to the s...
Alright. Checking this place out tomorrow.
@filbo I’ve taken a gander at the map and have some ideas that I think will pan out but I’m wondering if you have recommendations for ‘can’t miss’ spots to tour?