TR Replies
author=Martin Volken link=topic=24785.msg104696#msg104696 date=1337023669]
(Funny how quiet it gets generally during that phase before steep skiing descents, when everybody is really busy considering that this is really a stupid idea...)
:)
Sometime it does not even have to be steep...
Looks like a pretty sick traverse for a weekend, and it looks like you can leave the glacier/tech gear behind.
NICE!!!
NICE!!!
My buddy was up there 3 weeks ago and said the lookout was still buried.
Has anyone dug into there yet?
I'm thinking about going in via starlight tonight and spending the night after work.
Thanks
Has anyone dug into there yet?
I'm thinking about going in via starlight tonight and spending the night after work.
Thanks
burly ! another beautiful descent. thank you for continuing to inspire !
Thank you for this inspiring trip report! Impressive that it can be skied!
FWIW: I observed the 1 foot crown early in the morning Friday (8:00AM) from just above timberline -- so it seems like it might have slid earlier in the week.
author=cumulus link=topic=24785.msg104700#msg104700 date=1337025957]
Nice - looks spicy! (got my answer without even having asked the question...) Rob and I have been eying that line...
North/South is definitely a balancing act this time of year. How far down did you ski on the North?
We skied down to that rib and then went back up to the Snoqualmie area. btw. there is still a ton of good snow to be had there right now.<...
Nice - looks spicy! (got my answer without even having asked the question...) Rob and I have been eying that line...
North/South is definitely a balancing act this time of year. How far down did you ski on the North?
Are you turning Wood into a non-peak bagging skier? I never thought I'd see the day!
Looks like a good trip.
Looks like a good trip.
author=Dostie link=topic=24784.msg104692#msg104692 date=1337020090]
The season may be over - but it was a good way to end it. OTOH - it was so good, I could be talked into another one of those. :)
Welcome to TAY, Craig! Thanks for the report.
The high season is just getting started in Washington. It's a good time for a road trip...
I could be talked into another one of those.
You need to go back and try the Hotlum /Wintun route on the east side out of Brewer creek.
The pollen and dirt seem especially bad on the lowest ~300vert.
Upper Nash skied well on Saturday, with Felsen skiing much better than the lap down Lower I. Sunday was definitely warmer and the mush factor was higher much earlier in the day. Overall better consolidation on the lower mountain with the remnants of the groomers still rippable. High convenience factor kept me close to home as well.
Upper Nash skied well on Saturday, with Felsen skiing much better than the lap down Lower I. Sunday was definitely warmer and the mush factor was higher much earlier in the day. Overall better consolidation on the lower mountain with the remnants of the groomers still rippable. High convenience factor kept me close to home as well.
Sounds like a nice day! I'm a little confused though. Your pics labeled "Summit views" are from the top of the Basin SE of Chair Peak that you climbed. Chair Peaks actual summit is quite a bit further north with views including that ridge and basin.
We mostly kept to the snowfield, but found some of the smooth goodness too. Hard to beat ripping corn in the sunshine.
A look into the entrance of the Chutes at ~12:15 led us to save it for another day. A group skied it at 2:15 - result was happy shouts across the chasm.
Instability Saturday seemed confined to the ~1' week-old new, most common on E-facing aspects, perhaps enhanced by windloading. A forbidden traverse through Edith Creek at 5:30 found ~1m soft moist sn...
A look into the entrance of the Chutes at ~12:15 led us to save it for another day. A group skied it at 2:15 - result was happy shouts across the chasm.
Instability Saturday seemed confined to the ~1' week-old new, most common on E-facing aspects, perhaps enhanced by windloading. A forbidden traverse through Edith Creek at 5:30 found ~1m soft moist sn...
Environmental controls on those groomers is likely pretty strict. I could imagine a cumulative ski wax affect though where all the skiers all winter long lay down a lot of wax which then falls to the "water table" in the spring snow (the saturated portion) and then that smear zone eventually surfaces when it melts out enough. I'm guessing the volumes wouldn't work out right, but it's food for though. Obviously this mystery has already been solved as pollen though.
I think we saw you heading down as we were at source lake heading up to pineapple pass. Pineapple basin skinned very nicely at 10 and skied very nicely at about 11:15.
The goo at Snoqualmie pass is thicker than anywhere, my theory is diesel soot from I-90.
author=Schwerkraft link=topic=24762.msg104664#msg104664 date=1336966339]
I believe the cornice you are talking about can be seen in this picture: http://www.flickr.com/photos/35790735@N03/7162790010/in/set-72157629645759080.
Ah, yes. Probably plenty left, even after this weekend, to do some serious damage. Thanks. I had a fancy notion of somehow gliding across that gully each way but not with the debris your other photo shows so...
Ditto on the pollen mess. Off chair 2 yesterday the pollen was not so bad except the heavy wet snow was unworthy of repeating today. Lapped chair one twice today (much more fun having been groomed last weekend) although I cleaned my bases this morning before leaving it didn't help.
I suggest Rain X wipes if you make laps. Clean them good once on top then wax them up for the descent.
Good thing about Alpental is it's proximity to home when one has family obligati...
I suggest Rain X wipes if you make laps. Clean them good once on top then wax them up for the descent.
Good thing about Alpental is it's proximity to home when one has family obligati...
After one lap at Alpental on Saturday morning my skis had a coating of gunk like I'd never seen. My sinus's and lungs had that same gunk that I thought was a cold or virus, I guess it's better to know it's just super strength 'Pass pollen'. This warrants a mid week twilight lap to recheck the pollen content.
author=niko link=topic=24762.msg104648#msg104648 date=1336935804]
Good job, skiers, and good TR!
How much overhang is there left to come down the avalanche trap under Pyramid? Never mind that conditions may have changed over this weekend.
Niko
I believe the cornice you are talking about can be seen in this picture: http://www.flickr.com/photos/35790735@N03/7162790010/in/set-72157629645759080. Most of the act...
We were some of Gib's disobedient culprits Monday skiing at Alpental. Same thing then - very sticky bases that needed to be cleaned.
Skied Crystal today for Mother's Day - sticky snow there from warm temps, but also dirty and sticky down low from pollen. On the plus side - lots of bikini action on all slopes.
Skied Crystal today for Mother's Day - sticky snow there from warm temps, but also dirty and sticky down low from pollen. On the plus side - lots of bikini action on all slopes.
Thanks for the info. I was wondering how far up that road you could go now. Although I was thinking of a mellower two day trip.
Let's just say it was a n00b attempt at a kick turn!
Never mind. I just cleaned up my skis and it's definitely pollen.
I do think there's something about ski areas that results in more greasy/dirty snow. But pollen is the main culprit at Alpental right now.
I do think there's something about ski areas that results in more greasy/dirty snow. But pollen is the main culprit at Alpental right now.
Pollen or grease?
After our Mother's Day ski this morning we all had an unhealthy coating of slime on our bases. I figured it was grease, but I could be wrong.
I have a theory that ski area slopes in spring have a film of grease from months of grooming machine traffic. I think it concentrates on the surface as the snow melts. It seems like I always end up with gummed up bases (and skins) after skinning up ski areas this time of year, regardless of whether the pollen...
After our Mother's Day ski this morning we all had an unhealthy coating of slime on our bases. I figured it was grease, but I could be wrong.
I have a theory that ski area slopes in spring have a film of grease from months of grooming machine traffic. I think it concentrates on the surface as the snow melts. It seems like I always end up with gummed up bases (and skins) after skinning up ski areas this time of year, regardless of whether the pollen...
Good job, skiers, and good TR!
How much overhang is there left to come down the avalanche trap under Pyramid? Never mind that conditions may have changed over this weekend.
Niko
How much overhang is there left to come down the avalanche trap under Pyramid? Never mind that conditions may have changed over this weekend.
Niko
author=snoholic link=topic=24768.msg104624#msg104624 date=1336882468]
Crazy quiet days on the hill considering how good it was, where is everybody?
Zack
Probably up on Washington Pass.
Zap = Best trip reports of the year!
There are lots of ways to attack Diamond including Corigan Lake and Pioneer Gulch trail. However, we decided to use the ridge to the false summit. The last photo in the above link has a screen shot of our approach using Google Earth. Basically we started our approach along the road and cut up through a clear cut. From there we angled to the ridge that leads to the false summit. From the saddle after the false summit it's a straight shot to the peak. It can all be done without a compa...
Huzzah! Y'all never miss out on the corn harvest :).
Very best wishes for next week's adventure - we'll be thinking about you guys!
Very best wishes for next week's adventure - we'll be thinking about you guys!
Did you catch the person in the first pic just as he was about to eat sh*t? What is going on there?
Nice work on Stuart, a worthy destination no matter how many times you've been there.
Nice work on Stuart, a worthy destination no matter how many times you've been there.
Would you give some details on your route in? Congratulations on your trip. I have been unsuccessful on making it a day trip in the summer! So am curious on where you begin. Thank you.
stoudema, Great report from Mt McLoughlin. Standing on top of Diamond gave me a whole new list to check off including McLoughlin, Bailey, Thielsen, etc. Nothing like a long bushwack to make you feel like you earned it!
Hi Zap, was just out at Silver Fir the day after you. Was hoping to see you as I know that it is one of your favorites. Considering all that has happened - you are amazing!
Ron T
Ron T
Hey Chris! Glad you made it back up for a NW fix. Good trip report, pretty cool to combine two "cool" hobbies.
Nice work, you two! We're headed to Crystal tomorrow - If you're going - don't forget it's 80's retro day - have Zap dig out his disco clothes!
Blessings!
Don
Blessings!
Don
Great to run in to you again Todd. I think you may have meant to have May 10/11 as the dates. We skied from the summit at about 2:30 after a 1.5 hour shoes off break/nap on the windless warm summit. The Roman HW skied great as well with soft snow on the skiers left to the col then perfect 2" pow over a edgable firm layer back to the Black Buttes. Heliotrope and Grouse Creek were perfect corn all the way to the drainage flats. The C/D route is in great shape for car to car skiing. We were ab...
author=AlpineRose link=topic=24761.msg104598#msg104598 date=1336850894]
Yoshiko, you rock. What's next - Rainier?
Actually "next" was some hiking, yoga, and retail therapy on the drive back to Seattle for those blistered shins from the cuff of her jogging tights inside the ski boots.
Over 1000' of skinning, yeah! I can only hope I have the enthusiasm and determination to follow in your footsteps when I face similar obstacles. Way to go, hats off to you my friend.
Hi Zap and Jill!
Great accomplishment Zap! Forest Queen will be a treat - a piece of cake. Thanks for the great photos too!
Linda and Gerry
Great accomplishment Zap! Forest Queen will be a treat - a piece of cake. Thanks for the great photos too!
Linda and Gerry
Hi Zap. I don't know you, but you are an inspiration. I did the same route today with my wife and it was beautiful. Best wishes.