TR Replies
Y'all rock. Keep us posted on the word from Mayo. Mystery lung problems suck, it's great that you have a path forward. We'll be thinking of you!
That's funny because those tracks belong to my friend and I.....we actually didn't have the best visibility....the reason we didn't take fall line.....apparently by the looks of you photo.....things got better. The snow was so deep on Winnie's!
Glad you're still skiing and I hope to hear good news from the Mayo Clinic in the near future.
You are the king of positive energy. We are cheering you awesome attitude.
author=GregSimon link=topic=24730.msg104478#msg104478 date=1336574995]Does it still look skiable to the Nisqually bridge?
On Sunday it skied really really well up to the point Amar mentions (about 600 yds from the bridge), after which there is a bit of mud scrambling and rotten snow postholing to the road.
I appreciate everyone's concerns, but we all felt it was safe to continue our route. All went well (minus the broken ski!), and it was a great learning experience.
The lake being "Rainy" and the summit being "Preacher"?
Thanks for the heads up Amar. I finished editing the photos and changed the Picasa album they are hosted in. Speaking which, full res photos (including some from our trip to the Illumination Saddle the day previous) can be found HERE.
Good for you for getting out Amar, hope you feel better. The picture on where to ski is cool. Hope to be there in a couple of weeks ;-)
couldn't tell from the pics, did you use crampons booting up? tia.
author=OldHouseMan link=topic=24732.msg104446#msg104446 date=1336517460]
Great report. A friend and I have talked about a similar trip from our front doors in Portland to Mt Hood, but that's all the further we have taken it. Nice work.
Yeah, I have thought of that, too -- probably take the train to Portland and start there with some friends. Though we hadn't thought of routes yet. Is there any bike route other than Hwy 2...
author=GregSimon link=topic=24730.msg104478#msg104478 date=1336574995]
Thanks for the (as usual) informative and inspiring report. Does it still look skiable to the Nisqually bridge?
Yes, it's still skiable, here's a view looking up from the bridge:
As of a couple weeks ago, the route on the left of t...
Your photos are not viewable by the general public (or at least not by me). I think you need to change the albums from private to public to fix that, although I don't know any specifics since I host my photos on my own website. The photos currently look like this:
Wow. I thought I did a lot of earning for my turns in low elevation, local terrain.
You've taken low to a whole new level!
Impressive determination. Thanks for the report. I've read of the idea of skiing down from Mt. Snoqualmie towards the Middle Fork and turning around after hitting dirt but I've never thought of the opposite approach. Hiking 1200' of vertical with ski gear reminds me of my attempts at McClain Peaks.
Time for me to final...
You've taken low to a whole new level!
Impressive determination. Thanks for the report. I've read of the idea of skiing down from Mt. Snoqualmie towards the Middle Fork and turning around after hitting dirt but I've never thought of the opposite approach. Hiking 1200' of vertical with ski gear reminds me of my attempts at McClain Peaks.
Time for me to final...
Amar,
Great to read one of your post again, I haven't seen one in a while. Thanks for the thorough report!
Great to read one of your post again, I haven't seen one in a while. Thanks for the thorough report!
Thanks for the (as usual) informative and inspiring report. Does it still look skiable to the Nisqually bridge?
Sunday was great. I was skiing east of there in Stemilt Basin, beautiful corn. I came back through Bowl 4 and skied dry powder in the steep north facing part of the bowl.
Solid! Way to tough out the rigors and daunting nature of that long human powered approach.
As others have noted on your blog, it actually isn't THAT much more work to go ahead and drop the SW chutes. It puts you off axis by about 2 miles. But if you do it right that 2 miles can go real fast as a descending traverse. Especially if it's early enough that the Morrison Creek drainage still has snow and you can cut off the last long switchback of the summer road.
It's...
As others have noted on your blog, it actually isn't THAT much more work to go ahead and drop the SW chutes. It puts you off axis by about 2 miles. But if you do it right that 2 miles can go real fast as a descending traverse. Especially if it's early enough that the Morrison Creek drainage still has snow and you can cut off the last long switchback of the summer road.
It's...
Nice! I've always looked at those valley's while heading up to the pass, wondering if they got skied. It looks like there's some nice terrain, but wondered if it is worth the price of admission? Maybe a good project day when you can't decide what to do.
Skiing off the top of McClellan looks WAY easier in your picture than it does from the view when you are driving down I-90.
Skiing off the top of McClellan looks WAY easier in your picture than it does from the view when you are driving down I-90.
Always a pleasure Silas ;)
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3971635976258.173175.1441263525&type=3&l=c1a851d286
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3971635976258.173175.1441263525&type=3&l=c1a851d286
cool, there's a run up there I've been wanting to do for a while...
Did you guys stay on the ridge all the way or drop down to Lost Lake? We couldn't pass up skiing to the lake on the way in when we did it.
Did you guys stay on the ridge all the way or drop down to Lost Lake? We couldn't pass up skiing to the lake on the way in when we did it.
Thanks. I now found a FS post:
========================================
49 Sloan Creek/North Fork Sauk
CLOSED
4/11/2012
Snow - Road is closed to vehicle traffic at mile 0.0 for repairs, and is expected to remain closed into the summer of 2012. Do not block gate or turnaround when parking.
========================================
Maybe next year, or from West...
========================================
49 Sloan Creek/North Fork Sauk
CLOSED
4/11/2012
Snow - Road is closed to vehicle traffic at mile 0.0 for repairs, and is expected to remain closed into the summer of 2012. Do not block gate or turnaround when parking.
========================================
Maybe next year, or from West...
Sweet trip! The views are just spectacular and you guys got some good photos.
I crossed the NF Sauk a few years ago and the crossing was easy, but the trail was no where to be seen for the next 1.5 miles... However, I had some friends do it last summer and said it was super easy to follow and well maintained. The only problem is you have to bike in there to the TH since FS49 (i think that's the #) is closed at the mt loop intersection.
I crossed the NF Sauk a few years ago and the crossing was easy, but the trail was no where to be seen for the next 1.5 miles... However, I had some friends do it last summer and said it was super easy to follow and well maintained. The only problem is you have to bike in there to the TH since FS49 (i think that's the #) is closed at the mt loop intersection.
Love it! That Diamond sure has some slopes begging for extended harvesting.
Your last photo is emblematic. Is the opposition of your direction of travel versus the window paintings a symbol of your individuality, and your belief in personal freedom? ;)
Your last photo is emblematic. Is the opposition of your direction of travel versus the window paintings a symbol of your individuality, and your belief in personal freedom? ;)
Very cool! Sort of a triathalon...except with sports that are actually fun.
Ok, so who do I have to file paperwork with to get the name changed to "Andalkar Snowfield? ;-) Who is that Muir guy anyway?
Great report. A friend and I have talked about a similar trip from our front doors in Portland to Mt Hood, but that's all the further we have taken it. Nice work.
The thighs are evil and must be punished!
Well done!
Well done!
I think I would rather try to approach the NE side of Sloan from the bottom. Going up Bedal creek means you would have to climb back up to the saddle between Bedal and Sloan after you've skied down the NE shot. So, has anyone heard about crossing the NF of the Sauk, to repeat Kenji's question?
That's for sure about the squirrelly spots. On the way down we lost track of the trail a few times.
nice photos of the permanent contrails - those appear to be cirrus clouds after being suspended in the atmosphere for a few hours.
- great picks !! the Fifth season shop is getting rpts claiming corn - as good as it gets (Avalanche gulch
If you get up at 3:30 for a second run, count me in. That looks like a great ski!
Nice moon photo too.
Nice moon photo too.
that's a great snow rpt - for someone, learning to turn !
Excellent - thanks for sharing! I think that view of Sloan from the top is one of the best summit views in the area. The easiest access to Sloan for skiing, is possibly via the Bedal Basin TH, crossing over the divide at some point between the two peaks.
A few weeks ago when coming down Bedal, we stopped a bit to pick up annual deadfall that had fallen over the trail -- nothing too big had come down since I first started going up there. The trail, while brush-free, still has its...
A few weeks ago when coming down Bedal, we stopped a bit to pick up annual deadfall that had fallen over the trail -- nothing too big had come down since I first started going up there. The trail, while brush-free, still has its...
Very cool place. You just added another one to my tick list... Thanks for sharing.
It may be the time to re-visit the north slopes off Sloan. Does anybody know how the Sauk River crossing has been in the recent years?
author=chmnyboy link=topic=24718.msg104423#msg104423 date=1336489209]acceptable company
Seconded.
'tis the season. great weather, great corn, acceptable company
Great to see/meet everyone up there on Sunday. John and I were the first group of two to leave the summit and descend down the west side. For our last run we skied over to the other side of the basin up Mary (? sorry, don't know the names) and straight down the large slide path to the creek which worked out great for an exit. I have never skied in the area before, for one reason or another always touring somewhere else in the spring, but was impressed with the ski terrain. It's les...
Thanks for the excellent report and photos Pete! We were wondering about Stuart while skiing over on Earl - it looked prime without much recent snow but interesting to hear that there was enough to be spooky.
Man- I'm surprised no one else has commented. Way to go. Awesome scenery!
more pics here: https://picasaweb.google.com/113589492689912715272/MtStuartCascadianCouloirSki?noredirect=1
PS- should've mentioned before that Dave Brown joined up with us for the ski down.... as we were transitioning to ski, Dave came into view racing uphill....he and his wife Steph had blitzed in that morning from Beverly Creek. Steph stayed behind on the lower slopes with their dog, but Dave decided to go for a quick 4000vf yoyo and skied the Cascadian with us. Nice to han...
PS- should've mentioned before that Dave Brown joined up with us for the ski down.... as we were transitioning to ski, Dave came into view racing uphill....he and his wife Steph had blitzed in that morning from Beverly Creek. Steph stayed behind on the lower slopes with their dog, but Dave decided to go for a quick 4000vf yoyo and skied the Cascadian with us. Nice to han...
a great trip! Thanks Pete, Becky, & Dan. Here is a couple of pics from my lowly iphone. Cold night of camping though....I must be getting soft in my old age.
A few more pix. BTW, it wasn't dark yet at 8 pm. I guess it took us 11 hrs...