TR Replies
Makin' PNW lemonade. I think schmootastic should have entered our lexicon a long time ago.
Rock face over at Alpental went again today too.
Don't worry, the schmoo is not here for long!
From the top of Alpental today, which had wonderful views, there were lots of slides visible on Snoqualmie (wonder if anyone set one off??), Red, Lundin and of course all over Denny itself above Edelweiss bowl and below the Alpental cliffs. So much new snow last week, bit of rain and a ton of sun today a good combo for such action. Beautiful up there though.
From the top of Alpental today, which had wonderful views, there were lots of slides visible on Snoqualmie (wonder if anyone set one off??), Red, Lundin and of course all over Denny itself above Edelweiss bowl and below the Alpental cliffs. So much new snow last week, bit of rain and a ton of sun today a good combo for such action. Beautiful up there though.
Ah, lucky Tab. I remember sitting on the covering boulder and not wanting to ever leave... In winter, did you still have to climb the ladders to get to the Couvercle hut? That would be like a waterfall climb in some places. N
yeah, not the best of days ayeh? observed around 1230 a cornice fall that triggered a loose wet slide that ran about 1000' down a steep gulley then fanned out almost to valley bottom. East facing slope off peak 5476 E of Tye Lake, D1.5 abouts.
sight for sore eyes after a rainy day tour at stevens yesterday, have fun Drew
Making lemonade never looked so good. Great tour.
Thanks for the TR, Don. Always great to have an epic trip with most of it within sight and sound of I-90. I hope you are working on your home chores now, trying to rebuild that stack of chips.
Looks like fun. I stayed in that hut as well as a few others climbing in Chamonix in '88. Wish I was there!
yeah stouds! you got the goods man. love the new avatar on sb.com
excellent post and photos Stoudema. The rim is an excellent touring destination and those yurts are nice. I toured there my first time last winter in about the same conditions you report, there is just enough lower angle terrain to break you into the snowpack there and wet your appetite for the bigger bowls. A very nice place to tour. Thanks for sharing
I've just recovered (this morning) from chasing the others on 4 laps of before work fun on Thursday morning. We had contemplated the Phantom, but given 15" of new on the telemetry, we considered the Stump or Hyak. Hyak won out given safety and potential for max vertical before work in great snow. It was so good, we elected a fourth lap before retreating despite the waning hour. Did one run down the backside. Not as steep as the front, but no one else had d...
Great pictures, and report, snow house looks like the Ritz, and good snow as well.
Yes, the old master, hard to get him out, but when I do it's always good fun.
Man oh man - You've got good timing! I love it down there - Ditto on the awesome images.
I'm with JWP great report, and fantastic pictures, your night shots are wonderful, at 5 degrees it does not take long to be ready to go back inside! thanks
Volken's book describes a reasonable enough route with a nice 1K north treed line. Lots of travel to/from that line but that's kind of what you'd expect with a mountain set back a ways from plowed roads...
Wow. What a great TR. thanks for sharing one of your favorites. If I ever see you out there I'll be happy to break trail.....
Great photos, especially the night shot of Moon, Jupiter and Venus. Such a cool alignment, nicely captured in the wild!
Nice to meet you in the parking lot. It sounds like you guys got pretty turned around out there. The only time I went out there we took a non-ideal route but I can't say that it took 10 hours. (!)
There are a number of nice ski lines that look improbable from above, (hint: most of them are breaks in the cliff band and require decent snow coverage). Some of them are visible from below as you detour out to the ridge on the normal ascent route. Most of these are too steep to skin comfortably, so almost everyone ascends by way of the west ridge.
Here's a shot of my typical route. You can take Central or Hyak up, but I prefer Hyak. The key is to cross the river on the nordic trail (hard skier's right when descending the backside of Hyak). Ascend a clearcut area of shrubs and trees, then enter the old growth. There is a major cliff band about halfway up, but that's partly what makes Catherine so good (steep, protected tree skiing). Circumnavigate the cliff band or choose one of the many chutes that cut through it. Pretty fu...
author=Rusty Knees link=topic=23971.msg101435#msg101435 date=1330714289]I can do half of that:
PM me if anyone is willing to show me a safe way to ski down. But only if you also promise to show me the short way up.
1. There are some really nice lines in big well-spaced old growth (Silver Fir, I think) on the N side of the mountain. I've run into numerous TAYers up there, e.g., GregL, md2020 and Brenda.
author=JibberD link=topic=23971.msg101442#msg101442 date=1330719011]
But really looking for the passionate Mt. Catherine devotee who wants to share her charms:
Check out the report from from last weekend. It seemed like it was good.
Oh man, that sounds rough. Its such a great ski when you get it. Don't let this keep you from trying again. When you hit it right it may be one of your go-to's in conditions like we're currently experiencing.
author=jwplotz link=topic=23962.msg101424#msg101424 date=1330665984]
Man, that looks nice!
Don't go there. It's a snowmobile free-for-all.
Now this is a report that is really appreciated.
I've been looking at Mt. Catherine ever since Volken's book came out listing it as a tour. But every time I look at it, whether live, or in Google Earth, the skiable lines just don't seem to be there.
Is there a line worth skiing on this mountain(s).
Also recently noted Google Earth has the same ridge named both Mt. Catherine and Mt. Hyak, with latter on the right of this up is north oriented photo....
I've been looking at Mt. Catherine ever since Volken's book came out listing it as a tour. But every time I look at it, whether live, or in Google Earth, the skiable lines just don't seem to be there.
Is there a line worth skiing on this mountain(s).
Also recently noted Google Earth has the same ridge named both Mt. Catherine and Mt. Hyak, with latter on the right of this up is north oriented photo....
Catherine produces. Nate, Kirsten, Anastasia and I had a tour up there many years ago that was dubbed the Catherine Circum-summi-navigation and included the long, long slog, half in skins, half trying to skate, out the nordic trail at the end of the day. I love how much such a close, short peak can pack in.
We followed everybody up a little later. Man, not a single switchback! That was a great up track, but "No Skintrack for Old Men" ;D
We refer the skiing blue balls as "Icing our balls" kinda like faceshots but in the crotch variety. Used in this manner. I need to Ice my Balls meaning you have the desire to shred pow.
It all started in our crew with one guy forgetting to do up his zipper after a skin side pee and subsequently finding his pants full of snow earlier this year.
It all started in our crew with one guy forgetting to do up his zipper after a skin side pee and subsequently finding his pants full of snow earlier this year.
forgotten phone or not, i had a feeling you'd be heading back out for monday. i was gritting my teeth in my cubicle, looking at the sun outside and thinking about how i only seem to get really stormy high danger days off lately.
those alpenglow shots are awesome! kinda the diametric opposite of this photo i shot of kyle on saturday.
those alpenglow shots are awesome! kinda the diametric opposite of this photo i shot of kyle on saturday.
Remember the amazing video from the "2/6/12, Black Hole Couloir, Bandit Peak" trip report with great music, stills, jokes, effects, unbelievable terrain? My video is nothing like that:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ha4xZOqjg2s
However, it may help set expectations for anyone that might want to explore this area. Some spots on this little mountain look quite dangerous. I almost always feel safer in the trees (except in wet slide conditions) so that's where...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ha4xZOqjg2s
However, it may help set expectations for anyone that might want to explore this area. Some spots on this little mountain look quite dangerous. I almost always feel safer in the trees (except in wet slide conditions) so that's where...
I've been looking forward to this post. I thought about starting it myself, but have been sworn to report publicly only that "Stevens pass has no good skiing, the terrain is all rocks and ice, and the locals are a bunch of belligerent a--holes." Which, as I found out, is just not true. :D
Nice pics, chainsaw! Thanks for posting. Check out his site. More great shots from the day.
Zack and gang, thanks for showing me around. I really appreciate your exceptional hosp...
Nice pics, chainsaw! Thanks for posting. Check out his site. More great shots from the day.
Zack and gang, thanks for showing me around. I really appreciate your exceptional hosp...
Sorry. I could have been more specific.....this is a NNE aspect viewed from the surface of Snow Lake, about 100-200 yards west of the typical steeper ski down from the divide. It appears to be about 45 degree angle terrain with steeper cliffy slopes above. Not a spot where anyone would typically ski, but perhaps indicative of some conditions that may be out there.
Great photos, Scott---and the cave upgrade is nice. Can 4 sleep in there now?
Nice gang!
Big day, great looking trees.
Big day, great looking trees.
Yeah... way too fun.
My pleasure kyle... and since you couldn't see, most of what we boarded is pictured.
I just skinned up instead of around.
I'll do a yo TAY cribs video when I go back...
My pleasure kyle... and since you couldn't see, most of what we boarded is pictured.
I just skinned up instead of around.
I'll do a yo TAY cribs video when I go back...
Impressive!
What aspect is that pic of?
Is this the snow lake/source lake ridge?
What aspect is that pic of?
Is this the snow lake/source lake ridge?
It was a blast checking out your zone!
Thanks for letting me tag along.
Thanks for letting me tag along.
Skiing in thick trees is fun! I expect to see nothing but trees in the vid! ;D
Sweet Scott!
Hmm, I wonder where those photos were taken... ;)
Hmm, I wonder where those photos were taken... ;)
After looking at the video I shot, I should say that I think skiing in thick trees is fun. Others might find thick trees annoying. Just don't want anyone charging up there expecting wide open glades.
I'll post a link to the video once I've got most of the boring bits trimmed.
Cheers.
I'll post a link to the video once I've got most of the boring bits trimmed.
Cheers.
Awesome -- can we have the MTR up there this year? I want more pics of the palace -- I love a good snow cave.
That is a great place! Somehow I missed the earlier pix. Cool digs.