TR Replies
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.
Love the pad! Do a youtube instructional on constructing snow McMansions. I'd watch it.
Loving your TR's dude!
I'm waiting for a yellow rose from our guardian angels... or maybe two solid days of no commitments.
I'm waiting for a yellow rose from our guardian angels... or maybe two solid days of no commitments.
rsvp
Had a great weekend guys. Still really bummed about the news we returned to. Put a very understandable damper on things.
hope to see you again Mac and Phil!
Sorry you couldn't make it James, but we'll get it.
And I try kath. No ones immune though.
Had a great weekend guys. Still really bummed about the news we returned to. Put a very understandable damper on things.
hope to see you again Mac and Phil!
Sorry you couldn't make it James, but we'll get it.
And I try kath. No ones immune though.
Dammit, that area was on my short-list for tomorrow. Thanks for the report!
Nice guys!!!
all stars? Zack and Jeff are practically Stevens pass royalty.
sorry I couldn't join.
all stars? Zack and Jeff are practically Stevens pass royalty.
sorry I couldn't join.
Likewise Shred! I hope we can get out again soon. Long range forecast for next week is looking promising.
I'm heading out somewhere tomorrow. Not sure where yet. Really want to hit Crystal area but reports from there are kind of scary lately and not much good tree skiing in that area.
I'm heading out somewhere tomorrow. Not sure where yet. Really want to hit Crystal area but reports from there are kind of scary lately and not much good tree skiing in that area.
Great Photos Will!
It was fun skiing with you and Jack aka "The Powder Hound".
Still digging snow from orifices. :D
It was fun skiing with you and Jack aka "The Powder Hound".
Still digging snow from orifices. :D
Thanks for putting up the pics! That was some seriously great snow. It was great fun skiing with you guys.
looks good. We hit some great trees and a few pillows on Saturday with sick conditions too. Hero snow for sure.
author=Scotsman link=topic=23827.msg100866#msg100866 date=1329931947]
I've always avoided that area every since we lost the three guys, Kevin, Devlin and Philip....just a bad vibe in that area and I don't like it.
An avy while skinning has always been one of my fears
Ditto Scotsman, and I got a scary reminder of that on Sunday. We were out in Bullion, we skinned the low saddle and I gingerly and cautiously approache...