TR Replies
Nice rendition on a classic trip. Great Photos, too.
I notice a lot of the climber types tend to favor the South Butte route to the Lunchcounter (and I think the Rangers often recommend that route for fear that one might fall in a glide crack on the Crescent).
I tend to prefer skinning up the old trail route on the ridge west of the Crescent Glacier, as it seems many of the other skiers do.
So I was wondering if I might learn some new gem of wisdom if I inquired as to why you w...
I notice a lot of the climber types tend to favor the South Butte route to the Lunchcounter (and I think the Rangers often recommend that route for fear that one might fall in a glide crack on the Crescent).
I tend to prefer skinning up the old trail route on the ridge west of the Crescent Glacier, as it seems many of the other skiers do.
So I was wondering if I might learn some new gem of wisdom if I inquired as to why you w...
author=silaswild link=topic=21544.msg92311#msg92311 date=1311826115]
Low clouds all day but it did not rain. The cups on north facing slopes are getting bigger and firmer so we only did a couple laps. South facing slopes on Mt Herman were dirty and runelled so we skipped them. Maybe a group effort sideslipping is necessary to make for more fun skiing?
Maybe take a couple of months off and do something else and wait for the coming...
Snitter, you might have had a better line then us. Normally what goes is a subridge to the east of the drainage. also the safest route in winter. I'm feeling like sharing because others shared to me and next winter I'll be getting after it midweek.
I posted a few more of Eric's pics (not finding my camera was a grave error), along with a couple of reflections about the trip, at nwhikers: http://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7992585.
To repeat, someone's gotta describe how beautifully Eric styled the NF of Sinister. Watching from the Chikamin glacier below, my stomach did a backflip as he jumped the E side of the large crack that bisects the NF snow. Then he huffed up the Chikamin to catch me near the Dome-...
To repeat, someone's gotta describe how beautifully Eric styled the NF of Sinister. Watching from the Chikamin glacier below, my stomach did a backflip as he jumped the E side of the large crack that bisects the NF snow. Then he huffed up the Chikamin to catch me near the Dome-...
Out of curiosity, where did you guys exit at (if it is not a secret...)? I was up at Foss for the first time on the 26th (via the castle), and found quite the adventure getting out.
I skied down north-northwest and tried to find a safe way though. But I ultimately hiked back up towards Foss and found a strip to exit out of almost due north from point 6058' (by the lake E of Foss) at about 5200' in between horizontal rock bands. Lots of fun in that area!
I skied down north-northwest and tried to find a safe way though. But I ultimately hiked back up towards Foss and found a strip to exit out of almost due north from point 6058' (by the lake E of Foss) at about 5200' in between horizontal rock bands. Lots of fun in that area!
Thanks for the report Gary. I may hit this area tomorrow Thu if the weather looks clear.
FYI I've done two trips up Klahanie and have been super impressed at the vertical and the terrain on the N. Side. Furthermore, there seem to be multiple inviting high angle chutes to the east.
Snow conditions were amazing on July4, when I recorded this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuxAjBhgBj4. It froze so solid that AM (at only 4K feet!) I had a heck of a time booting up...
FYI I've done two trips up Klahanie and have been super impressed at the vertical and the terrain on the N. Side. Furthermore, there seem to be multiple inviting high angle chutes to the east.
Snow conditions were amazing on July4, when I recorded this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuxAjBhgBj4. It froze so solid that AM (at only 4K feet!) I had a heck of a time booting up...
Pot holes are worse on the first half of the road, up to the bridge, and the road is rougher and rockier after that, but no big obstacles. Just need to go slow and it's a long 12ish miles.
Sorry about all the errors in the first paragraph..no I did not review..water under that bridge..
Just to confirm EVERY THING that Amar reports (not that there was ever any doubt though..) the skiing on said route is absolutely phenomenal. After my supper windy bivy and then the same down hill in- my- face
Skin to 12500' (I hate booting, even if it is faster..) I made the traverse over to the wintun and booted aspects. About 1200 I notice a could down below over the hotlum snowfield so that was clue enough and I was skiing off the top by 12:15.
Wow what a ru...
Skin to 12500' (I hate booting, even if it is faster..) I made the traverse over to the wintun and booted aspects. About 1200 I notice a could down below over the hotlum snowfield so that was clue enough and I was skiing off the top by 12:15.
Wow what a ru...
Nice work, looks like fun! What time of day did you ski?
Nice! Fall hikes on the Skyline have been making me think that Hadley would make a nice late summer ski, if you can convince yourself to make the approach. Do you need high clearance to make it up the road?
Gregg, what did I tell you about trying to drink more than one beer. Check you wallet, make sure none of those city thugs lifted any of your folding money while you were incapacitated. You walking okay today?
Mike
Mike
Yeah Phil!! Just thinking about you the other day and was wondering what you've been up to. Way to go!
Yea Amar, need a report on the skiis. Half way through my second beer last night I was going to ask you about the Volk's. Forgot of course. Great report and fun seeing you and other folks last night.
Cooler than a moose and twice as hairy! Thanks for the TR!
Strong effort and a bold line! Congrats!
Killen Creek TH is driveable; skinnable snow about a mile up the trail. Bugs are hungry; bring blood.
Nice work!
Nice work!
Yeap, pretty much around 7-7.5 snow cups got a bit annoying, although they were rather soft after 2pm
Guess I should add this one to my list. Looks like an amazing trip! I like the long description of conditions - nice to see you had beer at the end!
Looks like a great trip! The photos are fantastic. Way to finally get the work/time/partner puzzle figured out and do it in style.
I've had a friend who'd done it several times keep saying that an out and back ski is the way to do the Ptarmigan, very nice!
I've had a friend who'd done it several times keep saying that an out and back ski is the way to do the Ptarmigan, very nice!
Making me jealous Amar! Looks amazing.
How are you liking your Volkls?
How are you liking your Volkls?
Nice running into you last week mack. glad you found some good turns
Yeah, we spotted you just when we were choosing our re-ascent line; handy. Shoulda left the skins at home.
Telemack - Peter and I were the other skiers and the skiing was good! We ended up skiing the chute just to skiers right of where you came down and , until the bottom of the slope at least, the snow was great. Sorry we didn't bump into you again at closer range.
What time did you start skinning and what time did you start skiing down?
I didn't have the time but I think our party's both started up around 10ish and we drinking a cold one around 300. Silas ,Clem and Pico were a little more snow hoggish so they came out later.
Great views from the Tatoosh!
Great day in the sun. Thanks for the tip Robie - the Sunbeam exit made the day.
author=Robie link=topic=21531.msg92243#msg92243 date=1311565388]
Does it count as skiing car to car, if the marathon runner in our party chose to run back to reflection lake and bring the car to us at sunbeam creek?
yup
Last July Keith Henson hitchhiked back from Snow Lakes TH to his ride at Reflection Lakes while I took off my boots. SO car-to-car....
What time did you start skinning and what time did you start skiing down?
Yep good seeing ya all up there. It got a little bushwacky on lower sunbeam . Hope you stopped and took a good look back up as there are many variations .In the dead of winter I prefer to ski down eastern ridge in the glades. Brenda and Mike Metz liked the western entry . I'll shoot you a map .
Jarvis ,Mad Dog and friend were also in the vicinity.
Does it count as skiing car to car, if the marathon runner in our party chose to run back to reflection lake and bring the car to...
Jarvis ,Mad Dog and friend were also in the vicinity.
Does it count as skiing car to car, if the marathon runner in our party chose to run back to reflection lake and bring the car to...
Did you make a wrong turn leaving home this morning? ???
The weather was grand in the Olympics, no turns for us, but lots of trail time and multiple opportunities for kicking steps with our hiking boots. :D
Sounds like you had a great day.
Gary and Jan
The weather was grand in the Olympics, no turns for us, but lots of trail time and multiple opportunities for kicking steps with our hiking boots. :D
Sounds like you had a great day.
Gary and Jan
Oh yeah, it was '98. Bad memory. Thanks!
- I thought that El nino was '97/'98 ? I'm glad it's still July !
Nice. Judging by your picture link, it looks like smooth snow starts above 7.5k?
Very nice conditions! This jogs my memory. My most memorable Shasta trip was Aug. 5th 1997, when you could ski smooth snow off the summit to within 1/4 mile of the Clear Creek TH. A 7700+-' ski in August!!!
- epic photo, the first one & all of 'em. I was hopin' I might find a rpt! The 5th season, and Forest service are reporting good conditions for Brewer Crk. thanks much, I'm there next wk * * * Lassen is closed, for trail work. (mainly patch skiing, anyway (compared to the Masta) "sum turns is betta than no turns, though" that's pretty cool, how you went out to the glacier - kids' play compared to your guys' Mtn. I had frozen 'shark-fins' at...
Nice meeting you and your brother up there yesterday, Eric. Lots of suncups and runnells down below but scenery and the nice corn turns up high were well worth the effort!
My brother and I were up there as well, salivating over the fact that the Mowich Lake road was finally open! First trip for me up to the area as I'm still fairly new to this aspect of skiing, but wow, what a neat tour. Iluka, thanks for helping give us a sense of direction on our way up. I'll shoot you a few pictures of your turns down the Russell as soon as I can download them. Andyski, I enjoyed our brief conversation towards the top of the Russell, and I hope you were able to get th...
Good detail iluka, especially on the cracks! Pretty extensive (from a distance/area perspective) network of shallow cracks. I was very surprised to see them considering the snowpack.
Telemack: I never do knapsack so I won't offer an opinion, but the E aspect definitely was completely snow covered. Didn't look at the lake side.
Telemack: I never do knapsack so I won't offer an opinion, but the E aspect definitely was completely snow covered. Didn't look at the lake side.
Good news. The Russell loooked good from Burroughs.
Sounds like the road is open to Mowich Lake?
And what do you think of the Spray Lake approach compared to Knapsack Pass?
Knapsack didn't seem like much of a shortcut.
Sounds like the road is open to Mowich Lake?
And what do you think of the Spray Lake approach compared to Knapsack Pass?
Knapsack didn't seem like much of a shortcut.
Saw your tracks off of Sinister. Nice trip! And to think we just spent 4 days *walking* arround to get there from Steheiken!
Excellent trip...I have been drooling over that nf of sinister in the green beckey for years now.
A few other details to add from the day up on the Russell and Flett glaciers (agree with Andyski on how well the upper portion skied... a fun day up there!):
- Russell Headwall skied well but the basin below it is pretty suncupped and runnelled as is the skiers left on the first pitch down below that basin
- A few cracks opening in the Russell but all very small.
- Flett headwall looks nice and smooth although the basin below that is pretty runnelled as well.
- Russell Headwall skied well but the basin below it is pretty suncupped and runnelled as is the skiers left on the first pitch down below that basin
- A few cracks opening in the Russell but all very small.
- Flett headwall looks nice and smooth although the basin below that is pretty runnelled as well.
I want to be like that dude someday... He's bad ass!