TR Replies
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!
Looks like a great trip Eric. Way to launch in the marginal weather. Beautiful pictures. Skiing this is on my to do list.
Don't believe a word of it -- conditions were brutal
:) I didn't even notice the July 11 date -- I assumed it was a 7/21 typo and was amazed at the snow coverage...
Nice report Amar! I'd love to get down that way soon, and would imagine the route will be in good shape for early August turns! Looks like an awesome time to be on the mountain!
author=Marcus link=topic=21521.msg92194#msg92194 date=1311382383]
Because it was just posted today!
My bad. Misunderstood an email. "Posted a TR on my trip a few weeks ago" can be interpreted a few ways ;-)
Still......this trip kicks ass. LOVE IT!
The story of the 1953 traverse party is made more poignant by the fact that Tom Miller passed away a few months ago. The following thread has some thoughts about him, including the Miller family's obituary from the Seattle Times:
http://cascadeclimbers.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/1010693#Post1010693
For years I thought Tom's 1953 party was the second to do the Ptarmigan Traverse. But following Tom's death and the republication of my then-and-now story in...
http://cascadeclimbers.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/1010693#Post1010693
For years I thought Tom's 1953 party was the second to do the Ptarmigan Traverse. But following Tom's death and the republication of my then-and-now story in...
author=ryanl link=topic=21521.msg92193#msg92193 date=1311380176]
Why has this TR only been viewed 55 times?! Phenomenal!! Way to go Eric and Jon...
Because it was just posted today!
Awesome work guys, incredible pics. Love that white-out, sporty downclimbing at Cache col.
Why has this TR only been viewed 55 times?! Phenomenal!! Way to go Eric and Jon...
This is great!! Going south not north; really looking forward to it. I had heard rumor that it was really good on that side.
Thanks for the most useful report.
Thanks for the most useful report.
Looks like a great trip, weather windows notwithstanding. Thanks for posting that up.
Really enjoyed the link to the Ptarmigin history as well.
Really enjoyed the link to the Ptarmigin history as well.
author=andyski link=topic=21382.msg92183#msg92183 date=1311360391]
"The Man is keeping you down": A skier through the years (groupings not mutually exclusive)
Pre-teen: Man! My parents are keeping me down.
Teen through early 20s: Man! Ski patrol is keeping me down.
30s-40s: Man! My wife/husband/kids/job is keeping me down.
The meadow-skipping years: Man! The USFS/NPS is keeping me down.
Beyond: Man! My twice-reconstructed kne...
Completely awesome! It was cool to see your tracks on the NF of Sinister. Was this only the second time this face has been skied, and the first solo descent?
Let's be honest: Some of us who use the park a lot expect to be treated differently than everyone else ("the tourists"). I've been guilty of this myself. It's the same ethic you see at ski areas. Having locals break the rules doesn't make things any easier, though good on ya' for admitting it.
"The Man is keeping you down": A skier through the years (groupings not mutually exclusive)
Pre-teen: Man! My parents are keeping me down.
...
"The Man is keeping you down": A skier through the years (groupings not mutually exclusive)
Pre-teen: Man! My parents are keeping me down.
...
nearly all the rangers i've met have been great, though i have met an occasional one that was on a power trip and had a less than positive experience with them (coincidence of not, they were both volunteer rangers). one time it was a fellow in glacier basin who informed me he was going to start collecting up running shoes stashed by climbers on the bear poles and under rocks in glacier basin, the other was a trip to van trump park were the first thing the ranger said to me was 'you d...
author=Scotsman link=topic=21382.msg91570#msg91570 date=1310064611]
If you can't outwit MRNP Rangers then I fear for your life skills.....duh!
I would guess that skiers A, B, & C were alerted by D about the rangers and did just that. The others being unaware of the stick in the hornets nest were not so lucky.
I think it comes down to goal of the NPS. Being underfunded and sta...
I hope not to offend, but this kind of sounds like there is a little bit of an overblown sense of entitlement going on here. Among this group of outdoor enthusiasts (TAY) there should be little if any question about what the rules at MRNP are- and the answers are quite easy to find.
The rules were broken and met with consequences. How can you expect anything else, regardless of what you want to believe?
The rangers do not have an easy job and there are a whole slew of reas...
The rules were broken and met with consequences. How can you expect anything else, regardless of what you want to believe?
The rangers do not have an easy job and there are a whole slew of reas...
Thanks for the update! My brother and I are planning to head up there tomorrow afternoon to camp around Lunch Counter and go up to the summit early on Saturday.
We must have missed you. We were up on SEWS all day. Saw only 2 other groups (3 total people). On passed us on the arete then another came up to the ridge right as we finished the rappels. Oh yeah, all the goats were over by us. Glad to hear the snow was reasonable.
who are you ranger rick? whoever you are, if you insist on calling yourself a ranger rick then the best of luck to you good sir!
author=Ranger Rick link=topic=21382.msg91556#msg91556 date=1310022147]
Who are you calling a jerk face, jerk face?
>:(
author=Archy link=topic=21382.msg91552#msg91552 date=1310016728]
Wow. Soooo many questions, so many non-sequitors, so many adults dodging personal responsibility. The main players here had their plan, did not really care about wilderness, impacts, wildlife (just how did they store their food??), blah, blah, blah, and sure as heck didn't check about anything as silly as regulations. They got caught. Yikes, spin the story, make the rangers sound like t...
A wise man once told me "You should ski at least your age , every year" I think you pretty much have that covered! Happy Birthday you Dusty Old Fart!
It was a pleasure to join you on your birthday tour and a beautiful day to boot.
Here's Midge, the energetic one in a rare still moment during the descent...
Happy birthday Silas.
You are certainly making the most of it. Thanks for sharing (and inspiring) via your frequent reporting.
You are certainly making the most of it. Thanks for sharing (and inspiring) via your frequent reporting.
Brings back some fond memories of a weekend in late March this year. As I recall, the approach on that trip was a bit easier on the sled team. Sorry I missed out on this one. I vaguely recall some discussion of the planned Rainier adventure.
The picture is from our "training event"
Great TR.
Gary
The picture is from our "training event"
Great TR.
Gary
Just reread your post Charlie, I do see what you mean..oops.
Regarding erosion concerns over on the N.E. side: I rarely saw a foot print on my hike in and out through the forest. You pretty much had to go on your gut/instinct--which is pretty easy terrain to do so on. All in all, quite pristine.
Happy birthday Silas! May you get more vertical in your second 63 years.
Was up there the Friday/Saturday. Weather was just what it is this summer... Also would like to point out if you are wearing tennis shoes as approach shoes then expect cold wet feet unless you are changing into skis quickly. Not sure where I would walk with tennis shoes or even approach shoes at this time. Wet slushy snow...
Saw your tracks from Heaven later on that day. My buddies and I decided to build a jump over a closed sign, and have a little fun in the air. It was also kinda fun to hike up in my sandals through the run-off rivers :-).
author=Zap link=topic=21506.msg92125#msg92125 date=1311175868]
I like the last photo of Smudge. He appears to be evaluating whether or not to follow the group.
Smudge knows a heuristic trap when he sees one.
I like the last photo of Smudge. He appears to be evaluating whether or not to follow the group.
Welcome.
Welcome.
Welcome to TAY and backcountry skiing, smoogle.
Nice TR... smudge is a pretty cute pooch.
Nice TR... smudge is a pretty cute pooch.
I love it when you climb through the rain to blue skies... nice TR.
That's a bummer to hear - the NE line has nothing to do with the trail; though I can imagine that they've got erosion concerns about folks coming up the N/E ridges?
Thanks Amar for the scoop on the closure for the next few (most likely..) summer seasons..
I will just have to let it go for awhile...nice that I got it ..so awesome!!!
BTW, your site has been so much "the ticket" for getting my ski trip ducks lined up..Thanks!!
I will just have to let it go for awhile...nice that I got it ..so awesome!!!
BTW, your site has been so much "the ticket" for getting my ski trip ducks lined up..Thanks!!
I was up there Friday/Saturday. Suncups and runnels abound although the snow was soft enough that skiing them wasnt bad. We bailed on a summit because the weather was not inviting and just had a good time skiing around. We were able to ski continuously from 8k to about 1/4 mile to the TH.