TR Replies
Wow Eric. So glad you're Ok. Really really glad you're OK. From what I can gather it seems like you triggered the slide at or near the spot where we pulled our skins and skied on friday. Did you happen to notice our tracks and/or our lunch platform before the slide? I know we climbed up beneath and headed down at a point in the ridge where cornices hadn't developed. But I don't remember the south side as being steep like you described.
I had a close call out in the Funnelator/Swath yesterday, triggering a large avalanche. This was on the looker's left side of the main face, just above the last patch of large trees adjacent to the open slope. Elevation was about 6500' and the slope quite steep, 40+ degrees. The crown was about 3-4 feet high and I think ran for about 100 feet lengthwise, parallel to the ridge line and then downslope into the looker's left-side of the main face. This part of the c...
Thanks for the skin track up to the entrance to the northwest side, we admired your descent tracks from the summit of Roosevelt. Impressive tour!
Not surprised at all Benj. Those guys have a unique makeup of strength and conditioning that surpass most. If Dave Coleman was with them and not at the Bark Ball the night prior he would have been out there charging it hard as well.
What is refreshing is the humility and kindness that they all exude among friends and strangers, what a wonderful group of guys that I am blessed to call friends.
What is refreshing is the humility and kindness that they all exude among friends and strangers, what a wonderful group of guys that I am blessed to call friends.
Thanks for a great day gentlemen. And to anyone reading this post, I feel obliged to say that the rest of these nut jobs were ready to add Kaleetan to the day, and would have if I had not needed to be back in town by 6:00...or at least that's what I told them.
swath in prime conditions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP4SJhExRv8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP4SJhExRv8
author=lrudholm link=topic=20035.msg84938#msg84938 date=1299526021]
Awesome!
I've been tempted to create a big sign that I can plant at the beginning of a skin track asking booters, etc to stay off the skintrack. Maybe something that says "Free beer for booters and snowshoers that stay off the skintrack."
:) Better bring a few cases. :)
We met scores of snowshoers during the day.
But interestingly enough, n...
Awesome!
I've been tempted to create a big sign that I can plant at the beginning of a skin track asking booters, etc to stay off the skintrack. Maybe something that says "Free beer for booters and snowshoers that stay off the skintrack."
I've been tempted to create a big sign that I can plant at the beginning of a skin track asking booters, etc to stay off the skintrack. Maybe something that says "Free beer for booters and snowshoers that stay off the skintrack."
author=Rusty Knees link=topic=20035.msg84935#msg84935 date=1299524700]
Oh, uh...that, uh, was me, Yeah that's it, I'll collect that free beer.
I'll always have an extra brew for you, Don :)
author=ron j link=topic=20035.msg84933#msg84933 date=1299524285]
Had you been around when we got to the car it would have gotten you a free beer :)
Oh, uh...that, uh, was me, Yeah that's it, I'll collect that free beer.
Nice work guys! No Lander this trip?
Great photos Victor, glad you had stellar conditions, great to see Jake out there smiling in his element.
Fun day to be out and about for sure. We skied a line off the top of Bryant and center punched the Coulior ~11am before it warmed up too much, and it was some tasty fall line skiing.
Looks like significant settlement occured. Lots of unconsolidated recently in Hwy 2 corridor as well.
No arguments there, we definitely played it safe on the way down. We headed back to the car through the trees, via the drainage below our track up. Steve recalled a large slide above that area which swept a few folks into the trees below a while back. There wasn't any clear evidence of instability above us but like you said- if it had gone, it would have gone big.
It's all too easy to enjoy a nice gentle slope without stoping to look above and consider the inclination of gra...
It's all too easy to enjoy a nice gentle slope without stoping to look above and consider the inclination of gra...
Nice flash of E$'s pearly whites in the otherwise slightly blurry video. Blurry or not, makes me want to get back there and check it out.
Looks like a killer day guys.
Looks like a killer day guys.
We skied this yesterday. Thanks for the amazing skin track (and the snow free log crossing); we owe you a beer! Still several 1000 ft of fantastic powder on top and only very slight sloughing. The last 1000 ft was definitely heavier and we lost your down track for this section (we went skier's right instead of left). We skied over lots of logs and slide alder. Funny how you failed to mention that you crossed the river on the bridge on your way back :) On the way back we did find a better lo...
Careful out there.
I was in the Crytal sidecountry yesterday and after skiing some < 30 deg slopes, I felt worried enough about steeper stuff to do a pit before going onto it( which I didn't after my pit)
CT24, at 48" with Q1.... like a filing cabinet. West Facing, 6400 ft on hoar crystals. IF it goes ... it's going to go big!
I was in the Crytal sidecountry yesterday and after skiing some < 30 deg slopes, I felt worried enough about steeper stuff to do a pit before going onto it( which I didn't after my pit)
CT24, at 48" with Q1.... like a filing cabinet. West Facing, 6400 ft on hoar crystals. IF it goes ... it's going to go big!
That's one Powder Hound!
I would still be suspect on the North, NW and West Slopes at 6800-5000 ft too. The snow feels stable on the surface, but go down 4 ft and there is a hoar layer that is supporting the load. If/when it goes it's going to be big and ugly.
The difficult thing is that it's spotty. There have been some HUGE fractures over the last week on the above stated aspects in the Crystal area. Even in lower terrain that usually does not have big fractures,...
I would still be suspect on the North, NW and West Slopes at 6800-5000 ft too. The snow feels stable on the surface, but go down 4 ft and there is a hoar layer that is supporting the load. If/when it goes it's going to be big and ugly.
The difficult thing is that it's spotty. There have been some HUGE fractures over the last week on the above stated aspects in the Crystal area. Even in lower terrain that usually does not have big fractures,...
one must learn to focus before picking up cameras and shooting friends skiing down roosevelt. but somehow i was glued to the screen through the whole video. dammit. thanks
Wow! What could possibly calm the mind, and perhaps bring a few moments of inner peace, better than stitching together over 7000 vertical feet of interesting skiing?!? Very impressive, gentlemen. Has my vote for most creative local tour of the year.
A few more pictures where you can see conditions on Stuart and Cashmere :
https://picasaweb.google.com/victormesny/CannonMountain#
... Incredible day weather wise and snow wise.
https://picasaweb.google.com/victormesny/CannonMountain#
... Incredible day weather wise and snow wise.
Wow, the difference a day makes. Love the photo looking into Coney Lake basin.
Thanks Zap and Koda. Koda - You'll have an excellent time - Shane and the gang have thought of everything w.r.t. the yurts, and the terrain is awesome!
author=John_Morrow link=topic=20003.msg84864#msg84864 date=1299469747]
After seeing it today from the Hwy, as well, we wondered if we might see the same thing on the big north slope of Jim Hill when viewed from Arrowhead. Nothing over there except some turns left by folks having skied it safely. On the SE slope of Pt 5909 in the foreground we saw an approximately 2 foot deep crown that extended a couple hundred feet across that slope just below the high poin...
That first photo looks like fun.
author=wickstad link=topic=20003.msg84863#msg84863 date=1299469014]
Saw that crown today. Haven't seen it before in 10 years of driving over. We assumed it was skier triggered. Hoped it was natural. Didn't see anything on Jim Hill, Rock, or Howard (from us2). Did see some south facing activity off of Lichtenburg but that's pretty common. That crown off "Chiwaukum Cirque" was pretty astonishing.
After...
author=garyabrill link=topic=20003.msg84854#msg84854 date=1299465874]
That goes on quite a few years. Large slabs in that cirque are not at all uncommon. The ones I've seen have been 6' to 10' crowns. It appears to get cross-loaded heavily by winds coming down White Pine Creek. The cross-loading means areas of deep and shallow snowpack, and that means faceting in the colder months. Some of the slabs are classic full depth slides running on depth...
If you ride lifts, it doesn't count as skiing...
... but maybe perhaps a gravity ASSisted variant!
... but maybe perhaps a gravity ASSisted variant!
author=Pete_H link=topic=20003.msg84836#msg84836 date=1299445301]
Saw a huge crown from Hwy 2 in Chiwakum Cirque nearly half the width of the cirque from a slide that reportedly occured that day. Some big natural slides recently.
That goes on quite a few years. Large slabs in that cirque are not at all uncommon. The ones I've seen have been 6' to 10' crowns. It appears to get cross-loaded heavily by winds coming d...
author=jwplotz link=topic=20006.msg84797#msg84797 date=1299372471]
I'd say in spring, when the thin snowpack is frozen in the morning is the best time to skin over the snags, or get lucky and hit it right after a dumping. I could only imagine the run(s) one could have if all of the crap were covered under a few more feet of snow.
And therein lies the problem. It is an area that would rarely get a deep snowpack.
author=Zap link=topic=20006.msg84846#msg84846 date=1299461696]
Great to see a TR of an area I've only visited in the fall. Thanks.
I highly recommend it in the winter!
Great to see a TR of an area I've only visited in the fall. Thanks.
excellent detailed report. I look forward to my trip there less than 2 weeks. This will be my first time in the sisters yurts so it's nice to see a preview of whats in store. The accommodations look excellent.
Saw a huge crown from Hwy 2 in Chiwakum Cirque nearly half the width of the cirque from a slide that reportedly occured that day. Some big natural slides recently.
Sometimes the conditions just aren't there for a good downhill skin. Dissapointing, but you just have to suck up and take the safe way down. I kept my poles out for good measure and style points.
I'd be lying if I said I didn't straddle any down fall. Both skinning and riding. Pretty minimal considering. snow was great on the decent though. No core shots, but I do have some black ash marks.
Limited exposure.. it seems like the snow pack is lower,...
Swath, lawnmower, funnelator. There is never just one name for anything near Stevens pass.
That is a nice long north facing shot though. Thanks for the report. tried to get a look at the coverage in it on the way home that day but the snow was falling to heavy by then.
I often think that for a custom knife store, his custom sign is kind of cheesy. It's a big wooden knife! I'd like to see a nice big 12' one ton metal sword that could chop your car in h...
That is a nice long north facing shot though. Thanks for the report. tried to get a look at the coverage in it on the way home that day but the snow was falling to heavy by then.
I often think that for a custom knife store, his custom sign is kind of cheesy. It's a big wooden knife! I'd like to see a nice big 12' one ton metal sword that could chop your car in h...
The approach seems trivial compared to heading all the way to Stuart. ;) Thanks for all the good info on Cannon.
Good skiing with you guys, hope you made it up to Baker easily. Our next run down the backside was just as good as the first, even the run down to the parking lot was pretty damn good! Pics and short video on NWH.
I've always wondered what the rules where for defining "slackcountry". Oh well it is still a day on the ski's. Lifts or not.
Such a great video, love the INS comment!
Reviving an old post, but I missed it the first time. Great post. Muir was my introduction to backcountry skiing in the West, and is still my favorite...even if it is flat :). Great workout, amazing and humbling setting. I've been doing it 5-10 times a year for almost eight years and still find myself going back.
Niko,
Scott and I skinned the road just past the 8 Mile lake trailhead, then headed up the slope, connected with the old logging road, following that to nearly its end.
Scott and I skinned the road just past the 8 Mile lake trailhead, then headed up the slope, connected with the old logging road, following that to nearly its end.
Good job, John. The first photo makes me think you went up the standard summer route, more or less, not via Rat Creek, right? Where did you leave 8M road--around 3000' (0.5 mi before 8M TH) as per the wenatcheeoutdoors map? Thanks, N
Good job.
Did you go into the knife shop? I've always talked about getting some sort of custom-made katana from that place, but have never followed through...
Did you go into the knife shop? I've always talked about getting some sort of custom-made katana from that place, but have never followed through...
Nice one John.
Starting to get some reattachment between my head and body. Maybe we'll get out soon......
Starting to get some reattachment between my head and body. Maybe we'll get out soon......
I'd say in spring, when the thin snowpack is frozen in the morning is the best time to skin over the snags, or get lucky and hit it right after a dumping. I could only imagine the run(s) one could have if all of the crap were covered under a few more feet of snow.