TR Replies
author=Jim Oker link=topic=19585.msg83395#msg83395 date=1297836228]
Nice. Lots of terrain up there. I've only been up there once, but we spent a full day with a few ascents/descents for extra verts, never crossed our own track, and never crossed your track either. That north basin that you skirted below/around on your ascent looks intriguing, at least on the map (I've not looked at it in person). If it were a bit more stable, would you have skied it?...
Happy B-day! Hopefully the needed snow will arrive over the next few days.
Themes? Well, we did watch the movie "Frozen" before doing Frozen and id watch RED before doing Red... Sure there are other themes, looking for sunshine, having fun runs...
Plenty of options from Red west and east. With more coverage could get down a modified way we came up. the route SE looked nice and steep, not thrilled with the snow conditions. The bwl to teh north had me intrigued with wanting to ski it. Looked like could head NW and around...
Plenty of options from Red west and east. With more coverage could get down a modified way we came up. the route SE looked nice and steep, not thrilled with the snow conditions. The bwl to teh north had me intrigued with wanting to ski it. Looked like could head NW and around...
Nice. Lots of terrain up there. I've only been up there once, but we spent a full day with a few ascents/descents for extra verts, never crossed our own track, and never crossed your track either. That north basin that you skirted below/around on your ascent looks intriguing, at least on the map (I've not looked at it in person). If it were a bit more stable, would you have skied it?
Sounds like the xmas trees at the bottom of the big trees up high aren't growing up enough to cause any real problems (it's been a few years since I got up there). Nice to know...
Happy Birthday, Jimmy! How yah doing on that "one year older" deal ;D
author=bobS link=topic=19576.msg83342#msg83342 date=1297810410]
Maybe then she will go skiing with me some time :)
Don't forget the chocolate. Bring the good stuff and sunshine...
:). Snoqualmie may not always deliver powder, but it's always an adventure. Nice work!
TRIP DETAILS
Park at gold pond, gold creek trail head
tour past gold pond
take a right at a over grown road on right with a broken gate
take road up around 500' switching back and forth
get to a clearing go up and stay to right
at 3700' you are at the base of some large cliffs and one arrow couloir that start at 5400'
stay to the right and connect the open spots in the trees veering to the right to avoid cliffs above.
It levels out at...
Park at gold pond, gold creek trail head
tour past gold pond
take a right at a over grown road on right with a broken gate
take road up around 500' switching back and forth
get to a clearing go up and stay to right
at 3700' you are at the base of some large cliffs and one arrow couloir that start at 5400'
stay to the right and connect the open spots in the trees veering to the right to avoid cliffs above.
It levels out at...
author=bcglaxer link=topic=19542.msg83189#msg83189 date=1297663648]
100 times up Muir is a milestone for sure, but is this this first histogram ever posted to Turns All Year? That might be even more of a milestone!
Actually, I think that's just a barchart, rather than a histogram since the abscissa is not cutpoints of the ordinate. But now we're getting pedantic ;D
We didn't drive to the end of the road, just the first trailhead after the one right by the Interstate.
The snowmobile parking at the end of the road, I assume? That fits with the way I usually go, out the groomed road toward Mt. Margaret, except it's a left up onto a logging road. Perhaps you're hitting a different road network, farther back from the end of the road.
Anyway, happy birthday. It's a neat area to explore.
Anyway, happy birthday. It's a neat area to explore.
author=Marcus link=topic=19600.msg83348#msg83348 date=1297816382]
Nice -- which route did you take that you encountered so many creeks?
I'd have to defer to Adam on the route questions... We started up from the snowpark a mile or so from the Interstate, and shortly after leaving the parking area we took a right through what looked like it might have been a logging road a long time ago, but young trees covered it now.
Nice -- which route did you take that you encountered so many creeks?
I was just remarking this weekend that the coverage was low on Rampart when we were up there over a month ago -- happy to hear it's at least manageable still, despite the warm weather.
I was just remarking this weekend that the coverage was low on Rampart when we were up there over a month ago -- happy to hear it's at least manageable still, despite the warm weather.
The Valentine is Great!
I’m going to do that next time I go skiing and take a picture for my wife. Maybe then she will go skiing with me some time :)
I’m going to do that next time I go skiing and take a picture for my wife. Maybe then she will go skiing with me some time :)
Wide angle lenses!
My GoPro video cam is also real wide and it makes my runs look longer than they actually are and also a lot faster as well.
Alan
My GoPro video cam is also real wide and it makes my runs look longer than they actually are and also a lot faster as well.
Alan
author=BigSnow link=topic=19581.msg83316#msg83316 date=1297785574]
That second picture looks like a classic avi trap. How long was it and were you confident that the conditions on the top of that were as solid as when you started out at the bottom?
Alan
Alan
That’s a good question because before turning the corner I had no idea what was up there- it could have ended in 15 feet or had a monster cornice high above baking in th...
Cool idea. Inspires me to be more flexible for this three day wk-end!
I am glad you were able to get on that slope and get some turns.
You mentioned the snow conditions went from dense to light and was well bonded. That second picture looks like a classic avi trap. How long was it and were you confident that the conditions on the top of that were as solid as when you started out at the bottom? Certainly looks like a nice ski.
Alan
Alan
Thanks for the great trip report Amar. I always enjoy reading your trip reports. Looking forward to reading many more.
I too got hooked on backcountry skiing on Camp Muir a few years ago. I have many happy memories of the place. Now that I'm back home in Scotland, I'm using those skills and forming new 'friendships' with favourite places in the Scottish Highlands. Thanks to Camp Muir I'm finding a new appreciation for the mountains in my own back yard. The Cai...
I too got hooked on backcountry skiing on Camp Muir a few years ago. I have many happy memories of the place. Now that I'm back home in Scotland, I'm using those skills and forming new 'friendships' with favourite places in the Scottish Highlands. Thanks to Camp Muir I'm finding a new appreciation for the mountains in my own back yard. The Cai...
"My first backcountry ski experience, a lifetime of lift-served yo-yoing traded for a single shining run, a dream realized and a life changed forever. I had been reborn."
beautiful!
Thanks Amar.
beautiful!
Thanks Amar.
author=John_Morrow link=topic=19581.msg83270#msg83270 date=1297732752]
We have searched but have never found a clean line through the cliffs between the upper and lower NE slopes of Union. All those gullies seem to have potential but did you happen to see if any go through?
The line we took was not off Union Peak proper, but off the East-West section of the ridge connecting Union Peak to the Pass. I think it would take a rappel to ge...
awesome
sounds like a good score on the adventure-o-meter
mislaid plans make for the best memories
sounds like a good score on the adventure-o-meter
mislaid plans make for the best memories
On 35 deg. + N.W slopes we could get the top inch or so to move, but could not release anything bigger with repeated cuts on rollovers. Moonlight was fairly baked, wet, and heavy over the crust so point releases were expected, and we saw plenty of them on steeper areas. With some conservative terrain choices we stayed well out of the action. I did not note any hoar's, but not surprised you found some.
Nice turns! Good know other options around Jove.
I was wondering if you had any snow at all; glad you found nice powder. Sally and I ended up messing around on Skyline.
Dicey's lookin' good Franklin! It is a wonder why she isn't skiing more often. Although, am I seeing a theme here over the past few trip reports???
J
J
Neat stuff. We have searched but have never found a clean line through the cliffs between the upper and lower NE slopes of Union. All those gullies seem to have potential but did you happen to see if any go through?
The snowmobiles did stay off all the slopes we all skied yesterday. However, they did destroy the NE Bowl of Jove Peak and Lake high marking, which is plenty deep in the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness to know where they were.
Thanks,
John
The snowmobiles did stay off all the slopes we all skied yesterday. However, they did destroy the NE Bowl of Jove Peak and Lake high marking, which is plenty deep in the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness to know where they were.
Thanks,
John
author=Scotsman link=topic=19581.msg83262#msg83262 date=1297729184]
Nicely spaced trees in first picture... I like them. Please post GPS map to location. Thanks.
Just go over rainy pass hang a left and look around a little.
Oh, one minor hazard I forgot to mention regarding this area: snowmobiles. They caused no problems what-so-ever during the day but DID run over a couple beers I had stashed in the snow bank next to the...
Nicely spaced trees in first picture... I like them. Please post GPS map to location. Thanks.
author=trumpetsailor link=topic=19570.msg83230#msg83230 date=1297712216]
How far down? We spent the weekend nearby (and slightly lower) on Tonga/Fisher Lake (TR coming), but never felt anything nearly that twitchy in anything but the new.
The CT1 and CT4 were from my pit and were at 37cm. The CTV was from a classmates pit and I cannot recall the depth. There were other pits in slightly different areas that were much less sensative. A...
I take it that you, too, are a sick glutton for punishment. Many would start measuring exponential gains from a benchmark based on a memory encompassing good conditions.
that looks like Brenda. Pretty decent skiing up there yesterday. We managed to make up for the late gate opening, but it put us back at the car well after 6:00.
author=robert link=topic=19570.msg83229#msg83229 date=1297711881]
CTV, CT1 & CT4 on a buried surface hoar layer near the ridge crest at about 5100' on a east aspect.
How far down? We spent the weekend nearby (and slightly lower) on Tonga/Fisher Lake (TR coming), but never felt anything nearly that twitchy in anything but the new.
How did you find the stability on moonlight? We were up there for the final field day of an Avy 1 class and we were getting some really easy shears in our test pits, CTV, CT1 & CT4 on a buried surface hoar layer near the ridge crest at about 5100' on a east aspect.
Awesome, Amar! Best wishes for the next 100 Muir trips!
Other ski warriors out there looking for some variety may want to check out several challenging lines descending east between Paradise Glacier terminus and McClure Rock ('the Muir wall').
I look forward to many more of your stimulating trip reports & comments. Will your book cover records such as individuals with the most ski descents or most routes skied from each summit?
Other ski warriors out there looking for some variety may want to check out several challenging lines descending east between Paradise Glacier terminus and McClure Rock ('the Muir wall').
I look forward to many more of your stimulating trip reports & comments. Will your book cover records such as individuals with the most ski descents or most routes skied from each summit?
Amar, this=badass. Well done!
100 times up Muir is a milestone for sure, but is this this first histogram ever posted to Turns All Year? That might be even more of a milestone!
Sorry, I'm a sucker for analytical nerdiness. Nice work.
Sorry, I'm a sucker for analytical nerdiness. Nice work.
sorry, no info on the woods as we mostly used the xc trails...
Nice. Did you go up and over Nordic Pass, or around on the xc trails? If up and over, how were the woods?
Thanks for sharing, Amar. I really enjoyed the read. Muir was my second trip into the BC which was last February, with a few other trips throughout the remainder of the year. I really appreciate the simplicity of the climb; it's great to know that a ski mountaineer of your caliber enjoys it, too. I'm looking forward to many more trips in the future!
Congratulations!
No kidding about the wind today, 12 hours averaging above 100 mph, with a peak gust of 155 mph.
2-12-2011
Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center
Camp Muir, Mt Rainier National Park, Washington
Data also courtesy Mt Rainier National Park
Wind sensors unheated and ma...
No kidding about the wind today, 12 hours averaging above 100 mph, with a peak gust of 155 mph.
2-12-2011
Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center
Camp Muir, Mt Rainier National Park, Washington
Data also courtesy Mt Rainier National Park
Wind sensors unheated and ma...
Congrats Amar! I thoroughly enjoy your trip reports and website. Nice work getting to 100, that's quite a feat! I've only been to the Muir once, but can see why so many people find it such a special place.
^^^ A very accurate account of the Baker backcountry today. We started a little earlier and had an excellent run in the Diamond Trees to start the day, but it quickly digressed into what you described above.
It didn't take much effort skinning out of Swift Creek around 2 PM given the sustained 50 mph tail wind!
It didn't take much effort skinning out of Swift Creek around 2 PM given the sustained 50 mph tail wind!
Congratulations Amar! I've always enjoyed your very thorough TRs and your website! When is your book coming out? Look forward to that.
The Muir (my number one hero, btw) snowfield is a wonderful place. I plan to get my wife and girls up there skiing this spring or next. It's about time to give my wife the trip that will make her say, "So this is why you love to BC ski so much!"
Take care, David.
The Muir (my number one hero, btw) snowfield is a wonderful place. I plan to get my wife and girls up there skiing this spring or next. It's about time to give my wife the trip that will make her say, "So this is why you love to BC ski so much!"
Take care, David.
Congratulations, Amar.
I haven't skied the Muir snowfield nearly as much as you have, but I agree that it's one of the classic ski routes in North America. The route from Paradise to Muir has tremendous history, both happy and tragic.
I haven't skied the Muir snowfield nearly as much as you have, but I agree that it's one of the classic ski routes in North America. The route from Paradise to Muir has tremendous history, both happy and tragic.
author=Amar Andalkar link=topic=19542.msg83056#msg83056 date=1297468694]
June 29, 1996, Mount Rainier, Muir Snowfield: 1st Time
The essence of the Cascade Range, a sublime marriage of disparate elements, the fusion of hot and cold, sun and snow, fast and slow, the alpha and omega experienced while gliding on the razor’s edge.
No other route can match its combination of stunning scenery, easy accessibility, large vertical,...