TR Replies
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,...
author=Amar Andalkar link=topic=19542.msg83094#msg83094 date=1297529480]
... Apparently Laura agrees that the Muir Snowfield is a great place to introduce newcomers to our sport! ...
I would guess a lot of us learned to bc ski on Muir Snowfield (as well as how to skin, climb with skins, self-arrest :-0). Unfortunately for me, my new wife (over 20 years ago) decided I should learn on the Nisquall.y Glacier, with breakable...
author=acarey link=topic=19542.msg83089#msg83089 date=1297522399]
Of course, the hunk behind Laura, looks like Tyler Reid, renowned ski guide who is also rumored to be a friend of Laura. ;D
Nope, it's not Tyler -- his name is Sam, also working at Whittaker Mountaineering this winter, and it was his first time ever skinning (and only second time skiing). Apparently Laura agrees that the Muir Snowfield is a great place to intro...
Nice job Amar cool report!
In the month of May you probably skied Muir more times than I have since 1976!
Good to see that someone keeps track of those numbers otherwise they just get lost.
Born to Crunch Nuh...ahh..uhhh...uhhhmbers. Sung to Steppenwolf's song Born to be Wild. :D
In the month of May you probably skied Muir more times than I have since 1976!
Good to see that someone keeps track of those numbers otherwise they just get lost.
Born to Crunch Nuh...ahh..uhhh...uhhhmbers. Sung to Steppenwolf's song Born to be Wild. :D
Yeah, it was pretty friggan sweet. Can't wait to hit it again!
author=Amar Andalkar link=topic=19542.msg83081#msg83081 date=1297491603]
Ummm . . . I'm not sure I should tell you, Andy! Even though you're probably just asking what most men are thinking anyway, whenever they see a photo of a woman. (shaking my head) Why don't you want to know who the other three people are??
Anyway, that's Laura Rodgers, retail manager at the Whittaker Mountaineering store in your hometown of Ashford. She'...
Seems we have at least one thing in common...
author=acarey link=topic=19542.msg83067#msg83067 date=1297478624]
Enough of this drivel, who's the chick? ;D
Ummm . . . I'm not sure I should tell you, Andy! Even though you're probably just asking what most men are thinking anyway, whenever they see a photo of a woman. (shaking my head) Why don't you want to know who the other three people are??
Anyway, that's Laura Rodgers, retail manager at t...
author=swaterfall link=topic=19542.msg83072#msg83072 date=1297484252]
Hey Amar,
It was good to see you on your 100th. I think you got the last of the good snow (for now anyway). This morning the wind was averaging 60 with gusts in the high 80's at Muir. Thus the conditions on the snowfield were "windblown ridges of sastrugi and icy fins of water ice".
Wow, you're not kidding! I hadn't looked at...
Hey Amar,
It was good to see you on your 100th. I think you got the last of the good snow (for now anyway). This morning the wind was averaging 60 with gusts in the high 80's at Muir. Thus the conditions on the snowfield were "windblown ridges of sastrugi and icy fins of water ice".
It was good to see you on your 100th. I think you got the last of the good snow (for now anyway). This morning the wind was averaging 60 with gusts in the high 80's at Muir. Thus the conditions on the snowfield were "windblown ridges of sastrugi and icy fins of water ice".
Amar , A most appreciated post ! You better than most know the permutations of routes both up and down that wonderful place. 100 tours up there most likely isn't enough to sample it in all it's variety.
Enough of this drivel, who's the chick? ;D
We stayed below 8,000 and actually got in some really nice powder skiing.
Cool, congrats on the 100! Nice write up. I too like to return to old haunts and see them in different conditions/seasons/light. Looking forward to the guide.
Glad you're hanging in there Amar. Nothing trivial about becoming intimate with a beautiful place. Thanks for sharing what it means to you.
And thanks a TON for the jump the other night.....
And thanks a TON for the jump the other night.....
Nice to meet you both up top. Conditions could have been better, but overall was a great ski! Shane has a sweet ski down the White Salmon.
I have a saying, That the pleasure of skiing exponentially increases by 1000 percent, when the skiing becomes microscopically better than my lowest expectation. ;)
nice! i saw your guys tracks when i skiied it yesterday, nice turns! what a bueatiful line.
Thanks for giving it a read. The day exceeded expectations -- probably because we had low expectations. There's a truism in there ... always have low expectations and you'll rarely be disappointed??
Nice one Ian! Let's hit that in better conditions this spring!
That's an impressive looking chute.
From the looks of the debris in the 2nd pic a climber has gotta hit that on the most stable of conditions if the only route is up the gut.
I like the looks of the decent on the lookers left ridge to add some spice.
From the looks of the debris in the 2nd pic a climber has gotta hit that on the most stable of conditions if the only route is up the gut.
I like the looks of the decent on the lookers left ridge to add some spice.