TR Replies
Pictures of suffering also appreciated. That aspect to the southeast skied quite nicely.
This is everything we're looking for in a TR. More like it, please!
Nice work snowymonk! Been on that sastrugi there before (and on it on Clear Creek/upper Wintun, Hotlam-Wintun, West Face) and had fantastic near top to bottom runs (short icy gnar/sastrugi to 6K of corn to suncups) but being a visitor from NW WA, I'll never get what you got there.
author=snowymonk link=topic=42409.msg166265#msg166265 date=1578248417]
I'll be chasing that unicorn day when I can ski 6k+ of pow from the summit (any TRs of a summit ski in pow of Shasta?) It gets so windy up there I wonder how often the conditions line up...
Probably not often! That's like asking to ski pow summit to car on Rainier... not likely.
Cool TR
normal parking . there is also a small lot 1/4 mile past the road parking that can be used.
We went over Herman Saddle. They are expecting a lot of new snow in the next few days. Hopefully thy are right.
For approaching Barometer did you go around Table or directly up and over the Herman saddle area? Hope coverage on those boulder fields improves with the next system
frankfrank had better food but we had sun...
with vintage boot top pow (measured in hours, not years 😉) that got very glittery in the lower chutes (large hoar crystals), a magical run that offered a degree of christmas ski redemption after traipsing around the snoqualmie crust two days...
Yep, was real good on the 27th as well. Moderately limited visibility, but easy to find soft and smooth snow below tree line. Some creeks are still open (and Nisqually bridge route is still rocky), but coverage is good for nearly everything else.
The 24th was really quite nice. There is a real base, and there *was* nice boot top pow.
Anyone been to Paradise since this report? Need to burn off some holiday calories, but could easily be convinced to stay home and consume more calories if conditions are marginal.
The picture looks amazing. Your description pretty much describes the Highway 2 corridor. Great skiing above 5,000 ft but a heavy price must be paid between the highway and 5,000 ft and that's without the parking limitations.
What a great photo. It sure looks like winter up there!
Sounds like a rough exit. I've had that same experience there. You'll laugh about it later :)
Sounds like a rough exit. I've had that same experience there. You'll laugh about it later :)
we were there today. Skied off Manama ridge, East side. Lovely conditions. Did laps from about 6k to 5200. Upper part of that was lovely, things got noticeably thicker at the bottom but still good. Vis was flat but doable. My first trip this winter, worth it. Think those conditions will last another few days at least
Yes the road improved a whole lot. I would expect good skiing tommorow as well. Given the coverage.
Thanks for the report. Did the road condition improve by the time you came down?
Hey thanks Randy ,somebody had to do this!
Forced me to go to Rainier today.
Forced me to go to Rainier today.
Skied lift served at west in the morning and then skinned some laps at Silver Fir in the afternoon. Quite a few tracks at Silver Fir already. Untracked snow had a crust that you could ignore. Was kind of fun, very breakable thin crust (probably from rain?), and you could just ignore that the crust was there and ski as normal except for the added sound effects on every turn. Hoping for some snow tonight/tomorrow/tomorrow night!
I got some fitness turns in yesterday evening after a trip to N Bend. Man, it felt good to be back on snow at the Pass, even if it was just West. Hopefully the East flow saves us this next Pineapple.
We skied Silver Basin off the king yesterday 12/17 and kicked off a slide from the wind crust over the rocks at the top of SETrees. Not deep but ran over 300' into the trees. Not reassuring.
author=IntheTrees link=topic=42331.msg166099#msg166099 date=1576524390]
the park ranger unfriendliness was a good reminder how the parks still have things they can improve on.
What was the unpleasant experience ?
Very nice to see someone outside the groomers already - sounds fun and promising
I'm not aware of any parking restrictions in the Bachelor lot for uphill travelers. If the Pine lift is running, you can skin to the Pine lodge. If the Summit lift is running, you can skin to the summit. They did move the uphill route a few years ago when the Cloudchaser lift was opened. Personally, I appreciate that Bachelor welcomes uphill travelers.
Friends in Bend. I was told that can't even park on highway shoulder to access off-season.
Yoyo, Joker and I skied Kehr's, Aquarius and Skid Row.
Snow density was somewhat lighter above 4500 -- Sharks got no core shots, but some edge tuning is in order.
Snow density was somewhat lighter above 4500 -- Sharks got no core shots, but some edge tuning is in order.
Blewett has had several fires in the last dozen years. Dead standing trees make good firewood.
Where did you get info about Bachelor's parking policy having restrictions for uphillers?
I thought about that route and starred at it on Google Earth, but I always see Iron creek and its branches along with the bush whacking as a problem. Especially in mid winter. Did you travel back the same way?
Bachelor's parking policy for uphill travelers now is essentially prohibitive, with a limited daily time slot for uphill. "Greed is good!" And I had a time crunch, so the getting there-and-back added another hour +. Besides, I was all alone, except for 1 pre-season patroller, until I came across a couple opf snow shoers on my way down! Beautiful region there...
"You're Going Anyway---Bring Your Skis"
Almost nothing is better than nothing! Sounds like there was nothing to work with at Bachelor?
Almost nothing is better than nothing! Sounds like there was nothing to work with at Bachelor?
I actually went a new way this time; I crossed the bridge and went from White River East as opposed to West. This allowed me to not do the river crossing, but it was a long traverse in some dense trees. I think this might be my preferred way of looping up back to Meadows with more snow, however, if the river isn't crossable. It was dense, but doable.
author=aaasen link=topic=42283.msg165986#msg165986 date=1575321311]
Very slow start to winter this year! I thought last year was bad but there was solid coverage of the Paradise area and even the Tatoosh this time last year...
NWS is saying November was the driest at Paradise in fifty years, with the 3rd-lowest snowpack:
https://twitter.com/NWSSeattle/status/1201731799769944064
author=silaswild link=topic=42285.msg165988#msg165988 date=1575344971]
We found what appeared to be burned trees that had been cut down. During a recent(?) fire? Does anyone know? Thanks. We called our day “the best of the bad.â€
We met a guy in the parking lot who said he had done some brush clearing somewhere along the old XC trail that goes to Mission Ridge, but he wasn't very specific about what he did or w...
I was up there yesterday and crossed over at 5200 ft and came back little lower around 5000 ft. I was able to find two snow bridges, but it was very nerve-racking during the crossing. The water was flowing pretty fast and starting to wash away the edges of the snow-pack and took out a few snow bridges. It warmed up pretty quick yesterday and don't think they will stick around longer.
We found what appeared to be burned trees that had been cut down. During a recent(?) fire? Does anyone know? Thanks. We called our day “the best of the bad.â€
Very slow start to winter this year! I thought last year was bad but there was solid coverage of the Paradise area and even the Tatoosh this time last year. I know it was predicted but that wet and cold October gave me some hope.
No road opening on Friday sounds frustrating, although it was unforeseen SAR so I get it. On Saturday the gate opened at about 9:20am and closed at 4:00pm for "expected weather-related road conditions". Not sure what was up with that since the road...
No road opening on Friday sounds frustrating, although it was unforeseen SAR so I get it. On Saturday the gate opened at about 9:20am and closed at 4:00pm for "expected weather-related road conditions". Not sure what was up with that since the road...
Yeah thanks for the update. I tried to go Friday only to hear they would not open the gate that day. After a short man baby fit and appology to the poor ranger for my salty language I just rolled on to White pass and took a run there.
Way to gamble and win! Did the snow bridge over the river seem like it would stick around for a while if we don't get more snow?
Thanks for the report. Slow start to winter this year.
Also IME the first few days of operation, there can be the "fog of war" in ski patrol and resort operations, so expect some chaos and random events. A few years ago I toured on the first day of lift spinning, filled out the forms with ski patrol indicating a planned return time of 4:30. - but the ski patrol called my emergency contact number at 3:30 as they were going through their "close the hill" check list. My wife had a heck of a scare.
FWIW: The website uphill travel info page is here
https://www.crystalmountainresort.com/the-mountain/mountain-safety/uphill-travel
Also the last couple of times I've headed toward Silver Basin/Besr Gap I've followed the hiking trail that is on the east side of the creek draining Hen Skin Lakes. This is a little more effort, but more relaxing when making a late start (i.e. not e...
I was unaware of the new policy until just now. When I talked to patrol last season I was given the impression that their primary concern was people skinning up into Silver Basin when it was closed and they were potentially doing avy work (a situation that has occurred more than once in the past).
If you start from C lot you can access Bullion Basin and East Peak without ever entering the ski area.
If you start from C lot you can access Bullion Basin and East Peak without ever entering the ski area.
There is also a light board at the chapel and if their terrain is closed, might not be able to ski up to the cat track heading toward East peak or gold hills. If they enforce as strongly as they could, you can't hike uphill anywhere on CM (inside the boundary) when uphill travel is prohibited. The card is new also and obtained at the ski patrol office. Daily issued or once a season? Hope it's not a mandatory every time requirement. Saw it in a dream, clusters of touree's in a line...
WaaaaH!Waaaaah!!! BooF******Hoo! I hate traveling for Thanksgiving! I'm so jealous it looks marvelous! Thanks for the post Mike!!
author=avajane link=topic=42272.msg165955#msg165955 date=1575061973]
Mike - I am very impressed so far with the number of big dumps we seem to get around North Central Washington! I just nailed a beautiful powder morning at Blewett Pass as well...
Yeah, the Wenatchee Mountains have been the focal point for 3 big storms over the last year. I wonder if this is the new norm? It would be really great to get a handful of super big dum...