TR Replies
I'd rather carry skis than snowshoe... And I hate carrying skis ;)
Anyone been up towards Snow Lake recently? A friend wants to showshoe it... worth it bring the skis along, or am I just going to get drowned in some concrete?
Thank you, redshift! Very nice.
Photos make it look like "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" flying, but I think of it actually as Vegetarian skiing: lots of plants, little carving.
Photos make it look like "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" flying, but I think of it actually as Vegetarian skiing: lots of plants, little carving.
Thanks for sharing your experience today. I kept looking at the webcams and telemetry and decided to catchup on some other projects.
The webcam images from Bachelor and Shasta looked very sunny. ;)
The webcam images from Bachelor and Shasta looked very sunny. ;)
Skiers, blessed, dance with gravity
Witness the face plant
Ecstasy
Witness the face plant
Ecstasy
We 3 did laps there, too and probably saw you. Not too heavy to ski, but a bit too foggy to see well. The photo is not photoshopped and gives a good impression of sense of where the surface was. Quite a few plants of various sorts for us, too. Saw lots of skier and boarders at the lower lot as we went up to the Yakima Pk lot. East facing slopes were easier than west facing. Be careful if the sun comes out tomorrow. The snow is really saturated.
"... One of those rare times where the dirty snow was what you wanted."
Wolf - I love it when you talk dirty to me!
Wolf - I love it when you talk dirty to me!
Looking good. Heading out to the Enchantments tomorrow. May is the new January.
author=JoshK link=topic=16778.msg70424#msg70424 date=1275080962]
Any idea how the Ingalls valley bottom looked? could one ski all the way down then skin over to Stuart, or is it melted out at the bottom now?
Didn't get a direct view, I'd say it's 50/50 on whether still snow in valley immediately below Longs. But there's definitely enough for skiing into basin and below the treeline.
Last Sunday we skied from Long's Pass on a descending traverse to the valley bottom and could cross the creek on a snowbridge to the bottom of Ulrich's. There was continuous snow up into the couloirs.
Thanks for the report, Wolf. The south side of Stuart still looks good. Any idea how the Ingalls valley bottom looked? could one ski all the way down then skin over to Stuart, or is it melted out at the bottom now?
Thanks Stoked.
Your first photo shows a pretty "evolved" cornice, but it looks like others I have seen in the past, including shed blocks. Still scary though. I would assume that lots of the snow that constitutes the full roll on that thing is a result of the new snow, especially since the cornice already discharged lots of blocks.
Alan
Your first photo shows a pretty "evolved" cornice, but it looks like others I have seen in the past, including shed blocks. Still scary though. I would assume that lots of the snow that constitutes the full roll on that thing is a result of the new snow, especially since the cornice already discharged lots of blocks.
Alan
author=BigSnow link=topic=16570.msg70328#msg70328 date=1274983528]
yikes! That cornice looks a lot bigger than normal. Is it just the perspective of the shot?
Alan
Looks bigger to me.
author=CookieMonster link=topic=16744.msg70363#msg70363 date=1275017592">
For JoeDaBaker: I have a PDF copy of the Chinook Pass Avalanche Atlas if you're interested. Also, do you actually bake?
Yeah that's the name of it Thanks Cookie for the reminder. I got a copy online once you reminded me of the data sheets. Anyone interested can find it here
we hit those same spots the prior day and pretty much flushed all those bowls. however, we had anywhere from 4" to 10" and the 1st / 2nd turn sent each slope we ripped.
slabs consisted of the last two days' worth of snow and were slow moving heavy snow slides. firm bed surface. they did run long and had 3-4 ft tall debris piles. heavy doses of sun radiating thru the clowds even while it snowed.
manageable but you had to watch the bowls to the left or rig...
slabs consisted of the last two days' worth of snow and were slow moving heavy snow slides. firm bed surface. they did run long and had 3-4 ft tall debris piles. heavy doses of sun radiating thru the clowds even while it snowed.
manageable but you had to watch the bowls to the left or rig...
Inspiring! My To Ski List just got a bit longer.
There is a large amount of alpine terrain from ~5500 ft upwards. Alpine areas, being devoid of vegetation and completely exposed to wind and sun, make wonderful avalanche starting zones. Avalanches that start in the alpine are often large, and unimpeded by ground cover, can accelerate rapidly and descend into the trees below.
Once a path is established, frequent avalanching prevents regrowth. Paths gradually enlarge because the return period of Size 3 avalanches is often shorter than...
Once a path is established, frequent avalanching prevents regrowth. Paths gradually enlarge because the return period of Size 3 avalanches is often shorter than...
Wonderful TR and powder photos. It's hard to believe it's the end of May. The photos are an inspiration for Jill for next season with her new hip.
author=CookieMonster link=topic=16744.msg70207#msg70207 date=1274853792]
Great photo of the avalanche on Goat Island Mountain. The avalanche terrain in this area is really interesting.
There are ~50 avalanches paths on Goat Island Mountain; many are slowly enlarging. It's utterly fascinating to imagine that decades of future avalanches will slowly strip the trees from large sections of the mountain. The large bowl where the avalanche was shown...
Every year I tell myself this is the year I check out the entiat... way to go! Thanks for the inspiring TR!
yikes! That cornice looks a lot bigger than normal. Is it just the perspective of the shot?
Alan
Alan
Looks like a fun time earlier in the month. We drove up the Cutthroat road last w/e to check it out and the snow was almost down to the highway but then a local gal said there were lots of bare patches on the trail lower down. We decided to give it a pass this time around.
Went up the Birthday Tour sans Traverse. Nice cornice threatening the route.
Went up the Birthday Tour sans Traverse. Nice cornice threatening the route.
yeah, saw you up there :-)
The snow was nice from Muir Snowfield down to Edith Basin:
The snow was nice from Muir Snowfield down to Edith Basin:
That shot of the Tats from what must be lower Mazama Ridge Rocks! Those clouds, rocks and snow with blue splats here and there say it all...Well done! ;D
Nice TR and video. I may head up there in a couple of weekends.
Thanks for the TR and pics. Sounds like a great area; I'm inspired!
Good one!
I tried last year ,thanks for the report.
I hope the weather gets better, I am looking for people who are heading that way in the near future....
I tried last year ,thanks for the report.
I hope the weather gets better, I am looking for people who are heading that way in the near future....
I thought that was a John Travolta Saturday Night Fever pose.
Nice. I like the Usain Bolt pose especially in your last photo. very cool. :D
author=CookieMonster link=topic=16744.msg70207#msg70207 date=1274853792]
Stimbuck, do you know how often paths such as Kempers, Big Bertha run large? Do you guys have size/frequency/runout data ( a:b ) estimates for paths in this area?
There is a PDF file online someplace, I can't find my own copy (yet) that gives the history of all the avalanche zones that could possibly effect hwy 410 and 123. It is an old copy by WSDOT pre...
Great photo of the avalanche on Goat Island Mountain. The avalanche terrain in this area is really interesting.
There are ~50 avalanches paths on Goat Island Mountain; many are slowly enlarging. It's utterly fascinating to imagine that decades of future avalanches will slowly strip the trees from large sections of the mountain. The large bowl where the avalanche was shown has a very obvious flattening in the runout zone that prevents must prevent most avalanches from descending i...
There are ~50 avalanches paths on Goat Island Mountain; many are slowly enlarging. It's utterly fascinating to imagine that decades of future avalanches will slowly strip the trees from large sections of the mountain. The large bowl where the avalanche was shown has a very obvious flattening in the runout zone that prevents must prevent most avalanches from descending i...
Very sobering picture from John S. When we were first in the basin Sunday I saying to RichB and DarylW that the steep (appr 40 degree) north slope one climbs to get onto the Frying Pan could get very touchy if the sun gets too warm on all the recent fresh. The poor viz did us a favor in selecting other options. It seems a good deal less consolidated on the more northern aspects and that picture sure amplifies that!
Regarding that inquiry about White River CG road being open--when we g...
Regarding that inquiry about White River CG road being open--when we g...
author=Stimbuck link=topic=16744.msg70190#msg70190 date=1274830814">
NWAC may post a photo, if not I'll reply with one later this week.
It's posted. Thanks! :).
Does anyone have suggestions for ways in which NWAC can make some of its deeper resources more visible on the web? For lots of resources on their web page, you have to look through a couple layers of li...
Is your photo from Sunday? We observed a large crown (~5') in the E bowl, likely from a cornice drop- we have seen a similar sized slab in Morse Creek from Cornice drop on a NE slope. NWAC may post a photo, if not I'll reply with one later this week.
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Wow Ron, those look great! Are you already thinking of making another set, maybe more of a manaslu size?
author=Jim Oker link=topic=16755.msg70179#msg70179 date=1274813525]
I'm wondering how cover for the Chair Peak circumnav might be looking for this weekend
Folklife festival this weekend, perfect timing! Alpental road was closed yesterday at the covered bridge parking lot, so you will have to glide out that far from Source Lake most likely.
Iwas out to pineapple pass Saturday. Coverage on the traverse back in was still OK (only a few small dirt patches to step over). But it was certainly thinner than the week before. We did say a few times "This flat part might not be any fun in another week."
author=trumpetsailor link=topic=16755.msg70163#msg70163 date=1274771416]
Making little hop turns in solitude by the fading light of a late May sunset after work helps put job prospects near Washington D.C. in the proper perspective; this is a special place.
Indeed - you gotta love being able to leave the city after most folks have ended their work day and still be able to get in a fun tour like that.
So did either of you get...
author=Joedabaker link=topic=16736.msg70170#msg70170 date=1274807265]
The only time I have ever skinned up O meadows.
and maybe the last time I will ever skin up O's meadows!
410 to White R. expected to *officialy* open this Fri, same with Stevens Canyon.
I imagine they also will soon be working on the rd to Sunrise.
I imagine they also will soon be working on the rd to Sunrise.
"Anyone skied off the northish side of Vesper? looks like fun"
I've looked at the skinny snow/glacier down to Copper lake, which looks a bit like one on Mt Pugh. I guess this might be a good season for it because of the late snow, maybe next weekend...
You probably mean the super-steep rock wall immediately North of the summit! Monika, be very careful on that one ;)
Great skiing with the gang!
Thanks for breaking trail 99.999% of the day MoFro.
Nice contribution Kyle.
That snow down Morning Glory and Brand X was amazing!
I like that we didn't even think of slowing down, option #1 was tossed out the door.
The only time I have ever skinned up O meadows.
Our all lung leader MoFro
and Chris Van Gough just before the living scree field
Thanks for breaking trail 99.999% of the day MoFro.
Nice contribution Kyle.
That snow down Morning Glory and Brand X was amazing!
I like that we didn't even think of slowing down, option #1 was tossed out the door.
The only time I have ever skinned up O meadows.
Our all lung leader MoFro
and Chris Van Gough just before the living scree field
I went up to the lot later and the rain started to spit and the clouds grew deep gray, but the sun was still on the Crystal side.
I could not find a continuous line of snow (except a wafer thin thread above upper B). No snow above the Chapel or lower Gold Hills in view, without some upclimbing, got unmotivated and went in search of firewood.
Between 5-4400ft the snow is starting to really go quickly and get spotty in the exposed areas in this neck of the woods. More so on really sun ex...
I could not find a continuous line of snow (except a wafer thin thread above upper B). No snow above the Chapel or lower Gold Hills in view, without some upclimbing, got unmotivated and went in search of firewood.
Between 5-4400ft the snow is starting to really go quickly and get spotty in the exposed areas in this neck of the woods. More so on really sun ex...
What's the access like to Emmons Glacier route right now? Is it plowed to the TH? Anyone skied it recently?
To me, schmoo means some kind of lightweight cheeze-whiz/whipped mashed potatoes goo. Snow this evening was pretty high quality schmoo.
I'd been looking for an excuse to ski today, so Silas' wayward skins easily tipped the balance. Out of Lake City sometime after six, skinning by 7:42, on top just after sunset, and back to the car before 9:30 made for a fun quick tour. Making little hop turns in solitude by the fading light of a late May sunset after work helps put job prosp...
I'd been looking for an excuse to ski today, so Silas' wayward skins easily tipped the balance. Out of Lake City sometime after six, skinning by 7:42, on top just after sunset, and back to the car before 9:30 made for a fun quick tour. Making little hop turns in solitude by the fading light of a late May sunset after work helps put job prosp...
author=kath link=topic=16731.msg70132#msg70132 date=1274724602]
cool .. glad you guys found some turns and some fun .. great tr and pix .. makes me want to move back over to the peninsula ..
btw .. what's the status on the road out to obstruction? still lots of snow for skiing? typically they open it around jul 4th .. fm your pix it doesn't look like it this year ..
Thanks Kath, it was a fun day. :)