TR Replies
Here's links to my photos
http://gallery.me.com/jcocci/101512
http://gallery.me.com/jcocci/101522
http://gallery.me.com/jcocci/101526
http://gallery.me.com/jcocci/101528
http://gallery.me.com/jcocci/101544
http://gallery.me.com/jcocci/101555
http://gallery.me.com/jcocci/101568
http://gallery.me.com/jcocci/101578
http://gallery.me.com/jcocci/101512
http://gallery.me.com/jcocci/101522
http://gallery.me.com/jcocci/101526
http://gallery.me.com/jcocci/101528
http://gallery.me.com/jcocci/101544
http://gallery.me.com/jcocci/101555
http://gallery.me.com/jcocci/101568
http://gallery.me.com/jcocci/101578
Care to offer any observations/speculation on Fuhrer Finger conditions?
Thanks for the detailed report Andy! Looks like a beautiful area and tour, one to note for the future, thanks for sharing. 8) Hopefully we can coordinate time to get a tour in before your trip to Denali.
There could be a good middle ground between no glacier gear and the full roped up deal. On any route that goes over substantial glaciers that could have crevasses, even if crevasses are not in season, I like to bring a minimalist setup that would allow you to resolve many crevasse (or similar) situations but weighs a lot less. Key items are some length of 6 mm cord (yes, you can climb it or haul a person with it but you would not want to do so all day), 1" tubular webbing that c...
Hey sounds like a dope trip. I am hoping to make the summit this coming weekend with my two buddies. My brother and I tried for a summit attempt on March 20, but had to turn back at 10,000 ft due to extreme winds, not bringing crampons, and a bit of exhaustion. Anyway I am hoping to make it to the summit this time. I was wondering what kind of gear you guys brought? Since this is the most recent trip report I have found I am hoping I can get some info on the conditions up there. It's been a...
I'll look at your pix later, but right now I'll just say that the CA Cascades are a great place for a road trip. Shorter access, better weather, and fewer trees (some places) in addition to cool lines on big big ice-cream cones. 8)
You guys remind me that I have Friends All Year. ;D
Thanks to Skiprince for lending a thumb and then waiting. ::) I had my camera in my pack all along---doh.
Doug, we'd love to host you in the Olys; try me Memorial Day, or June but not too early.
James, it's 32 months now. 9/08 made one year, a baby streak but still one month ahead of....never mind. I'll die first and then you have a chance to catch up! June will be tough unless you come over here, but...
Thanks to Skiprince for lending a thumb and then waiting. ::) I had my camera in my pack all along---doh.
Doug, we'd love to host you in the Olys; try me Memorial Day, or June but not too early.
James, it's 32 months now. 9/08 made one year, a baby streak but still one month ahead of....never mind. I'll die first and then you have a chance to catch up! June will be tough unless you come over here, but...
author=jimmyjam link=topic=16516.msg69664#msg69664 date=1273606685]
jcocci: Funny that your wife met Mark and Don; it's a small world. And an airplane wheel falling off on the Vallee Blanche is an incredible story!! There is some history of that actually. I believe an Air India Super-Conti crashed onto Mt. Blanc in the 50s. There is a wheel from that crash in the Museum in Chamonix. I look forward to seeing your photos...
Thanks for everyone's nice comments. I was home for exactly one week and then flew BACK to Geneva for work. Crazy. I love Europe as much as the next guy but it's good to be home. At least I wasn't stranded by the volcano again.
Lowell: Thanks for the nice note. Hope all is well with you and your family.
jcocci: Funny that your wife met Mark and Don; it's a small world. And an airplane wheel falling off on the Vallee Blanche is an incredible story...
Lowell: Thanks for the nice note. Hope all is well with you and your family.
jcocci: Funny that your wife met Mark and Don; it's a small world. And an airplane wheel falling off on the Vallee Blanche is an incredible story...
After 16200 vert in 3 days
Spectacular! Great reports, you really took advantage of the weather window! I'll definitely have to keep the turtle in mind.
author=sheispiste link=topic=16627.msg69593#msg69593 date=1273471545]
....
thanks mom. miss you!
...
Nice tribute, and thanks for the reflection ~ my mom's long gone, but she's still here and still rocks.. :)
Indeed -- them's good people. And Andy does nice work in the editing booth, yup yup.
I saw you guys on top of early winter spires on 4/30, that looks like such a great line and such an awesome place to be on a day like that. Good work!
Impressive.
Hat's off to Andy. Nicely crafted.
Marcus, it certainly appears that you have some friends to be treasured.
High Five. :)
Hat's off to Andy. Nicely crafted.
Marcus, it certainly appears that you have some friends to be treasured.
High Five. :)
what an awesome trip. Having just done some hiking in that area last summer, I actually know all those places. Gotta spend a spring in the Sierras soon.
Agreed. That was a fun day. My only compliant was that the ride down was over way to quick. Left Muir at 2:45 and was back at the parking lot at 3:00. Basically a non-stop ride all the way down.
Oyvind, awesome to meet you guys!!
We were watching and your tele turns were inspirational, man!! ;)
V posted her pics here (I lost my camera on the descent - d'oh!):
http://picasaweb.google.com/spionin/20100509MSHMotherSDaySki?authkey=Gv1sRgCIW2wMKslr72hwE#
-Doug
We were watching and your tele turns were inspirational, man!! ;)
V posted her pics here (I lost my camera on the descent - d'oh!):
http://picasaweb.google.com/spionin/20100509MSHMotherSDaySki?authkey=Gv1sRgCIW2wMKslr72hwE#
-Doug
Your description of the snow makes it sound like what Russ and I encountered on the Roman Wall a bunch of years ago in early July - fresh firm packed snow that had softened just slightly and was just the best smoothest spring/summer line I've ever encountered. I've since talked to enough folks who have skied the Roman Wall in survival-ski conditions to realize how lucky we were. Timing is everything - nice job reaping the harvest this weekend!
Great spring conditions there on mother's day. I did the turnaround at about 4:00 pm and the corn was pretty nice.
sheispiste, Were you the girl I talked to from Connecticut? Thanks for grabbing my hat for me when it blew off on the descent if that was you...
sheispiste, Were you the girl I talked to from Connecticut? Thanks for grabbing my hat for me when it blew off on the descent if that was you...
Touché Kyle Miller, touché. I should have said we (being Brad and myself), the two plankers.
You might convince me yet to get a board. ;)
You might convince me yet to get a board. ;)
Hey Mack, way to keep it alive.
I never did figure out whether you were one month head of me (thus 32 months, Oct 2007) or 13 ahead (thus 44, Oct 2006).
Keep your thumb attached and let's ski in June,
I never did figure out whether you were one month head of me (thus 32 months, Oct 2007) or 13 ahead (thus 44, Oct 2006).
Keep your thumb attached and let's ski in June,
So where does your streak stand Mack?
I'd love to join you at Hurricane for a guided tour sometime. Never skied there.
Heal up!
I'd love to join you at Hurricane for a guided tour sometime. Never skied there.
Heal up!
I was up there today, wishing it was yesterday. The snow set up a bit list night and only the top inch or so were softening up during the skin. I cut up through Bathtub, up and over Microwave to Bowl 4. A few inches of corn on top of a firm base up top, beautiful riding upper/mid mountain, then clear in the backseat for the final pitches. Link to a few pics: http://picasaweb.google.com/travisknoop/MissionRidge51010#
Nice! Good on you guys for making that long drive from Erie -- I didn't have it in me, but we got some good dog training in the next day.
Wow! That's some ski touring !
Thanks. I just printed the whole thing and stuck in my retirement file.
Thanks. I just printed the whole thing and stuck in my retirement file.
TWO THUMBS WAY UP! Heal well, Mack! Great perseverance.
Don
Don
author=Stugie link=topic=16632.msg69628#msg69628 date=1273538201]
Exhausted, we also were dealing with some of the worst snow conditions any of us had seen almost all year.
Not even close. There are some benefits to having a snowboard in the backcountry. ;)
The cornice at Longs was big on the sides, but looked pretty minimal right in the middle. However, we opted to ski a line down the ridge to the SE of Longs Pass that was cornice free. We skinned/booted right back up our line to the top. Here's a pic looking back up at that line (skiing through the needle less larches was a blast):
author=Robie link=topic=16630.msg69623#msg69623 date=1273533570]
Were you able to ski to the parking lot still? I'm remembering we went that way just to get some sun.
The snow ended right at the edge of the parking lot (which is blocked by said jersey barries, so it was a few hundred yards from bumper to snow). That bit of snow is thin and melting out fast, but it struck me that they still have decent depth of pretty dense snow/ice...
Great TR and pics! Thanks for the inspiration. I've wanted to ski that area for a while; maybe I'll make it this year.
Thanks for the update on conditions. A guy we met there said he skied it through the end of May last year; maybe I'll make it back once more.
I like the desert views and the opportunity to jump in the Columbia on the way back through town.
I like the desert views and the opportunity to jump in the Columbia on the way back through town.
Nice !
Jeff S and I were there three weekends back, right after they closed and hit some of the best corn I think i ever had. Were you able to ski to the parking lot still? I'm remembering we went that way just to get some sun.
Jeff S and I were there three weekends back, right after they closed and hit some of the best corn I think i ever had. Were you able to ski to the parking lot still? I'm remembering we went that way just to get some sun.
Very nice. We finished our fast lap at about lunch and headed back to town. It so warm up there! Gotta get some 60deg wax for my sticks
awesome! We got weathered out of a Royal Basin trip last weekend. Glad someone got the goods! Amazing stuff and great photos.
Nothing short of an epic weekend trip: stunning terrain, peaceful solitude, great weather and snow.
It was amazing how good the snow was for the duration of the trip, regardless of aspect and elevation. Hard to beat powder with a side of corn!
Sidenote: whiskey and a campfire combat sudden afternoon spring snow storms very effectively ;)
It was amazing how good the snow was for the duration of the trip, regardless of aspect and elevation. Hard to beat powder with a side of corn!
Sidenote: whiskey and a campfire combat sudden afternoon spring snow storms very effectively ;)
Nice job! What a cool route. I think of it as a very accesible yet epic-feeling day tour. I'm sure that the struggle to break trail was compensated for by the joy of feeling that you had the mountain to yourselves.
Glad you guys got out!! Eldorado is a classic summit, with an amazing view.
Keep us posted on Owen's PNW tick-list. Hopefully the weather will cooperate more and give you some better options. There's no shortage of stuff to do.
Keep us posted on Owen's PNW tick-list. Hopefully the weather will cooperate more and give you some better options. There's no shortage of stuff to do.
ski close to skin track ...
I'd like to say we were just conserving scarce resources, but really we could see - as you guessed.
Glad someone else benefited from the skin track. What a May so far.
I'd like to say we were just conserving scarce resources, but really we could see - as you guessed.
Glad someone else benefited from the skin track. What a May so far.
Nice one. I was up in Bean Crk on Sat and it was really horrible. Sticky mush with some crust thrown in. North aspects were best, but not a lot of that inside the basin. How is the cornice at Longs Pass?
author=NWBCer link=topic=16571.msg69387#msg69387 date=1273115802]
I understand now the reason Baker is some serious competition for Shames's title of most snowfall of any resort in NA (in fact I think it actually has beat us). That photo of the mostly buried sign is money, and it's May! Well done sir, I shall report on my hill after the weekend ;D
the gods have truly blessed us with this mountain.
Great TR Jess. Bittersweet, but great memories.
Thanks for the kind words. Glad some of these stories from East of the crest touch a sentimental nerve.
Nice - We thought about doing the same trip this year but haven't organized - perfect days eh?
and thanks for the skintrack!
We were wondering why you skied so close to your skintrack off the saddle (skied Silver Star yesterday). Thanks for leaving plenty of fresh real estate! What a weekend of smokey powder and blue bird skies (what month is it again?)...
Kept the skins on through the woods, and never put on crampons. I saw two tracks heading up from what appeared to be just a day earlier... One appeared to switch to booting about halfway up through the trees.
The snow was awesome, at least on the upper half. Once the mountain lost its pitch it wasn't much fun anymore.
The snow was awesome, at least on the upper half. Once the mountain lost its pitch it wasn't much fun anymore.