TR Replies
Too bad about the views, Nason Ridge has such a great vantage!
I'd never been in the Chiwaukum, but had the weather been better we'd have kept going to at least Loch Eileen. It was *different* (I was going to say nice, but it's such a major part of the experience) doing a May tour without having ANY combat skiing. A traverse and more exploration is definitely on our list...
How's the approach via the white pine trail? IIRC, Rainer'...
I'd never been in the Chiwaukum, but had the weather been better we'd have kept going to at least Loch Eileen. It was *different* (I was going to say nice, but it's such a major part of the experience) doing a May tour without having ANY combat skiing. A traverse and more exploration is definitely on our list...
How's the approach via the white pine trail? IIRC, Rainer'...
Thanks davep
Watching the video, I experienced one of the seven deadly sins: ENVY
Looks like you guys had a wonderful day.
Watching the video, I experienced one of the seven deadly sins: ENVY
Looks like you guys had a wonderful day.
Glad you like the picture, Marcus...another abnormal soul.
Regarding views from Nason Ridge it was fairly socked in. We could see Swath at the start of our tour but its summit was mainly obscured while we were up on the ridge. How was the skiing on your side of the valley? Coverage looked pretty good. When we were starting out and looking over your way I was telling Tom maybe we should bag Nason Ridge and go do the
Regarding views from Nason Ridge it was fairly socked in. We could see Swath at the start of our tour but its summit was mainly obscured while we were up on the ridge. How was the skiing on your side of the valley? Coverage looked pretty good. When we were starting out and looking over your way I was telling Tom maybe we should bag Nason Ridge and go do the
author=skier8484 link=topic=16571.msg69296#msg69296 date=1273009343]
It was by far the best day I’ve ever had this late in the season. Every turn was savored, knowing they might be the last true powder turns before winter returns next season.
Sweet Brian,
Glad you were able to take advantage of the some great late season conditions. ;D
I can only hope you were thinking of us who were working hard to f...
You are one hilarious geezer! Cheers to Mosetick.
I hit Alpy after work. Skied Nash to the bottom of the Cascade Traverse and decided it was so good that I should do it again. My second was just before 8pm, I freakin love long spring days after big May dumps. It looked just like those pictures only with another 3-4 inches of fluff on top from a quick afternoon dump. I even got a few face shots! :D
It was snowing at the base when I left and raining on I-90 most of the way back to Seattle. Tomorrow...
It was snowing at the base when I left and raining on I-90 most of the way back to Seattle. Tomorrow...
I think Ale and I bumped into your film subject in the Yodelin lot. It was heavy there when we were up at 5pm but the Yodelin trees were still good - just too damn short!
Beautiful pictures Zap - did a lot of climbing in that area when I lived in California - brings back some fond memories!
What amazing terrain.
Hope your ski buddy gets better.
Hope your ski buddy gets better.
Great pictures! Brings back memories and rekindles dreams of future.
The combination of food, comfort huts and awesome panoramas is hard to resist.
Thanks for your post.
The combination of food, comfort huts and awesome panoramas is hard to resist.
Thanks for your post.
Oh sorry Seatownslacky.... Thought the pics could have been taken in the morning before warming. It is may! Powder it is then!
^^ ???
you mean the pics didn't answer your question well enough?
you mean the pics didn't answer your question well enough?
NICE! Anyone know if alpy held good snow up high this afternoon?
author=gregL link=topic=16569.msg69295#msg69295 date=1273008970]
Ahhh, the killer powder experience you were hoping for was on Upper Nash and Adrenaline. Two Gregs say it's so.
Yes they do.
;)
Very nice. Jealous I am.
Late season pow such a treat.
Late season pow such a treat.
Ahhh, the killer powder experience you were hoping for was on Upper Nash and Adrenaline. Two Gregs say it's so.
I was looking over there all day on Sunday (from the Swath), but never did see Alpine Lookout or the top of Nason Ridge... Were you in clouds all day or did you get some views?
Great Pics. We were just a few days behind you. We, too, had terrific weather and really nice snow. AND, it seems, the same meals.
Question - what Cols did you go over on your first day? It didn't look like Chardonnay or Salenia. Just curious. Thanks again for the pics. JM
Question - what Cols did you go over on your first day? It didn't look like Chardonnay or Salenia. Just curious. Thanks again for the pics. JM
We were a few days ahead of you guys getting into Zermatt on the 13th. My wife and met Mark and Don in the Geneva airport on our way out. We got stuck in Geneva for a few extra days because of the volcano. We did almost the same route, but we skipped the Argentiere Hut, stayed in the Mont Fort Hut and didn't stay in the Bertol hut. I have pretty much the same opinion on the food. The rosti was over the top and the Vignettes dinner was awesome. We had great weather as well and even had about...
It takes all kinds...
I love this picture -- springtime in the Cascades, defined:
I love this picture -- springtime in the Cascades, defined:
author=JibberD link=topic=16558.msg69247#msg69247 date=1272946707]
Thanks for the report Chris.
Are putting some good stink into those new boots of yours?
Well yes Douglas I am. Are you still sweating profusely in you midriff area?
Its a long approach, especially compared too stuff on Washington pass. Reynolds is a fun one in that neck of the woods as well.
Thanks for the report Chris.
Are putting some good stink into those new boots of yours?
Are putting some good stink into those new boots of yours?
author=Robie link=topic=16558.msg69234#msg69234 date=1272940953]
Is the paradise river road plowed ?
If you mean the road from the visitor center down to 4th crossing... yes as far as 4th crossing as of yesterday. They actually scooped up the last of the snow exposing the asphalt just before we skinned up. We were able to stay on skis by using a foot wide snow shoulder... but only just.
exposed asphalt will increase shoulder...
author=Robie link=topic=16558.msg69212#msg69212 date=1272931865]
Best to cross that one at speed and not looking down ;)
Trouble is there is a steep bit of uphill right at the other side= cross with speed= going down into da river!!!!!
Mofro and his 10 year old braver than me and crossed and as I said I went down to road.
Undercut snow my concern. It's the engineer in me that makes me such a coward. I had already ca...
author=GregSimon link=topic=16558.msg69199#msg69199 date=1272925958]
Did you happen to notice if there's still snow to the nisqually bridge? I've never skied all the way to the bridge and was hoping to try that this spring.
Not to the Bridge in my opinion. You could probably still ski to the terminus Ok but expect a walk back to the actual bridge.I was checking it out too.
Small bridge at 4th crossing a bit dauntingBest to cross that one at speed and not looking down ;)
Nice time feeling our way through the poor vis Scotsman, my son had a great time.
I was eyeballing that on the way in and out and trying to connect all of the patches. Might s...
author=GregSimon link=topic=16558.msg69199#msg69199 date=1272925958]
Did you happen to notice if there's still snow to the nisqually bridge? I've never skied all the way to the bridge and was hoping to try that this spring.
I was eyeballing that on the way in and out and trying to connect all of the patches. Might s...
Did you happen to notice if there's still snow to the nisqually bridge? I've never skied all the way to the bridge and was hoping to try that this spring.
I think we saw you ski Pattison from Trorey
http://www.flickr.com/photos/runningclouds/4566004147/in/set-72157623818609673/
Good on you getting the line before the Whistler heli-skiers (so much for all their talk about being respectful of backcountry skiers, total bs in my view).
We were heading to the same spot but decided for a second run off Trorey after the heli-skiers started coming.
Great shots!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/runningclouds/4566004147/in/set-72157623818609673/
Good on you getting the line before the Whistler heli-skiers (so much for all their talk about being respectful of backcountry skiers, total bs in my view).
We were heading to the same spot but decided for a second run off Trorey after the heli-skiers started coming.
Great shots!
"He had skied off a 15' vertical road cut onto the flat asphalt"
Owwww... Talk about a flat landing.
Owwww... Talk about a flat landing.
I was in the group ahead of y'all on Saturday (apologies for the steep track in parts).
We headed up towards the S Face of Black Peak. About 7900' the snow started to change character and become much more wind-affected. We started to see a reactive top layer and given that our route to the col (up high to avoid cornices) only got steeper and more wind-exposed, we elected to turn around.
Skied good snow NE facing down to Wing lake where we skinned back up to the pr...
We headed up towards the S Face of Black Peak. About 7900' the snow started to change character and become much more wind-affected. We started to see a reactive top layer and given that our route to the col (up high to avoid cornices) only got steeper and more wind-exposed, we elected to turn around.
Skied good snow NE facing down to Wing lake where we skinned back up to the pr...
Agreed. It is shaping up to be a good, long spring season!!
author=Teleskichica link=topic=16535.msg69164#msg69164 date=1272866986]
Slightly off topic... but for those of you using the Switchbacks, if you have issues with snowballing up under the toe or on the heal piece, which I and others seemed to have had quite a problem with in the past, clear packing tape applied to the plastic is the trick. No problems whatsoever now!
Let me know next time you break out those teles Joe, I'll join ya! :)
Slightly off topic... but for those of you using the Switchbacks, if you have issues with snowballing up under the toe or on the heal piece, which I and others seemed to have had quite a problem with in the past, clear packing tape applied to the plastic is the trick. No problems whatsoever now!
Let me know next time you break out those teles Joe, I'll join ya! :)
Let me know next time you break out those teles Joe, I'll join ya! :)
I went up to pineapple pass this AM and skied down between 11 and 11:45. The top 600ft or so was heavy but nice, the rest was just heavy. But still better than I expected. And the snowpack (at least above 3500 feet or so) is still getting deeper in May!
Nice - we were at Meadows and had similar conditions. There weren't too many people either so it was a good day. Hood's still got a good base, so early summer should be pretty good!
Nice pictures and write up Cons.
Not that I would ski that one, but I know what you mean how it feels better when you click into your skis compared to climbing in boots.
Not that I would ski that one, but I know what you mean how it feels better when you click into your skis compared to climbing in boots.
Thanks for the invitation Kyle. It was a good time.
While I didn't really take photos, I did pull out the camera a few times.
While I didn't really take photos, I did pull out the camera a few times.
You really do get a sense of how much snow the equipment operators have to deal with!
author=Kyle Miller link=topic=16535.msg69118#msg69118 date=1272774252]
I'm glad you liked our skin track but we didn't exit via 410. ;)
Myself and two others can claim the tracks out to the HWY. Skiing above ~5,000' was gerenerally really good, with good visibility holding throughout the tour.
Definitely can vouch for the amount of snow up there; the cornices near Naches are fat!
It's to bad I missed out on that one. I did that a couple years ago and called it the "Chutes and Summit Tour". When we skied what you call Smoka there was thunder and lightning and just enough snow to ski the chute's crux as it rained relentlessly. I considered reenacting that trip today if I had partners, maybe minus the Naches summit. I like the ski from the peak above Deadwood to the lakes, that cornice can get huge. That is a great run. Nice trip guys!
author=Kyle Miller link=topic=16535.msg69118#msg69118 date=1272774252]
I'm glad you liked our skin track but we didn't exit via 410. ;)
Thanks for the track it was very effective. It's hard to believe the skin tracks were yours, so mellow.
Sorry to have missed you.
author=md2020 link=topic=16535.msg69117#msg69117 date=1272772973]
That's when you'll really sta...
I'm glad you liked our skin track but we didn't exit via 410. ;)
Thanks for the report Joe. It's been so long since we've been able to ski from Cayuse before they open Chinook. Hopefully Brenda and I will be able to get up there in the next week or two. Great to hear there's so much snow. Now if the weather would settle down long enough for it to corn up. That's when you'll really start appreciating that setup.
Haha, 175 Kilowatts. Those snowblade short skis would have been the ski of choice for that upper section/choke.
author=shred link=topic=16481.msg68907#msg68907 date=1272426244]
HAHA. It is funny to compare our styles, so very contrasting. Jim is so solid making all those turns. He makes it look so effortless, me on the other hand, well I guess I am just to lazy... ;)
In the words of Brad Pitt: I think that's "the shit"!