TR Replies
Great pictures James. I'm envious of your trip.
In reference to the snow pack at Steens this year, this was my first time to the area so I don't have much to compare it to. I was impressed by how much snow the mountain gets considering it's desert location. If you visit the Snotel website for the state of Oregon, you can access snow depth info for Steens.
Great TR. I was lucky to be there skiing that day with a friend and we caught a ride back to her car with some guys. If that was you guys, thanks again!
Cool stuff. How is the snowpack at Steens this year?
Nice work Eduardo. Also, decent turns in the Blackcomb backcountry last weekend!
Yo Dave - those conditions looked sick!
The great part about the Parc des Ecrins is 4 months isn't even enough time to explore all the possibilities. It is not all about the skiing either. The environment, villages, people, ect all make it a special bubble in the world.
Glad your enjoying it!
Glad your enjoying it!
The HR is a great adventure and as you mentioned it's all about the weather. Nice TR and photos.
Very nice! Steens is one of my favorite places!
Nice work. I've been drooling over that picture all winter too. Unfortunately I had a mishap that will keep me from skiing this spring. Guess it will have to wait till next year.
From what you saw of the NW coulior, how steep would you say it is? I assume snowmobiles would not help much with the approach, given the creek crossing. Is that correct?
From what you saw of the NW coulior, how steep would you say it is? I assume snowmobiles would not help much with the approach, given the creek crossing. Is that correct?
Nice! I've been wondering what the spring skiing would be like on Steens. Cool idea on 52 peaks, too - that sounds like a fun project.
Hey Scott, Cool to see you posting here. Great report. Lets go tour one of these days.
Jim
Jim
Looks like a great time you retired rascal ;D
Very aesthetic line! Nice photos too - great job all round looks like an amazing area.
Breathtaking!
Thanks for the post, I miss yurp :(
Thanks for the post, I miss yurp :(
@ telemack: yes, we did leave the skis at 3880 m. There was a section in ice (where many people fall actually) and no one skied from the top in these conditions, but with better snow in can be done.
@ Seth: cool TR. We wanted to do a similar loop, unfortunately the weather turned on us the next day.
@ Ron: same here. See you maybe this week end :)
@ Seth: cool TR. We wanted to do a similar loop, unfortunately the weather turned on us the next day.
@ Ron: same here. See you maybe this week end :)
Great to see that you have such fantastic weather and were able to bag the "classics". If you can make it all the way up to the hut (you can access from a different valley as well), I would highly recommend it and maybe do the "Meije Orientale" - a fantastic peak. Else, also consider getting a little deeper into the Ecrins Massif (like "Rouies, pointe de la Pilatte, col des Ecrins...) if you can start from La berarde.
Have fun!
Have fun!
author=peteyboy link=topic=16494.msg68910#msg68910 date=1272432356]
Thanks Zap. What do you think the E Sierra forecast (remaining snow quality) will be for May 15-23? La Nina snowpack set up for corn that late?
The recent storm is providing another foot plus snow and winds exceeding 115mph. So it is winter conditions - now. I would suggest you check the Dweeb Report daily because Howard S. provides good insights abo...
Awesome! What incredible snow conditions for April - I love WA state. For comparison you needed a video of somebody doing it CO style too. (jacket with fur lining, knees glued together, and asking which way to the groomers...) ;)
Glad the afterburners were successfull and you got some good turns from the top. We were very happy, and a little suprised, to have such good turns off the summit!
author=silaswild link=topic=16497.msg68918#msg68918 date=1272462473]
Hope there's still some crunchy corn left when I get home.
What is this "corn" stuff I keep hearing about?
Petey, that's the north face of Morning Star. Jeff and I skied most of it in 2008. We were looking longingly at it on Sunday thinking how sweet it would be to drop into it with good powder, but we also thought how much it would suck if a sluff on the top steepest (about the same as Skillet I think) slope carried you over the cliffs.
Nice report. You really captured the combination of adventure, beauty and sufferfest of a one day on Eldorado. I told myself that I would never do it again....now i'm not so sure anymore.
Nice route for such a great day!
I do wonder where you id the names of all these features...
We just sort of google-earthed a route, which turned out to be Wallaby Peak.
http://picasaweb.google.com/kevinsteffa/10_04_WaPass
Your description explains the people we heard near the summit but never saw. You looped completely around our loop! It is amazing how many of us were out in the area, yet so spread out that we hardly even crossed...
I do wonder where you id the names of all these features...
We just sort of google-earthed a route, which turned out to be Wallaby Peak.
http://picasaweb.google.com/kevinsteffa/10_04_WaPass
Your description explains the people we heard near the summit but never saw. You looped completely around our loop! It is amazing how many of us were out in the area, yet so spread out that we hardly even crossed...
Thanks for the report Jessica! Here is a link to my photos from our trip last week and our return this week for another round.
http://picasaweb.google.com/kevinsteffa/10_04_WaPass
- Kevin
http://picasaweb.google.com/kevinsteffa/10_04_WaPass
- Kevin
So nice - thanks. What is the beautiful face that looks like a lower angle version of the Skillet Glacier on Mt Moran (Tetons) in the background on the video shot from the top of Vesper?
author=prestonf link=topic=16477.msg68873#msg68873 date=1272391693]
Nice Zap.
I'm down in Bishop at the moment where the winds have kicked up before the precip rolls in. Blue Subaru with a grey box, black lab. Keep an eye out ;).
We were in the Buttermilks on Tuesday checking out access. The current wind and storm event seems best enjoyed riding the lifts at Mammoth. We are in Mammoth and plan to s...
Thanks Zap. What do you think the E Sierra forecast (remaining snow quality) will be for May 15-23? La Nina snowpack set up for corn that late?
author=mbcracken link=topic=16481.msg68859#msg68859 date=1272381679]
AK vs WA style skiing...I like it!
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... ;)
Ahh the memories. Holly and I were lucky spend some time in the Jungfrau region with some friends a few years ago. Amazing place. Here is a link to our trip report:
travel blog
travel blog
^ That is a good picture ^
I am supprised that continuous snow was so high. I suppose the road was plenty clear then. That is good news. Now if the weather would cooperate we could get at some of the goods in that neck of the woods.
I am supprised that continuous snow was so high. I suppose the road was plenty clear then. That is good news. Now if the weather would cooperate we could get at some of the goods in that neck of the woods.
Good read, thanks.
I hope to follow you up there sometime.
Funny about the glove. I haven't had that happen to me yet thankfully.
I have helped chase down a dropped backpack, puffy, skis and a ski pole so far but none were mine. ;)
I hope to follow you up there sometime.
Funny about the glove. I haven't had that happen to me yet thankfully.
I have helped chase down a dropped backpack, puffy, skis and a ski pole so far but none were mine. ;)
Nice work! Looks like I should've skipped the hw for Greg's class and gone with you...
No sweat -- I'll map it out myself, I was just curious where it all goes and I bet TOPO doesn't have "Maple Leaf Couloir" listed ;) Nice work.
Thanks Marcus. Sorry, but no topo track handy. We did this one by sight and memory, such were the wonderful conditions last weekend.
Murr, yeah, your trip report made me want to figure out how to be in two places at the same time. It was all good Sunday!
Talk about being at the right place at the right time. Nice work!
Nice Work Scott. ...... the Maple Leaf Couloir looks like a serious pucker fest ... at least for some of us! What a great day to be up there; funny we were about 3 miles away the whole time.
Nice Zap.
I'm down in Bishop at the moment where the winds have kicked up before the precip rolls in. Blue Subaru with a grey box, black lab. Keep an eye out ;).
I'm down in Bishop at the moment where the winds have kicked up before the precip rolls in. Blue Subaru with a grey box, black lab. Keep an eye out ;).
Nice photo's. Dunderberg has some nice lines. I'm heading down to meet friends the first week of May. Hopefully winter will be over by then and on to spring corn! ;D
tsk tsk ;)
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thanks for the conditon report.
From a recent vantage point a lot of the higher up south facing stuff up on icicle looked really good.
From a recent vantage point a lot of the higher up south facing stuff up on icicle looked really good.
Great photos!!
That is a pretty big style differance. I love to go fast and make big turns. but 30 seconds from the top of vesper to the lake? Dude was flying!
That is a pretty big style differance. I love to go fast and make big turns. but 30 seconds from the top of vesper to the lake? Dude was flying!
Thanks mike and scott.
Josh,
I found your brief report via Lowell Skoog's online efforts while doing post trip research after climbing some of Kyes west side. I think I took the same route as you there, but was turned back by faux thunderstorms.
The north fork skykmish rd is no more. It ends a few miles past index. The beckler river rd to galena is the rd too use, and is semi maintaned in the winter. Usually passable in a high clearance 4x4.
And...
Josh,
I found your brief report via Lowell Skoog's online efforts while doing post trip research after climbing some of Kyes west side. I think I took the same route as you there, but was turned back by faux thunderstorms.
The north fork skykmish rd is no more. It ends a few miles past index. The beckler river rd to galena is the rd too use, and is semi maintaned in the winter. Usually passable in a high clearance 4x4.
And...
Yes, it is an awesome area. way to get in there!
The blue copper wallaby kangaroo tour just doesn't roll off the tongue, but awesome route!
Sweet photos, Thanks for sharing Scott!
john scott
Sweet photos, Thanks for sharing Scott!
john scott