TR Replies
yes, its that west aspect that looks promising, the winter forecast does not this year. If we get lucky with good snow, stable conditions, it will be a fun tour. thanks for the note
We booted up to the summit, first on the North face and then wrapped around to the East face for the final 30 feet. You could probably skin up via the South or West aspect but it was difficult for us to get over to that side because of cornices. If approaching from the North (like we were) it appears the easiest route is straight up the East face. I don't think we were climbing the true summit (most maps list the peak due East of Lake Valhalla as the summit). After the slide we thought skii...
Id reccomend checking out SHOWDOWN, Mt, if you are in the area. They have the most snow in Mt. The terrain is pretty mellow but there is plenty of steeps.. some backcountry.. Cheap tickets and a great atmosphere.. Showdown is about an hour north of Bridger and dont forget to stop in White Sulphur Springs for a soak in the hot springs..
author=Koda link=topic=15595.msg65219#msg65219 date=1266194380]
yes, that was us. We just skied the short slope from above to put us on the road to begin our tour home when we bumped into you. Good job touring all the way to Bonnie Butte. We have our eyes on Bonnie butte next time... if we ever get good snow this winter. It will be a long tour with our heavy AT gear!
Just a note, with good snow you'll have long runs in the t...
I was at Discovery outside Anaconda, MT on this day, February 11. I concur that the snow, what there was of it, on all aspects, including north face, was barely OK at best and treacherous and hateful at worst.
Yeah...I heard west of the crest i.e. Cooke City was around 70% of normal. I'd estimate Rock Creek Drainage to be less than 40%.
The Cooke City side of the Beartooths looked much better on Sunday. Still a somewhat meager snowpack for this time of year, I think, but deep enough for reasonable travel down low and apparently pretty dang good skiing up higher. We were just along the valley bottom on nordic gear, however.
author=ADappen link=topic=15570.msg65109#msg65109 date=1265924532]
The unholy trinity of bad snow, poor light, and low energy reduces us to the sin of kickturning our way down.
If I was smart enough to "sin" more I wouldn't be fighting a swollen ankle. Glad your trip turned out well - thanks for sharing it with us.
Welcome to the group. Thanks for sharing your adventure to a new location for many of us.
Pretty impressive slide picture, Jay. It looks like you skied back down the slide path. Correct? Did the crust go with the slide, or stay on the slope? Good to see you on Heather Ridge yesterday. How was that?
author=skimd link=topic=15603.msg65226#msg65226 date=1266201009]
We saw your left-over tracks up there today - nice turns! Lots of loose sluff and huge pinwheels coming down off of the south face of Snoqualmie in the sun today (especially over your tracks from yesterday). We followed your tracks back down to the Alpy parking lot. Still pretty sloppy down low.
Yeah, I have only been able to ski that line in firm...
Looks fun! Thanks for the update on conditions, let's get out again sometime soon.....Andy
We saw your left-over tracks up there today - nice turns! Lots of loose sluff and huge pinwheels coming down off of the south face of Snoqualmie in the sun today (especially over your tracks from yesterday). We followed your tracks back down to the Alpy parking lot. Still pretty sloppy down low.
I know folks are getting out in Oregon this season, but with the anemic snow pack I'm speculating most are tight lipped in fear of their spot being poached - can't blame them. Nonetheless, could to see a post from somewhere else besides Washington.
I think I met you in the parking lot. We skied snoqualmie mt proper with aspirations of the slot but it was getting an incredible amount of wind transported snow and opted out. great skiing until about 4500'.
Nice pics - never done that tour, looks like you're booting up the last part?
We were over at Mazama Ridge - similar snow results, though when we did a shovel shear test, Q23, the break was below a wet crust. Had thought about Crystal.
author=TeleMurray link=topic=15595.msg65217#msg65217 date=1266187890]
We were up there yesterday as well - maybe you're the guys we talked to who had skied some short open slopes a bit below the Windy Ridge junction?
yes, that was us. We just skied the short slope from above to put us on the road to begin our tour home when we bumped into you. Good job touring all the way to Bonnie Butte. We have our eyes on Bonnie butte nex...
We were up there yesterday as well - maybe you're the guys we talked to who had skied some short open slopes a bit below the Windy Ridge junction? My buddy Freeheel Jay and I were 2 guys on Outtabounds backcountry skis - we headed all the way up to Bonney Butte where we found decent skiing in some relatively open glades. Heavy, concrete snow, but consistent and carvable. And given how long we were out, no crowds on the way back - with nice fast runs down parts of the road (and slow slogs fo...
Nice picture....looks like delicious stuff to me..
Congrats on the new stash--sounds like a cool one when the cooler temps arrive along with snow.
Did Tumalo on the 14th and was not really too bad considering how warm it had gotten (tree bombs just starting to drop...saved by the elevation...)
Thanks for the tr and pics.......
Did Tumalo on the 14th and was not really too bad considering how warm it had gotten (tree bombs just starting to drop...saved by the elevation...)
Thanks for the tr and pics.......
Am I to assume that the Bows survived their maiden voyage?
The snow angel technique makes you feel like a kid again, with one exception. As a kid we just flopped down in the snow. We were all of 3-4 feet tall then. I found that even if I sit on a small mound and tip over backwards it can be a pretty surprising head konk when you forget (senior moment?) that there is only 3-4 inches of new fluffy snow over a hard crust. This has definitely been the year of the crust.
Jane
Jane
A most excellent adventure. Thanks for sharing it with us!
Thanks Marcus,
I did not compare the Sasse Snotel data with that from the period of record, but my feel is that above 3200 to maybe 3400 feet, the snow depth is only slightly diminished from a low average year. Below that, it’s starting to look like spring. At the parking lot there is about a foot of snow, with the snow melted out around all the trees.
By the way, I forgot to mention a trick Jane and I discovered a few trips ago. It’s one of those ‘why didn’t I think of...
I did not compare the Sasse Snotel data with that from the period of record, but my feel is that above 3200 to maybe 3400 feet, the snow depth is only slightly diminished from a low average year. Below that, it’s starting to look like spring. At the parking lot there is about a foot of snow, with the snow melted out around all the trees.
By the way, I forgot to mention a trick Jane and I discovered a few trips ago. It’s one of those ‘why didn’t I think of...
Yeah, another weekend of three smelly guys in a tent. NO more I say. Monday morning I promptly purchased an Outdoor Research Helium Awning to make for lightweight snow shelters.
Thanks Andy ,
We bagged our hut trip,Took the train to Seattle and spent the day walking in the rain and checking out the RV show. Looking at the forcast and your report I think I'll bag tomorrow as well.
We bagged our hut trip,Took the train to Seattle and spent the day walking in the rain and checking out the RV show. Looking at the forcast and your report I think I'll bag tomorrow as well.
Nice work -- there's a lot of good stuff in that area. I did a similar tour last year that came down off the peak just south on the ridge, though I didn't loop through Laura and Lillian. Lots of exploration up there.
Nice Larry -- how does the snowpack compare to what you're used to seeing up there?
Andy,
Thanks for sharing the adventure. There is some unusual satisfaction in reading about someone else experiencing a grueling adventure that was not scheduled but ends safely. It brings back memories of a Chair Peak Circumnavigation I experienced. Better yet the Sginal Peak .......
The more days I spend touring - the more I realize that topo's, GPS's or Google Earth do not indentify all the features of a tour and for that I'm thankful, most of the time....
Thanks for sharing the adventure. There is some unusual satisfaction in reading about someone else experiencing a grueling adventure that was not scheduled but ends safely. It brings back memories of a Chair Peak Circumnavigation I experienced. Better yet the Sginal Peak .......
The more days I spend touring - the more I realize that topo's, GPS's or Google Earth do not indentify all the features of a tour and for that I'm thankful, most of the time....
Sounds like you guys scored!!!
Did you sleep three in the tent?
Did you sleep three in the tent?
Averaging out the day we racked up great turns at the astounding rate of about 100 vertical feet per hour. Averaging is sometimes a painful process.
:) :) :)!
Freaking sweet!
Your links are a little jacked. Here are some that work for me:
http://www.leelau.net/2010/twinone2010_02_08/
http://skitheory.blogspot.com/2010/02/matier-twin-one-couloir-variation.html
Freaking sweet!
Your links are a little jacked. Here are some that work for me:
http://www.leelau.net/2010/twinone2010_02_08/
http://skitheory.blogspot.com/2010/02/matier-twin-one-couloir-variation.html
What a small world!!
As I walked from my truck to the throne in the AM, I passed Will's truck and was thinking.....nah. That was only two days ago and hundreds of miles away. Seen your foot prints on the road, but then they dissapeared. I was scoping the horrizon for you guys but never saw a soul.
Great write up and excellant photos! sorry you didn't make your goal, but at least the scenery and experiance still make the effort worth it.
PS.. the keys w...
As I walked from my truck to the throne in the AM, I passed Will's truck and was thinking.....nah. That was only two days ago and hundreds of miles away. Seen your foot prints on the road, but then they dissapeared. I was scoping the horrizon for you guys but never saw a soul.
Great write up and excellant photos! sorry you didn't make your goal, but at least the scenery and experiance still make the effort worth it.
PS.. the keys w...
Nice Lisa!!
Watch out for that snowboarder dropping in on you!
Watch out for that snowboarder dropping in on you!
And to think when I saw the ski tracks as the wenatchee outdoors photo of the day, I was jealous....
I still kinda am.
Great writing!
I still kinda am.
Great writing!
Gary/Chmnyboy:
I took the Hurricane Hill trail rather than the Wolf Creek Trail. It is 2 miles shorter to the summit. The trail is probably not the best approach once you hit snow. I think that one could access the summit easier if you traversed the snow across the western shoulder above Hurricane Creek to a low saddle and then north to the hill. I have skied that runout but never got a good look at it from the west, (see cell pic.)
As you probably know those steep ru...
I took the Hurricane Hill trail rather than the Wolf Creek Trail. It is 2 miles shorter to the summit. The trail is probably not the best approach once you hit snow. I think that one could access the summit easier if you traversed the snow across the western shoulder above Hurricane Creek to a low saddle and then north to the hill. I have skied that runout but never got a good look at it from the west, (see cell pic.)
As you probably know those steep ru...
he,he...gotcha ya' Jason! ;) Good trip report.... ;D
Looks like a creative way to do something different along snoqualmie pass.
Cool trip Dave!
Thanks Zee. Of course it doesn't matter. More importantly it is the experience that is most fulfilling. But beyond that, to me at least, it is the experience of others I find interesting as well. I've never been shy about sharing mine and what those journeys meant to me. And I like reading and hearing about similar adventures which is why I asked.
Does it matter if you're the first one off the top? I wouldn't care a darn...the experience itself should be enough. Of course I can remember when i skied off the summit of Three Fingers many years agos. I remember it warmly...
Wow, this is the kind of trip report that makes me happy that all my friends say no to my great ideas... Glad to hear the backtrack worked out ok, and cabin creek is still awaiting a full kayak-infused descent for the year.
Thanks for the report, was going to head up there Sat in anticipation of good stuff but the rest of our crew wants to try around Rainier
I'd be curious if someone has skied off the top of three fingers. While it wasn't too bad, Josh and I certainly had to get very close to the big cliff off the East Face...say within a foot. I imagine with more snow it may become easier, but really it's been a very good snow year above 6k considering how terrible its been lower down.
Luv the Arrowhead tour, especially the pillow skiing on the summit ridge.
Thanks for the report.
Thanks for the report.
yikes .. scary stuff .. but yeah .. your pix are awesome .. esp the sunrise shots .. great work on all counts
Nicely done Jim and Jeff!! and the Hummels too! 8) Never would have thought the road to be open at this early date, I wonder if that is a first winter descent? Beautiful photos!