TR Replies

Nice!  maximusj and I did it in two days, the other way, July 1-2 2017.  Did you end up with good skiing going N-S?  S-N lets you ski 5 fall-line "runs", but has the obvious disadvantages of a low, shwhacky start and having more sun on the ascent than the descent.

We also stayed at White Rock Lakes and it was very windy!

Run down to Annette is getting thin in sections but would gamble it has another 2 weeks -maybe more if weather stays cool

Thanks for the report. I'm not going this year. I've busted my butt too many times dragging heavy gear up a nasty trail, to a nastier bolder field - for maybe one run on hard snow...Skinnable snow, and probably youth required...

and who should I run into but Jake the Brit! 

If this ever happens again, immediately turn right around and make other plans.

I only skiied the main face (i guess it's a face?) on the west side of the saddle. I did not go directly up from the road, I took the trail for roughly ten minutes from the trailhead, to the far side of the face, and then went straight up to the saddle. Basically cut the switchbacks on snow. I was able to ski from the saddle to roughly the same elevation as the lowest point of the trail. There were more dirty snow fingers that continued on a bit past that elevation, but it was all pretty sl...

Nice to see you in the right spots as always!

avalanches come in many forms

Nice work!

To confirm I understood correctly, you only skied the main face you climbed up from the road?  How far down was the snow continuous, and did you ascend directly from the road up the avy chutes and skip the trail entirely?  I've only been back there in the winter so just wondering how much 'shwacking is involved with less snow.

Some ski pics from Noah. Close to 4,000' of unreal skiing, spiraling clockwise from E through S, before putting the skins back on. Too fun!! :)

Great energy guys and funny vid. Keep em coming

Great directing.  You captured the emotion of joy!  Very very good job on making that video!

As of Cinco it was great. Might require a more agile step now with the warm weather. Lower right entrance is "platformesque", so should be room to take a step and get back in the game.

Help us groom it and keep it awesome.

Cinco midday Nash was one of the best Nash runs of the season, truth be told. Hoping for a partial lap with kid on back today, we'll see. Go get it.

Anyone know if the route from the top into upper international still goes (without any rock band to jump)

Good to see persistence paying off.

Aesthetic line, beautiful area.

Points for a good try and overall sufferfest quotient.

Excellent day, strong effort. In 2009 Snowbell and I camped 2 nights at the Eldorado saddle and Summited Dean's Spire, Austera, Primus, and Eldo. Alpine amazing-ness!

Wonderful pictures. Has me dreaming of hitting Eldo later this month

Nice.  But that would be Conga Line

We followed your tracks from Sharkfin Col to Moraine Lake.  I figured we were a couple of days behind you based on the condition of the tracks.  It made for easier route finding.  Way to push it into the Isolation Traverse as well!

True Phil. Have a good one.

Awesome. Such a beauty traverse.

There is significant snow after about a half mile. And the open slope traverses above the creek are treacherous as usual, very firm snow surface in the morning. The big creek crossing is still well-bridged by snow.

Sounds like quite the trip, what a nice itinerary!

I have to laugh about the McLoughlin bushwhacking experience.  I've skied it twice and have both followed the PCT (trip #1) and done the "direct" route (trip #2).  I recall thinking how pleasant the bushwhacking was compared to the steep jungle crap we have in the Cascades.  In any case, it is truly a beautiful mountain (very Fuji-esque) and like you, I've never seen another person while out there, e...

Thanks for the icicle back story Frank really enjoyed that! From where I stood It definitely looked like the best job at Alpental that day.

Really appreciate the picture tele-skier! and caption, funny  looks like heaven

and no offense taken at all Lowell, thanks for the safety elaboration--that was the impetus for the this post in the first place. Many good mountaineers have succumbed to the cornice so it's always worth mentioning. And elaborating on. Right before...

Thanks for the update and the memorializing of two great spirits.

Lowell - I had a similar experience on the NW ridge of Arrowhead, and took it as a haunting and sobering but very cheap lesson  in cornice avoidance. I was quite surprised at how far onto what seemed like solid ground (with rocks and even bits of trees sticking  out here and there) the thing broke, and boy howdy did it go down the lee slope fast and hard. I can still picture all the tree tops down there doing...