TR Replies
Andy, I think more people use it than you might realize. There is a marked(surveyors tape) and thinned "trail" in the vicinity of "Outback" that leads to the open slopes below "Sharkfin". Many people use this as a return route to the ski area. It's a little obscure, but I found it. There is also an avid contingent of skiers who access the area by sled through Forest Ridge/Squilchuck and Upper Wheeler. I would like to see this area above Upper Wheeler or the are...
Great report Andy! Is it a 'secret stash' when it's immediately visible from most any vantage point in Wenatchee? In fact, Stemilt Basin's open slopes are even more obvious to the casual viewer than the Ridge itself.
Hey skykilo, you didn't say how the ski down the trail was or did you take a run down the Barrier?
El Nino has been pretty harsh on Vancouver's local North Shore mountains and in the Howe Sound area. What we're finding is that the snow line is several hundred meters higher than is normal. Lots of good local trips aren't possible right now, which means more driving and more greenhouse gases.
El Nino has been pretty harsh on Vancouver's local North Shore mountains and in the Howe Sound area. What we're finding is that the snow line is several hundred meters higher than is normal. Lots of good local trips aren't possible right now, which means more driving and more greenhouse gases.
Stemilt Basin wouldn't be considered a sidecountry stash for Mission Ridge skiers. From the top of Mission it's a flat 40-minute shuffle over to the Stemilt Basin, you log 1000 to 1500 vertical then, in most years, you're likely to climb back out of the basin and shuffle 25 minutes back to terrain that really is considered to be the resort's sidecountry. The return routes shown on the map connected to the post have climbing, route finding, and timber to contend with. And ofte...
author=Scotsman link=topic=15046.msg62966#msg62966 date=1262666145]
It's a free country and anybody has the right to author a guidebook or a website but its certainly an issue in the ski world as more and more people take up this sport of ours
Come on finish the sentence...
It's a free country and anybody has the right to author a guidebook or a website but its certainly an issue in the ski world as more and more people...
Thanks for the update Preston.
Good to hear the other safe stories of the area. I had a weird feeling about that area. Someone asked me if I was going to go out to JBAS and I thought it would not be a good idea, lucky I trusted my gut on that one.
I did see a spectacular event from Northway chair just below Flying Floyds. A skier came around the base of a rock band to spot a buddy jumping off the rock. The jumper caught about 15 feet of air and landed into a double front flip. The impa...
Good to hear the other safe stories of the area. I had a weird feeling about that area. Someone asked me if I was going to go out to JBAS and I thought it would not be a good idea, lucky I trusted my gut on that one.
I did see a spectacular event from Northway chair just below Flying Floyds. A skier came around the base of a rock band to spot a buddy jumping off the rock. The jumper caught about 15 feet of air and landed into a double front flip. The impa...
author=splitgirl link=topic=15036.msg62938#msg62938 date=1262645270]
Looks like you guys had a great time, I chose to go the opposite direction towards Obstruction Point and started to experience the same Whoomphing east of Steeple Rock the previous night. Took Sean Halborg and my brother Les out with me, I believe you have met them both. Glad you all had fun. See you next weekend ;)
Hey Summer,
We saw your truck on the way u...
Had similar conditions out near Crystal Lake and Morse Creek...
While headed out for some slackcountry near Threeway, Altasnob and I saw a clean slab release on a N facing aspect draining down into Crystal Lake. The crown face ~1.5 feet deep, ~50 feet wide, ran for hundred feet or more (unverified as it was a bit out of sight). Definitely a windloaded slope that developed a cohesive slab and slid on the Christmas crust. Some guys looking to go a bit higher passed us while we deskinne...
While headed out for some slackcountry near Threeway, Altasnob and I saw a clean slab release on a N facing aspect draining down into Crystal Lake. The crown face ~1.5 feet deep, ~50 feet wide, ran for hundred feet or more (unverified as it was a bit out of sight). Definitely a windloaded slope that developed a cohesive slab and slid on the Christmas crust. Some guys looking to go a bit higher passed us while we deskinne...
Southback was really good yesterday (sunday). I hiked the King 5 times and each run was better than the previous. I found some powder.
Well I'm still intersted in how the Mission Ridge locals feel about it.
Wenatchee Outdoors although a non-profit has the stated aim of encouraging access and promoting the area and received a grant to start-up the website from a group whose existence ( I think) is to promote tourism. Although a non-profit, presumably wages are being paid to those that run the site, maybe only costs covered.
Andy's beautiful report is basically the same as posted on their website but with deta...
Wenatchee Outdoors although a non-profit has the stated aim of encouraging access and promoting the area and received a grant to start-up the website from a group whose existence ( I think) is to promote tourism. Although a non-profit, presumably wages are being paid to those that run the site, maybe only costs covered.
Andy's beautiful report is basically the same as posted on their website but with deta...
Hey Joe,
Yea, any slide, no matter what the size, feels big at the time and makes you wonder where you screwed up!!!
Like I said, we saw the crowns from the day before (which all looked to be skier triggered?) and read the forecast, which mentioned patrols' observations of stuff stepping down, so kinda knew that we'd have to be careful. We saw the slide you mention above JBAS and another further lookers left. That, combined with the eerie feeling that comes wi...
Yea, any slide, no matter what the size, feels big at the time and makes you wonder where you screwed up!!!
Like I said, we saw the crowns from the day before (which all looked to be skier triggered?) and read the forecast, which mentioned patrols' observations of stuff stepping down, so kinda knew that we'd have to be careful. We saw the slide you mention above JBAS and another further lookers left. That, combined with the eerie feeling that comes wi...
Great report Andy, fun read.
In response to Scotsman's comments...nobody skis the 'Ridge anyway ;)
The internet does have it's disadvantages. A...
In response to Scotsman's comments...nobody skis the 'Ridge anyway ;)
author=Scotsman link=topic=15046.msg62939#msg62939 date=1262645311]
I know that if somebody posted such a detailed report to some of the Crystal sidecountry stashes , you would not be a popular man with some of the local worthies.( you know who you are)
The internet does have it's disadvantages. A...
thanks ron j! we miss you guys too. we'll be up to ski with you all again soon! :)
50ft wide x 2ft crown x 200vf
I would categorize that as rather large, but if that was the small one on the video it looked like it could have been bigger given the right trigger.
I heard of a pretty huge avalanche over in that neck of the woods (JBAS) a couple days ago. I talked to a guy I know who had a near burial not far from where you guys were riding. He said the release was a real audible "POP" sound. Freaky...Looks like the wind loaded slopes on the N-NW slopes on tha...
I would categorize that as rather large, but if that was the small one on the video it looked like it could have been bigger given the right trigger.
I heard of a pretty huge avalanche over in that neck of the woods (JBAS) a couple days ago. I talked to a guy I know who had a near burial not far from where you guys were riding. He said the release was a real audible "POP" sound. Freaky...Looks like the wind loaded slopes on the N-NW slopes on tha...
Glad you got out for a good day of riding!
Looks like we are both stuck in the wrong year... It's 2010, not 2009 like we BOTH put in our TR subject!
Looks like we are both stuck in the wrong year... It's 2010, not 2009 like we BOTH put in our TR subject!
Thanks for the reports. I had no partner as of 8am so I went up to Alpental and rode lifts. Waiting for chair 1 to open a very nice patrolman approached me and told me that Elevator had slid to the first December rain crust and there was a debris pile 25 feet deep at the bottom, and that the skiers left of Elevator was ready to go so I should stay out of the BC (do I look like a guy who would duck a rope?) ::)
Up top there were large crowns running ridge to ridge. Looks like the cont...
Up top there were large crowns running ridge to ridge. Looks like the cont...
We toured up the phantom on Sunday. Went to the pass instead of going all the way up to the top of the slot. Everyones pretty much got conditions down:
Above 4600' was fun, soft, not too heavy
Below was increasingly awful, with ice, wet snow, buried breakable crusts...
Dug a quick pit at ~5000-ft, SSE aspect, 32 deg slope, glades at treeline. Most noticeable layers were at about 18" down (rain crust, mostly rounds) and about 30" down (p-hard xmas crust). C...
Above 4600' was fun, soft, not too heavy
Below was increasingly awful, with ice, wet snow, buried breakable crusts...
Dug a quick pit at ~5000-ft, SSE aspect, 32 deg slope, glades at treeline. Most noticeable layers were at about 18" down (rain crust, mostly rounds) and about 30" down (p-hard xmas crust). C...
Lovely report. Really like your writing.
I was wondering how the locals in your area feel about you posting a detailed map and mini- tour guide to a sidecountry bowl??
( It's on your link)
I know that if somebody posted such a detailed report to some of the Crystal sidecountry stashes , you would not be a popular man with some of the local worthies.( you know who you are)
I'm agnostic about posting maps and tour guides to stashes but I know when the high school kid...
I was wondering how the locals in your area feel about you posting a detailed map and mini- tour guide to a sidecountry bowl??
( It's on your link)
I know that if somebody posted such a detailed report to some of the Crystal sidecountry stashes , you would not be a popular man with some of the local worthies.( you know who you are)
I'm agnostic about posting maps and tour guides to stashes but I know when the high school kid...
Looks like you guys had a great time, I chose to go the opposite direction towards Obstruction Point and started to experience the same Whoomphing east of Steeple Rock the previous night. Took Sean Halborg and my brother Les out with me, I believe you have met them both. Glad you all had fun. See you next weekend ;)
We did it in a day, but there are several huts around the lake.
Beautiful! Did Rainbow up there last year and as the rain pours down outside, I think I need to head north again. Did you do this in a day or stay in a hut? Thanks.
Thanks for good reports for Hurricane!
Garth
NWAC :)
Garth
NWAC :)
Good stuff Larry -- always fun to go out and see what you find.
Thought you'd had enough " food and drink " training in Argentina?
Glad you got some pow but conditions are certainly challenging this year in certain places.
Nice to know they let dogs go.
Glad you got some pow but conditions are certainly challenging this year in certain places.
Nice to know they let dogs go.
We mentioned at least once that Caribou would be the perfect b/c lodge for a baby/toddler -- y'all should absolutely come next year :)
Hopi used the booties on the 7 mile run out from the hut and had no problems. She went au natural for the rest of the trip and paw-waxing did a good job keeping her feet from getting snowballs.
Hopi used the booties on the 7 mile run out from the hut and had no problems. She went au natural for the rest of the trip and paw-waxing did a good job keeping her feet from getting snowballs.
Sounds like a fun trip -- wish we could have been there! Maybe next year when little Isaac is ripping up the slopes as a 1 year old. :P
So did Hopi like the booties?!
Q
So did Hopi like the booties?!
Q
Your descriptions of the improving conditions through the day were also reflected in the conditions across the road at the resort. It was amazing how things dried out once the clouds started to break after noon. I think that the brief rain that must have occurred very early AM must have needed to take time to absorb or freeze. What was noticed by me at the resort was that there was patchiness to the snow from heavy wet subcrust, to rather unaffected snow. My guess is that the change to rain...
here a link to a few photos and one video from the venture!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11723786@N06/sets/72157623013415125/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11723786@N06/sets/72157623013415125/
Mr. El Nino was paid off by VANOC. Thanks for the report. Hope to see more from you from up North...
Great to meet up with you Gary, Jan, and Jeff, hope to make some more turns with you soon. Same observations as Gary, north/northeast aspects appeared heavily loaded, quite a bit of settlement in areas with significant accumulation, a good time to be cautious. Here's a couple more photos from the day, smiles all around.
author=jaygantz link=topic=15034.msg62877#msg62877 date=1262580749]
I don't really know all the names of the peaks...
Don't worry about it, I am not sure anybody does. They are all called out by number on a topo. I've heard so many differant names for the same things there. Including the name of the ridge itself. Skyline or Heather? It doesn't really matter to me, I but it makes it difficult to relay any type...
Sounds good, and the shower/sauna is good news after the fire. We're looking forward to our weekend the end of this month. :)
Glad you guys didn't have any mishaps! It sounded pretty treacherous out there.
I wish I had brought my camera! This was the first time I have witnessed a crack and a slab avalanche form in that area. I think that it is actually more common than I previously thought along the leeward and wind loaded slopes extending out to Mount Angeles.
I have yet to see evidence of a substantial slide on either Steep and Icy or on the wind scoured face of Hurr...
Thanks for agreat Photo "Tour" of the area and route!
Thanks for the conditions report Jay, sounds familiar. Most of us found heavy powder this weekend, and compared to what we've had since Thanksgiving, we were happy. Post some photos please?
Fine day out! Whumphs today were confined to steeper open slide paths above 4.5k - just stable enough to make us think about skiing them, talkative enough to make us worry.
Also of note - one of us triggered a whumph that propagated uphill and caused a windlip under the other to settle.
The good snow at elevation more than made up for the breakable crust below.
Also of note - one of us triggered a whumph that propagated uphill and caused a windlip under the other to settle.
The good snow at elevation more than made up for the breakable crust below.
Will do - some folks we knew went up to 8k but said visability was bad, staying lower was good - also heard from some snowshoers that there was some problems at Pan Point.
author=tim_place link=topic=15029.msg62867#msg62867 date=1262577650]
Sleds are my friend.
Sledheads are my friends, especially old retired ones with secret ski stashes.
Even when I don't know who made the sled track, I am thankful for the extra laps it allows me when I don't have to break as much trail.
2010 -- year of the Olympics, and of the Sled.
Thanks for making the move to TAY contributor! Paradise reports have been lacking the past couple days, I was wondering if a trip down there might be a good idea given the higher freezing levels. Great to hear details of what you found, keep 'em coming please.
Atraslin. As long as it would take to skin 25km. From what I've seen, might take YOU an hour?!!
Thanks for the weekend hospitality and company, Toby.
Besides some pretty decent skiing, I finally got my mind around the idea of an approach sled. They are not evil, they are NOT!! Sleds are my friend.
Besides some pretty decent skiing, I finally got my mind around the idea of an approach sled. They are not evil, they are NOT!! Sleds are my friend.
Also, there is a very distinct snow line in the Nooksack Valley!
Hey... we had mash potatos at stevens pass today too!! No lie, and I have video proof!
http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y138/luckyana/?action=view¤t=tyebaldy042.flv
http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y138/luckyana/?action=view¤t=tyebaldy042.flv
Way to persevere! Glad you got some. Thanks for the funny story about the hitchhiker.
author=trumpetsailor link=topic=15021.msg62837#msg62837 date=1262483010]
one of our hardy four turned back just below the snowline and Dynateled to the car for one of his trademark hitchhiking hijinks.
Without even knowing who was in your party, I believe I may recognize this skier. ;)
It was indeed a fun day out. A bit of a gear test below 4K for sure. But that was totally worth enduring for the beauty and fun above.
The whumphing, while sub-optimal, was definitely a cool sound. I believe I could hear the crust some inches down cracking added into the usual sound.
The whumphing, while sub-optimal, was definitely a cool sound. I believe I could hear the crust some inches down cracking added into the usual sound.
I'm glad that you caught that photo at the car. It was a beautiful morning.
We made it about halfway to the "middle " TH before we were pushing a little too much snow. I wouldn't be surprised if it will be the last day to drive to the lower TH for awhile.
Good times.
Thank you Stugie.
We made it about halfway to the "middle " TH before we were pushing a little too much snow. I wouldn't be surprised if it will be the last day to drive to the lower TH for awhile.
Good times.
Thank you Stugie.