TR Replies
Great report! Thanks. I have yet to do this climb, but a buddy and I are planning on doing it soon. I've also heard that this is a good area to do some snowkiting. Can you give me some info on how far and how long it took you to get up above the trees to an area that would be open enough to ride around with a kite?
We were nearby, having toured up to the top of Hyak to enjoy views and at least some sport-specific leg workout, and then we dropped into the valley between Catherine and Hyak to commit ourselves to a little more work before the icy descent back to the car. Someone who works at the ski area warned us about "blue ice" everywhere - we did see some blue ice in openings where creeks were running, but otherwise it was more "frozen granular" in east-coast-speak. Turns were at least...
Portland is about 60-70 miles from St. Helens.
Thanks ,that was my planned destination for sunday. Think i'll fire up the chainsaw instead. No shame in that.
Sounds like a great character builder day, well documented. Nice weather and stunning views though for sure. I'd love to check the place out some time. It must be a bit surreal? How far is it from the nearest big city?
Nice job guys.
Took a friend out to Birthday Bowl this past weekend and pointed at Van Trump on the way home, remarking how I need to get out there one of these days. I bet it is good in pow or corn, thanks for the inspiration to get up there...
Took a friend out to Birthday Bowl this past weekend and pointed at Van Trump on the way home, remarking how I need to get out there one of these days. I bet it is good in pow or corn, thanks for the inspiration to get up there...
Fun trip, good exercise, and semi-cooperative snow. Stopped a few hundred vertical feet short of Red Mountain summit. Good decision, as there weren't many good turns to be earned up higher. ( Snowpack was very thin. )
As Skier8484 mentions, snow down low was more fun, but the snow beneath the trees was rather nightmarish. Nice to ski with you and ArcticCat2. Thanks to ArcticCat2 and Skier8484 for putting in an excellent boot-track up the steep south face and allowing me to enjoy...
As Skier8484 mentions, snow down low was more fun, but the snow beneath the trees was rather nightmarish. Nice to ski with you and ArcticCat2. Thanks to ArcticCat2 and Skier8484 for putting in an excellent boot-track up the steep south face and allowing me to enjoy...
Thanks for the report. I'm hoping to get up there sometime in midwinter for a multi-day trip. There are lots of great slopes in & around 7 Lakes Basin. The road will be gated at the highway until April, but I'm thinking a mountain bike road approach should make it possible to get reasonably close to the trailhead well before then. If anyone has done this before I'd like to hear about it.
The Tatoosh looked like they had good coverage. We hit snow around 6'000 feet so its hard to say but I wouldn't expect more then a few inches on ice.
author=Kyle Miller link=topic=14715.msg61577#msg61577 date=1259967592">
Wanting to hit up some south facing slopes other then the Muir snowfield Joe Bell and myself decided to venture into Van Trump Park. The trail was already packed down until reaching the steep side walls of Van Trump Creek which from there on we had to break trail. It was Icy firm and exposed so we put on our crampons (which I don't recommend without) until reaching the high alpine and...
Thanks for the TR, good beta, and excellent pictures on the blog!
You take some great images! I really enjoyed looking at some of the photos in your blog. I think I'm gonna have to stomp up Vesper while the high pressure holds. Thanks for the TR.
Elfin Lakes is great, and there is every angle facing every direction within an hour or two from the hut. I didn't mind sleeping inside. You could also dig a snow-cave and fill the pack space with booze and treats instead of a tent. 8)
Cons is right, it is amazing up there. We skipped work and had a great day. Skied 1200 feet off the west side too. Two other parties made it up there based on the trip report. Thanks a bunch for posting that, it is a hard route to time and this week is perfect.
Sweet pictures DG! Looks like you and your pooch had a good day in the sunshine ;)
Great to hang out with you guys on the summit! You describe the conditions better than I could - beautiful day but disappointing snow for the most part.
Here are a few pictures I took of you guys and the mountain...
Here are a few pictures I took of you guys and the mountain...
We switched to skins at about 3,000 feet, just before we wrapped around into the canyon. We should have switched a little earlier though and avoid some post-holing. If I would do it again soon I'd switch pretty quickly after the last little creek crossing. Between that crossing and when the trail wraps into the canyon is the toughest stretch. If it's not too icy, I'd skin it. You'd have to go off trail though to connect the snow patches.
Wow, great trip! That's an amazing area with a lot of possibilities.
Do you remember about what elev you switched to skins? ..curious
Do you remember about what elev you switched to skins? ..curious
The creek went well. I had to lean heavily on my poles and the rocks to step on were right at the surface of the water. In the morning they were frozen too so things were a bit slippery.
Thanks for the report and info. That looks like an interesting place.
Wow .....
Ambitious day trip this time of year. The slopes above Deer Lake would be fun skiing in good conditions, a multi-day trip is the best way to enjoy what this area has to offer.
Gary and Jan
Ambitious day trip this time of year. The slopes above Deer Lake would be fun skiing in good conditions, a multi-day trip is the best way to enjoy what this area has to offer.
Gary and Jan
Nice trip, Con! Any trouble with the creek crossing? Was it a log tightrope walk?
Nice shots. The views were absolutely amazing the past two days. Our crew was alittle bit SE of there drooling at Glacier Peak and the Dakobeds.
Stoked,
Last Saturday you could drive the Hannegan Road easily beyond Goat Mt Trailhead (~2-3 miles up). It hasn't really snowed much since then. We couldn't ski south facing slopes on Saturday until about an elevation of 3500ft. North facing would be a bit better, but there isn't much snow in the valley yet.
Last Saturday you could drive the Hannegan Road easily beyond Goat Mt Trailhead (~2-3 miles up). It hasn't really snowed much since then. We couldn't ski south facing slopes on Saturday until about an elevation of 3500ft. North facing would be a bit better, but there isn't much snow in the valley yet.
That looks much better than Bullion Basin was yesterday.
Incredible pictures. High pressure and good road access for the win.
Thanks guys, I love that response! Get out there while the gettin's good!
Man - the Three Little Pigs run looks TIGHT 8)
Terrific trip report and great pictures. Thanks very much.
I think it was a heuristic trap thinking it was icy....... Just kidding. ;)
Thanks for the conditions update.
Thanks for the conditions update.
Rusty Knees are you taking note for when you go visit the daughter?
Sorry if this question in easily answered with a link somewhere but,...
is the road (NFD 39/6?) to Helitrope Ridge still open?
is the road (NFD 39/6?) to Helitrope Ridge still open?
Car laps! That sounds pretty swank. Looks like a fun area.
jw, navaho is just east of Earl peak. Given a bit more daylight (or an earlier start) it looks like the two peaks could be combined in to a fine tour.
Hey sb,
What's the snow depth at the bottom of the road, i.e. Hannegan Pass turnoff? Are the branch roads snowed in down at the bottom?
What's the snow depth at the bottom of the road, i.e. Hannegan Pass turnoff? Are the branch roads snowed in down at the bottom?
nice!! those upslope storms are great! except if u live in summit\eagle county !
Hi Ron! Great to see where you're skiing these days. But, alas, where's the "these are my turns" shot?
Yep. Terrian is awesome and Mt Atwell like some Peruvian mountian from there.
We toured up over the Gargoyles towards Little Diamond Head. Very Nice.
We met some experienced locals on that trip who had brought a tent despite the hut being only half full.
They obviously knew what they were doing as the snoring kept me awake all night whereas they had a nice sleep and dried out and cooked in the hut only.
We toured up over the Gargoyles towards Little Diamond Head. Very Nice.
We met some experienced locals on that trip who had brought a tent despite the hut being only half full.
They obviously knew what they were doing as the snoring kept me awake all night whereas they had a nice sleep and dried out and cooked in the hut only.
If you guys knew what Andrew's car looked like, then you might better appreciate his lack of concern over car break-ins. Pretty shrewd, actually.
Yes, the terrain is rad. I do not spend enough time in BC. At all. Way to go get it.
Yes, the terrain is rad. I do not spend enough time in BC. At all. Way to go get it.
There were prominent warnings up about leaving valuables in cars, but no one mentioned it as a reason to avoid the area (in contrast to overcrowding on weekends and a gnarly drive up the road at times, which people did mention). I might have even seen a sign about a surveillance camera at the trail head.
Sure is some rad terrain around there...the Garibaldi-Nevé traverse looks awesome.
Sure is some rad terrain around there...the Garibaldi-Nevé traverse looks awesome.
Good stuff!
Don't forget to POST in the correct place too - like Partner's Wanted or Random Tracks - you will probelly get a better response to your inquiry ;)
Don't forget to POST in the correct place too - like Partner's Wanted or Random Tracks - you will probelly get a better response to your inquiry ;)
Love that place and had a great time out there a few years back.
How's the parking issue at the TH.?
A while back, car break-in at the TH was a real problem!
How's the parking issue at the TH.?
A while back, car break-in at the TH was a real problem!
Ha, thanks Mack. I did mean Fricaba.
That sounds like a nice trip Gary. There is alot to explore over there.
Teledavid, if I had known I would have waved to you.
That sounds like a nice trip Gary. There is alot to explore over there.
Teledavid, if I had known I would have waved to you.
The CD route via the Grouse Creek drainage (not Heliotrope Ridge Trail) is a nice "blue" ski route. By avoiding the Heliotrope trail section you add maybe another 2000 vft of really fun skiing if snow conditions are good. In my opinion, the best skiing on the route can be this lower non-glacier section. It is probably skiable now (has enough snow). There are also more black diamond areas here too. You should only have sleds on the Glacier Creek Road approach.
Nice work ebeam and company. That mountain looks like it was just asking to be skied. Way to get on it!