TR Replies
I took a visiting Swiss friend of mine up on Sunday the 25th to celebrate my 12th year of turns-all-year. We experienced a beautiful sunrise, and then the ceiling fell quickly. By the time we hit the Muir, snow level had gome from summit to 9k. We experienced the same bulletproof, except no thawing today. I had ski crampons, but Dan did not, so we turned around at 9100. Fairly nice but delicate skiing to 7295 ft., with a cheese sandwich at the snout to celebrate. As Jerry said, "What a long...
author=Scotsman link=topic=14263.msg59647#msg59647 date=1256435488]
Hi Zack, Glad your'e getting some.Have you moved to CO or just visitng?
I got a teaching job at the college in Gunnison, so it looks like I'll be making this place home for a bit, which suits me just fine. If anyone's passing through, drop me a line!
Thanks for the link to the old TR Zap!
Nice Pics!!
Way to get some! You passed us on the way up! It sure was icy just below Muir and without crampons it would have been close to impossible.
We spent the night at Paradise before heading up and as I feared that howling wind blew off whatever snow cover existed above. I was surprised to see the parking lot full of cars on the way back!
Runcle
Way to get some! You passed us on the way up! It sure was icy just below Muir and without crampons it would have been close to impossible.
We spent the night at Paradise before heading up and as I feared that howling wind blew off whatever snow cover existed above. I was surprised to see the parking lot full of cars on the way back!
Runcle
I was up there today on "late shift" not starting from lot til almost 1PM (wasn't going to go today but family plans got canceled so I scrambled a ski trip).
Normally I'm a fan of the late start and find ways to justify it (but of course the real reason is I am usually lazy). Today however I paid for the late start because in the afternoon the cloud deck was rising just as fast as I was. The majority of skiers who started earlier got their run in the sun, but I had...
Normally I'm a fan of the late start and find ways to justify it (but of course the real reason is I am usually lazy). Today however I paid for the late start because in the afternoon the cloud deck was rising just as fast as I was. The majority of skiers who started earlier got their run in the sun, but I had...
author=J Leslie link=topic=14138.msg59644#msg59644 date=1256430086]
We must have just missed you Joe_P. We were at the top of Palmer at 1:00pm. I would call conditions surprisingly decent. With the freezing overnight temps, the top two inches had softened up nicely by 1:00. We were able to start skinning just above the Silcox Hut following the old "snow tongue." On the way down, we pieced together a continuous ribbon of snow to within a couple hundre...
Monarch Pass brings back fond memories of our last trip to Monarch in March 2008. Two great days: a powder blizzard day and a sunshine day. Great sidecountry terrain.
http://www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboarding/trip_reports/index.php?topic=9376.0
http://www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboarding/trip_reports/index.php?topic=9376.0
Wow - looks pretty bony up there right now. Good work getting out. Let's hope November brings a pile of snow with it!
Hi Zack, Glad your'e getting some.Have you moved to CO or just visitng?
We must have just missed you Joe_P. We were at the top of Palmer at 1:00pm. I would call conditions surprisingly decent. With the freezing overnight temps, the top two inches had softened up nicely by 1:00. We were able to start skinning just above the Silcox Hut following the old "snow tongue." On the way down, we pieced together a continuous ribbon of snow to within a couple hundred feet of Silcox. Certainly not the worst October ski I've had.
Nice work at the solo-trek! It was quite windy here in Tacoma all day yesterday. I guess that stuff wasn't hitting Muir, huh?
Nice...I just went up 10/22/2009 to test out my new setup. Marker Dukes on BD Zealots and walked for 2 hrs to the top of Palmer and all I could ski was to Silcox...your conditions looked more appealing.
A for effort. nice pics of the track and I love the Bolam/Hotlum ridge, in the PM light. They call it the Bolam Gully, chute, couloir ? That would have to be pure ice, with the new on top (of which the new was also ice). you would need some good solar rad. to get that into ridable (range). if you're that persistent (and in the Bay area) the top of Mt Rose Hiway has some short shots available, as it's 9,000 ft.
Nice!
Spencer and I had a similar experience the previous Sunday! Not solo but super quiet and sobering. It was my first time up too. Sounds like the snow conditions were a little better for you. I'm looking forward to the day when the Nisqually chutes have some powder.
I'm curious.... are the N chutes notorious for avy danger mid winter compared to other slopes in the area?
-LR
Spencer and I had a similar experience the previous Sunday! Not solo but super quiet and sobering. It was my first time up too. Sounds like the snow conditions were a little better for you. I'm looking forward to the day when the Nisqually chutes have some powder.
I'm curious.... are the N chutes notorious for avy danger mid winter compared to other slopes in the area?
-LR
Great video cityhick! That is hilarious he can ski on that. I'm gonna show a few people that for sure.
8)
8)
Thanks for the uplifting report drew! Glad you had the Mountain to yourself.
More proof, "go with the initial plan"... wow, had this day slated for turns, but bagged on account of letting other priorities take precedence.
Way to go! You certainly deserved it.
Way to go! You certainly deserved it.
author=drew0620 link=topic=14251.msg59599#msg59599 date=1256267052]
With four kids at home under 7, this was golden.
Good job! You deserve a medal for pulling that off.
Thanks for the report!
Good news. Maybe I'll get my October turns in after all and save my streak.
Think I'll try and head up Sunday if weather ain't too bad.
Thanks for the update and motivation.
Think I'll try and head up Sunday if weather ain't too bad.
Thanks for the update and motivation.
author=tim_place link=topic=14227.msg59586#msg59586 date=1256235632]
Looking at the photos, I am reminded of Gary Snyders description of the Beats as " infused with irrational exhuberance".
We need snow!
A skiing acquaintance thought that the outing looked like "a sublime waste of time!" I am not sure if I agree with that statement, but I do concur with the sentiment that we need snow.
author=climberdave link=topic=14227.msg59520#msg59520 date=1255993294]
Great trip ...
Looking at the photos, I am reminded of Gary Snyders description of the Beats as " infused with irrational exhuberance".
We need snow!
yaa, hey buddy. maybe you guys will be gettin some. Mammoth hasnt opened in Oct. since 94. so its pretty rare, for the Sierra. Reno and its Mt Rose Hiway is where I start the seasons. The lower sun angle - and the North aspect is how it dont melt out.
Hi Ruski,
I'm using a gopro cam, it's pretty inexpensive compared to some other cams out there, but it does distort the picture a little with "fish eye", and the audio absolutely sucks.
i bet you made the right deceison for turning around when you did, i think the sun is just to weak for corn on high north faceing aspects now -- pretty much like feb sun (on the flipside of the solstice) i got super lucky and found some south faceing corn on the upper mou...
I'm using a gopro cam, it's pretty inexpensive compared to some other cams out there, but it does distort the picture a little with "fish eye", and the audio absolutely sucks.
i bet you made the right deceison for turning around when you did, i think the sun is just to weak for corn on high north faceing aspects now -- pretty much like feb sun (on the flipside of the solstice) i got super lucky and found some south faceing corn on the upper mou...
The pioneer of fast grass himself, my former English Teacher, Justin Trees:
StoweFastGrass
StoweFastGrass
you say that like october turns at the river are uncommon. that's the beauty of new england early season, a heavy frost and the fast grass is ready to go...
We actually met the dog Lilly (and her human Monty) totally at random on this trip. Great dog, super friendly and was totally in the spirit of the adventure. My dogs are all older and they can't make it to Heliotrope (and back). I have taken them around Heather Meadows and what I have found is that whether they have fun is pretty sensitive to what the snow is like. Once I took them out there and there was a crust they were falling through, no fun and we all had to bail (I was fine, they...
Man that sounds good. I'm jealous and going frigging mental up here.
I fit doesn't snow soon I might lose my TAY streak!
I fit doesn't snow soon I might lose my TAY streak!
author=danhelmstadter link=topic=14234.msg59550#msg59550 date=1256086309]
nice pics - trip and report! wow - looks like quite a bit of coverage already.
i think pow/soft-snow is pretty rare on the upper mountain in winter.
yeah, that's the truth. I did have some factors pulling for me:
Latitude allowed for a somewhat longer day
Almost no winds
I think it was about 70 or so at 4k
Where I went wro...
Thanks Guys! I'm so glad your dog is with you, good times. I am almost certain that after last winter my 15 year old Newfoundland/Golden is no longer going to make it out of the car let alone up the side of a volcano!
nice pics - trip and report! wow - looks like quite a bit of coverage already.
i think pow/soft-snow is pretty rare on the upper mountain in winter.
i think pow/soft-snow is pretty rare on the upper mountain in winter.
I have been looking at those web cams of Shasta all last week wishing I was in drivable distance. Sounds like a great time, congrats on the Shasta Solitude!
Nice TR! Those black bear tracks are awesome!
Thanks for the report. I was wondering what it's like over there. Still need a bit more snow before I take the skis out. Here's to a great ski season.
Cheers and Happy Skiing!
Oh yeah, no grizzlie bears here in Cali since the 1920s. At least we think. ;)
Cheers and Happy Skiing!
Oh yeah, no grizzlie bears here in Cali since the 1920s. At least we think. ;)
Great report, RuSki. It does my heart good to hear that Snowe came to the rescue. Way to make iced lemonade out of ice; researching better approaches, enjoying the ice-olation. More and better snow really is coming...isn't it?
That bruiser you shared the trail with - how big were his tracks? Black bear, I assume - no grizzlies down there anymore I don't think...
That bruiser you shared the trail with - how big were his tracks? Black bear, I assume - no grizzlies down there anymore I don't think...
Great trip and more photo's here:
http://gallery.me.com/climberdave#100386
http://gallery.me.com/climberdave#100386
Really fun day, despite the "Smile, youre developing hypothermia" conditions. It rained so much that even the glacier ice was soft enough to carve on. Best snow was from about 6900-6300'.
Travertine's basement made for a great skiers' bunkhouse! Thanks for inviting us all up, and buena suerte on your caving adventure.
I'm ready for a few tours that don't start with hours of boots on the back.
Travertine's basement made for a great skiers' bunkhouse! Thanks for inviting us all up, and buena suerte on your caving adventure.
I'm ready for a few tours that don't start with hours of boots on the back.
Nice pic, good snow info.
I assume your trip was on the 18th, not today? ???
Otherwise a 1:30 posting for a PM trip equals a REALLY fast ascent to Muir!
I assume your trip was on the 18th, not today? ???
Otherwise a 1:30 posting for a PM trip equals a REALLY fast ascent to Muir!
author=mosetick link=topic=14227.msg59506#msg59506 date=1255975172]
A couple photos to follow...
Let me know when you have them ready and I will delete my full sized photos.
Bob
I was about to post my trip report when I noticed that Travertine had beat me to it, so I'll just add my bit on.
With the prospect of a drying trend after a deposit of new snow, I had decided to join forces with Travertine's crew. There were encouraging signs as we left the trail head; however, we had a mostly moist day on the Ridge and on the return trip down to the car. Along the way we briefly linked up with Kyle and Monty. There was also a trio of young snowboarders ahea...
With the prospect of a drying trend after a deposit of new snow, I had decided to join forces with Travertine's crew. There were encouraging signs as we left the trail head; however, we had a mostly moist day on the Ridge and on the return trip down to the car. Along the way we briefly linked up with Kyle and Monty. There was also a trio of young snowboarders ahea...
A BIG thank you is in order for the gentlemen who assisted me with my binding "problem." Also, apologies for the sketchy audio/video on the slide show I hyped up. I'm sending out links to a proper version. Despite the rain, it was great to get out with everyone and nice to meet Climberdave for the first time too! A couple photos to follow...
Skiing MRG in Oct? Hopefully this bodes well for the '09/'01 Winter. Give my best to Andrew Rorabach. Most of my skis became 'rock skis' on Paradise. I can also say that the single chair is not that much faster than skinning up...and a whole lot colder - blanket or not. Love the early season report.
Thanks for these posts, Jonathan. Brings back fond memories of floating through six inches of powder for six turns before suddenly driving my tips into an unseen rock or root at Bolton or Mansfield in October or November.
Ski it if you can . . . get yourself up to the top without a chairlift!
I counted at least nine skiers there that day (a midweek), and probably were even more I didn't see. A couple trails were even pretty tracked out by the end of the day! MRG skiers definitely live up to their hardcore image.
I counted at least nine skiers there that day (a midweek), and probably were even more I didn't see. A couple trails were even pretty tracked out by the end of the day! MRG skiers definitely live up to their hardcore image.
Great reports from Vermont, JS. Great.
Indeed, season started for me here in Colorado October 10th - very fine for so early.
Let's hope CO and NE fare well with El Nino this year. Looks like you've got a good pattern forming but November can be a killer for snow in NE...fingers crossed.
Indeed, season started for me here in Colorado October 10th - very fine for so early.
Let's hope CO and NE fare well with El Nino this year. Looks like you've got a good pattern forming but November can be a killer for snow in NE...fingers crossed.
mammoth says FREE lift tickets for Friday. i will be on business in san fran sun-thur but there are no flights to mammoth lakes available! blasted!
hope you cats can make it for a free lift serviced turns for a change. god it will be nice to bump a chair again!
off to build my splitter... cheers!
hope you cats can make it for a free lift serviced turns for a change. god it will be nice to bump a chair again!
off to build my splitter... cheers!
author=Stugie link=topic=14145.msg59409#msg59409 date=1255556591]
Alpine-Earth - yeah, hiked the spray park trail to the observation rock trail which takes you right up to the flett/russell. Pretty straightforward. I usually hike it all in my ski boots.
Great, thanks for the info. I've not been to that corner of the mountain, only looked over the map and wasn't aware of a trail to observation rock, though I'...