TR Replies

Great trip and more photo's here:

http://gallery.me.com/climberdave#100386

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 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...

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.

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.

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.

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'...

Nice post--kick ass extended report too on your website.  Did you hike the Spray Park trail the entire time before venturing "uphill"?

fawk yeah!

that cave pic is unreal

Not a weather expert, but if I had my pick I'd give Mammoth a shot. The town is at 8k and you can get above 9k (predicted snowline) pretty fast. Plus the terrain is less open overall than Shasta is above 9k, which might give more options for staying in the best spots with the best accumulation, clean ground cover, etc..

Or maybe spots with the least avy hazzard. In October. That would be a high class problem...

Maybe you've seen this:

http://forecast.w...

Hi, yeah, I wasn't really referring to ski areas. But Mammoth may get enough due to elevation. I was referring to the 13 14'000 foot peaks in the Sierra and generally the high Sierra on the East side... Boreal (aka boring hill) will probably close their ribbon of death after the rain event. We'll see...

Dude, looks like you might have a 4 foot base on Thursday above 9,000' Enjoy the East side if you do!! I'll be jealous...

Nice!  Looks like there was untracked-if not fresh, then at least stale untracked.

Seems like broad coverage but not very deep.  What would you say about the hidden-crevasse danger?

that's FABULOUS!

great work early in year.  ;D

Great photos. Dana, Abe and I were there late sunday, and more then likely past you guys coming down on our way up.

Here are some of our photos from the day.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=112394&id=583488359&l=16641f7161

-Lee

Thanks for the stoke Scott.  It's just about time to toss some kindling on the embers that are my ski ambitions.
I identify with your prologue entirely.  We must have began streaking at about the same time.  I have concluded that my love affair with the mountains is perfect as it is, no need to marry her.   ;D

author=Stugie link=topic=14145.msg59223#msg59223 date=1254806859]
But more importantly I had to realize that was okay.