TR Replies
Lowell, thanks for the insights into what John, Aaron,Kevin, Lee and the crew do to open Chinook Pass.
Looks like a sweet day trip.
Does it count if my heart is in Oregon?
Does it count if my heart is in Oregon?
Good golly! You can certainly see what all have been saying about the step-down nature of this snowpack in that video! There was much more snow entrained by time it reached the highway than I would have guessed. Can also see why they've learned from experience to leave a cushion of unplowed snow on the downhill side of the road, that's a hell of a firehose of snow when it went over the "jump" of the roadbed.
The Pyrenees have some of the great caves of the world, including Gouffre Berger, the first cave ever to go 1 km deep. I had to choose one or the other; I chose skiing. Perhaps both next time.
Pics
Hmmm. Looking at my schedule. Can I squeeze in a 3-4 day trip to finnish this off next wk before heading to AK? Or I could wait untill half the north rt is groomed for/ by snowmachines next yr?
Hmmm. Looking at my schedule. Can I squeeze in a 3-4 day trip to finnish this off next wk before heading to AK? Or I could wait untill half the north rt is groomed for/ by snowmachines next yr?
Nice job on the tour, that is a good distance to cover in slower snow!
>>Any caves?<<
I recall hearing that after Paris was sacked by the Nazis, France moved it's military aircraft poduction into caves in the Pyranees.
Good hiking, fun hamlets, watch for lightning in the afternoon.
I recall hearing that after Paris was sacked by the Nazis, France moved it's military aircraft poduction into caves in the Pyranees.
Good hiking, fun hamlets, watch for lightning in the afternoon.
I emailed Scotsman on Monday for a quick question as my buddy and I were headed up to do this tour on Tuesday morning. We left Wenatchee at 3:55 am to try and beat the melt but ended up running into other weather issues. The previously clear and sunny days had given away to freezing temps and snow/wind. The skintrack was crap (when you could find it) and every bit as bulletproof as anything else on the face. We took about 30 minutes at the Spire Gulch entrance trying to figure out if it was...
Nice work! I'd love to ski in the Pyrenees or Dolomites. Good climbing out there too. Any caves?
Great report! Looks like a beautiful mountain.
I wanna go skiing too! and maybe hear a little more about bumming it around South America, hope to be able to do that some day soon.
I wanna go skiing too! and maybe hear a little more about bumming it around South America, hope to be able to do that some day soon.
Great job skiing a high, remote peak! This is one of my favorite places in the North Cascades. We skied the Douglas Glacier last spring but instead of an out and back we did a loop from Easy Pass, skiing the first portion of Lowell's Thunder High Route past Silent Lakes/Arriva Col/Spectacular Ridge to a camp near Fisher Pass. We skied Logan on the second day and returned along your route via Fis...
So glad you posted this. Both of your blog reports were well written and a lot of fun to follow. Adding a ski descent in the Cordillera Blanca makes it an epic trip IMO. Solid work.
BTW, I want to go skiing...
BTW, I want to go skiing...
Very, very cool. Thanks for the report.
I spent almost three months in Ecuador years ago, but didn't ski back then... since then the hopes of a return trip to that region for such pursuits lingers in the back of my mind.
Thanks for sharing your blog, too.
I spent almost three months in Ecuador years ago, but didn't ski back then... since then the hopes of a return trip to that region for such pursuits lingers in the back of my mind.
Thanks for sharing your blog, too.
You guys were making some lovely turns up there I must say. Desert rock climbing or skiing great corn on a volcano...ah, the many vices...;)
Paradise never disappoints when you know where to look. Good to hear you all had a nice time.
Chris
Chris
Stewie- nice job on the TR.
Scottie- good try on the pics, you are on your way to becoming as good as Grant Gunderson.
All- nice work keeping up with Stewie, I sure won't be able to when I finally get out!
Good to see you all going out and hitting some good terrain, sure fires me up for when the quarter ends...
Chris
Scottie- good try on the pics, you are on your way to becoming as good as Grant Gunderson.
All- nice work keeping up with Stewie, I sure won't be able to when I finally get out!
Good to see you all going out and hitting some good terrain, sure fires me up for when the quarter ends...
Chris
It was good to meet you up there. This is Josh H. It was a great day of touring.
I at last got to ski from muir down the Nisqually next to the cliffs that border the muir snowfields.
I at last got to ski from muir down the Nisqually next to the cliffs that border the muir snowfields.
The lake that had its water sloshed out by an avalanche sounds an interesting sight.
Got a picture of that?
Nice trip, great area.
Like the bandana on da head!
Got a picture of that?
Nice trip, great area.
Like the bandana on da head!
...and the same Silas Wild who in 2007 while on the Ortler traverse would make his appearance only after dinner was served and hover over our desserts! "Full pensione" was not in his vocabulary.
This was one of my favorite ski trips in recent memory, excitement / clencher level was high. I found the limitations of my aluminum pons when both front metal toe piece bails broke front pointing the snice/shallow snow over rock.
Unfortunatly my camera lcd screen broke several weeks ago, so i had to guesstimate the shots - I did not get a good one of Eric's straitline air off the lower rock band, which I choose to hop in a more mellow speeded diagonal way.
Unfortunatly my camera lcd screen broke several weeks ago, so i had to guesstimate the shots - I did not get a good one of Eric's straitline air off the lower rock band, which I choose to hop in a more mellow speeded diagonal way.
IS THIS THE SAME SILAS THAT IN 1996 IN ITALY WOULD CAMP AND COOK 100 YARDS FROM THE HUT TO SAVE $! GREAT CHANGES ARE POSSIBLE IN THIS WORLD! :) ;) :D ;D
Nice going!
I had a look at it 2 weeks ago from Hardy, and recall it looking thinner than last year when Jason and I went up for a look. Definitely an asthetic line...
I had a look at it 2 weeks ago from Hardy, and recall it looking thinner than last year when Jason and I went up for a look. Definitely an asthetic line...
For sun, white poly under shorts + a full-zip shell for when things get funky.
author=Scotsman link=topic=13361.msg55607#msg55607 date=1242662283]
Have you seen my photos??? :-[
Stewart was reviewing my photos on the way home and 16 of the 20 I took had a thumb in them.
At least we didn't have a scrabble board with us.
Remember when you and I did it and you pulled a scrabble board out of your pack at the bottom of Madison Avenue???? ::)
Oh yeah, the Scrabble board incident. I remember th...
Right on, glad all went according to plan...we were trying to spy you on the Douglas while waiting for our run to soften. But as you note, that is a loooooong ways away.
Way to get it done.
Way to get it done.
author=Zap link=topic=13361.msg55612#msg55612 date=1242664291]
Nice report Stewie. I think you should also carry the camera on the next outing. ;)
Jeez, tough crowd.
Look at this beauty! I like the composition and detail in this one.
Right up there with one of Jason Hummel's IMHO and probably a shoo-in for next years TAY calendar. May's taken! ha ha ahaaha ;D
A super chill trip up Logan? Didn't realize such things happened. I'm glad everything went so smoothly for you- pretty impressive. And Tobae- I want to be like you when I grow up :)
author=hedonaut link=topic=13369.msg55624#msg55624 date=1242670873]
Runnels in the couloir initially made for ready sticks with axes and crampons, but abruptly morphed into chunder-wonder variability. The climbing on the ribs and faces above was often steep and entertaining; I recall at one point left hand to rock hold, right hand to axe in snice, left foot post-holed, and right foot kicked into ice—what was next was a guess.
Sehr cool !
On Friday while we were going up Easy Pass headed to Logan I was wondering if anyone had skied any lines off Greybeard. Saw Dan's vehicle at Swamp creek when we got out. Sounds like you both put out a creative climb :)
Saw your tracks Sunday from the summit of Earl. You were pretty close to the top; I figured you just didn't want to deal with that cornice. On the west side the snow kept flopping between not-bad corn and nasty muck, with no apparent rhyme or reason.
I'm going to have to pass for the Stuart trip next weekend. Unfortunately I've got too much else to do, including my promise to take my wife on a (shorter) tour. Do keep me in mind for other trips, though. I need to take some time off work this summer, too, so I might even get some mid-week time in.
By popular demand (you sick people), here are the bugs:
By popular demand (you sick people), here are the bugs:
author=telemack link=topic=13364.msg55642#msg55642 date=1242688273]
Cool Keith and good info on the lower Nisqually. 2 Qs:
-Did you leave Paradise at 9:30 or arrive at Muir then?
-Did you abandon your hapless snowshoe buddies? Did they come pick you up?
Left Paradise at around 9:15 and saw the group coming down the Nisqually Chutes at about 9:30.
Yeah I waited at the bridge for them to pick me up on the...
Cool Keith and good info on the lower Nisqually. 2 Qs:
-Did you leave Paradise at 9:30 or arrive at Muir then?
-Did you abandon your hapless snowshoe buddies? Did they come pick you up?
-Did you leave Paradise at 9:30 or arrive at Muir then?
-Did you abandon your hapless snowshoe buddies? Did they come pick you up?
Stewart, wha' happen' to those gorgeous blond curls of yers? Is your hair darkening as you approach adulthood?
You are certainly one of the youngest proficient ski-mountaineer-type guys out there. 8)
You are certainly one of the youngest proficient ski-mountaineer-type guys out there. 8)
I've never skied down there but would like to. Are there lines back down from Camp Muir where you don't have to worry about sloughs?
Nice work! That face looks incredibly steep from Mt. Hardy (Guess that was your headlamp we saw up high on Greybeard early Saturday morning, as we made our way up the lower slopes of Mt. Hardy).
More trip photos posted here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/chriscass1/MtHardyNorthCascadesMay162009?authkey=Gv1sRgCIrFi-ab4fWkCA#
http://picasaweb.google.com/chriscass1/MtHardyNorthCascadesMay162009?authkey=Gv1sRgCIrFi-ab4fWkCA#
That looks awesome. I've never been down there but need to ski St. Helens ASAP. Are there any areas you need to be cautious about as far as avalanches are concerned?
author=Teleskichica link=topic=13353.msg55559#msg55559 date=1242537651]
A perfect day of almost corn. 8) Only pics for now . . . report to come.
http://picasaweb.google.com/teleskichica/MtStHelensMay162009?feat=directlink
Phil and I climbed up there to ski it. We backed off cause of conditions. Way to find the love and get it!
Lots of cool stuff went down this weekend posted and not!!! I'm almost sad I went south, but shasta was great.
ps dan are those new skis? Oh yeah, sure looks like it. Sweet.
Lots of cool stuff went down this weekend posted and not!!! I'm almost sad I went south, but shasta was great.
ps dan are those new skis? Oh yeah, sure looks like it. Sweet.
Nice looking route, E. Way to get up there early.