TR Replies
The slides were there on Sunday when I made the trek back. We also skied skier's left (is that 'no fog') between the depo zones, that was the second best line of the day.
Thanks for the pics Zap. I skied Mammoth a lot in the early eighties but have not been back. It’s nice to remember how beautiful that eastern Sierra is :)
author=smcnees link=topic=13157.msg54818#msg54818 date=1240896748]
I saw you guys. The shorts gave it away. I can't remember if I was on the summit or sitting 200' below trying to will my way to the top. Ended up taking off my skis and boot packing up to meet with my group. This was my 1st 'big' mountain and the conditions couldn't have been better.
I think it must have been at the top. I am pretty...
Boo for tent theft. Huzzah for a unique mountain in fine condition!
I saw you guys. The shorts gave it away. I can't remember if I was on the summit or sitting 200' below trying to will my way to the top. Ended up taking off my skis and boot packing up to meet with my group. This was my 1st 'big' mountain and the conditions couldn't have been better.
author=Zap link=topic=13156.msg54811#msg54811 date=1240887867]
The touring in the Buttermilks is pretty much over for normal folks.
Can I therefore infer that you had to walk on a substance other than snow to reach your skiing destination?
Looking forward to hearing about your travels over the coming weeks! I'm heading down to Sacramento next weekend, and we'll have to decide between volcanoes to the North or...
Wow, gorgeous. Never been down there...
When are you back north? I'd still like to pick your brain re: SA. Course, if I were you, I'd stay down there a while yet :)
When are you back north? I'd still like to pick your brain re: SA. Course, if I were you, I'd stay down there a while yet :)
Nice flick ! Nice tour ! Could better time have been made booting or crampooning earlier and leaving more time for exploring? Just asking.
Really, your whole effort makes want to take off work tomorrow so I am appreciative.
Really, your whole effort makes want to take off work tomorrow so I am appreciative.
Nice TR and road trip. After we leave The Sierra we'll be heading for Lassen and Shasta.
Thanks for the report -- how did coverage look overall up near the pass/hairpin? Average for the year?
yup- good practice for the long hikes with skis on and off the feet imost of the way into really cool places
I know that one of the guys I was talking to at the Centennial celebration that Lowell put together last month explained to me that he had skied many of the lines on Rainier, from the summit, that are common ski descents now (ID, E-W, the finger) like 20 years ago.
I think the primary reason is that more people are hearing about this stuff via internet or other "fast news" media sources and say, "Hey, that sounds like fun. I can do that." I think people were pi...
I think the primary reason is that more people are hearing about this stuff via internet or other "fast news" media sources and say, "Hey, that sounds like fun. I can do that." I think people were pi...
Good thinking on the approach, Toby. I was just wondering how the Deadhorse road meltout might be coming along--Skyline is a favorite half day (i.e., late afternooon) tour once I can drive within a couple of miles of the summer trailhead. It's nice to have some beta (and inspiration).
I've thought about trying your route early in the season, but by the time I can get reasonably close to the trailhead on foot it's been all melted out. Nice to end up at...
I've thought about trying your route early in the season, but by the time I can get reasonably close to the trailhead on foot it's been all melted out. Nice to end up at...
Thanks for the input, Garth. I'd be interested in the results of that comparison between forecast winds and the Muir telemetry. But it's hard to compare forecasts and telemetry without the telemetry, though ;) I'm glad to see that the Muir telemetry is back online today after a lengthy outage since April 8. It's gotta be tough to keep that station functioning in such a severe environment.
author=davidG link=topic=13091.msg5461...
author=jd link=topic=13148.msg54783#msg54783 date=1240857881]
the Mt. Loop still needs more melt-freeze, esp. up high to consolidate for good spring skiing.
Agree these areas need more consolidating. Dug a small pit on Jumbo SW Face yesterday and found a good, consolidated 10-inch layer above a thick layer of sugar snow. Very distinct transition. Lots of recent debris on those open slopes from the warm trend last week.
Good skills and great pics! Nice work!
I think many people may be seeing an impressive optical illusion. I can see it now too!! But, in reality, that cornice is the smallest on the ridge. Here is another pic to show the slope underneath. There is, however, another eye trick in this same picture. My 3 year old niece looks up from the town of Glacier and says "look, the Bakery man!" He is just to the left of the ski pole grips and is looking slightly up with a big white nose, a black sliver for an eye and bushy eyebrows...Can...
author=WoodyD link=topic=13114.msg54758#msg54758 date=1240813474]
I moved it out of the way yesterday with my Jeep.
Have a virtual beer on me, friend! You made my next weekend. N
author=brownc9 link=topic=13145.msg54771#msg54771 date=1240852936]
That looks great! The second picture shows an AMAZING cornice.
Yow! Saw something similar but smaller on Granite yesterday. Guess blowing snow and warm temperatures, properly combined, will do it...
I thought I should add my 2 cents worth.
Good job Amar of taking the time to explain some of the ins and outs of weather forecast information. I think it is a good guess that the forecast of light winds that started this discussion was from a point forecast product. I understand that the NWS point forecasts off their web page use data averaged over 2.5 x 2.5 km grid boxes. The NWS Mt Rainier Recreational Forecast of temps and winds should be much better for Rainier.
It so h...
Good job Amar of taking the time to explain some of the ins and outs of weather forecast information. I think it is a good guess that the forecast of light winds that started this discussion was from a point forecast product. I understand that the NWS point forecasts off their web page use data averaged over 2.5 x 2.5 km grid boxes. The NWS Mt Rainier Recreational Forecast of temps and winds should be much better for Rainier.
It so h...
Interesting approach!
Any guess on how long before sled's are not necessary to get within a couple miles of the TH?
Any guess on how long before sled's are not necessary to get within a couple miles of the TH?
JD,
I loved reading your TR...and the route, while it's not a great ski route, the mountain makes up for the lack. Just climbing that thing makes me happy. The skiing was a bonus! Great photos and effort. Lets hope we get some freeze thaw soon.
I loved reading your TR...and the route, while it's not a great ski route, the mountain makes up for the lack. Just climbing that thing makes me happy. The skiing was a bonus! Great photos and effort. Lets hope we get some freeze thaw soon.
author=Scotsman link=topic=13145.msg54773#msg54773 date=1240853775]
WOW. Great terrain.
Ditto. That cornice is WAY gnar!
author=skykilo link=topic=13143.msg54769#msg54769 date=1240851501]
Real steep skiing season hasn't even started!
I took some pics of some SICK looking couloirs yesterday that someone of your ability and caliber might be interested in Sky. Requires a few raps into a few of them...
Nice work Buell. That's a great series, and even from cell phone pics, it looked like some great weather!
Looks like Don got a couple new sleds for the camp.
That is a great place for kids and adults.
Seems like you are getting pretty familiar with the terrain on both sides of the range now.
That is a great place for kids and adults.
Seems like you are getting pretty familiar with the terrain on both sides of the range now.
That looks great! The second picture shows an AMAZING cornice.
C'mon now, Lee. This is shoulder season. Real steep skiing season hasn't even started!
author=Lowell_Skoog link=topic=13143.msg54765#msg54765 date=1240848747]
A good case for climbing the route before skiing it. Glad everyone stayed upright!
Darn straight. I thought we'd be OK because there were a few N facing slopes to assess conditions before we got there. Same aspect and all that but that turned out to be a bad guess. Another thing I could have done is climb in roped and climbed out...
Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the Play?
Thanks for the laugh this morning Lee. Good luck next time.
Gregg
Thanks for the laugh this morning Lee. Good luck next time.
Gregg
A good case for climbing the route before skiing it. Glad everyone stayed upright!
Well, can't say that looks like fun... Great job staying not-dead!
sounds like you need a black diamond whippet.
Nice trip. It is cool to see you getting out and doing big hard trips one weekend and then sharing the love with the next generation the next weekend.
Holy Hannah, what an epic! Sliding down that face does not look like a pleasant prospect
author=jwplotz link=topic=13114.msg54717#msg54717 date=1240714819]
If it's the same tree that's been there all winter, it would take an ambitious alpinist about 10 minutes to saw and move it for his/her community service points.
I moved it out of the way yesterday with my Jeep. :) After that point I was able to make it within a 1/4 mile of the trailhead. Had chains on and was in 4low. It'll probably still be in the realm...
Nice timing, Chris. On Saturday it looked like this (or worse) pretty much all day:
I was pretty sure I found the entrance to the chute, and dropped part of the way in, but my partners wouldn't bite. Succumbed to a bad case of vertigo before skiing VERY slowly back to Paradise . . .
I was pretty sure I found the entrance to the chute, and dropped part of the way in, but my partners wouldn't bite. Succumbed to a bad case of vertigo before skiing VERY slowly back to Paradise . . .
[Kaleetan's looking fat, though I couldn't see the gully on top for the clouds.]
Here is the top of the northern gully which leads up to the south face- taken from below Melakwa pass on Friday the 24th. The photo was taken with my camera zoomed in all the way so its hard to get a sense of the scale, but the vertical or slightly overhanging section at the top looked to be about 8 to 10 feet.
Here is the top of the northern gully which leads up to the south face- taken from below Melakwa pass on Friday the 24th. The photo was taken with my camera zoomed in all the way so its hard to get a sense of the scale, but the vertical or slightly overhanging section at the top looked to be about 8 to 10 feet.
Hyak was very nice today, too. And, less hiking in forest :) . Sunny all day, but not too soft, even on backside into hidden valley, facing south. Got grabby below 3200' mid afternoon, but nice and smooth above that.
Wild. That's awesome, some really great pics! Sounds like a great time across the pond...
Dan, you're the man! Pretty awe inspiring trips, and some great pics! Nice work on all of them, keep up the great stoke!
Some beautiful shots! Glad you had the good views! They make the trip!
Nice work! Brad and I were discussing Granite as well for possibilities. I'm still way interested in hitting Granite...
author=Scotsman link=topic=13134.msg54738#msg54738 date=1240803194]
Oh to be young again with the constitution of an ox.
I don't resent that. ;)
We dropped in to the N. Chute with good vis down into the valley, but we noticed some clouds sweeping up the mountain. About 1/4 of the way down the chute proper, we were in a complete whiteout. We sat for near an hour and a half trying to lure the sun out with singing....
author=skierlyles link=topic=13139.msg54742#msg54742 date=1240804448]
nice work, I may have to go head up there after classes one day this week- let me know if you are interested.
Chris
Never done Granite. Would like to so let me know.
Nice Job Rusty Knees!
It was decent coverage near the bridge. Sketchy part is the traverse from the snout to the river plain. You have to cross several slide paths that have run deep and starting to scour down to dirt. Not too bad. Should be OK for a while. Some other guys dropped from Glacier Vista and we watched them come down skier's right side of river so both are Ok but climb out from skier's right side a little more bushwack up to the bridge.
glad you got out and had decent weather, too bad it did not corn up for you
Scotty and PNWbrit- glad you guys got out there before the melt out got too bad. I wonder if you had any issues with coverage close to the bridge?
Chris
Chris