TR Replies
Yes, you can start from 542 (a small parking lot on the left/north side of 542, I think the label is Excelsior Ridge Trail), and it is 2800' up through the trees to the alpine if you approximately follow the summer trail. I think it would be fine with enough snow, it was not a good route this year. Just west of the summer train there is a gully that might be a nice run back down much of the way if sufficiently filled in (this year it has not been from what Mosetick and I saw a f...
Samoon, I remember being out there the 28th and 29th!!!
Scotsman, I'll claim the big skier tracks!
Russ, It is the Baker area. What a coincidence!
Great storm day location as well. The trees are great!
Sleds required, or else a very long approach. I guess one could come up from 542, but you would start at 1800' elevation.
Scotsman, I'll claim the big skier tracks!
Russ, It is the Baker area. What a coincidence!
Great storm day location as well. The trees are great!
Sleds required, or else a very long approach. I guess one could come up from 542, but you would start at 1800' elevation.
Nice pictures! Not being familiar with the area you're talking about I did a look up with NG Topo maps. Turns out there is an Excelsor Mt (4832ft) & Excelsor Peak (5699ft) both with different Quartz Creeks coming out the north side - amazing coincidence. One is in the Monte Cristo area and the other nearer Baker. My guess is you're referring to one north of Hwy 542, on the way to Mt Baker?
A tale of two skiers!
One likes short radius powder turns, one likes large radius turns.
Neither are wrong and both leave beautiful tracks.
I like it that every skier has his/her own path! Or maybe one was a snowboarder?
Neat photo and area.
thanks for sharing it.
One likes short radius powder turns, one likes large radius turns.
Neither are wrong and both leave beautiful tracks.
I like it that every skier has his/her own path! Or maybe one was a snowboarder?
Neat photo and area.
thanks for sharing it.
author=Ritalin Kid link=topic=12865.msg53647#msg53647 date=1238516222]
I don't think you can judge the saftey of an operation based upon one avalanche. When you Heli, you ski in avalanche terrain, you have to know that going in..
I agree with all that. It's part of the excitement of the AK experience.
I was just curious as a potential customer what their protocol is for every run. That is why I ask, What do they...
Sounds right. Its the big huge slide path that ends across the street from the Alpy base. Pretty impressive feature.
Dog.... Don't let J know. He'll accuse you of given up the goods! Lot's more to explore there and hopefully a few more weeks this year before the corn! Timewise, Sat looks best this week!
The company I went with was Alaska Heli Skiing (http://www.alaskaheliskiing.com/). I would absolutly recomend them. SEABA also operates out of Haines and offers a little different experience. We hooked up with them on a down day to get some rides in thier Cat. Sean Dog is talking about possibly getting a Cat next year for down days to, which would be awesome as it get's boring up there.
I don't think you can judge the saftey of an operation based upon one...
I don't think you can judge the saftey of an operation based upon one...
Thanks guys! I still need to work on my camera settings. Doesn't really show the ridge line well.
Collective work and knowledge f...
author=Ride_fly_bike_live link=topic=12866.msg53641#msg53641 date=1238482237]
Nice pic from above Skybum!!! That was tight working those new lines on Sunday. Glad to see that you got out again and hit it hard. Wish I was there!
Where the old tracks filled in from wind/new??
Collective work and knowledge f...
Nice work guys!! Love the photo from up above too! Mack, the Olympics are still looking good from my vantage points. I'm ready anytime.
Nice pic from above Skybum!!! That was tight working those new lines on Sunday. Glad to see that you got out again and hit it hard. Wish I was there!
Where the old tracks filled in from wind/new??
Where the old tracks filled in from wind/new??
sounds like you know your avi terrain when you see it! the question is whether the both of us will actually make better decisions.
Phantom. Is that the new (c. 1990's) avy path starting between Cave Ridge (N Pass) and the 1st false summit (S) of Snoq. Mtn?
Great pictures and trip, gotta love those AK mountains!
Before I open my check book up to Sean Dog's safe operation...So far it looks like they had a near death experience on their hands. What do they tell you before you access the terrain? Do they...
author=Ritalin Kid link=topic=12865.msg53619#msg53619 date=1238466887] Sean Dog and Co. run a top notch operation that allows you to access the goods in the safest way possible...
Before I open my check book up to Sean Dog's safe operation...So far it looks like they had a near death experience on their hands. What do they tell you before you access the terrain? Do they...
Cool Oyvind, I always wondered how that burn area skied and haven't made the effort to get there. Thanks for the info. We pondered an exploration of that area in a loop trip across the divide but settled on Arrowhead instead. Now I see it has more than enough potential to make the trek.
Thanks again,
John
Thanks again,
John
O.K. I'll bite.
Brothers. Hm. I thought you looked simmilar.
After folowing the slowshoe tracks, the yours up through one avy zone and into annother I wanted *outa* there. I figured you were both beat so I raced to the front when you each had a tree to hang on to. At that point it was as much exposure heading up as down. The last 30' was less than optimal. It was comforting to know there would be three people digging for my corps if needed.
I concur...
Brothers. Hm. I thought you looked simmilar.
After folowing the slowshoe tracks, the yours up through one avy zone and into annother I wanted *outa* there. I figured you were both beat so I raced to the front when you each had a tree to hang on to. At that point it was as much exposure heading up as down. The last 30' was less than optimal. It was comforting to know there would be three people digging for my corps if needed.
I concur...
(edited)
I spent some time in H.S. in Haines. I'm amazed anyone is runnig a Heli Svc. there. The terraine is to die for, but coastal mountain snow is usualy so heavy, and then the run-outs are all in the bays.
I knew of some folks who used to take a boat over and go skiing. The Heli thinng is new. Does the Heli svc have a website?
I spent some time in H.S. in Haines. I'm amazed anyone is runnig a Heli Svc. there. The terraine is to die for, but coastal mountain snow is usualy so heavy, and then the run-outs are all in the bays.
I knew of some folks who used to take a boat over and go skiing. The Heli thinng is new. Does the Heli svc have a website?
Big peaks...amazing...absolutly amazing...
Pics of the slide..scar. You can sorta see me in on the bench in shot #2.
Skiing Pow... Due to safe zones it was really hard to take lots of powder pics
Stoked,
I was near this area (Mazama Bowl, Chain Lakes) both Friday and Saturday. There wasn't enough new snow below ~3500ft from the earlier storm (~25th), and the storm predicted over the weekend (with a snow level down to 1000ft) didn't produce much snow at all, maybe 6-8inches.
It would be a tough go to ski to the Mt Baker Highway right now.
I was near this area (Mazama Bowl, Chain Lakes) both Friday and Saturday. There wasn't enough new snow below ~3500ft from the earlier storm (~25th), and the storm predicted over the weekend (with a snow level down to 1000ft) didn't produce much snow at all, maybe 6-8inches.
It would be a tough go to ski to the Mt Baker Highway right now.
Kyle- Thanks for testing out the avy conditions in the slot ;D
Here are a couple shots of you guys on the way out.
Here are a couple shots of you guys on the way out.
Shane - we saw tracks and signs of droppings on Windy Ridge (see other TR) but none on the Bear Glacier.
author=steddy link=topic=12852.msg53581#msg53581 date=1238424927]
I was thinkin' that looked like a Jake in those funky yellow/black speed pants. Tell him Ted from the WWU days says hi and wonders what he's listening to these days.
Passed on! Those pants elevate his ski ability a couple of levels as you can imagine!
J
I was thinkin' that looked like a Jake in those funky yellow/black speed pants. Tell him Ted from the WWU days says hi and wonders what he's listening to these days.
Haven't been thinking corn yet, John. But good find. Sounds like fun. Second season is about to begin!
J
J
I've got to get out there -- thanks for the pics and inspiration. Beautiful day.
Thanks for the TR John!
I am heading there tomorrow and can't wait to enjoy some of those dreamy corn turns. ;D
I am heading there tomorrow and can't wait to enjoy some of those dreamy corn turns. ;D
Thanks to all for the welcoming words.
In light of the photo Ron posted, I feel obligated to offer a more accurate representation of my current state of physical fitness:
See you on the trail. I'll be easy to recognize.
Mark
In light of the photo Ron posted, I feel obligated to offer a more accurate representation of my current state of physical fitness:
See you on the trail. I'll be easy to recognize.
Mark
Nice job John on finally touching the top of Arrowhead. That's persistence.
Yep. We did both today. Definitely very nice up there!
Wasnt that nice! We were up there on Friday 3/27, did not post because no pics. But it really was nice and sunny and pretty - especially because it was raining up in Snowqualamie Pass (and in the lowlands) where we had planned on skiing. 8)
did you do both diamond head and "little" diamond?
did you do both diamond head and "little" diamond?
Good to hear from your camp again. Always inspirational.
"What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of a buffalo in the winter time. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the Sunset."
Crowfoot (of the Blackfoot tribe), 1890.
"What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of a buffalo in the winter time. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the Sunset."
Crowfoot (of the Blackfoot tribe), 1890.
Hi Larry,
Sounds like a classic Sasse Ridge Medical Clinic visit! There is so much peace and fulfillment in those solo outings. Glad you got back to it. You sound like your old self.
Thanks for the TR.
Of note: by Saturday the crust was persistent high up on the west/NW slopes of Sasse Mountain. We gave up trying to find some holdover powder at 4400 feet and skied the Howson road back down. Quote of the day, "this sucks, why are we not on our way...
Sounds like a classic Sasse Ridge Medical Clinic visit! There is so much peace and fulfillment in those solo outings. Glad you got back to it. You sound like your old self.
Thanks for the TR.
Of note: by Saturday the crust was persistent high up on the west/NW slopes of Sasse Mountain. We gave up trying to find some holdover powder at 4400 feet and skied the Howson road back down. Quote of the day, "this sucks, why are we not on our way...
I dig the video too!! Great effort filming and post production!
3/28 Skied between Paradise and Narada.
Upper crust was supportable in open areas where the sun had prior access which made skiing in open areas a delight and shaded areas a challenge.
Dumping all day.
Upper crust was supportable in open areas where the sun had prior access which made skiing in open areas a delight and shaded areas a challenge.
Dumping all day.
when we did it, crossing mtneer cr. was pretty much the crux of the day.
a butt-shimmy across a fallen log in the rain 10 feet above the raging creek and boulders while holding my snowboard. fun stuff.
really nice photo documentation. thanx
a butt-shimmy across a fallen log in the rain 10 feet above the raging creek and boulders while holding my snowboard. fun stuff.
really nice photo documentation. thanx
amazing
someday I'll be in the moving pictures....
Seriously, looks nice, heading up that way tomorrow.
someday I'll be in the moving pictures....
Seriously, looks nice, heading up that way tomorrow.
nice vid. what Os and program are you using?
-Jayme
-Jayme
Great TR Larry. So sorry about your wife, but I'm glad you're getting your therapies, such as they are.
For those who would enjoy a more complete photographic representation of the trip, check out my post here - http://telemarktalk.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=55925
Welcome back Mark. Will look forward to hearing about your adventures :).