TR Replies
Thanks for the pics. Curious....did you guys skin the road or use sleds?
Back in our last drought season here in the NW (was it '06?), a buddy and I took a mid January road trip to California (which had been getting all the snow). High pressure followed us all the way down, and we had two weeks of blue skies and a mix of hardpack and corn skiing. We stopped by Castle and skied what I'm assuming is the same line - wide gulley you can get into by downscrambling from the ridge, it was corn all the way! thanks for the memory jog!
Cheers,
Nate
Cheers,
Nate
Thanks! Thought about heading that way this weekend - looks like we should've! :).
Crystal PR certainly does not have control over power outages, anymore than they have control over my broken ankle; however, they do have control over their guest relations and it could be conducted in such a manner as to foster more positive feedback than negative. I too was in a position to ask for a voucher of sorts with respect to the unlimited usable season pass received as a Warren Miller prize. It was probably a write off to Crystal and cost them very little in the way of...
author=Bandit link=topic=11700.msg48890#msg48890 date=1231048085]
I really don't think Crystal Mt has any control over a power outage. Any more than they have control over an avalanche, high winds, etc. Being stuck on a chairlift for 28 minutes isn't too bad. How about beiing stuck intraffic for 60 minutes on 405? Are you going to ask WSDOT to reimburse you for the gas you burned waiting in traffic? No
What obvious is th...
no way...pow pow is the way to go. kickers in the city limits is oh so close to the trailer-white-trash phenomenon that occurred on Denny during the week in question. Didn't know the Crescent had so many loyal patrons willing to shed their beds and make with them real great sleds.
nice work jay and company- looks like it was worthwhile, sun and good views are a good reward.
Be interesting to compile photos of pass slides that affect tour routes. Chair peak yesterday was a no go also. Picture from source lake, still a lake.
Nice trip! Where/how bad were the washouts along the N. Fork?
Thanks for the post. How did you access Gold Creek?
Hello md2020,
We met you two in Swift Creek on Sat. I was the tall guy with a woman wearing a pink helmet (Corrina and Randy). We had a great day. We had goals of skiing up to Herman saddle but when we arrived to a low cloud cover. The trees we went! It was our first time in there this year. Snow was deeper than we had anticipated and to our surprise when we came to the edge of the drainage. It hadn’t been skied yet! Luckily, there were remnants of a skin track from the day before. Who ever...
We met you two in Swift Creek on Sat. I was the tall guy with a woman wearing a pink helmet (Corrina and Randy). We had a great day. We had goals of skiing up to Herman saddle but when we arrived to a low cloud cover. The trees we went! It was our first time in there this year. Snow was deeper than we had anticipated and to our surprise when we came to the edge of the drainage. It hadn’t been skied yet! Luckily, there were remnants of a skin track from the day before. Who ever...
I just wanted to say that I am really enjoying the new crystal ski patrol blog which is very active, informative, and seems to be responding to the public's questions. It is a fine antidote to the TV show (about which the less said the better) and seems to be going a long way in fostering communication. So kudos to Crystal and I encourage folks to check it out.
that's not a friendly picture! Hopefully, in the near future it'll cool down to about 30 and the saturated rain layers will freeze.
at least the turns were nice at stevens on saturday!
at least the turns were nice at stevens on saturday!
author=RonL link=topic=11855.msg49453#msg49453 date=1231705725]
It was kind of fun checking out the new hydraulics up there. Most of the gulleys up above 4k still had open water and man eating holes in places. Even driving back down I-90 showed all kinds of new streams, especially spilling on the road bed around Bandera.
Today (Jan 11) saw excavators loading dump trucks with snow in order to reroute drainage channels.
Yeah, it was fun to see so many people out there enjoying the snow. Both of us had glue issues and we went through a decent amount of duct tape on the skins that didn't have a tail attachment.
It was good to see that almost everyone was digging pits. We got to the top at around 10am and by the time we left there were at least 3 pits on various aspects. Nice to see others being safe!
I believe we skied near the crown in your photo. The sli...
It was good to see that almost everyone was digging pits. We got to the top at around 10am and by the time we left there were at least 3 pits on various aspects. Nice to see others being safe!
I believe we skied near the crown in your photo. The sli...
Geeze, I've never seen Mtn. Home Rd. plowed enough to drive on. You're either starting near town in Leavenworth, or starting right off Blewitt Pass Hiway. Or, get a ride on a sled. Sled tracks continued well beyond the summer trailhead. I guess you can also cut straight up over False Wedge near Bob's property and avoid an extra 2.5 miles of boring road.
Yeah, the O1's and Kilo's are amazing.
Yeah, the O1's and Kilo's are amazing.
author=telemack l...
author=trumpetsailor link=topic=11851.msg49429#msg49429 date=1231646730]
We were the pair that dropped past you as you climbed up from your pit (I almost fell in! :) .) . Glad you had a great day!
Bigger plans for the day got shelved by complete glue failure on a pair of older skins. Parachute cord wrapped 'round a ski helped, but not much. Dropped from near Skyline Lake to the bottom of the bowl, up to the pass between 5476 and 5482, up most...
It was kind of fun checking out the new hydraulics up there. Most of the gulleys up above 4k still had open water and man eating holes in places. Even driving back down I-90 showed all kinds of new streams, especially spilling on the road bed around Bandera.
I agree with your snow and fun skiing assessment of the Swift Creek area yesterday and add …
Our group tried a steeper area west of where most folks skied and found the recent storm layer (6 inches) was very reactive to ski cuts. The sites that were reactive had avalanched in the recent warm-up and the side walls of the older avalanches were 2-3ft high. The new storm snow was running on a smooth crust, but as you mentioned in your report I couldn’t find that crust the top 3-4ft of the...
Our group tried a steeper area west of where most folks skied and found the recent storm layer (6 inches) was very reactive to ski cuts. The sites that were reactive had avalanched in the recent warm-up and the side walls of the older avalanches were 2-3ft high. The new storm snow was running on a smooth crust, but as you mentioned in your report I couldn’t find that crust the top 3-4ft of the...
I have 01s and Kilos too; great setup.
Where were you able to with the car? Is Mountain Home Road plowed to its high point where the mini-gauge RR tracks are?
Where were you able to with the car? Is Mountain Home Road plowed to its high point where the mini-gauge RR tracks are?
i'm headed up there again today... friday there was some major settlement. snow levels had dropped like a foot. major windloading at the top of sunrise ridge. we dug a pit and about 10 inches down was a very crusty layer. we were having troubles with burying the nose and going over the bars when it went under the crusty layer. (sorry for the lack of technical terms)
and yes, the sunrise sledding area is still at the bottom of that slope above the ro...
and yes, the sunrise sledding area is still at the bottom of that slope above the ro...
Commonwealth blew out across the Alpental Road during the rain. It really tore up the guardrail and left a pile of snow on the road (early AM hours on 1/7).
Thanks for the stoke. Was up on palmer today and it was not good. Windy and icy. Maybe check that area out some time soon. With the weather we will be getting this week a good corn cycle might happen up there?
We were the pair that dropped past you as you climbed up from your pit (I almost fell in! :) .) . Glad you had a great day!
Bigger plans for the day got shelved by complete glue failure on a pair of older skins. Parachute cord wrapped 'round a ski helped, but not much. Dropped from near Skyline Lake to the bottom of the bowl, up to the pass between 5476 and 5482, up most of 5482, and traversed/struggled back to our route and home. Glue failure can be humbling.
I agree...
Bigger plans for the day got shelved by complete glue failure on a pair of older skins. Parachute cord wrapped 'round a ski helped, but not much. Dropped from near Skyline Lake to the bottom of the bowl, up to the pass between 5476 and 5482, up most of 5482, and traversed/struggled back to our route and home. Glue failure can be humbling.
I agree...
I love the cross photo Joe. Lovely composition.
I am pleased that you are getting the goods but very disturbed that I am not!
I am pleased that you are getting the goods but very disturbed that I am not!
I like the first pic with the tracks. Sweet man, nice work! Thanks for the stoke!
Joeda, nice bro! That's some sweet photo taking! Thanks for conditions...I'm about to pay for a heli drop about now...they just won't do it from the west side. ;) We'll see you up there.
Down the chute, through the trees
Back up towards PGR
Where it was windy, Jack
See ya
Back up towards PGR
Where it was windy, Jack
See ya
Rain, wind, sun...etc. etc. over the past few days, had made the snow look interesting as well
Long distance runner, what you standing there for?
Get up, get off, get out of the door.
Long distance runner, what you standing there for?
Get up, get off, get out of the door.
Looks great! What's the route? Did you go up from Gov't Camp and across to Sand Canyon? Thanks for the post.
The middle picture is a lovely depiction of my church of choice.
Thanks for the TR.
Only got four more days 'til it's time to throw a Castaway party.
Thanks for the TR.
Only got four more days 'til it's time to throw a Castaway party.
Nice work
I would be out touring but all my gear is up at Crystal and it is driving me crazy.
I would be out touring but all my gear is up at Crystal and it is driving me crazy.
author=Marcus link=topic=11842.msg49393#msg49393 date=1231606834]
Good stuff Joe -- we'll be heading down your way pretty soon here...
Looking forward to seeing you here!
It was a great day up there. I too always have good days at Yodelin. Thanks for the skin track. It probably gave us another run.
I was wondering about the Cajun forest also. So I know the criteria for a killer tree. Does this mean they are in danger of falling on me when I lean against it to eat my peanut butter and banana sandwich?
I was wondering about the Cajun forest also. So I know the criteria for a killer tree. Does this mean they are in danger of falling on me when I lean against it to eat my peanut butter and banana sandwich?
Good stuff Joe -- we'll be heading down your way pretty soon here...
author=khyak link=topic=11700.msg49364#msg49364 date=1231548790]
Ummmm, is this a trip report??? I am getting tired of clicking on trip reports and seeing this rant about Crystal! I believe this site is primarily for BC skiers. Is there some reason people continue to use it as a forum to bitch?
Is there a moderator available?? Can we at least move this drivel to the proper category. Sorry for the negativity, but...
That slope gets loaded and then warms.
Thanks for the report. I was hoping that someone would go in from the east side, soon after this massive storm ended.
That's because I had noticed during the storm that the Washington Pass telemetry site was the only one which managed to stay almost-all-snow throughout the majority of the storm. Here's the last 3 days of NWAC data, showing the snowdepth increasing from 50" before the storm to maximum of 93" just after the peak of the storm at 7am on Jan 8, with 4....
That's because I had noticed during the storm that the Washington Pass telemetry site was the only one which managed to stay almost-all-snow throughout the majority of the storm. Here's the last 3 days of NWAC data, showing the snowdepth increasing from 50" before the storm to maximum of 93" just after the peak of the storm at 7am on Jan 8, with 4....
What!? Two high speed quads????? I hope they abandon the area and leave it so that I can ski untracked slush with my dog! The lower lift is still there, so you can still access some XC stuff. The rest you can get to from Acres. Hyak is awesome because it is closed some of the time.
Long live Alpental mondays!
Pete
Long live Alpental mondays!
Pete
author=haydenslides link=topic=11838.msg49351#msg49351 date=1231546075]
...none of us have ever seen any slides on this slope before.
If that's the east side of 'Sunrise' you're talking about, I saw slides there several times during the 18 years I worked at Olympic. That's probably why there are no or few trees. ;) The really amazing thing is that the park used to have their kiddie tubing area right above...
author=khyak link=topic=11700.msg49364#msg49364 date=1231548790]
I am getting tired of clicking on trip reports and seeing this rant about Crystal!
Me too! I wish Crystal management would quit pissing people off.
Thanks for the heads up Hayden-
I am thinking of headed out that way tomorrow but having a hard time judging conditions. What can you tell us of the coverage and snow quality?
I am thinking of headed out that way tomorrow but having a hard time judging conditions. What can you tell us of the coverage and snow quality?
Ummmm, is this a trip report??? I am getting tired of clicking on trip reports and seeing this rant about Crystal! I believe this site is primarily for BC skiers. Is there some reason people continue to use it as a forum to bitch?
Is there a moderator available?? Can we at least move this drivel to the proper category. Sorry for the negativity, but let's concentrate on skiing and less whining. Thanks Kevin
Is there a moderator available?? Can we at least move this drivel to the proper category. Sorry for the negativity, but let's concentrate on skiing and less whining. Thanks Kevin
A beacon is probably a definite good idea. Glad everyone was okay.
Thanks for the beta Andy, I do like JD's cajun topping comment. Yoda's Cajun forest ( a Blue Square) is still a bit twiggy however...
There was a lightning strike last summer up on top of Yodelin which caused the "killer tree" outbreak. Helicopters doused it pretty quickly.
My group went to Ymir last Feb. 29. Trevor was a total wanker, he forgot to get us too.
We had a fab time 4,000 touring one day, 5,000 the nest and the access was great from the stinky moldy Qua yurt.
Question is how do you accept a "guide" / outfitter who can't honor his word. Lots of stories out there about Trevor forgetting this or that, but he never forgets to cash the check.
We had a fab time 4,000 touring one day, 5,000 the nest and the access was great from the stinky moldy Qua yurt.
Question is how do you accept a "guide" / outfitter who can't honor his word. Lots of stories out there about Trevor forgetting this or that, but he never forgets to cash the check.
Before the Coldsmoke Fest started, Nils Larson organized a tele clinic at Whitewater, BC Presidents' Day weekend. In Feb 2006 a group of us spent 3 days after the clinic at Qua yurt with Nils and Kasha Rigby. Great time, great company, great skiing. The facilites are 'basic' and Trevor forgot to come pick us up and we had to ski out after sitting around waiting for a couple hours, but no serious complaints.
Wow that is insane,looks more like a late spring avalanche cycle!