TR Replies
beautiful photos!
the form of your tele.
the skyline of the city!
what fun!
the form of your tele.
the skyline of the city!
what fun!
Lowell,
I ventured far from home on four wheels Saturday night to spend the rest of the winter weekend in Ballard. I skied with some friends including another teacher, and ran into the parents of one youngen. Sorry we didn't run into you; although I knew you'd be touring it up.
We gained Phinney Ridge and dropped down into the chute along the neighborhood center. We climbed back up again to find a woman named Wendy and her friend serving HoCho (with marshmellows) to fo...
I ventured far from home on four wheels Saturday night to spend the rest of the winter weekend in Ballard. I skied with some friends including another teacher, and ran into the parents of one youngen. Sorry we didn't run into you; although I knew you'd be touring it up.
We gained Phinney Ridge and dropped down into the chute along the neighborhood center. We climbed back up again to find a woman named Wendy and her friend serving HoCho (with marshmellows) to fo...
Yanna and I have been out there each day since the snow started, yesterday we did some extended touring in the area, getting around Gold Creek Park (a few thrilling curving downhill bits for the skinny skis), the pipeline, and some other neighborhood trails. It's been festive out there with everyone out walking, sledding, skiing, and so forth. Today, we met Wolfs out on the Pipeline, and followed him back toward his house a bit. I was convinced I'd nail the downhill where he took a lit...
Thanks for the post. Where did you park? did you start at the TH or head up through the cooper spur ski area first?
Was thinking about heading up there sat. but opted for newton instead. Good work out skinning but not so good for turns in the trees. A buddie of mine hit the first bowl and said it was good.
Was thinking about heading up there sat. but opted for newton instead. Good work out skinning but not so good for turns in the trees. A buddie of mine hit the first bowl and said it was good.
Sounds like TAY could provide enough huts and keepers in N Seattle to support a serious touring operation...Greenlake to Phinney to Greenwood to Shoreline to Maple Leaf....
maybe we should christen it the OUT (of office) Route rather than the Haute Route?
maybe we should christen it the OUT (of office) Route rather than the Haute Route?
Looks like winter is underway at the Ellis household!
Dawson is awesome! 3 blocks long on one of the steepest streets around with no cross streets.
I made a sled out of an old ski and some plywood, I was making turns and getting full on face shots all the way down in about 4-5 inches of light snow on Saturday night.
I made a sled out of an old ski and some plywood, I was making turns and getting full on face shots all the way down in about 4-5 inches of light snow on Saturday night.
Nice effort Lowell -- that terrain is pretty out there. I rarely make it farther than the Cloud City gap, but it's a personal failing rather than a lack of adequate equipment...
Kyle used his splitboard like skis on our way back from Mowich...for at least 10 miles. I think by mile 9 he started getting it...;)
At least you used the dog. My dad used to try that on his xc skis - and tried using us kids to pull him.
8) Awesome! My favorite trip report for December. I'll sneak into and shred the golf course with you if you want company... Inglewood I'm assuming?
Way to make those two pups work for their snow-fun! The neighborhood skiing was good on Olympic View Loop Road today too.
Hey Joeda, maybe we'll see you up tomorrow (Monday?)?
Skinning and skiing around Dogleg Bowl on Thursday, the snow was mostly powder, and light and unconsolidated. Underneath, maybe a foot down, the snow grew a bit more consolidated as you got down, and about 1.5-2' down there seemed to be a crust layer, definitely something to keep in mind when the slopes get weighted with our usual heavier Cascadian white stuff.
On Friday, I noticed on the western side of...
Skinning and skiing around Dogleg Bowl on Thursday, the snow was mostly powder, and light and unconsolidated. Underneath, maybe a foot down, the snow grew a bit more consolidated as you got down, and about 1.5-2' down there seemed to be a crust layer, definitely something to keep in mind when the slopes get weighted with our usual heavier Cascadian white stuff.
On Friday, I noticed on the western side of...
Nice job guys great pictures and report, but can you fill me in on some of the conditions of the snowpack that you saw as you traveled your many aspects.
I am interested if you saw any hoar layers on any aspects from your digs and at what depths?
In the last 24 hours the snowpack in the vicinity that you traveled got slammed with wind. Some of the aspects S-SW got blasted to nearly the ground. Almost all slopes in all aspect had some softer slab layer (trap layer), with medium size sla...
I am interested if you saw any hoar layers on any aspects from your digs and at what depths?
In the last 24 hours the snowpack in the vicinity that you traveled got slammed with wind. Some of the aspects S-SW got blasted to nearly the ground. Almost all slopes in all aspect had some softer slab layer (trap layer), with medium size sla...
Yes, Roosevelt much safer for long trips when traveling light and fast. Unlike Roosevelt, 15th is lacking in bars and grills, hand made Chinese noodles, coffee shops until you get all the way to Lat. 65th NE. Good thing the SPU mountain patrollers were not there when you trying the old huts.
Beautiful shot and great choice of Seattle hill for today.
West Seattle crew represent! 8)
Yeah last night me (on alpine skis) and a few of the neighbors (all on snowboards) did a bunch of laps on our local steep hill, Andover Street...
Yeah last night me (on alpine skis) and a few of the neighbors (all on snowboards) did a bunch of laps on our local steep hill, Andover Street...
Went back out for more today. Was not the cold smoke powder like last night, but much more skinable (glide).
Oyvind and his son joined me, as well as Hunter Brown.
Left my garage at 11:30 a.m. and headed south into the Evergreen neighborhood.
Found a good yard to cut through to gain immediate access to the golf course.
Made our way via the low route that joined to the 11th hole. Made our way down "Sledders Ridge" and then traversed near the "Tee Off...
Oyvind and his son joined me, as well as Hunter Brown.
Left my garage at 11:30 a.m. and headed south into the Evergreen neighborhood.
Found a good yard to cut through to gain immediate access to the golf course.
Made our way via the low route that joined to the 11th hole. Made our way down "Sledders Ridge" and then traversed near the "Tee Off...
That is wonderful. great TR, I hope you will be back with more. Maybe you will venture beyond Bellevue into the Issaquah Alps someday. ;)
We tried it with our Lasa Apso, but he bottomed out on the front walk.
We tried it with our Lasa Apso, but he bottomed out on the front walk.
Happy solstice, Moscawulff! I bet that, even though the flat landers may not have appreciated the subtle nuances and fluid power of your turns, the sheer beauty of your solstice ski dance will provide many new converts.
BTW - Did you give any thought to the poor gapers at the bottom of the hill? Think not of yourself, but of your touring partners, young Tele-buck. How could you hope to dig out so many of the flat landers if one of your vicious cuts had sent al...
BTW - Did you give any thought to the poor gapers at the bottom of the hill? Think not of yourself, but of your touring partners, young Tele-buck. How could you hope to dig out so many of the flat landers if one of your vicious cuts had sent al...
I can't wait to head N - thanks for the awesome report, as usual!
West Seattle golf course snow was wetter than I would have expected Saturday. Just enough coverage and a few turns could be done on the gentle slopes. I opted to not bother Sunday because of major crust/ice on top of last nights snow. I haven't skied to Alki for many years, though it has happened twice. Might have to try that Monday eve. Or hit the golf course again-I think there should be enough light unless its snowing heavy ;)
Jay C
Jay C
Way cool, Sansivera,
And welcome to Turns-All-Year.
We have a few other skijorers here. I'm wondering if any of the others got out.
If not it looks like there's still time :)
And welcome to Turns-All-Year.
We have a few other skijorers here. I'm wondering if any of the others got out.
If not it looks like there's still time :)
I love the urban trip reports every winter. Hilarious.. :D
Excellent photo's Moscawulff; way to get the goods.
East facing slopes off Phinney Ridge are quite nice too and I had to fend off a rabid pookerdoodle (whatever in the hell those dogs are called) while doing a Greenlake basin circumnavigation...
author=Randy Beaver link=topic=11600.msg48227#msg48227 date=1229907346]
West facing chutes of of Greenwood are loaded, stable, and steep. Objective dog poo hazard found.
East facing slopes off Phinney Ridge are quite nice too and I had to fend off a rabid pookerdoodle (whatever in the hell those dogs are called) while doing a Greenlake basin circumnavigation...
West facing chutes of of Greenwood are loaded, stable, and steep. Objective dog poo hazard found.
E. Aloha. Be there. or miss the turns of a lifetime.
Last night (Saturday) 2 friends and I spent hours yo-yo-ing from the high point of seattle (The water towers on 35th, West Seattle) down both Othello and Myrtle/Frontenac. While the latter is a steeper route, you can ride Othello down, across California, across Fontleroy, and down Lincoln Park Way from 520 elev. to sea level in about 3-4 minutes. The Beveridge Place Pub was open till 2 am, and we stopped in for beers and got a growler to bring with. Never thought I'd see r...
i have been up to the Lookout Mt. Lookout in april 2006. Here are a few photos. It was totally open and ready to be slept in. The first photo shows the inside, and the third shows Little Devil Peak in background with some good skiing as well.
Has anyone had any experience with staying in the Hidden Lake Lookout in the winter? All the info I've found indicates that it's never locked and Scurlock's photos seem to show no winter storm shutters over the windows, though it's hard to tell under all the rime.
I imagine the spindrift will find it's way in if it's really blowing...
Thinking about...
I imagine the spindrift will find it's way in if it's really blowing...
Thinking about...
Nice meeting you guys! Looks like some good face shots were had! We got some tracks in C. Basin too...it was PERFECT back there. just fluff.
Man, West Seattle is getting SHREDDED this year!
:)
:)
It was amazing snow - my first face shots that didn't involve a face plant! Thanks, Brad, for getting me up there. We also met Tokeneastcoaster, Adam and Alex. It was short, but oh, so sweet!
Driving by 4:30, climbing by 6, picking our first lines by first light, back to the car by 11. Then culture shock - riding a crowded, hot bus through downtown, then transferring off, only to end up walking 5 miles home because no more buses came by. Amazing day....
Driving by 4:30, climbing by 6, picking our first lines by first light, back to the car by 11. Then culture shock - riding a crowded, hot bus through downtown, then transferring off, only to end up walking 5 miles home because no more buses came by. Amazing day....
If I scroll through your album real quick from photo 13 on I feel like I was there. Thanks for the TR. Tuesday looks like it may be my last sick day of the year. I knew I was saving it for a reason. Cheers.
my limited knowledge and experience would suggest that any buried weak layers that are or already have developed in the current weather patterns will remain weak, dangerous layers unless there is a major warming trend that would penetrate to buried layers without causing wet, untriggered, slides. The forecast looks, however, like some weak layers will be buried under a significant amount of insulating snow in the near term. i'll keep reading the NWAC reports, regardless! peace!
author=lordhedgie link=topic=11568.msg48148#msg48148 date=1229820241]
I count myself amongst the small cadre of people who have ever skied into town to fix a toilet. ;)
And I think I'm the first (on my block at least) to ski to the "highschool hill" with crutches in lieu of ski poles. ;D
December turns are in. :)
author=T. Eastman link=topic=11550.msg48163#msg48163 date=1229830859]
Be careful as this is not powder any more and the usual tests for layers used out in the PNW don't take a base layer like this into account.
My avy assessment experiences is about as limited as our current base, I have some thoughts on this, but do you have recommendations for assessing conditions from a Rocky Mountain perspective as opposed to our usual PN...
What was described sounds like typical Colorado conditions. The ambient ground temps and the cold nights are transforming this "powder" something more sinister that is in the process of having its snowflake structure removed and turned into what will could be best described as ball bearings. We called this temperature gradient snow (TG) and swore like sailors when it formed some winters. What falls on top of TG is suspect and a major mid-winter avi cycle was needed to clear the moun...
Lowell, I hear what you're saying, that's why I commented on not being able to explain it scientifically, but the snow was so light it doesn't really have a "surface" to grow hoar. I think there's something to what jverschuyl posted..consolidated snowpack and 36 hours. I'd be interested to hear why/how. My avy books are in storage from a recent move. I'll have to go dig 'em up.
Pssst. Keep it quiet over here. This threads better tha...
Pssst. Keep it quiet over here. This threads better tha...
4:30 am?!? And Rusty said I get up early....
Got a couple laps up there today (north face Table, and the south face of oposite hill), Again many people were laying down tracks far and wide in the Baker bc. There was some very small isolated pockets of shallow windslab at the highest elevations.
I included a pic I took from the skin track just a little ways outside of the parking lot, then my new camera batteries died from the cold. Snow was again dry and deep unconsolidated pow with a few hidden terrain obstacles lurking about (today...
I included a pic I took from the skin track just a little ways outside of the parking lot, then my new camera batteries died from the cold. Snow was again dry and deep unconsolidated pow with a few hidden terrain obstacles lurking about (today...
author=lordhedgie link=topic=11568.msg48148#msg48148 date=1229820241]
... my toilet was running, ;)
If your toilet is running...you should catch it.
author=neil turner link=topic=11550.msg48023#msg48023 date=1229671199]
The snow is so low in H2O content right now (with more forecasted coldness) I can't imagine it developing sufface hoar before Sat/Sun when the next system is suposed to hit.
Isn't surface hoar the winter equivalent of dew? In other words, it forms because of moisture in the air, not moisture in the snow. I doubt that the water content of the snow has much...
I couldn't get out of my house yesterday, but my toilet was running, so I toured over to the hardware store and bought a new flapper. I count myself amongst the small cadre of people who have ever skied into town to fix a toilet. ;)