TR Replies
author=savegondor link=topic=11529.msg47942#msg47942 date=1229562304]
Nisqually Chute looks almost ready...hummmm.
The Nisqually Chute did look good but it was likely dangerously loaded atop the previous systems crust and there are several large crevasse's lurking near it's base. We talked about it but opted for more conservative terrain.
On our way up we came across Mr. and Mrs. Freebird who were kind e...
The cascade river road is generally plowed at least the first 6 miles in where there are settlements. I have generally seen signs of plowing in the past at least to the Monogram Lakes / Lookout mountain trailhead - this is nearly always accessible.
Since it was dry until yesterday there, I am guessing that with chains can probably travel at least to the hidden lakes road turnoff or beyond, it will be pretty similar to the snow load at marblemount or newhalem where the webcams are and...
Since it was dry until yesterday there, I am guessing that with chains can probably travel at least to the hidden lakes road turnoff or beyond, it will be pretty similar to the snow load at marblemount or newhalem where the webcams are and...
I was up on Saturday also and I witnessed the witless boot pack towards the blueberry chutes. I saw a lot of people without packs, so I can only assume they had no beacons. Probably why no one went into search mode. Hopefully the new snow keeps some of them between the ropes. Glad you made it out okay.
From your pictures it looks like you are standing on cave ridge - did you do a big loop?
I didn't recognize Lundin from that angle. I only skied it once, and I haven't done the ones on the backside. It was pretty straight forward. The run kind of flattened out in some benches earlier than I thought it would and there was a drainage trap but it was obvious. It was fun, there was more snow then.
Similar conditions to the Nov. 25 slide documented at Crystal mtn, 2006. I was a bit too close to that one & had to come back for a ski several weeks later. My partner was very fortunate to come out of an up-side down full burial but the skis didn't surface til next spring. Even with ski tracks 125 feet to our right and 150 feet left, there were snotty isolated slabs out there. Learned about "complacency" and trusting the tracks of others. This year isn't giving me...
author=telemack link=topic=11526.msg47929#msg47929 date=1229555851">
One of my regular ski buddies, who can really crank, has told me a couple of times: "I think I can ski out of any avalanche I get caught in." ???
some of the people who contributed to these statistics may have thought the same way:
"Avalanche Accidents – World Stats:
During the 2007/2008 season, the USA continued to be a world l...
author=tim_place link=topic=11526.msg47922#msg47922 date=1229545611]
We pray daily for more snow at Snoqualmie.
So do we.
Very glad you're ok, Atraslin.
author=andyrew609 link=topic=11529.msg47941#msg47941 date=1229561987]
How did coverage in the Tatoosh look?
Tatoosh looked thin. We originally had planned to ski there, but opted for Paradise/Muir due to low snow coverage. After this most recent dump, it may be ready to go...
Hey Kevin, do they plow the Cascade River Road, or do we assume with low snow levels that it's covered too?
author=RonL link=topic=11525.msg47912#msg47912 date=1229532286]
My rule of thumb for outside of the closed ski areas at Snoq has become about 50inches. Maybe others venture out earlier. I had some fun runs down the Silver Fir Area this weekend but you had to pick your lines carefully, ski lightly, and I used rock skis. Of course I have rock skis from taking similar trips to what you just described.
any beta on Lundin peak in...
Nisqually Chute looks almost ready...hummmm.
How did coverage in the Tatoosh look?
Probably a little more difficult to get there now -- I just noticed that it is currently snowing in marblemount, at last!
However, the road was a fun glide, cross-country style, and there are no down trees, which makes snowmobiling in easy. Now, if only we could find a 4x4 with a small plow attachment - it wouldn't take much to keep it open at least to the 2500' level...
- Kevin
However, the road was a fun glide, cross-country style, and there are no down trees, which makes snowmobiling in easy. Now, if only we could find a 4x4 with a small plow attachment - it wouldn't take much to keep it open at least to the 2500' level...
- Kevin
Thanks for cleaning it out Mr. Traslin!! Next time give it a proper ski cut. Slackcountry is just going to get more crowded, I think everyone's getting a splitboard for Christmas this year.
One of my regular ski buddies, who can really crank, has told me a couple of times: "I think I can ski out of any avalanche I get caught in." ???
Check the latest issue of Backcountry Magazine and you'll see that view debunked in the article on "Avalanche Mythbusters".
Check the latest issue of Backcountry Magazine and you'll see that view debunked in the article on "Avalanche Mythbusters".
Thanks for writing up your experience!
Yea, I gotta disagree with you also Tim, the baker slackcountry seems like it's a zoo year round, at least when it's bluebird and a weekend, similar to the slackcountry around other ski areas. I've seen the stuff you're talking about in March. Although, like you say, I'm sure the fact that you guys are usually the 1st within the immediate area to have a base creates an influx of powder-starved Seattlites, Canadians, Mon...
Yea, I gotta disagree with you also Tim, the baker slackcountry seems like it's a zoo year round, at least when it's bluebird and a weekend, similar to the slackcountry around other ski areas. I've seen the stuff you're talking about in March. Although, like you say, I'm sure the fact that you guys are usually the 1st within the immediate area to have a base creates an influx of powder-starved Seattlites, Canadians, Mon...
Sounds about the same as it was on Ptarmigan ridge yesterday.
author=tim_place link=topic=11526.msg47922#msg47922 date=1229545611]Ok, ok that sounds shi**y. But you just don't see that nonsense after the season gets going.
I beg to differ -- you see that nonsense year 'round, it's just not quite so concentrated. It's not like the snow at Snoqualmie induces good decision making out of the blue, though perhaps the "cattle" effect is somewhat reduced.
I'm glad you and Andy are ok Mike. Thanks for the beta. I've decide I'll probably stick closer to home and ski trees. Perhaps monitor the situation from the keyboard fwiw - my two concerns:
1- Wind slab and storm snow on the W/S
2. Skiing terrain with which I'm not familiar after a storm event.
Otherwise - will tour up the Coquihalla
1- Wind slab and storm snow on the W/S
2. Skiing terrain with which I'm not familiar after a storm event.
Otherwise - will tour up the Coquihalla
Thanks for the details -- it's easy to get caught up in that enthusiasm. Glad you both made it out okay and I'm disappointed that the people out there reacted as they did. That's a bigger slide than I'd pictured from the first description. Lucky indeed.
No but we did some warm up laps on easier slopes just to get a feel for the snow.But in this incident the fun meter was way to high.It all started after the brother and I skied our third lap,we could feel the crust under the storm snow.Some people we knew were calling our names all stoked for the day.Andy and I have a uniqe relationship as brothers,we have been in the mountains together all our lives growing up with our family in british columbia.But I thought it would be cool to ski with this g...
My rule of thumb for outside of the closed ski areas at Snoq has become about 50inches. Maybe others venture out earlier. I had some fun runs down the Silver Fir Area this weekend but you had to pick your lines carefully, ski lightly, and I used rock skis. Of course I have rock skis from taking similar trips to what you just described.
Backside (out of bounds of ski area) of Cowboy-not the front where 7th heaven lift dumps ya.
I think Steven's opens Thursday, so it won't be available for skinning to after that.
~Lara
I think Steven's opens Thursday, so it won't be available for skinning to after that.
~Lara
you didn't mention if your group dug any pits or tested the snowpack before skiing....i'm just curious if y'all took a up close look at the snow.
Wow -- glad you're okay.
To my amazement there we’re no reactions. People just kept skiing like nothing happened.
It seems like there's more and more of this attitude, with respect to "small" slides, which strikes me as very dangerous. Looking at a weak early season snowpack, following a deadly year with a weak early season snowpack, I'm afraid we're set up to repeat it, especially as "first storm" enthusiasm...
To my amazement there we’re no reactions. People just kept skiing like nothing happened.
It seems like there's more and more of this attitude, with respect to "small" slides, which strikes me as very dangerous. Looking at a weak early season snowpack, following a deadly year with a weak early season snowpack, I'm afraid we're set up to repeat it, especially as "first storm" enthusiasm...
Great pics as always! Glad to see you made it out there, and were able to get fairly far up the road given the lowland snow!
We went sledding at Snoq. West on the 14th...it was good for sledding, but while boot packing I was thinking how I was punching all the way to the ground. Yeah, they need a bit more, nice pics though Jayme!
Excellent. Everything is proceeding exactly as I have foreseen it.
Thanks for the update!
Thanks for the update!
Looks most excellent. I miss you partners, dan and topher, already. Down here Bachelor is "not bad" at all. In fact it sucks. Well, "sucks" at least to be skinning above the open lift-assisted area without my buddies. ;-) I've got to meet some peoples down here in Bend right quick. Peeps with sleds would be especially nice to meet...
You looked warm in that picture !
Thanks for the report.
Thanks for the report.
author=lapaz25 link=topic=11494.msg47806#msg47806 date=1229362806]
Couldn't believe how good it was! The Stevens parking lots had quite a few cars to our dismay and the groomers had packed down some precious pow on the frontside. However, when we turned the corner on Cowboy, we were delighted to be greeted with sunshine, 24-30" of fresh, light pow, and only 2 tracks in sight.
Good work! Where exactly did you skin up, an...
thanks for the report. I was thinking of heading up there tomorrow but maybe I'll wait till Thursday and the new snow has fallen.
Anyone who rides the Toilet Bowl feels the flush of success! ::)
Thanks for the great report Jibber. It was an interesting snowpack! You're right about the skiing, but I'm glad I got the experience of that kind of snow and conditions in fairly safe terrain near the car. Many, many thanks for retrieving my skin!
I was there on a splitboard.
very cold and waayyyy too deep.
very cold and waayyyy too deep.
i didn't see any snowpack problems that i was worried about. definitely some minor crack propagation from thin wind buffed layers, some sloughing on top of that, but i didn't see any slab releases or significant point releases. the snowpack is so shallow, even with the new snow, that even smaller rocks and trees are anchors. i was more worried about hidden rocks and trees! however, with the wind buffed powder in some places, with this continued weather, i would expect to see more wind...
I experienced the same problems in the way of frozen wiper nozzles on my Subaru! I have never experienced that before in my many mountain trips, but it sure as hell is dangerous. I did some research and found many of the same experiences; it seems that Prestone makes a good winter wiper de-icer that preforms well, as well as another product called "Heet"...
I hit Crystal today, stuck the groomers in order to get the legs back. Hiked up to Avalanche Basin, a...
I hit Crystal today, stuck the groomers in order to get the legs back. Hiked up to Avalanche Basin, a...
Like that second photo a lot. Very nice light in the trees and B&W only enhances the shot.
thanks .
thanks .
That looks good. Don't blame you about the camera being left in the pack...those are some cold temps! Looked good up there!
Thanks for the report, was thinking of heading up there tomorrow, but maybe I'll wait now and go somewhere else tomorrow.
Sorry I missed it! As the day fell apart for us, so it's a double-shame for me. Looking forward to skiing with Chuck later in Dec...
Laura,
Cowboy Mountain brings back great memories of skiing to the highway and hitching rides as a kid.
Glad you got out there and chilled out with the soon-born.
Good to condition that newborn trail breaker in the prenatal stage!
That way your child can say that he/she was skiing that before they were born! :D
Cowboy Mountain brings back great memories of skiing to the highway and hitching rides as a kid.
Glad you got out there and chilled out with the soon-born.
Good to condition that newborn trail breaker in the prenatal stage!
That way your child can say that he/she was skiing that before they were born! :D
We were tag teaming your group up, went out to the backside and were rewarded with awesome turns, few sloghs on steeper sections, and a exit by headlamp-good stuff. I was really suproised by the conditions, even lower down on the frontside easily waist deep
Glad to see other TAYers were getting a piece of the powdery action. Looks like Skyline Ridge and beyond was hit, too! Most excellent day indeed!
~L
~L
Way to get after it!
We found similar conditions nearby on Big Chief Mtn ("backside" of the ski area). Still fairly boney below ~5,000-ft, but good turns up high. Great to ski sunny aspects holding deep dry snow!
My camera battery was in a frostbite coma for most of the trip, but still managed to get a few pics:
http://picasaweb.google.com/chriscass1/StevensPassBackcountryPolarisBowlDec142008?authkey=qGwd6UYhLnc#
We found similar conditions nearby on Big Chief Mtn ("backside" of the ski area). Still fairly boney below ~5,000-ft, but good turns up high. Great to ski sunny aspects holding deep dry snow!
My camera battery was in a frostbite coma for most of the trip, but still managed to get a few pics:
http://picasaweb.google.com/chriscass1/StevensPassBackcountryPolarisBowlDec142008?authkey=qGwd6UYhLnc#