TR Replies
"Ski quality: Poor"
Yes, it was a pretty day, but I think you are being too kind regarding the suitability of the current "snowpack" for the fickle activity of strapping barrel staves to ones' feet. We went to yodelin under the mistaken impression that there was more coverage than there is. It was a good lesson in plant identification and woodworking. But there are no kind or socially acceptable words for the functionality of the spare amounts of the crystalli...
Yes, it was a pretty day, but I think you are being too kind regarding the suitability of the current "snowpack" for the fickle activity of strapping barrel staves to ones' feet. We went to yodelin under the mistaken impression that there was more coverage than there is. It was a good lesson in plant identification and woodworking. But there are no kind or socially acceptable words for the functionality of the spare amounts of the crystalli...
Thanks for the heads up and great TR Charlie. amazed you got 13+ years out of your Comforts!!
Hi Roger, thanks for the questions and concerns. This is a quick response to points 1 and 2.
I was asked if I carried avy gear and I responded something along the lines of "Yes, but it is not going to help when I'm alone" so at least from my end they were aware of this. Presumably from everyone else as well.
I was also asked if I considered developed ski areas to be backcountry at this time in the season and I said yes. Without bombs o...
I was asked if I carried avy gear and I responded something along the lines of "Yes, but it is not going to help when I'm alone" so at least from my end they were aware of this. Presumably from everyone else as well.
I was also asked if I considered developed ski areas to be backcountry at this time in the season and I said yes. Without bombs o...
Hi Mark and thanks for posting the KOMO link.
I find it a bit concerning when news stations run a report on certain mountain activities and leave out key elements. In this case, 1) they quoted you as being "prepared with beacon, shovel & probe" but not aware of the fact that you were by yourself and the gear is useless if you're buried in a slide without a partner.
2) their perception was that you were touring 'in the backcountry' when in fact y...
I find it a bit concerning when news stations run a report on certain mountain activities and leave out key elements. In this case, 1) they quoted you as being "prepared with beacon, shovel & probe" but not aware of the fact that you were by yourself and the gear is useless if you're buried in a slide without a partner.
2) their perception was that you were touring 'in the backcountry' when in fact y...
Skied the trees on the backside with the dog yesterday. The coverage back there was remarkably better than the front side especially the upper 600' or so. My dog sure had no complaints. Any guess as to how they may treat uphill travel with the new Vail ownership during this opening week? Got a real bad stomach bug, probably won't make it to work this week.
Ditto today Pacific Crest perfectly skiable looker's right down to where they park the grooming machine.
Their written policy on their website indicates that you should be able to go up Silver Fir anytime:
https://summitatsnoqualmie.com/uphill-travel
https://summitatsnoqualmie.com/uphill-travel
That's the policy I know, too.
Nobody is going to force you to turn around, but they'll probably say something and leave it up to you to comply. At least that's how it was previous years.
Nobody is going to force you to turn around, but they'll probably say something and leave it up to you to comply. At least that's how it was previous years.
hey thanks y'all!
It was a bit of a shakedown cruise too with 'new' boots and skis for her so it went really well for all that--tho probably will be baking the new liners... had to stop a few times to completely take off the boots and recirculate the feet (brand new fat scarpa/intuition liners in tlt6 shells)
One thing to note re upcoming conditions is that before we even hit the parking lot we were blessed with a magical glitter fest beyond disco proportions...
It was a bit of a shakedown cruise too with 'new' boots and skis for her so it went really well for all that--tho probably will be baking the new liners... had to stop a few times to completely take off the boots and recirculate the feet (brand new fat scarpa/intuition liners in tlt6 shells)
One thing to note re upcoming conditions is that before we even hit the parking lot we were blessed with a magical glitter fest beyond disco proportions...
... and the forecast is for it to arrive fairly cold (2.5-3k freezing level).
Nice pics, dad! Kudos to Carl for sharing the love.
author=discostew link=topic=41128.msg162935#msg162935 date=1544063954]
Looks dreamy! This one says it all!
Now that's a proper education! ;)
Glad you and P got the goods. 8)
Glad you and P got the goods. 8)
author=Alisse link=topic=41124.msg162928#msg162928 date=1544040937]
Pics or it didn't happen!
It may not be a pic, but it does show that pre-opening groomers can be enjoyable, especially when there are not too many other people on the hill. The headwind on the descent was the only downfall of the day. Since this is a resort, I now have to slow way down when ever I come to a flat area with a blind spot. I am already missing th...
author=silaswild link=topic=41124.msg162926#msg162926 date=1544026385]
best snow of the day was 8-10†untracked blower snow
Pics or it didn't happen!
Pics for those of us stuck in the office please!
author=Donnelly_M link=topic=41114.msg162912#msg162912 date=1543894468]
I think I got the hint of something along the lines of some grooming having been done? Looks like I know where I am headed tomorrow to make some turns. lol
jtack and I saw you skiing today, Donnelly. We saw no turns.
Avajane's got it right except for his spelling of Blewett. Been up the last couple of days in the Tronsen non-motorized zone just N of Blewett(!)Pass. There's an honest foot of new from last weekend on a shallow base. Skied mostly roads and trails but careful turns are available on the old clear-cuts. Nice views of the Stuarts today on the way out.
I think I got the hint of something along the lines of some grooming having been done? Looks like I know where I am headed tomorrow to make some turns. lol
Indeed we were, though the snow was soft-enough that we each made a few turns, after a fashion. The pow/crust bond was a little too weak to make steep snowshoe turns forgiving. Snowshoes were the right tool for our day, with an uncertain snowline, a long haul up from the river, and a lower-elevation objective.
If we were to head back with skis this week, we'd be aiming to get as far above 5k as we could.
@Jake: We didn't go terribly far up the road, and cond...
If we were to head back with skis this week, we'd be aiming to get as far above 5k as we could.
@Jake: We didn't go terribly far up the road, and cond...
Thanks for the report Charlie,
Can you confirm how far you can drive on the Cascade River Road & if you need high clearance.
Thanks. Jake
Can you confirm how far you can drive on the Cascade River Road & if you need high clearance.
Thanks. Jake
Wow. Fantastic photos. That first one is scary.
author=DOD link=topic=41032.msg162881#msg162881 date=1543611818]
not sure if the Overproof was a good idea....
Sure it was! Without it you would have been cringing about all that schralpin.
Nice vid!
not sure if the Overproof was a good idea....
My local
Source says Peak Chair opens tomorrow.
Good luck - and sorry if I'm wrong. No promises but, there does seem to be enough snow. Stay high!
Source says Peak Chair opens tomorrow.
Good luck - and sorry if I'm wrong. No promises but, there does seem to be enough snow. Stay high!
...good deal Charlie.
I hiked up the PCT a few miles with kids on sunday, north towards the Catwalk & was very surprised to see 24"+ under the trees. Coulda skinned up but only the brave or the dumb woiuld have skiied down. A category into which I am usually pleased to insert myself!
Snow should form a decent base once it's been rained on!
I hiked up the PCT a few miles with kids on sunday, north towards the Catwalk & was very surprised to see 24"+ under the trees. Coulda skinned up but only the brave or the dumb woiuld have skiied down. A category into which I am usually pleased to insert myself!
Snow should form a decent base once it's been rained on!
Those throwback photos always make me jealous (until I see that they are not recent. :) ) We had great easy skinning up a well set trak via Tye Mill to the patrol hut Saturday. Then nice 16†bottomless powder over brush and rocks to the base of Jupiter chair. Back down the front side we found skier compacted and cat packed smooth slopes with no scratching. Hope today's warmup firms the base and doesn't melt it all.
All skis are rock skis eventually. Saturday&a...
All skis are rock skis eventually. Saturday&a...
Excellent. I'm an advocate for using your most beat-up skis in early season ::)
Mack I missed you by a day! I think Stevens was the place to be this weekend!
Thanks for the report! Data logger suggested it may be good. Out of position to go skiing this last few weeks, glad you had good conditions. Waiting for a report from Rolf's trying out a new pair of skis.
author=Doug Hutchinson link=topic=41045.msg162786#msg162786 date=1542648331]
Stay away for now.
Hmmm, layer like that doesn't bode well for when the pattern changes....
Tx for the detailed report, and the reminder that early season can have avy hazards before some people start thinking about it.
Thanks for the report. I think lots of people are hunting for that elusive minimal coverage these days.
We climbed the Cosley Houston yesterday and "skied" down from the base of Colfax. Probably the worst top to bottom ice that I have witnessed on an PNW volcano. Stay away for now.
A good friend of mine did summit (I had childcare duty which hopefully will win me some husband points for future weekends) via the route you speak of. He recalled a very scary descent where he was comforted by the use of his recently purchased whippet. All safe but you probably make a quality and calculated decision to return from where you did. Cheers.
author=Amar Andalkar link=topic=41044.msg162764#msg162764 date=1542412357">...while the shattered shards of microscope-slide-thin ice skitter and bounce across the surrounding surface with unusually joyous clinking and tinkling and jingling sound effects...
I love that! Your description reminds me of a ski weekend at White Pass a few years ago. We called it the "tinkle tour". The sound of the ice skittering down the hill con...
Continued from previous post . . .
Eventually below 8000 ft, the pseudo-firnspiegel rain crust vanished and it was just smooth amazing windpacked snow. Excellent fast turns here, definitely the best snow of the day. Pseudo-firnspiegel is nice, but it's still not quite as nice as real firnspiegel.
Looking back up at our ski tracks on the smoothest sno...
author=jeremyallyn link=topic=41020.msg162720#msg162720 date=1541992964">
Nice work on all this, Amar. It's a good opportunity to remind everyone on TAY that NWAC wants your snowpack and avalanche observations. Submissions can be made on our mobile app, as well as via the "observations" tab on the website. Have a fun and safe season!
Thanks for all of the information! I'd like to echo the comment about submitti...
Fantastic! Thanks for the report. I see you skiing with an ice axe. I really like skiing with two whippets. Great first post!
Thanks for the comments, folks.
I've just posted an addendum to the original report (at the end of Reply #1) with several photos and measurements of the 2nd avalanche crown on Cowlitz Headwall, mostly taken on subsequent trips up there on November 11-12, along with photos of raised ski tracks visible above the icy layer in AAA Gully following a wind scouring event on November 9.
I've just posted an addendum to the original report (at the end of Reply #1) with several photos and measurements of the 2nd avalanche crown on Cowlitz Headwall, mostly taken on subsequent trips up there on November 11-12, along with photos of raised ski tracks visible above the icy layer in AAA Gully following a wind scouring event on November 9.
Amar -
Thanks for the educational post, especially from someone who spends so much time up there and is quite aware of the conditions. Very helpful.
Thanks for the educational post, especially from someone who spends so much time up there and is quite aware of the conditions. Very helpful.
author=cumulus link=topic=41032.msg162741#msg162741 date=1542209980]
the visuals were rock'n !
😂🤣
I didn't have the sound on but the visuals were rock'n !
I had been over the pass on Sunday, and was surprised to see what looked to me like enough snow to have a try, so when Mike called and said lets go it was an easy yes. As usual it was pretty darn fun!
So if the surface is firm, it must be stable, go for it.
If it's soft powder, then you ski it like a movie star.
This is a quality algorithm.
If it's soft powder, then you ski it like a movie star.
This is a quality algorithm.