TR Replies
Nice, those turns look great! Way to get out there!
COOL!!!!!!!! Glad to see people up at the North End are finding ski routes of off summits. Baker is on the list but it is about the same distance as driving to Lake Tahoe from Bend. ::)
stugie is correct, that is the pass. Thanks for the refresher. Watch for bears there were a couple grizzlies in there!
I think cjski is referring to Siyeh pass. The upper reaches of the E side of Siyeh pass held snow well into August last I remember. The 10-12 mile loop is definitely worth the hike as well!
My wife and I were in GNP the second week of July and there was plenty of snow at logan pass and throughout the park for that matter. You could start there and with a bit of hiking get some good turns. You could also park at the switchback on the east side of logan pass and hike north to the pass there (I forget its name) and get to snow. I saw a couple people going there. Hope this helps, have fun!
Chris
Chris
I'll be gettin' turns in at GNP Aug. 1-10 if you're still around! My MT sources haven't let me in on the goods where there is still snow, but I'm guessing...if you want easy approach...it's small, but there are usually patches as you work your way down the Hidden Lake trail towards Mt. Reynolds from Logan Pass.
ps - this should probably be in the "random tracks" section...
ps - this should probably be in the "random tracks" section...
Lowell's pic depicts what we saw in 2006 when we popped over the moraine on the Honeycomb HR. It's a pretty darn big lake. Just checked the 7.5 Glacier Peak East map (showing no lake) which is dated 1988. On our traverse in 2006, we counted something like 4 or 5 lakes at the snouts of glaciers that were not shown on the maps. Lowell's pics show that the thickness of the Honeycomb has been greatly reduced, so my estimation of a "few percent" loss was way the heck off...
Hey, I saw you guys in the parking lot at the trailhead. I was with a large group that had just summited. We talked a bit about backcountry skiing and such. You mentioned checking out the TR on TAY.
It looks like you had a great time. I would love to join on any other Baker ski trips if you guys ever need another participant.
It looks like you had a great time. I would love to join on any other Baker ski trips if you guys ever need another participant.
WoW, it's depressing how much glaciers are recceding.
great trip, I'm sorry I didn't get to see/ski the area with you, though my dog sure was happy about not being in a kennel, but in hindsight, I should have just strapped her to my pack like Monika did with her cat ;)
great trip, I'm sorry I didn't get to see/ski the area with you, though my dog sure was happy about not being in a kennel, but in hindsight, I should have just strapped her to my pack like Monika did with her cat ;)
I concur with the long haul, getting lost (extremely tough route finding early in the year - especially if you’re a virgin to this route) and need for an additional day. My ski partner Andy, my trusty snow dog Oliver and I were up in McCall Basin on June 28th & 29th. I apologize for not posting a TR. We hit snow below 4,000’ just under the Tieton Pass. There was about 12-18” of snow at the pass and about 5-6’ over the PCT on the way up to the basin. The snow was so littered with forest d...
author=whitethunder link=topic=10696.msg43643#msg43643 date=1216825472]
That's amazing. Only 30 years ago. I feel like I've been kicked in the groin. Thanks for the post, though.
One of my early North Cascade trips was a traverse of the Dakobed Range from Glacier Peak to High Pass with Gary Brill and Jens Kieler in 1976. That was a year before Bill Arundell's photo (upper, above) was taken. When Garth Ferber, Mar...
That's amazing. Only 30 years ago. I feel like I've been kicked in the groin. Thanks for the post, though.
Just so we're clear on this, that really is a stuffed tiger-ish cat in one of the photos above, right? Huzzah! :).
author=md2020 link=topic=10698.msg43566#msg43566 date=1216739462]
now that's my kind of skiing! This time of year I find the urge to relax and enjoy overpowering my drive to get turns.
Yes, I most agree, the only thing I was missing was one of Ronj's margaritas.
More photos can be found here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/victormesny/ColemanPinnacle
Photos of Honeycomb Glacier in 1977 (top, Bill Arundell) and 2006 (bottom, Lowell Skoog) from 2007 NWMJ.
Thanks for the TR and fantastic pix, both of you. Sounds like you hit the timing perfect. One of my favorite ski runs ever was up there 9 years ago.
Nice post Snowdawg. You summed it up nicely. It was certainly an awesome trip! I'd have to say that was one of the greatest sunsets I'd ever seen, followed with the bonus of that insane moonrise (WOW!), and not to forget that wonderful Cocoa/Bourbon concoction. Best July turns for me so far. Here's a few more pics...
Nice to meet you Keith. Thanks for the route info. Hopefully we'll meet up again.
author=skimtner link=topic=10693.msg43623#msg43623 date=1216774949]
I give your report an A ! Nice footage with the 'surfing spray' shot and the one of the snowboarder/poles (with the stellar background) that could be worth a magazine shot. Powder Mag. likes those kinda shots.
jd's photos are consistently wonderful and often publication-worthy. An older sunset shot of Larrison Ridge is stuck permane...
Looks like I missed a good one...again.
I give your report an A ! Nice footage with the 'surfing spray' shot and the one of the snowboarder/poles (with the stellar background) that could be worth a magazine shot. Powder Mag. likes those kinda shots.
Way to look after your dog, Lisa- she's pretty frickin' cute!
We chatted with you on your exit while we were entering en route to Bacon-to-Blum traverse (on foot). Cool area. I'll take skis there sometime. The snow looked pretty good.
author=jpslagle link=topic=10690.msg43489#msg43489 date=1216654473]
A quick note…….Unlike winter up at baker, summer day hikers and gawkers don’t seem to be that big on picking up hitch hikers. We lapped some boarders three times before they were able to get rides (we had a full car). So plan ahead and convince/bribe someone to be your driver. Special thanks to my buddy Jason's wife Krista for shuttling us up and down the mountain. :)
<...
Allen,
As far as fall-line goes, the Easton by far takes the cake. I also think you'll find better conditions there (CD tends to get runnelled hard). As you descend the far looker's right of the upper face, you'll notice traverse tracks to the lookers right part of the glacier. Here we found much better corn than the snow we climbed up. Use your judgement when negotiating down, though. It may be more melted out.
There is one hazardous crossing on the w...
As far as fall-line goes, the Easton by far takes the cake. I also think you'll find better conditions there (CD tends to get runnelled hard). As you descend the far looker's right of the upper face, you'll notice traverse tracks to the lookers right part of the glacier. Here we found much better corn than the snow we climbed up. Use your judgement when negotiating down, though. It may be more melted out.
There is one hazardous crossing on the w...
We only skied north and NE aspects, other than traversing across the south side of Table Mtn. As is typical for late July, everything is quite suncupped, and also runneled in a few areas, but it's decent (even nice) for skiing once sufficiently softened. We skied down well after 3pm. The suncups are generally 4-12" in diameter and depth right now.
Lisa skiing the slope nor...
Lisa skiing the slope nor...
car-served terrain!
i love my wife! she even scrounged up a beer from some strangers for our enjoyment after the fourth and final lap.
i love my wife! she even scrounged up a beer from some strangers for our enjoyment after the fourth and final lap.
Great tr and photos! We did the CD route last year and then the Easton Glacier this year, and totally agree it's a great route. Although I think the CD might be a more mellow ascent route, the Easton is a WAY better fall line for sure! Way to nail it!
Good question. The campground host said that the access road to both campgrounds at the lake was blocked by snow as recently as last weekend (7/12), but not sure how far back it was. Guess maybe it's a short window of opportunity unless one is willing to hike on the road to get in there...
Nice TR.
So you'd say the skiing would be better on Squak/Easton route than on the CD route?
Am thinking of going, either of those, with my daughter, tomorrow.
I've done the Squak/Easton numerous times in previous years, and am more familiar with it.
So you'd say the skiing would be better on Squak/Easton route than on the CD route?
Am thinking of going, either of those, with my daughter, tomorrow.
I've done the Squak/Easton numerous times in previous years, and am more familiar with it.
Nice. I've been kind of interested in that area. How early is the road up to Three Creek Lake usually open?
Glad you got that bad-boy. Those are some cool looking peaks. Strange you got a freeze but I didn't encounter any frozen snow on Baker. Rocks.
author=ski_photomatt link=topic=10696.msg43585#msg43585 date=1216748759]
. . . it seems the Honeycomb Glacier is noticably smaller in your picture then it was five years ago. Scary..
Great TR and pics of an ambitious trip, Ryan!
ski_photomatt, Ryan's very cool pic does not depict the full extent of the Honeycomb. We traveled the entire length of the Honeycomb 2 years ago, from the Honeycomb HR to Kololo Peak...
Kudos on a great trip and nice tr! Your pics were really captivating!
Nice work. I looked up at that line a few years ago on a cross country hike and remember thinking it would be a sweet run. I'll have to go back and look at my photos, but it seems the Honeycomb Glacier is noticably smaller in your picture then it was five years ago. Scary..
nice work!!! can't imagine 48 miles. The route I did for Glacier the week earlier from the east side sure is shorter but still some merciless schwack.
Maybe I shouldn't be but I was surprised to see the amount of snow melt after just one week from your pics and then when i was there again this weekend (tenpeak). all this sunshine has been nice too.
Snowdawg et al., it was nice to meet you Sunday on your way down. It was great to scope your evening turns from my bivy below Knapsack Pass. I didn't get much farther from where we met, stepping onto the Russell only to ice the beer. Stopped on the way back to admire the ice floes in Cat Eye Lake. Maybe we'll see you here again next year.
Nice TR! How were the suncups? What did you find were the best aspects for turns? What a great spot that is!
Big Snow, the gully we skied is off the other side of the ridge, not visible in the picture you are referring to. I wouldn't drop down this side which would entail steep talus and brush at this point in the season.
Instead of following the normal climber's traverse we cut NE and dropped into the basin on the other side of the pass. We couldn't see if the snow was continuous (you can if you walk down the trail from the pass a short distance) until we skied down to it. W...
Instead of following the normal climber's traverse we cut NE and dropped into the basin on the other side of the pass. We couldn't see if the snow was continuous (you can if you walk down the trail from the pass a short distance) until we skied down to it. W...
author=Lisa link=topic=10698.msg43554#msg43554 date=1216709723]
In lush alpine grass I enjoyed rest and solitude while a soft breeze soothed the blazing rays of sun and a lone Hummingbird sought pollen in the sparse Lupin.
now that's my kind of skiing! This time of year I find the urge to relax and enjoy overpowering my drive to get turns.
I like the article's giving credit to the cameraman's lugging of extra gear and making "double-time" to catch up with crew. Good shot of some of the glide cracks that are probably very present now...Props to the 70 yr old too! I hope I can still nail St. Helens when I'm 70! Whomever was busting out the tele in the video was doing a heck of a job too.
your dog is absolutely beautiful!
thanks for a great tr.
thanks for a great tr.
Thanks for the tr and conditions! Sounds like a good trip!
Nice to meet you guys if only briefly (around 3 on Sunday headed down). Sounds like a great tour and nice loop... nice photo's too!
Dan, I saw your camper in Maple Falls and wondered if indeed it was you. I thought you were going to Ten Peak with Ryan and Monica. I should have stopped to say hello but was catching up with Amar and Victor.
Great TR, nicely done climb and ski!
Great TR, nicely done climb and ski!