TR Replies

author=Mr_Burns link=topic=40836.msg162179#msg162179 date=1530633978]
How does the distance compare for the Spray Park approach vs. Knapsack Pass?

I think the distance is similar. The Spray Park approach is via a nice trail that first goes a bit down and then up. Knapsack Pass is off-trail, up and down, and one needs a good snow coverage. Not sure that is the case in recent years (the coverage).

7/10/18 1:16am

Mr_Burns

Looks really great! How does the distance compare for the Spray Park approach vs. Knapsack Pass?

7/9/18 2:27pm

iluka

I usually approach Spray Park via the Wonderland Trail so didn't get a look at the climb to Knapsack Pass. Both times I came through Spray Park on the trail the clouds were hanging low and I didn't get a good look at the south side of the pass, unfortunately.

7/9/18 11:39am

PS44

June 25, 2018, Daniel Birthday Tour

Thank you for the report - the snow looks nice! I suppose the approach through Knapsack Pass is melted out?

7/9/18 7:15am

Chamois

Screw the June gloom! Bravo. Really like the shot with Cathedral Rock in the background. Great job wedging it into the schedule - gotta love the PNW where this stuff is readily accessible. Daniel still on my list to ski.

7/9/18 6:54am

YoKid

Kamtron- Thats right! Yea now I remember meeting you and crew up there.

Jordan- I think you should be good to go for another week or two easy. esp with these cooler temps. The crossing I used as an exit was, well maybe not "solid", but certainly "healthy".
F#*K car trouble. In fact F*%K cars! So convenient though...

Mike- I've dredged much useful Beta from these pages. Happy to provide a bit in return.

7/9/18 5:30am

mikerolfs

I don't think I'd have the nerve to ski your lines solo. Thanks for sharing!

7/9/18 5:15am

mikerolfs

June 25, 2018, Daniel Birthday Tour

great photo!

7/9/18 5:13am

mikerolfs

author=jtack link=topic=40831.msg162154#msg162154 date=1530133758]

7/8/18 3:35pm

JimD

Thanks guys, it's good to be back out in the mountains! You're right Nick, Baker is next, and I'll let you know when I'm heading up there Mr. Burns.

7/8/18 1:22pm

NickD

June 24, 2018, Sahale/Sahale Arm

Pretty strong comeback trip Jim. Well done. Worth moving north and doing Squak with some Scott Paul hiking. Bring your skins!

7/8/18 11:39am

Hubert

author=Eckels link=topic=40824.msg162144#msg162144 date=1529965205]
Looks like a great trip! Any photos looking toward cache col and Magic? Was thinking of doing the Magic S loop first week of July and/or putting up a base camp in Petlon Basin.

No close ups, but I cropped this from a pano:

You can find the full resolution panorama at http://myselph.de/mys...

7/8/18 11:36am

watsonskipsmith

June 24, 2018, Artist Point - Ptarmigan ridge ish

Yes there were only small shenanigans encountered, for the time of year, and the steeper angled slopes were smooth.
It was super cool to see the large goat herd on the move in the distance!

Here are a few images from the venture. One photo is a nice capture of the faaar awaaaay...goats by Jim.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/11723786@N06/albums/72157698389725335

7/8/18 11:32am

jordansahls

June 24, 2018, Sahale/Sahale Arm

How much longer do you figure the Bergshrund will be in on the lower NFNWR route? Was hoping to hit that route this last weekend but car troubles intervened. Fingers crossed it stays in until this next weekend!

7/8/18 6:44am

Eckels

Looks like a great trip! Any photos looking toward cache col and Magic? Was thinking of doing the Magic S loop first week of July and/or putting up a base camp in Petlon Basin.

7/6/18 8:17am

Mr_Burns

Glad to see you're back on it, Jim- Happy Trails!

7/3/18 2:45am

kamtron

author=YoKid link=topic=40826.msg162140#msg162140 date=1529957110]
Last time I skied on this side we ascended via divide camp TR and then booted up the NWR. I liked that method for some reasons but decided there was too much risk of getting sluffed off the mountain either by natural wet slides or by skiers on their way down. On that trip we crossed paths with another group who were headed down and they(as well as ourselves) were pushing huge rivers of wet slid...

7/3/18 1:06am

YoKid

Kamtron- still surprisingly smooth up there. Even all the way down to 7k there is hardly any sun cupping. Go get it!

I think a tent would be wise, if not for the mosquitos then for the mice. Ha

Big Tuna, I like it! I figured that snowfield would have a name. I climbed via the ridge proper both times on this trip. Such a funky route but yea nice in that it minimizes overhead exposure. I've read a number of folks here on TAY recommending sneakers for the climb but I...

7/2/18 9:07am

kamtron

A little pano of the Hyas basin

7/2/18 8:04am

kamtron

Thanks for the report! Conditions look ideal, besides the mosquito factor. Reason enough for a tent, eh?

On my first visit to the N side, I also took the line you climbed (or just skied?) up the variously-named "Big Tuna" or "Genie" snowfield. We ended up climbing a pitch of low-5th class but solid rock to gain the lower angled choss fields directly above. It's probably one of the proudest leads I've done, since it was in ski boots with one slung knob for...

6/28/18 11:40pm

YoKid

June 24, 2018, MRNP VT Glaciers to Camp Hazard

On the drive home I was treated to a better vantage of my route from Saturday evening. Drawn line is actually just below my path so that the snow patches are visible. Zone of much uncertainty.

6/27/18 11:17am

Lowell_Skoog

Thanks for the report! I think my son and I saw you starting up the trail to Comet Falls as we drove by on our way to Paradise.

We skied to Camp Muir and descended Nisqually Chute. Carried the skis up the hiker trail above Glacier Vista (Panorama face is melted out) then continuous skinning to Muir.

Upper Muir snowfield had a somewhat rough surface due either to boot tracks or old ski tracks that stood out as ridges. Nisqually Chute skied okay, though a little rough due to...

6/27/18 6:21am

mikerolfs

author=kamtron link=topic=40816.msg162131#msg162131 date=1529904883]
P.S. Mike, is that first shot of yours taken with a zoom from Peggy's Pond?

Glad you went! I took that photo from the trail around Cathedral, prior to Peggy's Pond.

6/27/18 6:17am

kamtron

We went in yesterday and came out today. I can say definitively that it would take more dedication than most, and rockier rock skis than most, to get to Squaw lake at the moment. Especially in the "pretty long carry" around the bottom of Cathedral Rock. Recommend switching back to your tennis shoes for that.

Still, great skiing was had! The corn was delightful, as well as the camping vibes and ambience. Thanks for the inspiration.

P.S. Mike, is that first shot of...

6/27/18 6:16am

rlsg

Letters inversily proportional in value?

6/26/18 3:38am

kamenz

Silas,you have to be alert,sometimes you might encounter a cleavasse skiing this terrain. ::)

6/26/18 1:40am

ron j

May 28, 2018, Sunrise: Sourdough Chutes

When pictures are unavailable, reports giving conditions which include metrics along with universally understood analogic descriptive language is always useful.

6/26/18 1:29am

RossB

How did you find out that the road was open for bikes? In years past I could find that info on the web somewhere, but I can't find it this year.

6/25/18 11:48am

myikat

I actually found this a useful visual frame of reference .

6/25/18 9:49am

PhilH

How long will a thread discussing cup size survive the censorious moderator?

6/25/18 7:20am

mikerolfs

author=John Morrow link=topic=40816.msg162119#msg162119 date=1529585079]
Boulder Creek bridge is weakened by undercutting and has a reduced load limit. The toilet pumping truck cannot make it across to pump out the full toilets at the TH due to the weight of the truck. Hence the locked toilets.

I rescind my criticism. :)

author=pipedream link=topic=40816.msg162117#msg162117 date=1529528426...

6/25/18 7:11am

John Morrow

Boulder Creek bridge is weakened by undercutting and has a reduced load limit. The toilet pumping truck cannot make it across to pump out the full toilets at the TH due to the weight of the truck. Hence the locked toilets.

6/25/18 5:18am

pipedream

A friend of mine was over last night and this TR came up in conversation. He claimed there was no "Squaw Lake" and doubted your report of continuous snow from it. I pulled my Green Trails maps out, unfolded the Stevens Pass one and pointed right at it. i suggested he ditch whatever maps (or app) he was using and go buy a physical one that's a little more accurate ;D

6/25/18 5:05am

mikerolfs

author=ps44 link=topic=40816.msg162115#msg162115 date=1529511828]
What is the snow coverage/availability of snow free camping patches around Peggys pond?

The lake is still frozen and the surrounding area is still snow covered, but I bet you could find a flat spot under a tree that would be dry.

6/25/18 4:19am

PS44

Snow looks great; thanks for the report!
What is the snow coverage/availability of snow free camping patches around Peggys pond?

6/25/18 4:07am

RonL

Cool bear Frank! I think he was just looking to play.

In answer to the PMs, snow started above the comet falls and continuous a bit before tree line, but not much before.

6/25/18 3:40am

kamtron

author=frankfrank link=topic=40812.msg162106#msg162106 date=1529354640]
And I'll report a bear on the Fryingpan. I surprised it once as I climbed over a rock on my way to the summit of Whitman Crest, and then after it had wandered off here and there for a while, it started to move toward my location again, so I called out to remind it I was still there. This worked, but unfortunately, the new direction it chose down the glacier was directly toward the nex...

6/25/18 3:12am

PS44

author=myikat link=topic=40812.msg162108#msg162108 date=1529372718]
Does make you wonder what they are looking for up there. Maybe just getting away from the heat.

The temps were actually quite comfortable lower down and there was a cold breeze on the glacier. So it's a good question what was the bear after. Must be their propensity to explore widely to find a source of food; there were goat tracks above Summerland as the on...

6/25/18 12:58am

Gary Vogt

author=kamtron link=topic=40812.msg162099#msg162099 date=1529339033]
Looking forward to the Valley road opening up.

The Paradise Valley Road opened ahead of schedule this morning:Â https://twitter.com/MountRainierNPS/status/1008855099072892934

6/24/18 2:34pm

Chuck C

While on the Interglacier it appeared there was some fresh snow that had recently been heat treated. Smooth and easy skiing. Not many other skiers. Clouds moved in mid-afternoon and got our butts moving. Good strong hailstorm caught us on the way back to the lot. If it had kept up a bit longer we could have put the skis back on and skied down the trail.

6/24/18 2:02am

myikat

Does make you wonder what they are looking for up there. Maybe just getting away from the heat.

6/24/18 12:29am

frankfrank

June 17, 2018, Chinook Pass

And I'll report a bear on the Fryingpan. I surprised it once as I climbed over a rock on my way to the summit of Whitman Crest, and then after it had wandered off here and there for a while, it started to move toward my location again, so I called out to remind it I was still there. This worked, but unfortunately, the new direction it chose down the glacier was directly toward the next party of two ascending skiers, out of sight over a roll. Comically, I had a perspective on the whole thing...

6/23/18 1:07pm

knitvt

author=Zap link=topic=40815.msg162103#msg162103 date=1529345011]
Nice trip report and photo. We're way up in Glacier National Park. Trying to find some high elevation snow.
;)

Thanks, Zap. Glacier is a beautiful place to be. I hope you're able to find some good snow.

6/23/18 2:21am

Zap

June 17, 2018, Chinook Pass

Nice trip report and photo. We're way up in Glacier National Park. Trying to find some high elevation snow.
;)

6/22/18 11:09pm

thunderchief

June 13, 2018, Yakima Peak

No change yesterday, except the road closure looks like its on a less annoying ~15 minute light cycle for the weekend. Waited 0 and 8 minutes. Fun skiing from the car! Glad the clouds kept the temps down in the early afternoon.

6/22/18 7:56am

RonL