TR Replies
We skied Silver Star several years ago and approached from the SE. We took the Washougal River Road, left onto NE Hughes Rd, right onto NE Miller Rd, right onto NE 39th, left onto NE 412th, right onto Skamania Mines Rd. The roads are plowed by the 2 or 3 families that live up there. We parked at the intersection of Skamania Mines Rd and W1200. We followed the W1200 rd on skis to around, trail 180 to Silver Star.
The terrain between Silver Star and Chimney Rocks looks really good and...
The terrain between Silver Star and Chimney Rocks looks really good and...
Gotta love the Twins. Appears that they have treated you well.
author=Clem link=topic=9821.msg39588#msg39588 date=1208660296]
One of our skiers was swept off his feet however.
Yeah, and upon skidding on the rough crust that the sluff exposed, another in our group went head over skis, slid, flipped once more, and looked generally silly in front of all those folks!
Clem, had to get this one of you in action since you got ones of Swooz and I!
A great day indeed. Who would have believed this snow on April 19? Snow had blown in on the north facing slopes we skied, at times seemed about 18" deep. The only instabilities we saw were on southwest facing slopes. There was an underlying firm suncrust and the new 8" had bonded porly. In places every turn set off a sluff but not a slab and no propagation. One of our skiers was swept off his feet however.
Great to finally meet so many regulars and thanks again for the beta on return routes and the lift back to the car. Unbelievable snow.
Holy Cow! Looks like you skied about 50 miles that day! Done the 'ol Valley Blanche once and wished I would have made the tour over to C. Italy, too. Think in one of those photos I can just make out the top part of the Grand Pilier D'Angle near the Peutery? Oh I must get back there (not to ski the G. P. D'angle...no way, no way....) that area is So COOL.
I hear the Three Cols" tour some where over by Argentier and Aiguill du...
I hear the Three Cols" tour some where over by Argentier and Aiguill du...
Thanks for tr and pics! Interesting to hear how the locacion of the Hogs Back has shifted. Think Jeff Thomase's out of print book of ascending ("Oregon High"?) Oregon's Cascades etc. mentions historical shifts. So I wonder if the 'shrund' would have moved or is it still in line with P. Gates?
Looks like it was still a fun day skiing inspite of the breakable crust. Seems like that route is either like that, or the dee...
Looks like it was still a fun day skiing inspite of the breakable crust. Seems like that route is either like that, or the dee...
Here's the route we skied. The silver lining of not being able to ski the south face was that we chose a line we probably wouldn't have skied otherwise, and it turned out to be a great run. Its always fun exploring new terrain.
Nice work! I've spent a few days here in Oregon on similar lower elevation terrain, though I didn't post. These trips hold special meaning to me. Granted, they don't have the typical alpine setting, but to me they still rate near the top!
Awesome. Thanks for the stoke. It's going to be a great weekend. Stay safe out there everyone! :).
Stoked! Thanks for the scouting report. Hope to get another chance at that area this spring?!
You're describing the mountains visible above the gorge on the Washington side from Portland? Very cool - I always wanted to ski those when I'd look at them while waiting for Tri Met during high school.
I was driving over the pass last night around 9PM and it was raining up there so I suspect that under all that new snow is a lot of wet stuff making for alot of the mank you were seeing today.
So when you start up from the nordic center and you see the open clearcut on your uphill left (at least it looked like one 15 years ago) go back left (S.E.) along an old road bed. start rounding the hill sitting to your right and head into the forest through the fairly flat valley floor. Lanham lake is maybe a mile, mile & a half. Before the lake (but not by much), start switchbacking up steep forest heading pretty much easterly. It's a grind but you'll top out on a rid...
Seeing you and Paul in socks reminded me of my tour of the Haute Route when I wore the lightest sandals available to minimize weight along the route. Great photos.
I have hiked the summer trail up there. At the parking lot, to your left as you start up the road to Mill Valley, a drainage climbs up into the Lanham Lake basin. You cross under the power lines and keep following the drainage.
You guys were moving on the way up. Sounds like a beautiful day. Interesting that the recent snow on the west side hasn't made it over that far.
Scott
Scott
Tell us more about your skis...I would never get around to doing that myself but I love the idea.
wow, nice photos, Lowell! looks like you guys are having a great time.
Great pictures, Lowell! I guess I was walking around the farmer's market with my in-laws that day . . . next time, ask Christian to take you to the Cesso Couloir - it's right under the "can of Spam" down and to the right, out of your picture.
Having fun in POWDER you lucky dogs!!!!!!!!!
Looks like a blast no matter what over there!
Salvating way out of control....
I wanted to ski that one. Next time. Good call ditching the Haute Route. ;)
friends:
you are all welcome to visit and stay as long as you like. we will be setting up shop in our new home this summer. actually, it's more like a ski factory, right in the comfort of our own garage. so come by, we'll custom-build some kool skis, then go turn them somewhere.
words can't describe how excited we are about transitioning west. an opportunity came up and at first i hesitated, but a sudden slap in the face -- thanks Allyson -- set me straig...
you are all welcome to visit and stay as long as you like. we will be setting up shop in our new home this summer. actually, it's more like a ski factory, right in the comfort of our own garage. so come by, we'll custom-build some kool skis, then go turn them somewhere.
words can't describe how excited we are about transitioning west. an opportunity came up and at first i hesitated, but a sudden slap in the face -- thanks Allyson -- set me straig...
Awesome! Didn't realize you guys were moving back west -- if we get down that way, Anastasia and I will give you a ring.
Cool photos...I like the stonework on those trails
A few photos for this one, too:
The tour started out at the Courmayeur XC area in a light drizzle . . .
Our group skiing off the top of Testa Bernardo in very poor visibility
Lowell and Pierre finish off the run with some NW-style bush whacking; 32 degrees and snowing!
The tour started out at the Courmayeur XC area in a light drizzle . . .
Our group skiing off the top of Testa Bernardo in very poor visibility
Lowell and Pierre finish off the run with some NW-style bush whacking; 32 degrees and snowing!
Here's some photos as promised. There was "no information available" on our ski bags either by phone or website until two days before we were scheduled to leave, when the website suddenly proclaimed they had been located and would be sent to us. Unfortunately, the phone at our B&B was out of order, so they sent the skis back to Seattle one day ahead of us!
I've filed a claim with British Airways for reimbursement of the ski rental fees, etc. so we'll see.<...
I've filed a claim with British Airways for reimbursement of the ski rental fees, etc. so we'll see.<...
Wow.
That is so cool!
It will be greaT! having you two back in the West.
We've missed you guys.
That is so cool!
It will be greaT! having you two back in the West.
We've missed you guys.
Allyson & Kam,
Congratulations on your relocation to Reno. The access to the Tahoe region is ideal. Jill and I have spent a couple months in the Tahoe area the past 5 ski seasons. The downhill and backcountry touring options are immense and it's SUNNY. Plus you are only a few hours away from spring skiing heaven in the Eastern Sierra.
Zap & Jill
Congratulations on your relocation to Reno. The access to the Tahoe region is ideal. Jill and I have spent a couple months in the Tahoe area the past 5 ski seasons. The downhill and backcountry touring options are immense and it's SUNNY. Plus you are only a few hours away from spring skiing heaven in the Eastern Sierra.
Zap & Jill
yes, it was a sweet day, but i think it took us 20 minutes to lose that 9 bucks.... ;D
author=Plinko link=topic=9793.msg39435#msg39435 date=1208302811]We were at the Alp; didn't notice the underlying bumps much except for a couple short sections...Deb's Gold seemed fairly smooth, but might not have noticed the bumps so much with the fat, floaty boards. Good to hear the runs were smoother over at Hyak...almost went there, but decided on the Alp for a still quick ascent and a longer...
Chris, where'd you guys ski?
Based on aspect, what makes it a wonderful winter powder stash (along with magic), makes it a curious place for corn. Not sure how/when it will corn up, with little sunlight. Perhaps the magic corn kernels will fall from the sky and hook us up.
No worries there Barry, that's what Amar is for.
author=telemack link=topic=9747.msg39454#msg39454 date=1208358186]
Both voodoo and drugs work without magic---the former with psychological and cognitive processes (for healing, not the dolls and needles), the latter with psycho- and physiological effects. ::)
...hence "magic" being in quotes. ;) I concur that this has been a stellar winter with some phenomenal days that can only be summed up with said vocabulary. As...
that brings back some good memories, thanks for posting!
author=Stugie link=topic=9747.msg39236#msg39236 date=1207947297]
the only "magic" I've ever heard of is voodoo or drug induced... :D
Both voodoo and drugs work without magic---the former with psychological and cognitive processes (for healing, not the dolls and needles), the latter with psycho- and physiological effects. ::)
To me the magic is when we have crummy snow or events and still call it a...
author=David_Coleman link=topic=9776.msg39368#msg39368 date=1208211659]
Nice work you two. Too bad my balls have shrunk to nothing :'(
Just don't say the P word.
Nice work Joe Mack! I've thought about heading up there for some time now. Way to get the goods!
Mighty big ovaries, for sure. ;)
There's a report on NWHikers from 4/13. They were stopped at 1800' and had 2.3 mi extra hike to the lower TH.
author=David_Coleman link=topic=9776.msg39368#msg39368 date=1208211659]
Nice work you two. Too bad my balls have shrunk to nothing :'(
Ahem. Don't worry, Dave. Clearly balls aren't needed for this kind of thing.
What a cool place! Way to go and thanks for tr!
Chris, where'd you guys ski? I did some laps at Alpental then moved over to Hyak for more laps. The hard stuff underneath was much more uneven and difficult to ski at Alpental, with lots of underlying moguls. I had the fatty powder boards and stayed on top of it for the most part, but for subsequent laps, I switched to more traditional/narrower skis and was getting tossed around a bit. Because Hyak has been closed for a while now, the base was much more even and consisten...
Oh hell yeah! That rocks. Noyce peeps.