TR Replies
Copper Peak saddle looking toward Wallabee late Sunday morning.
That's so great to cover such terrain with such light gear. Euro huts are onto something. Maybe CBA can convince us the powers that be to put a hut-to-hut system somewhere in the Cascades (not counting on it ;-)
Awesome
Awesome
As for timing, we really just needed to sleep until 6, and we managed to score a late "window" Sunday, skiing down around 4:30 pm. I think later would have been even better, although the flats down low were somewhat sticky.
That is very sad to hear about the fatality.
I will second the recommendation for ski crampons and maybe a whippet or two. While brewing some coffee in the wee hours near South Butte on Sunday I witnessed two separate skinners slide head first down the crescent from just below the corniced ridge. Neither of them appeared to have any tools for arresting their fall at hand, but both came to a stop without any real consequences.
Be safe out there and get it while the getting...
I will second the recommendation for ski crampons and maybe a whippet or two. While brewing some coffee in the wee hours near South Butte on Sunday I witnessed two separate skinners slide head first down the crescent from just below the corniced ridge. Neither of them appeared to have any tools for arresting their fall at hand, but both came to a stop without any real consequences.
Be safe out there and get it while the getting...
To add another perspective to timing, We got up to pikers sooner than expected on Sunday: 10:30 and dropped by 11:30. There was no ice and it was top to bottom corn, - Sounds like later was great also. Not sure how sticky the snow got on the return back to the lot, but it was already baked by 12pm, but still sliding with some turns. My perspective on the Chutes is that they themselves have a very large corn window once the snow pack is consolidated.
I g...
I g...
Kamtron - That walk from the end of the snow would have been long in boots! After the sunny weekend it's probably getting longer unless this colder air really slows the melt. Still doable for the willing...
We skied to the Lunch counter on Saturday starting at 1pm. Since our goal was good snow we started late on Sunday working to time our skiing with the best conditions in the SW Chutes. We got gifted with amazing snow all the way down with a 12:45 start from the summit. Early sk...
We skied to the Lunch counter on Saturday starting at 1pm. Since our goal was good snow we started late on Sunday working to time our skiing with the best conditions in the SW Chutes. We got gifted with amazing snow all the way down with a 12:45 start from the summit. Early sk...
Nice! You had better weather than us but sounds like the same mix of snow. Branca hut rules! As do the roman baths in Bormio, btw...
author=jtack link=topic=40745.msg161871#msg161871 date=1527545662]
Thanks for the report, sounds like I had better get cracking!
Conditions were nice on Sunday. I was with a non-skiing friend, so we just hiked to Wamihaspi (Blue Pk) saddle. But there were lots of skiers doing the route, and snow conditions looked pretty good. It was skiable car to car, presumably with some scrambling over the Copper Peak saddle.
author=danpeck link=topic=40745.msg161877#msg161877 date=1527565741]
Curious about the elf slippers.
Scarpa Alien RS.. game changer, engineering marvel.
Wish they would open the road when everything is still covered as the location and views are magnificent.
No!!!! That is such a beautiful car free bike!
Great write-up...gripping good read...keep em coming!!!!!!
author=dave095790 link=topic=40760.msg161880#msg161880 date=1527567873]
We met a really fun couple from Seattle just before skiing under Pyramid, never caught your names but great sharing the exit with you.
Ha! - thanks Dave - it was good chatting above the Colonial Glacier and sharing the exit. Killer conditions/route for sure. Sorry for not introducing ourselves, we were still waking up ;) I'm Brian and my wife's name is Meg...
Ice-Elation
Isolation
Rock Bivy
Isolation
Rock Bivy
Great dual sport trip! I want photos!
I love this TR. This aging process has also opened my eyes to a new thought pattern. ;)
Being an avid mountain biker I am also a purist when it comes to e-bikes on a single track mountain bike trail . Don't approve at all.
However, as I pedaled up the Sunrise road using the lowest eBike assist, all reservations I had about using them on an asphalt road evaporated as fast as the clouds were clearing and the views expanding.
Seemed a vary sensible and pleasant way to access this area.
Times they are a changing .
We met two other people on ebik...
However, as I pedaled up the Sunrise road using the lowest eBike assist, all reservations I had about using them on an asphalt road evaporated as fast as the clouds were clearing and the views expanding.
Seemed a vary sensible and pleasant way to access this area.
Times they are a changing .
We met two other people on ebik...
"Wish they would open the road when everything is still covered as the location and views are magnificent."
No kidding !
Now lets talk about e bikes. Im so torn, Somehow its ok for me to use a modern 650 cc dual sport to access long range desert terrain through Oregon /Nevada /Calif, but somehow my mind says a pedal bike should be human powered. I own 4 of them. Just my hang up perhaps?
Maybe I need to age a little?
Robie
No kidding !
Now lets talk about e bikes. Im so torn, Somehow its ok for me to use a modern 650 cc dual sport to access long range desert terrain through Oregon /Nevada /Calif, but somehow my mind says a pedal bike should be human powered. I own 4 of them. Just my hang up perhaps?
Maybe I need to age a little?
Robie
Thanks for the report, sounds like I had better get cracking!
author=ps44 link=topic=40750.msg161869#msg161869 date=1527533124]
Nice,
Thank you for reporting. Did you do it in one day or did you overnight? How long do you think the approach following the creek will last?
We did a day trip. Left the car around 7:20AM. Hard to say how long the approach will last via the creek. The creek crossing itself wasn't a big problem. It's more whether there's enough snow to stay on...
Nice,
Thank you for reporting. Did you do it in one day or did you overnight? How long do you think the approach following the creek will last?
Thank you for reporting. Did you do it in one day or did you overnight? How long do you think the approach following the creek will last?
thanks photomatt, Zack, Eric and Dan!
nope, just oogled it... one of many. Jason had a deadline, so play room was tight.
author=hedonaut link=topic=40721.msg161844#msg161844 date=1527278174]
hey, did you ski the couloir depicted below this caption: "traversing to the northern ridge of Ragged (7598'), our camp for the 2nd night".
nope, just oogled it... one of many. Jason had a deadline, so play room was tight.
author=hedonaut link=topic=40721.msg161844#ms...
Nice, I skied Stevens Friday. It was great. Did a few laps in Corona bowl and was able to patch together a run to the backside base. Skied DD to the base also with a short carry on our exit. Found some good booty as well!
Good style!! Sounds like an awesome trip. Look forward to seeing Scott's photos!
Greg has skied the lower portion of the route before and was a backcountry ranger last summer and stared at the line all summer. The day before we took some high res photos from Kautz Creek crossing and a couple other pullouts. Plus some internet research.
great tour guys! and your pics captured it well. love that area year-round, but think it's probably best with lots of snow.
hey, did you ski the couloir depicted below this caption: "traversing to the northern ridge of Ragged (7598'), our camp for the 2nd night".
hard to tell, is that feature just a spur ridge off Ragged Ridge, or is it somehow connected to Elijah ridge or Gabriel peak? have long wondered about touring in the Elijah area...
<...
hey, did you ski the couloir depicted below this caption: "traversing to the northern ridge of Ragged (7598'), our camp for the 2nd night".
hard to tell, is that feature just a spur ridge off Ragged Ridge, or is it somehow connected to Elijah ridge or Gabriel peak? have long wondered about touring in the Elijah area...
<...
No ... this is a haiku.
Suncuppy skinning upwards,
Slushy delights through the larches,
crow with elf slippers.
Suncuppy skinning upwards,
Slushy delights through the larches,
crow with elf slippers.
We were the group that set the skin track ahead of you on Tuesday. What a day! :D
Yes, the road is open to (and past) the Fryingpan trailhead.
Yes, the road is open to (and past) the Fryingpan trailhead.
An update from a trip up there yesterday:
- Snow patches start shortly after the switchback where the trail is very close to the river bank but they are discontinuous for a while after that and not worth putting on the skis until another 20 minutes or so up the trail and closer to Glacier Basin. The snow on those patches is firm and easy to travel on by foot.
- Where the summer trail takes a hard right or you can skin out to your left to cross the creek, it was still possi...
- Snow patches start shortly after the switchback where the trail is very close to the river bank but they are discontinuous for a while after that and not worth putting on the skis until another 20 minutes or so up the trail and closer to Glacier Basin. The snow on those patches is firm and easy to travel on by foot.
- Where the summer trail takes a hard right or you can skin out to your left to cross the creek, it was still possi...
Hey Scotsman, appreciate the post. Does that mean the road to White River Campground is free of snow or did you start from somewhere farther away? Saw the campground was still listed as closed on the NPS site.
author=kamtron link=topic=40682.msg161821#msg161821 date=1527147211]
Up and over and down to the aforementioned crevasse, then back up and down the way we came up.
Gettin after it, Kam. Fuck... I work too much.
Sweet. Most of the time we take a big loop towards Pan Handle Gap on on the return. You didn't mention the use of bikes so I'm assuming the road to the trailhead is open at least that far?
Up and over and down to the aforementioned crevasse, then back up and down the way we came up.
Unfortunately I was not all that observant until we got on the glacier, at which point Forbidden really obstructs your view of the Quien Sabe.
I'll post the only picture I have of Sahale, and also my favorite picture from the summit (which my friend just sent me).
I'll post the only picture I have of Sahale, and also my favorite picture from the summit (which my friend just sent me).