TR Replies
I moved to Northwood, NH (from Sandy, OR) this past Aug with my wife and kids and would love to hook up with some backcountry skiers/boarders who know the areas or are willing to explore. please let me know where to find the goods. thanks
-Eric
-Eric
Nice. We almost went to Paradise yesterday, but decided to head to Crystal instead. The bc skiing at Crystal was fabulous too ;D.
author=jeff_s link=topic=9046.msg36466#msg36466 date=1202104485]It's really had to stop and take a few pictures, but if you do it early on, you can get the camera put away and just ski 8).
but on a fantastic powder day how can you stand to stop skiing long enough to set up and take photos?)
Glad you all had fun & stayed safe...10 AM is the best the Parking Service has managed in quite some time...we did the Ditch twice, then Refrigerator & the woods alongside Narada Face...truly rapturous powder that felt like hang-gliding just above the snow!
I can further confirm that, in that particular pit, I believe that Silas found conditions to be really quite stable. In addition, I engaged in my own, far less sage, but still effective, crash-pit-digging, again without generating any slides.
Good snow with fun folks! Thanks again!
Good snow with fun folks! Thanks again!
Great shots Cass!! Man - you do need a snorkel there.
:) Well...I guess one of the advantages of VA is that at least you don;t need a snorkel to get around...
author=kam link=topic=9029.msg36467#msg36467 date=1202105065]
um, i would have to dispute that -- not everywhere! :)
:) Well...I guess one of the advantages of VA is that at least you don;t need a snorkel to get around...
author=juan link=topic=9029.msg36455#msg36455 date=1202095787]
Nice, Chris. Thanks for the report. It was a good day everywhere.
um, i would have to dispute that -- not everywhere! :)
We skied from Hyak, Kecheelus lift to upper nordic trails and low angle slopes off trails and down and around the metal pole power lines. Great skiing on metal edge waxless BC skis. 6 to 10 inches of light fluffy powder on several feet of uniform consolidating snow -- stopped to check out a pit that patrollers were digging. They had not reached the week frost layer yet at 4 feet down. We could see shallow slide crowns curving around Mt Cathering at the tops of open areas, but not major sli...
Nice, Chris. Thanks for the report. It was a good day everywhere.
The reason I read TAY on Friday is to see what my brother Larry has to say, since I can't call til late Friday night or Saturday due to his schedule. I am so curious as to how his week went, and I envision always being there too. I can only make it out with him overnight every two or three weeks, and if he didn't go, I wouldn't either.
So Lar, keep posting so I don't have to wait til Saturday to see what you are up to. I love to see you write about you...
So Lar, keep posting so I don't have to wait til Saturday to see what you are up to. I love to see you write about you...
We were up there too! Great skiing! In the pit I passed down lower about 3500 ft there is about 5ft of snow on the weak crust layer. It seemed to be consolidating nicely. Crust is rotten watch those steeper open slopes this week. We skied the south side all day and the stability was great even on the steepest stuff you can find up there.
As for the boys in blue...give them a break. They don't have the knowledge of BC travel like we do. They have been dealing with an abunda...
As for the boys in blue...give them a break. They don't have the knowledge of BC travel like we do. They have been dealing with an abunda...
The "police officer" was a security staff member for the Pass, just doing what he was told I guess. A dozen of us had the same experience with him, tho fortunately some of us had a nice chat with a pro patrollman driving to Alpental to work the problems there.
Quite likely that the security fellow has never seen a snowshoe or backcountry ski, kinda out of his element which is probably ticketing illegally parked cars.
Quite likely that the security fellow has never seen a snowshoe or backcountry ski, kinda out of his element which is probably ticketing illegally parked cars.
Cool report! Just last week I learned that Satus Pass ski area existed while perusing Lost Ski Areas of Washington.
One common trick for a good glide set up for flats or low angle sticky trails is to take an old skin and cut it in half lengthwise, then attach clips for each half skin to go down the center of each ski. For fat skins, you may need to split in half again to get the desired glide. I any case, it's fairly light and...
One common trick for a good glide set up for flats or low angle sticky trails is to take an old skin and cut it in half lengthwise, then attach clips for each half skin to go down the center of each ski. For fat skins, you may need to split in half again to get the desired glide. I any case, it's fairly light and...
just can't fit 11+ hour trip within daylight hours. riding pow by headlamp can be quite enjoyable.
Thanks for the thoughtful TR Larry (pics or not).
Keep 'em comming.
;)
Keep 'em comming.
;)
Always kinda nice when you get 5+ feet of new snow in the days leading up to Groundhog Day. :thumbsup:
As alpymarr says, "I love big dumps" ;D
As alpymarr says, "I love big dumps" ;D
Our over the hill gang veered left (N) a couple miles up and stayed near the summer trail to about 5000'. We turned at 3PM, back at HQ about 4...fun, but almost takes a helper to get up when you crash that deep. Dorothea lost it on the steepest traverse & we had a bit of drama getting her right side up...we never would have made it that far without your super-human trail breaking effort!
A well written report plus pics of an area that I haven't been, I can't find anything to complain about there. Thanks for the report and keep them coming. I think there's room enough for all the different types of reports but I guess we'll see.
Wow, I hope they take pictures. It would amazing to see the phantom go... from a distance.
Thanks *so much* for the encouragement John, SG, and Silas. It makes a big difference in my enthusiasm. Maybe I'll do that TR about how to ski camp with Raynauds when the temps are near zero after all. At least the tricks I've learned the hard way.
Larry
Ps: no Raynauds is not a buddy of mine from France. ;) If you have it, you know it. Hands and feet turn white and go completely numb with exposure to cold among other triggers. Treatment options are quite limite...
Larry
Ps: no Raynauds is not a buddy of mine from France. ;) If you have it, you know it. Hands and feet turn white and go completely numb with exposure to cold among other triggers. Treatment options are quite limite...
You bet. What time did you head down?
Just came back from skiing Snoqualmie. Skinned laps at West until the power came back on around 1:30pm, then skied Central til 6pm. Temps were in the mid to upper 20's.
Alpental's closed due to high avy danger. Alpental Road is still closed to non-residents, and will remain so through tomorrow. Ski Patrol will be lobbing bombs out a helicopter if the weather is good enough, and they're hoping to hit Phantom on Snoquamie Mtn.
Alpental's closed due to high avy danger. Alpental Road is still closed to non-residents, and will remain so through tomorrow. Ski Patrol will be lobbing bombs out a helicopter if the weather is good enough, and they're hoping to hit Phantom on Snoquamie Mtn.
author=Larry_R link=topic=9023.msg36379#msg36379 date=1201959139]
Sad to say, but the recent thread about the uselessness of this site has somewhat drained my eagerness to write TRs. The general tone, a bit harsh to my ear, made me wonder whether or not Fay Pullen has a better solution for my thin skin; she still does her wonderful TRs, but distributes them via private mailings.
Imagine if managing, moderating, and spam recovering TAY...
Love this trip report! Looks like a very beautiful place for sure. Don't get out enough so reading these reports is vicariously very cool!!!! Keep 'em coming please. sg
Thanks for this most useful TR John. I've always wondered about skiing that side of the hill. I used to ski camp right on the top, with access via Road 800 with XC skis. Used to until Jane and I almost got blown off the top on one trip. :) After that I started camping a bit lower down nestled right against the line of trees, protected from the wind.
Larry
Larry
Looks like your visibility got better later in the day...nice photos Lisa.
Never stop posting, Larry. My humble opinion at the moment. I will waffle over it for sure! I very rarely feel that someone might be boasting, or whatever, on a post. I typically don't read long segments , kinda skim them I guess. But I really enjoy knowing what is going on out there. Not just conditions, but who is out, the type of trip and terrain they are seeking, the few special pics they choose, etc. Take Charles' trip up Lennox area. Been studying that one for years and...
Hi Lowell,
My guess is that they were in the drainage to the east of the Old Blewett Road also. It is the basin in between the ridges of the 2 different routes on my map. I see two distinct open blazes there and I wonder if they might be part of the former runs. I intend to ski them soon if the cold temps remain. Was it indeed colder back then that they would put runs on a s/sw aspect?
Interestingly enough, someone I've met requested that I look up an older friend...
My guess is that they were in the drainage to the east of the Old Blewett Road also. It is the basin in between the ridges of the 2 different routes on my map. I see two distinct open blazes there and I wonder if they might be part of the former runs. I intend to ski them soon if the cold temps remain. Was it indeed colder back then that they would put runs on a s/sw aspect?
Interestingly enough, someone I've met requested that I look up an older friend...
Hi John,
Have you ever found anything that indicates exactly where the old rope tows were at the Swauk ski bowl? I've been in touch with a fellow who lives in your area (I think) who's been trying to locate them. I wasn't able to give him any precise information. My guess is that they were somewhere in the drainage followed by the old Blewett road, but he was told by an old-timer that they were a bit farther east, closer to the Swauk campground. Any tips?
===...
Have you ever found anything that indicates exactly where the old rope tows were at the Swauk ski bowl? I've been in touch with a fellow who lives in your area (I think) who's been trying to locate them. I wasn't able to give him any precise information. My guess is that they were somewhere in the drainage followed by the old Blewett road, but he was told by an old-timer that they were a bit farther east, closer to the Swauk campground. Any tips?
===...
Telemack, thanks for the beta - I will definitely check it out...Cityhick, thanks for the inspiration....Its a crazy winter this year in the PMW - at least I end my time here in epic style...have fun and be safe out there...to borrow some words from Ed Viesturs: "Going up is optional, coming down is mandatory."
I lived in NH for about 8 years and bought my first BC skis there in 1982---haven't used 2 ice tools since! There are TONS of good tours there, and some good AMC huts. Try the trails off the Kancamagus Highway for starters. Ski on as many of the 4000ers as you can and you'll have goals for life.
And hey gang, let's not complain overly about having too much snow. ::) It's OK with me not go wherever I want for a few weekends in the winte...
And hey gang, let's not complain overly about having too much snow. ::) It's OK with me not go wherever I want for a few weekends in the winte...
More photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/kevinsteffa/08_01_Baker
Day 1: round table mtn...
Day 2: looking for ptarmigans!
http://picasaweb.google.com/kevinsteffa/08_01_Baker
Day 1: round table mtn...
Day 2: looking for ptarmigans!
Good to see fun to be had on the "righter" coast....I will be departing this fair state this summer with wife and kids to make a new homestead in New Hampshire - farwell Cascades....you give me hope that I can still get my "fix" without having to relegate myself to the icy hardpack groomers I remember as a kid...I hear Mt Washington has its share of fun tours too...thanks for sharing the video!
Sorry about the misfortune.
We skied the first Bennett Pass clear cut Sunday and it was deep. Almost to deep for the angle of the clearcuts but it wasn't to bad in the trees. The weather station at Bennett Pass snow park is now reporting 241".
Telemack, Bennett Pass snow park is across from the entrance of Mt Hood Meadows on Mt Hood down here in Oregon. It's good for...
We skied the first Bennett Pass clear cut Sunday and it was deep. Almost to deep for the angle of the clearcuts but it wasn't to bad in the trees. The weather station at Bennett Pass snow park is now reporting 241".
Telemack, Bennett Pass snow park is across from the entrance of Mt Hood Meadows on Mt Hood down here in Oregon. It's good for...
Useful report w/ a tragic yet responsible ending. Where is Bennett Pass???
Great photos - wowwee!
I was there the same day in that goodness.
thanks for sharing
Great trip report! since that's such an unusual place for many XC and backcountry skiers. I worked on a USFS fire crew for 2 summers on that ranger district so spent a lot of time in that area but never in winter. Always wondered what the skiing was like in winter.
"Cross Country Ski Routes: Oregon" (2 ed.) by Klindt Vielbig has a chapter called "Clinger Spring and Brooks Meadow" that covers this area. He really likes the ski tour up Lookout...
"Cross Country Ski Routes: Oregon" (2 ed.) by Klindt Vielbig has a chapter called "Clinger Spring and Brooks Meadow" that covers this area. He really likes the ski tour up Lookout...
I'm guessing that today'll be even better - it's a testament to the fact that I like my job that we're not up there right now...
Wow, I am seriously jealous that you got to enjoy yesterday at Alpental, and glad you got down safely. Seriously, how cool of Alpental to run for that few people with a closed pass, very very cool. Yeah Alpental!
author=trumpetsailor link=topic=8993.msg36187#msg36187 date=1201676137]
As usual, skip past the drivel for concise conditions reporting....
Thanks for the concise report, the long one must be quite something! :)
What an adventure, and the photo says it all; time to ski the lifts for sure, very kind of Alpental not to shut them down due to lack of customers.
WWCD? (what would crystal do?)
Nice job on the pics, Jim!! Glad you were able to persuade your better half...for a day of hookie.:)
looks rad! This is my favorite area near portland. I am relatively new to BC but have Avy training I and have been out quite a bit this year. Let me know if you'd like a larger party on your next trip here:)
Snoq Pass Area; adjacent to Mt Catherine.
author=pabloson link=topic=8956.msg36106#msg36106 date=1201625778]
Which Silver Peak is this?
thanks.
I was at Stevens Fri/Sat, but Sundays was the day for phatness.
Another stategy is to exact promises from others to post photos in return for the TR. I use
this method all the time! One teeny problem: nobody has come through with pix yet.... ???
Another stategy is to exact promises from others to post photos in return for the TR. I use
this method all the time! One teeny problem: nobody has come through with pix yet.... ???
Joe, wondering if we did manage to find the same place a month ago or so? I was not sure if we took the best route up there but could be wrong. From the tr it looks like you all had a great time and skied some great snow. I would love to get to know that area a bit more sometime soon. We (mountaineers) skied around Mt. Snoqualmie and had a good powder day as well, looks like that was the case all around.
Until next time,
Chris
Until next time,
Chris
Excellent! Glad you found a new spot! Sounds like it's not too far a drive for you either!