TR Replies
On your first picture on the far right, there is a patch of rock on the left of the schrund. I was barely able to squeeze through there. I climbed the n ridge and skied the nw ridge.
The Lymans and Lava are a lot closer than the pinnacle (time wise) which took me several hours to return from where as the lymans or lava take maybe an hour or two since the terrain is so easy going. We've never even had to put skins on returning from any of those routes.
The Lymans and Lava are a lot closer than the pinnacle (time wise) which took me several hours to return from where as the lymans or lava take maybe an hour or two since the terrain is so easy going. We've never even had to put skins on returning from any of those routes.
Thanks Jason, glad you made it out safely. Curious, did you climb and ski the NW ridge, or the N Face of the NW Ridge. I'm assuming the Face. We also looked at the NW Ridge but it had a big schrund problem unless you went lower and got on the scree. We also considered the Pinnacle HW and Lava or Lyman Gl. Lyman looked a bit far, and wasn't sure if enough snow on Lava. As you said, maybe earlier in the season next year.
Good job get...
Good job get...
Hey Chris,
This sounds like a great trip. Glad you got it in this season since you had been talking about it.
Also, thanks for the Sunrise Magnum Tour from a couple of weeks ago...super time. By the number of recent reports coming from Dege Peak it seems like the place to be in the "slack country" right now.
I bought some skates yesterday, so the training for the Haute Route spring 2008 begins!
This sounds like a great trip. Glad you got it in this season since you had been talking about it.
Also, thanks for the Sunrise Magnum Tour from a couple of weeks ago...super time. By the number of recent reports coming from Dege Peak it seems like the place to be in the "slack country" right now.
I bought some skates yesterday, so the training for the Haute Route spring 2008 begins!
author=cascadesfreak link=topic=7510.msg29974#msg29974 date=1183452630">
An excellent weekend of day trips! Glad we lucked out on getting a well-timed break in the clouds/fog to allow us visibility for finding and skiing the Flett ‘headwall’.
Additional trip photos posted here.
Michael and Brenda - great seeing you again randomly on a ski outi...
Actually it was just me (unless you count the mice). I would've loved to have someone along, but everyone else had to work ???.
wow, sounds like a sporty couple of days you guys! glad you both made it out in one piece, avoided being pelted by rocks and enjoyed a nice ski down. way to go! ;)
Good call. I saw your tracks and they were very nice (can't beat the view below the glacier).
I spent the last three days up there. I skied the Pinnacle Glacier HW and found awesome snow, although dirty. This was a lot of fun. I skied the NW Ridge the next day (today) and it scared the hell out of me. My pons dropped off my pack (dumbass!) and I couldn't back off. I had to take it veryyyy slow and I eventually made it to the bottom.
Two days, two ends of the spe...
I spent the last three days up there. I skied the Pinnacle Glacier HW and found awesome snow, although dirty. This was a lot of fun. I skied the NW Ridge the next day (today) and it scared the hell out of me. My pons dropped off my pack (dumbass!) and I couldn't back off. I had to take it veryyyy slow and I eventually made it to the bottom.
Two days, two ends of the spe...
SWEEEEEET is right! ;D Yes, the trip around Observation rock was just a hop, skip, and a slide through the scree to a sweet and supple line. Thanks for your patience and hangin' back for me. I'm feelin' charged up and ready for the next one!!!
nice job Matt! JP told me of your new set-up. howd it work out for you?
we spent the 4th on a leisurely boot to the top of Pan Dome then headed down North Face and Pea Garden for some 'in bounds' action and then later met up with JP and Dave in the lot for some snow-stashed beers. what great weather!
we spent the 4th on a leisurely boot to the top of Pan Dome then headed down North Face and Pea Garden for some 'in bounds' action and then later met up with JP and Dave in the lot for some snow-stashed beers. what great weather!
Hey Mark and Lucy,
Nice to hear from you. Meeting and skiing the chute with you guys was the highlight of the trip. ;D
Sorry to hear about your feet Mark and I hope they get better real soon. Lucy, I know Sid likewise enjoyed the chat on the way out.
Looking forward to seeing those pics and welcome to TAY, you are no longer lurkers. ;)
Let us know when you want to sample s...
Nice to hear from you. Meeting and skiing the chute with you guys was the highlight of the trip. ;D
Sorry to hear about your feet Mark and I hope they get better real soon. Lucy, I know Sid likewise enjoyed the chat on the way out.
Looking forward to seeing those pics and welcome to TAY, you are no longer lurkers. ;)
Let us know when you want to sample s...
thanks Paul, it was a good trip nonetheless. learned respect for the rock fall.
would rather ski down vs. climb up that semi-icy exposure until i find myself an ice climbing course ( :
would rather ski down vs. climb up that semi-icy exposure until i find myself an ice climbing course ( :
scotsman: Mark here at an internet cafe. Many thanks for your local's knowledge and letting us CA tele skiers join you down the SW chutes. The exit crosscountry route to the RTM trail worked out well. The cantaloupe in the parking lot was the perfect end to a great day. We got some nice pics of you and Sid in the chute, I'll upload them in a few days (need to get a cable which we left in CA). And meeting Sid and chatting on the walk out was a fine way to end our 4th of July ski.
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Allyson, Kam and Gang- it was great to bump into you as well. Thanks for the photo adds to this TR (all I had was my cell phone camera) - Kam always takes great photos!
Cool picture, Eli. Thanks!
Flickr is kinda cool, the way they make the orignal size availalbe for download. It is now my desktop.
Thanks for puttin' this trip together Silas! I had a great time -- except for the part where us and the lady in the station wagon and the two motorcyles and the ambulance all converged. Jonathan thought we were somewhat deranged for climbing and skiing unroped, and for the little crevasse crossing on collapsing snowbridges. Little did he...
Flickr is kinda cool, the way they make the orignal size availalbe for download. It is now my desktop.
Thanks for puttin' this trip together Silas! I had a great time -- except for the part where us and the lady in the station wagon and the two motorcyles and the ambulance all converged. Jonathan thought we were somewhat deranged for climbing and skiing unroped, and for the little crevasse crossing on collapsing snowbridges. Little did he...
Nice trip, Lisa. In the perspective of the whole tour, I suppose, that was a short scramble around Observation Rock. But it was worth it. Standing on the edge of the head "wall" I began questioning my lightweight Goode skis, my tweaked hamstring, my rebuilt shoulder and all other manner of left brain concerns. Thanks for cutting the slope and providing the beta I needed to carry on and stop poking the snow with my pole. You and Kim were really fun to trave...
Very spectacular pictures and route . True ski mountaineering and very impressive. The pictures look like something in the Alps not in our backyard. Thanks for the inspiration. Maybe one day I'll try that when I am brave enough.
overthills and Telemon, next year definitely although Blitz has been asking me to go again this weekend but I don't think I have it in me! Maybe I'll feel different by tomorrow as it will be a corn harvest up there this weekend! ;)
Thank you so much Paul for the pics :)
And many thanks to all you guys and kickasskitty for a superb trip!! Love doing a circle tour.
Great snow conditions climbing up and down ~ Made that cooper spur route and the Sunshine steepness much easier than I expected.
good pic of you guys on scherman from the summit of baker
http://www.flickr.com/photos/spcmanspiff/734021250/in/set-72157600684031464/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/spcmanspiff/734021250/in/set-72157600684031464/
author=bc_skier link=topic=7515.msg29991#msg29991 date=1183510350]
the bridge and a good portion of the trail was washed out from the rains of this past fall.
Last spring/summer the bridge was out but the crossing was still quite doable, made for a fun ski out those langile crags.
but two weeks ago took a look at it and if you could get down to it, the river crossing wouldn't be bad, but the slopes have erroded severe...
Great trip, Silas. Thanks for organizing. I always thought "creeking" was a kayaking term. Now I can see it applies to backcountry skiing as well:
Nice report, Lisa.
Sounds like you nailed the Flett Headwall.
Sweeeet.
Sounds like you nailed the Flett Headwall.
Sweeeet.
A fun little partial day tour for July 4th 8)
Kam- whad'ya mean you didn't bring skis! ???
Kam- whad'ya mean you didn't bring skis! ???
Thanks for a great trip Oyvind, Monika, Dave and Adam. Enjoyed getting out with all of you. Here are a few more pics:
The route approach
Monika leading the way
Dave climbing in clouds
more of Dave climbing
The route approach
Monika leading the way
Dave climbing in clouds
more of Dave climbing
I tried to get some of my Canuck buddies to join me on a trip down to the SW chutes during our long weekend...no takers. Maybe we can meet there next year, Chris.
Troll and split: nice to see/chat with you guys. beautiful day.
They patched them up a little while ago. Also the road to the Chowder ridge trail opened July 1 and there's good skiing available from that. On July 2 you still couldn't quite reach the road's end. The snow along the ridge was much smoother (without suncups) than at Heather Meadow.
Great! I can' wait to see the pics, even if blurry. . . I use picasa (by google) for sharing photos online. I had so much fun on Sunday, i was ready to go up again yesterday - except my car bugged out on me and wouldn't start. we fixed it but had too late a start, so hiked up timberline for some nice turns and very few crowds.
author=Camilo link=topic=7515.msg30046#msg30046 date=1183684688]
Hey there! It was awesome skiing wit...
Here 'tis. Click here for the full resolution guy (link subject to disappearance in a month or so).
Chris,
Sorry I couldn't be there. As it turns out, my tweaked hamstring held up for a trip up to Observation Rock. I still doubt I would have been able to keep up with you guys. But the wild flowers in Spray Park were beautiful and the bugs were hungry enough to keep us moving. Nice job and record time.
Sorry I couldn't be there. As it turns out, my tweaked hamstring held up for a trip up to Observation Rock. I still doubt I would have been able to keep up with you guys. But the wild flowers in Spray Park were beautiful and the bugs were hungry enough to keep us moving. Nice job and record time.
I sounds like you may be changing your name soon.....It also sounds like you can get up the road to Twin Lakes with a decent vehicle. That was definitely not the case in April when we climbed Goat. NOTHING could go past the washouts a mile before the Aster Butte Trail Head.
all boots. bring an ice axe to facilitate a direct line up to headlee pass. the smaller "summit" between vesper and sperry is also snow covered and has some nice lines down to the lake if you have the time
Charles,
You've got it right. Firn Mirror, Glacial Fire, Fine China Boutique during an earthquake and "sounds like shattered glass as you turn " sum it all up pretty well. I think it's more air than snow per cubic inch. Just rare enough to keep me coming back 'till next time. Got some in '06 but not this year. It's a thin crust of ice floating over perfect corn. "Corn Sheen" as viewed from a distance. Mmmmm.
You've got it right. Firn Mirror, Glacial Fire, Fine China Boutique during an earthquake and "sounds like shattered glass as you turn " sum it all up pretty well. I think it's more air than snow per cubic inch. Just rare enough to keep me coming back 'till next time. Got some in '06 but not this year. It's a thin crust of ice floating over perfect corn. "Corn Sheen" as viewed from a distance. Mmmmm.
hi spltbrdr--we were that group that you passed on the way down, and we had a great ski. just took one run, as we were having a more relaxing day, but it was fun nonetheless. most of our group stayed skiiers left which did seem a little narrow in spots but still had fairly good coverage. cass skiied down skiiers right and though it was wider, i think he had a few more obstacles to dodge! :D all in all it was worth the trek with fantastic views and great company.
Hey there! It was awesome skiing with you guys last weekend. I'll post a couple of pictures when I get them hosted somewhere - a bunch of them ended up blurry, but a few are okay.
-Camilo
-Camilo
Nice tour! I followed in your footsteps yesterday and was pleased to find so much good snow left. I wish I got the memo about bringing tennis shoes...I hiked back in ski boots. Heading up Knapsack Pass from Mowich Lake I was worried things would be patchy and unlinkable, but after reach the pass, instead of descending the east on the obvious trail, if you traverse to the SSE along the ridge past Fay, there were some fine turns on the north side of Pleasant. With all this...
headlee pass was fine. lots of snow and able to ski from the top. On the west side, if you go down you can connect to the snow about 100' below the pass and it is continuous up to Vesper.
There was a lot of snow in the basin so it might be good for a while longer...
There was a lot of snow in the basin so it might be good for a while longer...
Sky,
This year is a bit exceptional. The Olympics received more than their usual share of snow, the spring was cold and overcast, and there was a lot of south-southwest wind which deposited more snow on north facing slopes. The south slopes were very thin and melted out earlier than usual. The three big chutes hold snow most years when the road to Waterhole opens. But the steeper, chutes in the cliff bands are usually melted out by mid-june and earlier they avalanche all t...
This year is a bit exceptional. The Olympics received more than their usual share of snow, the spring was cold and overcast, and there was a lot of south-southwest wind which deposited more snow on north facing slopes. The south slopes were very thin and melted out earlier than usual. The three big chutes hold snow most years when the road to Waterhole opens. But the steeper, chutes in the cliff bands are usually melted out by mid-june and earlier they avalanche all t...
How was the Headlee Pass gulley? Snowy? Rocky? Icy? Do you think the trip will hold up another week? DK
You guys rock; fabulous view -- of the N. Side -- with the Spur, Eliott Gl. & Snowdome.
Thanks for the awe-inspiring pic.!
Thanks for the awe-inspiring pic.!
Driving home from Shi Shi Beach yesterday, I was ogling your north-facing stashes from east of Port Angeles. They looked very healthy and tasty, definitely worthy of a visit one of these days. How does that fatty early July stash compare to a normal year?
You guys are hard-core! That kinda vert would land me in the ER! Nice work ;)
And what a difference a week makes for the Inter, yikes
And what a difference a week makes for the Inter, yikes
author=Jason_H. link=topic=7525.msg29996#msg29996 date=1183516965]
Phil is sure he’s eaten at a good restaurant somewhere in town and wants to find it. The first one we walk into, we see two locals sitting around a bar. They pass a look of death over me, but hell with that, I’m not leaving, but Phil whispers, “Maybe we should try someplace else.” I didn’t argue. I’m happy to be a wimp as soon as someone else is.
I'm not a wim...
author=Jason_H. link=topic=7525.msg29996#msg29996 date=1183516965]
... so Phil takes the lead and I follow. We put on crampons below the couloir and Phil climbs most of that, too. My legs become suddenly energized as I take over the lead near the top.
Some things never change.
Nice report, Jason.
I definitely have a shot of the middle skier just post-cornice. I'll post it after work. I'd looked at dropping in there at ~9 am, when the corn wasn't yet ripe (I took a nap at the top 8 am - 9 am), but opted out. I skied the Muir snowfield for much of the day - finding fun conditions (~7.5k skied total). On the way home I found the snow from Glacier Vista to Alta Vista quite pleasant and fast, compared with past experience. I dropped off the east side of Alta Vista and made it (...
Wow, congrats to you and my old friend Korup. Very impressive vertical in a day, I feel tired just thinking about all that uphill. :)
Nice work guys.
Nice work guys.
Nice trip Wolfs! Do you always go alone as I'd sure love to come with you one day. ;D
PM me if you ever want some company.
Nice TR and pics, the snow cover in July this year is GREEEAAAAT!
love it. ;D
Scottie.
PM me if you ever want some company.
Nice TR and pics, the snow cover in July this year is GREEEAAAAT!
love it. ;D
Scottie.