TR Replies

April 08, 2007, Crooked Couloir, Snoq Mtn

Nice report and photos. I remember a Spring day a few years back when Jill and I began the day with an early morning walk at Cannon Beach, OR and ended with a suset descent of "The Edge". ;)

4/9/07 12:48am

Pete A

Nice to meet you Kenji. I think Becky and I are the dots in your third photo.

The slot is still in decent shape. The top 100vf was a little icy and crusty, but good enough to positively set an edge into and ski/sideslip. Once at the dogleg, conditions improved to 6"-12" deep somewhat bumpy mank that was pretty easy to turn in. There are a few holes starting to show up in the slot but they can be easily skied around.

Red Mtn. got a ton of traffic this weekend....

4/9/07 12:27am

stoudema

April 5, 2007, - Willamette Pass Dusk Patrol

Like Pin said, Diamond is skiable through July on the north side (which holds good snow and has some nice bowls. The closest approach this time of year is from the west/southwest side (about 3-4 miles or so, depending on snowpack). The west side is good through May, but obviously loses snow sooner than the north side due to exposure. It's a nice ride, with about 4000 feet of vertical. The mountain is rather large (the above picture doesn't do it justice!), with several days of skii...

4/9/07 12:20am

John Morrow

April 08, 2007, Crooked Couloir, Snoq Mtn

Wow, the photo of Red provokes thoughts about the state of the backcountry...without judgement of course. I like your Defiance idea, doubt it looked like Red solitudewise, yet just as accessible when the road is in.
John

4/9/07 12:19am

RonL

4-8-07, Guye Peak (5,150), East Face Couloir

Sorry I couldn't meet up with you this weekend. That is an exciting little run. Thanks for the picture. Is that from two Sundays ago on Kendall when we were looking at it? And yes, mind the sloughing in that crux. It acts exactly as you described.

4/8/07 2:00pm

SquakMtn

Yes, we too were pleasantly surprised by the mis-forecast and the vacant ski area. Our party of three did the cheap and dirty: we used up left over coupons to get a free lift up to the top of Silver Queen and then traversed out to the lizard's back. Then a nice sun drenched run down to Crystal Lakes basin where the low angle snow was the best corn of the day. We followed this with a quick skin over the col towards sourdough gap, and then a run down towards Placer lake.&nbs...

4/8/07 1:55pm

androolus

I took some pictures of kaleetan peak and such for people to see how much snow. Clickr or Flickr

including this delightful picture of 3 tayers.

Foolishly I didn't wear the camera when skiing the main chute...because I was scared that I would fall. The corn was so excellent that I felt more secure on...

4/8/07 1:24pm

Robie

Gee, Ron Thanks for the Robie Show ! Sorry gang but I left my camera in the car.
And actually I stay awake at night thinking of how I'm going to ski like JW and what tomorrows condtions might be.

4/8/07 12:56pm

ron j

Snoqualmie Haute Route - March 29 - April 2, 2007

Rockin' Robie tearin' it up in the BB:

We couldn't figure it out. The place was deserted.
We were the only car in the upper C lot ALL DAY. The upper A lot never got even half full.
We had the entire east ridge backcountry all to ourselves and as we looked over to the inbounds, we had to look hard to see any skiers at all.
And as you can see from the

4/8/07 12:28pm

normanclyde

Several times this season I have gazed eastward from the Snoqualmie, or Red, or Kaleetan, and pondered what secret descents lay hidden deep within the range. My life seemed the less full for not having explored these remote passes when snow ruled over the terrain. It makes me glad to know that a rare few, at least, have tasted the delights of the Snoqualmie interior on skis.

4/8/07 11:59am

pin!head

April 5, 2007, - Willamette Pass Dusk Patrol

author=telemack link=topic=6782.msg27352#msg27352 date=1176081162]

Diamond looks cool, as do all volcanoes. How late is it usually skiable?

Mack...
Diamond Will be good till July in the NE aspects as will all the others above 6500' here below the 45thP.
...Late May is when you can usuially get to the closest parking lots.

4/8/07 10:12am

telemack

April 5, 2007, - Willamette Pass Dusk Patrol

We've just done 3 days of skinning up ski-area runs. To me it sure feels like BC if I earn 'em.

Diamond looks cool, as do all volcanoes. How late is it usually skiable?

4/8/07 10:08am

telemack

Killer Korn in the Kootenays- April 4- 7.

Way to yank that swanky mank, Hank.

4/8/07 10:06am

telemack

April 4, 2007, NE OR

Sounds nice. Good to hear of some other areas around the Wallowas. Do you recommend the Anthony Lakes area for some more BC tours?

4/8/07 10:02am

telemack

Good report, Haggis-Man. Crossing the border isn't what it used to be.

WW is gorgeous. ;D Great OB terrain, and some fine steep, slushy bumps right under the Summit Chair. I think Sherman would have been adequate but this was way better. Lots of friendly locals to give us beta and admire our out-of-town energy. I even got to see my son Isaak at EWU on the way home!

Thanks, Scotsman, fo' the skinning, turns and belays. May...

4/8/07 9:56am

Jason_H.

Snoqualmie Haute Route - March 29 - April 2, 2007

Awesome. I really want to get further back in this area. Thanks for the photos and words.

4/8/07 8:28am

Matt C

April 6/07-A Good Friday on Seymour's 3 peaks

Ya Bob! Looks like fun.

Seymour holds some short, but sweet slopes. I love heading there after work in Spring to get a quick corn fix. Some of the finest views of the city from up there too.

How are you liking those Havocs? Looks like your whole crew has a pair.

4/8/07 6:19am

Telemon

Killer Korn in the Kootenays- April 4- 7.

It is kind of ironic that the reason I did not join you guys on the trip was that I had just returned from the long drive to and from Nelson. I am surprised that the border patrol give you any grief, since your description of Telemack sounds like your typical Nelson resident. Like you I really enjoyed Whitewater, especially its steep glades. We should look into a return trip there next March.

4/8/07 4:51am

spltbrdr

Nice meeting you Cochise and Androolous - sounded like your run down the West Bowl was nice. We ended up riding the ridge just west of the first avalanche gully - a good ride down but as you said - it's not going to last much longer!

4/8/07 12:27am

MW88888888

Where's Curious George?

{Isn't it a little early for mosquitos?}

4/7/07 11:27pm

cochise

Enchantments: April 1 - 2, 27 miles of mountains

For those of you who were wondering they had the first annual Granite Mountain Summit performance of "Robin Hood Men in Tights."

4/7/07 1:16pm

Spin Fast

Must have been nice up there...and very quiet. Cool video feature there on dotPhoto.

Ian

4/7/07 11:46am

prestonf

April 1, 2007, Crystal Mtn to Chinook Pass

Nice meeting you guys.

Here's a pic of Cochise. He's not the one in yellow ;).

4/7/07 6:08am

wapiti_bob

Thanks for the update on the snow totals and the pics of the Chinook summit. I have been meaning to take the trek over but haven't made it yet this year. The tracks where probably from the DOT avy crew, they stopped in here last week on there way up there to check out snow conditions.

4/7/07 4:04am

David_Coleman

Nice turns Jeanette - I think that last pic is worthy of Telemark Tips cover. Good timing too Ron!

4/7/07 3:39am

ron j

Finally got the pics off my camera ::)

The MadDog was hot last Sunday:

The snow was really fast, as others have also pointed out...

As an aside, I had to give up on Picasa. The service was real handy but I couldn't seem to get the links to work with it. I'm sure folks were getting tired...

4/6/07 1:10pm

androolus

It was swanky mank, level 12. ;)

4/6/07 12:28pm

cochise

Hey androolus, can gwanch ever be classified as mank? If so what kind of mank rating would you give it?

4/6/07 10:21am

Plinko

That's some fine lookin' gwanch. Way to get after it!

4/6/07 8:15am

normanclyde

The chute on the left is looking lonely.

4/5/07 12:02pm

Rid2BFree

I never did make it.
But I sure want to someday.
I'm kind of new to backcountry and looking for new people to meet so I can get some more experience--with or without kids!
Hope to hike up Crystal Sunday morning, for some early am turns, cause I'm desperate!!!
:D

4/5/07 4:28am

Aaron_Riggs

April 3 Guye Peak

Nice! Great line. Ben Haskell & Co have been skiing it over the last few years. Who knows--maybe he was the first? Anyway, after Dave & I skied it in Feb, Ben told me that he calls it the "Big Guy" Couloir.

4/5/07 1:56am

Kyle Miller

April 3, 2007, Lichtenberg Mountain, Stevens Pass

author=atacomite link=topic=6768.msg27270#msg27270 date=1175788497]
Did you ever ski from Crystal to 410? I've wanted to do that but only with someone with prior experience...

Ive done it quite a few times from all different areas right now the snow is melted out quite aways up the road and alot of people who drop off the backside will carry skateboards to ride back to the Blvd

4/5/07 1:17am

Charles

Yes, that was a very nice day! I will be interested to hear how your trip yesterday went - are you going to post a TR?

4/5/07 12:54am

atacomite

Great to see kids!
How old are they?

Max is 15 and Nick is 10. Just like your family, we started out with simple overnight trips, about one per year.

Where did you get their gear?

Most our telegear has come from ebay. The boots Nick had for this trip cost $15.00 plus $20.00 shipping! They are 2 sizes too big but he doesn't seem to care. Hate to spend much on telemark gear for t...

4/5/07 12:17am

allyson

April 3, 2007, Lichtenberg Mountain, Stevens Pass

author=ron j link=topic=6644.msg27263#msg27263 date=1175753523]
...she always says things to make us look like we know what we are doing...

ron j--either you fake it well and you got me fooled, or you've actually learned something somewhere along the line...i'd venture to say the latter, but maybe you're the ultimate con artist?? hmmm... ;)

4/4/07 3:41pm

Plinko

Thanks for a fantastic mellow day trip! Both snow conditions and weather exceeded all expectation!

[Edit - removed displayed photos, over 3 photo limit for thread - Charles]

4/4/07 3:12pm

ron j

Expertly reported, MadDog.
Ally's such a sweetheart; she always says things to make us look like we know what we are doing... I like that in a woman.
I still owe some pics - they're on the top of my list ;)

4/4/07 3:06pm

ron j

Looks like you folks had a ball.
You may be right; the "SE Passage" may have had a lot less sidehilling for the sleds.
We were leaving upper C lot as you folks were gearing up to go.
Good you had the dogs to warm up the tent; it could have been a "three dog night" :)

4/4/07 12:50pm

Rid2BFree

Great to see kids!
How old are they?
I've got a 4 and 6 year old (5 and 7 for next season) that I'm hoping to get into telegear and backcountry too. (BTW Where did you get their gear?)
Mine actually had their first overnighter on cross country gear during the real cold snap in January. Glad you guys faired ok yourselves.

4/4/07 8:56am

Zap

March 29, 2007, Mt. St. Helens

Wonderful TR and slideshow. I really like the "sherpa dog" and "sherpa boys". I'm working on a similar plan with my grandsons. This is inspirational. ;)

4/4/07 6:53am

snoslut

Phreadi leave early enough and postholing won't be an issue on the way up. The way down though?? That depends on how far you can ride down. Between waiting for the corn to ready and watching Helens fart, postholing will be the last thing on your mind. Plus postholing builds character and those oh so covitted torture points. Good luck!

4/4/07 6:37am

Kyle Miller

I dug a small pit about 50 feet below the rocky summit of East peak on the West side in the trees to somewhat protect me from the wind. Monday night was rather cold and it didnt help that my camelpack had a leak in it and got my clothes and gear Soaked..

4/4/07 6:33am

atacomite

Nice photo Kyle! That was us at Crystal. We were wondering where you pitched your tent?

4/4/07 5:38am

Kyle Miller