TR Replies
Nice report and pics. Looks like great weather, scenery, and skiing. Doesn't get much better than that.
Appreciate it. My first and only trip up there last year left me intimately acquainted with road 4315, because it was blocked at valley bottom and then snow-free quite a ways. An earlier go seems warranted. MSN Earth marks the road out quite well. I can see why you like the area. David
Patti and I were across the freeway at summit west. We just picked up some new gear and wanted to check it out before heading off piste. My first tele day I'm hooked!! ;D We had plenty of sunbreaks and the snow was very good. Nice corn. Had the place to ourselves. To be expected I guess it is Summit West. Last week when we were up in that area there was quite a bit of avy activity. How are the conditions looking now?
Yeah, nice day. Fun snow conditions I thought. Paul was stoked. Slushy groom!! Woohoo.
Yeah nice line out of there......lots of people hit that. Hang left too for a nice one down to the lake :)
dkoelle,
Yes, the main Cle elum river road is plowed and there actually is a snowpark at the bottom of RD 4315. Start skiing the road up to the first switchback and then take the skis off and hike the rib along the creek which will take you past the edge of the third switchback. You can put and keep the skis on from here. Just head upslope through the forest and it will put you in the big regenerating clear cut. I tried to jpeg a Topo! map to post but I can not get the size down to 100...
Yes, the main Cle elum river road is plowed and there actually is a snowpark at the bottom of RD 4315. Start skiing the road up to the first switchback and then take the skis off and hike the rib along the creek which will take you past the edge of the third switchback. You can put and keep the skis on from here. Just head upslope through the forest and it will put you in the big regenerating clear cut. I tried to jpeg a Topo! map to post but I can not get the size down to 100...
author=dkoelle link=topic=6619.msg27124#msg27124 date=1175396432]
Great report. Do you mean to say, the main valley road is snow-free and can be driven to where 4315 hits the valley bottom? Thanks.
In the interest of time, I hope you won't mind me answering for John; :)
The road to Salmon La Sac is plowed all winter long. With very few exceptions, you can always drive to the parking area(s) that giv...
"Quick access report: One can ski the entire way from the trailhead if you stay on Rd. 4315 to the third switchback at 2800ft;"
Great report. Do you mean to say, the main valley road is snow-free and can be driven to where 4315 hits the valley bottom? Thanks.
Great report. Do you mean to say, the main valley road is snow-free and can be driven to where 4315 hits the valley bottom? Thanks.
That was actually a Borat line, but, that is also good info. Was the $540 Volkens fee, or the cost of the trip? Sorry, I couldn't resist the Borat line, after watching it my friends and I spoke Kazakh for about two weeks.
Nice trip report, Greg...
Short and to the point.
I'll just add a couple of tidbits:
1. Touring up at Roger's Pass should be excellent for a while. There is over 5 feet of consolidated snowpack at the Asulkan trailhead.
2. The Tour to the Saphire Hut is 4,500 v.f. from the car and very direct. Excellent continuous skiing pitches at around 35 degrees.
Short and to the point.
I'll just add a couple of tidbits:
1. Touring up at Roger's Pass should be excellent for a while. There is over 5 feet of consolidated snowpack at the Asulkan trailhead.
2. The Tour to the Saphire Hut is 4,500 v.f. from the car and very direct. Excellent continuous skiing pitches at around 35 degrees.
author=FFCS link=topic=6627.msg27117#msg27117 date=1175365004]
NIIICE! How much?
I think it was $540 for 3 days, which we elected to shorten to 2. I've been "meaning" to do the tour for at least 5 years, this way you actually get it done!
I was in that group of 4 descending the dunes.
author=Splitboard Graham link=topic=6630.msg27106#msg27106 date=1175316169]Exactly. These dunes are a pleasant romp, mostly a gentle grade but with a few short, steep rolls thrown in. Wind loading was variable but no slabs were present. I would have thought we'd finish this run cliffed out above the lake,...
Amazing wind deposits, not dry exactly, but better than slush, and easy to turn in.
Quite the streak, Larry. I challenge anyone to say they have wintercamped at least one night each week since November! You sure had an array of different and interesting weather. It was good to make it up to the "Sasse Ridge Medical Clinic" for at least a couple of check ups this season.
Thanks for a great day, Thurs.
John
Thanks for a great day, Thurs.
John
author=telemack link=topic=6627.msg27105#msg27105 date=1175316099]
What do you think this would be like next week?
The coverage is great (over 3m base at Whistler) so unless we get another big Pineapple it should be great!
Excellent report and great photo's Andy!! Very nice!!
Alpymarr is correct - Melakwa Pass is a new favorite. Great views of Glacier Peak, Dakobed range, White Horse area?, even Mt. Adams... The run down to Chair Peak Lake was pristine, except for some older large snow/ice chunks to slalom around. Perfect gap between the cornices at the pass. Nice runs on the South side, but not in the sun triggered avalanches yesterday, coming down constantly on Southerly slopes. Amazing wind deposits, not dry exactly, but better than slush, and easy to turn in. The...
What do you think this would be like next week?
Good job Andy! I'll let U know if I get an unlimited pass. Scotsman, Joedabaker & I have plans for sump'in' next week.
Oh, hell yeah. Good stuff. I like your photos. ;D I need to get up there and ski at some point.
This was an exceptionally good trip; in deciding when to come up, John has impecable timing. The week before my sister Jane and I were slushed out the second day. No freeze and no cohesion. But all and all this has been a great year snow camping at Sasse; I made it up every week since mid November with the exception of two weeks when I bailed to Tronsen because of 'excessive new snow depth'. :) One or two weeks left before it's time to head east.
Larry
Larry
author=John_Morrow link=topic=6590.msg26996#msg26996 date=1175003537]
Chester,
Just wanted to thank you for your book. For all you TAY'ers, go get it. Having lived and worked in the East Cascades for 18 yrs. now, it sure struck a chord.
I especially loved the Cow Creek Mdws. and Star Peak environs ski traverse explorations. Inspiring. Would like to get up there myself.
Been brainstorming a trip over the Bull's Tooth region from Ste...
author=Joedabaker link=topic=6616.msg27070#msg27070 date=1175226264]
Looked like a great trip.
Ian your photography is a pleasure to enjoy.
That stuff is ski magazine material.
Do you sell any of your pictures?
Joe
Thanks Joe. Like they say, "practice makes...well, something really good." It's hard to get a bad picture in such places. And yes, pictures are for sale.
Was thinking the same thing about Ulrich's. I've been down it in the summer but never been up close in the winter. There are a lot of good lookin' lines on that face.
Oh man, that first picture makes me really want to go ski ulrich's couloir.
Looked like a great trip.
Ian your photography is a pleasure to enjoy.
That stuff is ski magazine material.
Do you sell any of your pictures?
Joe
Ian your photography is a pleasure to enjoy.
That stuff is ski magazine material.
Do you sell any of your pictures?
Joe
Sweet. I lke those pics of Stuart in the sun from the valley floor, especially.
author=marcr link=topic=6616.msg27059#msg27059 date=1175199225">
I assume the cascadian couloir is the last two pics in the kodak gallery? I'm not too familiar with that peak.
Thanks!
Here is the viewpoint of Stuart from Longs Pass, the red line marking the Cascadian and eventual descent
Very nice pics. I assume the cascadian couloir is the last two pics in the kodak gallery? I'm not too familiar with that peak.
Way to get after it despite the weather forecast!
Way to get after it despite the weather forecast!
author=ron j link=topic=6587.msg27048#msg27048 date=1175180217]
I've donated my pictures to Jerry for a slide show since he jerked my "red x" card thus denying me picture posting privileges.
He says the suspension may be permanent unless I can:
1) discover the fabled SE Passage,
2) explain the meaning of live, and
3) explain to him the even greater mystery of life, what goes on in the minds of women.
i...
author=wolfs link=topic=6600.msg27024#msg27024 date=1175109322]
Did you (or others in your party) have an impression of what the snow pack was like on McLaughlin (and Thielsen, if you have any info) for this time of year? Better/worse than average year?
Wolfs,
Thielsen, Bailey, and Crater Lk are a bit below their yearly average....and less than that below 6500'. Still lots of snow (Hemlock-a-manky) in the woods...easy bootpacking in the m...
Darryl, Great trip report.
And thanks, I had no idea we were on a quest of such historic proportions. This makes some of those foray's of Lowell, Sky and Paul Russell pale in comparison.
I've donated my pictures to Jerry for a slide show since he jerked my "red x" card thus denying me picture posting privileges.
He says the suspension may be permanent unless I can:
1) discover the fabled SE Passage,
2) explain the mea...
And thanks, I had no idea we were on a quest of such historic proportions. This makes some of those foray's of Lowell, Sky and Paul Russell pale in comparison.
I've donated my pictures to Jerry for a slide show since he jerked my "red x" card thus denying me picture posting privileges.
He says the suspension may be permanent unless I can:
1) discover the fabled SE Passage,
2) explain the mea...
Wolfs,
I don't have anything to compare the McLoughlin snow pack with unfortunately. I can say the snowpack in southern Oregon was less then around Broken Top, but I don't think this is abnormal, especially around this time of the year. Sorry I can't provide more beta.
I don't have anything to compare the McLoughlin snow pack with unfortunately. I can say the snowpack in southern Oregon was less then around Broken Top, but I don't think this is abnormal, especially around this time of the year. Sorry I can't provide more beta.
very nice skip, but you really should have been there for the sparks lake camp and made the pizza run with kam to know how good it can get ;D. glad you had a good trip back from utah!
Nice report Rob and Sonya, thanks for posting. Glad you had a good trip and made some new friends along the way. Sounds like you made the best of the visibility and got some excellent GPS practice!
Did you (or others in your party) have an impression of what the snow pack was like on McLaughlin (and Thielsen, if you have any info) for this time of year? Better/worse than average year?
From what I've gathered, Shasta has a slightly below pack in terms of the inch total, but a disproportionately worse-than-avg pack above 10000 feet because there have been many high wind events either while it was snowing or shortly thereafter, and snow's gotten stripped at least on the S...
From what I've gathered, Shasta has a slightly below pack in terms of the inch total, but a disproportionately worse-than-avg pack above 10000 feet because there have been many high wind events either while it was snowing or shortly thereafter, and snow's gotten stripped at least on the S...
Great day in the mountains ;D. Thanks for the invite. Next time perhaps look for the NorthWest passage it's probably just as likely to exist.
I think you should have gone the other way ;) ;D
author=JimH link=topic=6588.msg27005#msg27005 date=1175029241]
The Juniper berries are Very Eastern Oregon. I can smell the high desert.
The Sisters and Broken top are outstanding terrain. One trip I'd like to try is a traverse of the Sisters in spring. Has anyone out there tried that?
Nice TR Skip. Thanks for the inspiration.
A few years ago a group of Mountaineers did the Sisters Traverse o...
There are a number of places in the Cascades (North and South) that need a hut! But maybe that's another thread. Could get pretty complicated ;).
The slog out from Broken Top is a minor rite of passage for anyone who skis that area. I recall a few hours of skating through rolling terrain, complete with snowmobiles racing across the flats near the parking area. Yeeesh. Skip must have had a great time skating out on his Havocs....
The slog out from Broken Top is a minor rite of passage for anyone who skis that area. I recall a few hours of skating through rolling terrain, complete with snowmobiles racing across the flats near the parking area. Yeeesh. Skip must have had a great time skating out on his Havocs....
author=JimH link=topic=6588.msg27005#msg27005 date=1175029241]
The Sisters and Broken top are outstanding terrain. One trip I'd like to try is a traverse of the Sisters in spring. Has anyone out there tried that?
I agree. Matter of fact, why isn't there a hut in there somewhere??? That way you could start at Mt Bachelor and ski in to Middle Sister or something close by, and continue on out to a car at McKenzie Pass. Oooo...
author=Mad_Dog link=topic=6587.msg26998#msg26998 date=1175008033]
The geezers did good though, we managed to climb and ski TWO different areas in the same day ;D!
you guys never cease to amaze me! ;) great report darryl--very entertaining. that pow in those pics look fantastic! and even if it was hawaiian shaved ice, i'd still take it over the snow-less slopes we now have in va. cheers to...
yes, the elusive broken top. we thought about that one last memorial day along with the sisters, but the weather limited us to the sparks lake traverse instead. (see paul russell for his opinions on our base camp!). glad you got some good skiing in after utah though--great pics too! way to work it, skipster! ;D
author=ovrthhills link=topic=6590.msg26999#msg26999 date=1175016982]
I would like to hear more about the book. Subject, title, author?
Ovrthhills,
I thought Chester might respond, but to get the info. to you: he is the author, title is "East Of The Divide", and it is a great narrative of his trips on skis and foot in the East Cascades, mixed in with well researched accounts of historical explorations on foot, pack stock...
Hmm. I don't really know much about Norm, but I'll try to find out more and post it. Either that or I'll pm you an email address of someone who would know more.
I haven't been up in the area since November, but it looks like it all holds snow better than Mt. Hood. :)
We'll have to check out the route you took.
Apparently, you can read about Norm McCausland in the summit register, but you might also check with the Skykomish Historica...
I haven't been up in the area since November, but it looks like it all holds snow better than Mt. Hood. :)
We'll have to check out the route you took.
Apparently, you can read about Norm McCausland in the summit register, but you might also check with the Skykomish Historica...
The Juniper berries are Very Eastern Oregon. I can smell the high desert.
The Sisters and Broken top are outstanding terrain. One trip I'd like to try is a traverse of the Sisters in spring. Has anyone out there tried that?
Nice TR Skip. Thanks for the inspiration.
The Sisters and Broken top are outstanding terrain. One trip I'd like to try is a traverse of the Sisters in spring. Has anyone out there tried that?
Nice TR Skip. Thanks for the inspiration.
Nice timing with the good weather; lucky!!! :) Sweet pics.
Telemack- Still lots of snow and good coverage up the Alpental Valley and at the parking lot. Skip and I skied a few lift-accessed mostly low-angle runs near Great Scott Bowl on the 25th, and were pleasantly suprised to find about 6"+ of fresh untracked snow up high; as cochise mentioned, there was indeed a lot of recent avy activity in the valley (several wet loose slides on steep slopes); also lots of big glide cracks around. Only bare slopes we saw (from a distance) was where a...
I would like to hear more about the book. Subject, title, author?