TR Replies
author=Charles link=topic=6152.msg25454#msg25454 date=1170224485]
David, thanks for the report (formal and informal). I hope tomorrow is a carbon copy of your day today.
Charles, did you make it up today? Was that you in the red jacket/white pants on tele gear? Buttery corn goodness ::)
The night shots are the best. I hope I get to do a moonlight ski this season.
Thanks for the inspiration.
Thanks for the inspiration.
Wow Jason! What an accomplishment! Beautiful photos, too. ;D
I can't wait to see more!
Christy
I can't wait to see more!
Christy
Well done. Inspiring trip.
I think a zoom is pretty important for action photography and scenics, where you might be restricted in where you can move. Plus you don't want to be swapping lenses all the time in a dirty environment.
I've never had a zoom part of a lens break on me. However I've had the autofocus and aperture controls break on a cheap electronic lens, which is all that will work with Jason's digital camera anyways... (e.g. he can't use a nice inexpensive solidly built...
I've never had a zoom part of a lens break on me. However I've had the autofocus and aperture controls break on a cheap electronic lens, which is all that will work with Jason's digital camera anyways... (e.g. he can't use a nice inexpensive solidly built...
That looks awesome!!!!!
I really would like to do that soon.
Just a note, I went back to Utah last week and the skiing here is MUCH better!!!!!!
Next time someone is goung up there, can I join in???? Please sens a PM if you have room for one more.
Bryan C
I really would like to do that soon.
Just a note, I went back to Utah last week and the skiing here is MUCH better!!!!!!
Next time someone is goung up there, can I join in???? Please sens a PM if you have room for one more.
Bryan C
Drop the zoom! The zoom lens is going to have infinitely more problems than a nice 28mm/50mm. More moving parts, more subject to breakage. And I know how you like to break stuff.
;D I'll get more when I can. I'm glad that you all enjoyed the stories and pictures. I've been so busy it was hard to put all of this together.
BTW skip, I don't have a very nice lens. It's just a 28-85 couple 100 dollar lens. I plan on getting a nicer one soon. It's the only lens I have other than the kit lens that came with the camera. It does better, but I am not too friendly with gear unfortunately (its not working great), which worries me when it co...
BTW skip, I don't have a very nice lens. It's just a 28-85 couple 100 dollar lens. I plan on getting a nicer one soon. It's the only lens I have other than the kit lens that came with the camera. It does better, but I am not too friendly with gear unfortunately (its not working great), which worries me when it co...
author=skykilo link=topic=6153.msg25467#msg25467 date=1170269840]
I like the way you wrote that you'd let the pictures do the rest of the talking for the skiing, then only posted the one where you had me ski on the crappiest snow we could find below the col. I know, I know; you haven't posted them all.
yeah, I found that weird...
I think you owe us some more pics Jason... your story is incomplete!!
Very nice write-up, Jason.
I like the way you wrote that you'd let the pictures do the rest of the talking for the skiing, then only posted the one where you had me ski on the crappiest snow we could find below the col. I know, I know; you haven't posted them all.
Beautiful pictures, too.
I like the way you wrote that you'd let the pictures do the rest of the talking for the skiing, then only posted the one where you had me ski on the crappiest snow we could find below the col. I know, I know; you haven't posted them all.
Beautiful pictures, too.
author=Jason_H. link=topic=6153.msg25456#msg25456 date=1170225756]
West McMillan Spire – Southern Pickets
When kayaking we use what is called the ‘spit test’. If you can’t spit, you should portage.
At the top, I managed to spit, so I skied.
thats some good stuff man....nice work taking advantage of perfect spring conditions in the dead of winter!
Wow -- great stuff. Some of those pics are just fantastic. The stand-out, for me, is the night shot of your tracks to camp and the stars. Beautiful. Nice work guys!
A great adventure written and photographed with emotion. Thanks.
There are some publishable pics in there.
Jason et al,
Another great trip - congratulations. On a side note, your photos are stunning - they really bring the trip to life. If I can ask, what lens(es) are you shooting with?
-s
Another great trip - congratulations. On a side note, your photos are stunning - they really bring the trip to life. If I can ask, what lens(es) are you shooting with?
-s
David, thanks for the report (formal and informal). I hope tomorrow is a carbon copy of your day today.
i had a great run all by myself down the whole mountain! nothing was even tracked. amazing how many gullies run down that south face.
panoramic view from crater rim
panoramic view from crater rim
Kaleetan in photo 2 looks... :) :D ;D
I think Wing Ridge is better for day tours. Access is so easy and you gain the ridge and bowls at around 8K' from the Salt Creek snow park in 2 hours or less.
The ranger that sold me the pass did not seem very knowledgeable on the various pass options. He just said if I wanted a single pass that would work at both Olympic and Rainier National Parks, I would have to get the $80 pass.
Joe, we left after the sunset a little after 5. The ranger said everyone had to leave by dusk and there were still several other cars up there when we left. I don't think there is a risk of getting locked up there by the gate because the last ranger...
Joe, we left after the sunset a little after 5. The ranger said everyone had to leave by dusk and there were still several other cars up there when we left. I don't think there is a risk of getting locked up there by the gate because the last ranger...
We skied at the Wing Ridge Huts last year. It's not as nice as the one you guys did, we had to hall all of our food and beer in for a hull week. But we did get 22" of new on the first day and into the night with temps in the teens and dipping into the single digits over night.
The Wallowas are awesome. After skiing in them last March I had to get back for a 6 day backpacking tour in October. That area is just as nice without the snow.
Aaron
The Wallowas are awesome. After skiing in them last March I had to get back for a 6 day backpacking tour in October. That area is just as nice without the snow.
Aaron
author=ultragrrl link=topic=6147.msg25431#msg25431 date=1170177761]
Crazy. That doesn't make any sense. It used to work that you paid $50 for the pass and then if you wanted for an additional $15 (a total of $65) you could get the golden eagle pass, which was a sticker that they allowed you to use as a NW Forest Pass as well. Gotta love the gov't!
They still do sell that version ... or at least they were last Septemb...
author=telemack link=topic=6149.msg25437#msg25437 date=1170196946]
Did you climb Hidden Peak?
funny you should ask. Most of the group climbed it, but some of us chose to ski instead - guides included. We went over there on a lark from the saddle above Aneroid Lake. It looked boney but the 2 gullies were pretty good. The narrower one to the right already had a couple tracks, but the larger was untracked. From a distance it really looke...
Great outfit and area, huh? It's funny; we did 5 days there right after Xmas last month, and it snowed the first night and then was clear the rest of the time. Must happen for every guided group! ;)
Did you climb Hidden Peak? One of your photos looks like a view down the descent line.
Good to see another report on the area, and I highly recommend Wallowa Alpine Tours, too.
Did you climb Hidden Peak? One of your photos looks like a view down the descent line.
Good to see another report on the area, and I highly recommend Wallowa Alpine Tours, too.
Good job, Pete. That sure looks like a fun one. I might have to go ski that really soon.
Altasnob,
What time did you get out?
They were threatening to close the gate at the bottom at 4:30 to downhill traffic, but there were still people on the rope tow at 4pm.
Saw snowboarders building a kicker on the lookers left of the lodge in the waning sunlight.
Was that your crew?
One thing I like about that area is the lack of egotistical aggravation that normally stirs in a regular ski area.
Great place to take kids to learn. People flocked in XC gear, sno...
What time did you get out?
They were threatening to close the gate at the bottom at 4:30 to downhill traffic, but there were still people on the rope tow at 4pm.
Saw snowboarders building a kicker on the lookers left of the lodge in the waning sunlight.
Was that your crew?
One thing I like about that area is the lack of egotistical aggravation that normally stirs in a regular ski area.
Great place to take kids to learn. People flocked in XC gear, sno...
author=altasnob link=topic=6147.msg25424#msg25424 date=1170134696]
I paid $80 for the annual National Parks pass, $30 more than I paid last year. They told me the pass works as a Northwest Forest pass, which accounts for the increased price.
Crazy. That doesn't make any sense. It used to work that you paid $50 for the pass and then if you wanted for an additional $15 (a total of $65) you could get the golden eagl...
Good job getting out to the other side of the pond. I'm not sure, but I think you can also get a parks-only annual pass for less.
Wirh Paradise closed I've been avoiding my new parks pass until I go in my own vehicle, and driving with friends who have a current pass.
Wirh Paradise closed I've been avoiding my new parks pass until I go in my own vehicle, and driving with friends who have a current pass.
thanks Jason.
congrats to you, Phil, and Sky on your extremely successful Pickets trip. way to take advantage of the weather and get a big descent!
congrats to you, Phil, and Sky on your extremely successful Pickets trip. way to take advantage of the weather and get a big descent!
Nice work ;D
I'm glad you decided to go out there and enjoy the nice weather and mtn. It was really a great weekend for it!!!
I'm glad you decided to go out there and enjoy the nice weather and mtn. It was really a great weekend for it!!!
Mmmm.. Steep turns among the Ponderosa. I love the eastside...
author=telemack link=topic=6130.msg25362#msg25362 date=1170007623]
I saw lots of trees showing there; there weren't as many the one time I went there several years ago. I assume the coverage was good? Were there any little cliffs visible? If no that means there is tons of snow. cheers
Nope; though there was one large boulder on the ridge. Nothing big enough to try to avoid. :) The area is g...
No, Silas was simply giving me grief for being a snowboarder. The sentence might have been better with one of these ;)
Silas the couple of the folks I skied St Helens with were on Granite on Saturday. They turned around (where??) and went for some laps at Alpy after getting a phone call from a buddy at the summit, who reported the conditions you had described.
PS: We were reprimanded by the slednecks for parking in the upper lot. They are requesting cars w/o trailers do not park in the upper lot.
How did you let that happen Jeff?? ::) A skier getting scolded by a sledneck. ??? Never thought I'd hear that. :-[ That's like me lecturing people for ducking ropes, not that I ever would. ;D
Appears the slopes needed one more day of baking and everyone who showed up Sunday got their slice and them some.
Nice! On my way in on Saturday I passed lots of disappointed skiers coming down complaining of how icy it was. Sounds like you guy managed to find some good stuff.
Sunday the skiing was fantastic. The corn was in full effect:
Sunday the skiing was fantastic. The corn was in full effect:
author=MW88888888 link=topic=6134.msg25383#msg25383 date=1170048171]
I'm intrigued, Silas, (or Mej) what's the No Snowboard rule on Granite?
I think he's referring to the fact that it gets windy up there and a snowboard strapped to a pack acts like a sail to knock you off balance.
wolfs the sleds were there in force and had their own designated trails. So did the nordic skiers. Highest tracks I saw were at timberline. At the trailhead the sleds were loud but as soon as you entered deep enough into the woods all sounds were dampened except for the sounds of snowshoes. ;D
Righteous! Nice pix!
You didn't mention anything about sled traffic. I always have waited til after the sleds are off the mountain before going to St Helens. What's it like in midwinter? Is it pretty much a given that you will share the upper mountain with lots of motorheads? Your pix have a distinct lack of belt-trax on them ...
You didn't mention anything about sled traffic. I always have waited til after the sleds are off the mountain before going to St Helens. What's it like in midwinter? Is it pretty much a given that you will share the upper mountain with lots of motorheads? Your pix have a distinct lack of belt-trax on them ...
I know it, see what happens when I am left to my own decision making? But hey, I got to put my new skis through the paces, and the edges will never be sharper than they were yesterday morning.
Ron - I said SOUTH East facing in the am might be corn...sheesch. Nice Pics!
And knowing you, are you sure you were looking at Granite? (I know, two digs in one post, that's why you love me)
And knowing you, are you sure you were looking at Granite? (I know, two digs in one post, that's why you love me)
Another great search and destroy mission, Pete. Fantastic snow and a beautiful weekend. Of course, it's desperately, desperately difficult to get back in there :)
Yet more TAYers up there. Steph and I read Silas's report from yesterday about the snow firmness and the similar report from Red Moutain and adjusted our start time accordingly. We started from the TH about 11am not too far behind another couple of skiers and started skiing down the south side around 2:30pm. We nailed the snow conditions. The south side snow was so nice, corny, and buttery, I had to head up for a serving of seconds.
We must have ju...
We must have ju...
I'm intrigued, Silas, (or Mej) what's the No Snowboard rule on Granite?
Great shot of Kaleetan, DK, it looks in form.
Great shot of Kaleetan, DK, it looks in form.
Nice photos! We watched you guys make turns in the W bowl. From your comments it sounds like we made the right call to head down the S side instead of following the SW shoulder.
I'm through with doing integrals...I prefer my punishment to be the mind-numbing "one-foot-in-front-of-the-other" kind. :D
Indeed, the weather was beautiful up on Granite Mountain today. In the calms it was downright warm. Sounds like quite a few TAYers made it up Granite today. My group unfortunately had to turn around by noon due to obligations in town before reaching the summit. We happened upon Silas' stash on the was down. He isn't kidding, it was good. Nice to meet you Silas, by the way. Thanks for reminding me about the No Snowboard rule on Granite Mountain....
Encouraged by Silaswild's report, and accompanied by Silas himself, 4 of us got a civilized start and started hiking around 8:45 or 9 AM. We climbed the S gulley, initially all on skins. Steve and I quickly decided booting was the way to go, while Florian and Silas persisted with the plush carpet technology. Silas decamped to lap south side corn between 4000' and 5000' having had enough wind
yesterday, while the three remainders continued to the top. It was quite windy an...
yesterday, while the three remainders continued to the top. It was quite windy an...
Having experienced stiff snow and wind on the west side of Granite yesterday, I returned today for calmer, warmer conditions on the south side. Winds picked up above 4500', and the corn was unbuttered above 4900' so I deskinned and enjoyed laps in perfect spring conditions on both sides of the south rib 4900'-3900' between 11AM-2PM. Skiing down toward the trailhead, I found open forest with good wind protected softened snow coverage a few hundred yards west of the south rib...