TR Replies
Thanks for the great TR and excellent pictures (too bad TAY doesn't allow that much eye candy directly) of a very cool place . Looks like there were some nice little alpine ice climbs back there also. Good-un on ya for keepin' after it in iffy conditions.
Awesome photos and narration as always. I have had my eye on the couloir since I spotted it last year. I hope that someone finds it in good conditions and can enjoy it.
Marcus and Anastasia opted to explore other slopes around Lake Caroline they had their eyes on.
Heh! :) That's a very nice way of saying that Marcus and Anastasia were too tired to get up and keep it going all day with y'all. Nice work! That's some beautiful terrain in there and many pretty lines left for the taking. That NE face of Preacher looks as good as I thought it would. Glad to keep y'...
"NIB". I like it.
Way to nail a sought after line, Pete.
And a commendable trip given the temps you faced.
Way to nail a sought after line, Pete.
And a commendable trip given the temps you faced.
Good read, inspiring photography, Jason.
Keep up the good work.
Keep up the good work.
Now there's a novel NIB (Not in Burgdorfer) destination! Way to scout it out!
Nice work you 2. As Tony said, if nothing else you got in some nice photography. I'd also add that you got in the 1st overnighter of the season, which gets your back used to a weighted pack. You're in too good a shape to leave that beast (the D200 that is) behind! ;)
I tried the exact same trip under similar conditions last year. The catwalk is crazier than one might expect. Hiking the PCT this summer, it appeared to me that a short distance S of the catwalk is a mellower gully that might be a viable alternative to the steeps of the catwalk.
Thanks for the great TR and fantastic pictures. Thanks also for cascadescrusades.org, which is a continual source of inspiration for me in my backcountry quests.
Thanks for the great TR and fantastic pictures. Thanks also for cascadescrusades.org, which is a continual source of inspiration for me in my backcountry quests.
Michael, I forgot to ask: Why didn't you invite me? :'(
Tony - Good show on the Slot. Hardpack is nothing for a salty midwesterner, eh? . Thanks for the info on Not slot and the Crooked.
We skied on Sunday at the Pass and found the snow was pretty good uniformly up high (4,000 - 5,000) and away from the wind, and decent out in the open and away from the sun down low. Certainly nothing to complain about.
We skied on Sunday at the Pass and found the snow was pretty good uniformly up high (4,000 - 5,000) and away from the wind, and decent out in the open and away from the sun down low. Certainly nothing to complain about.
Sounds like a great trip. The combination of words and pics are pretty inspiring. Thanks.
author=Jason_H. link=topic=6030.msg24949#msg24949 date=1168897574]
In the end, I was happy to see new terrain. I wasn't so happy to put so much work in for so little of a return, but this time of year all bets are off. You go, you see, and you return better prepared for next time.
man, that totally describes a three day trip some friends of mine and I did over new years weekend...fortunately we went back this wee...
Quote from cascadianwarrior: Those are beautiful pictures! What are you shooting with?
Quote from Jason: Nikon D200. It works well, but its a lot of extra weight. Unfortunately
Nikon's newer D80 has the same sensor and 90% of the D200's features but is significantly lighter and costs less (less durable non-metal body). Great photos.
author=cascadianwarrior link=topic=6030.msg24959#msg24959 date=1168908273]
Those are beautiful pictures! What are you shooting with?
Nikon D200. It works well, but its a lot of extra weight. Unfortunately I think that there are trips where I will have to leave this beast behind.
Those are beautiful pictures! What are you shooting with?
Thanks guys. I'm glad you enjoyed. Here are some other photos from the trip.
http://cascadecrusades.org/SkiMountaineering/snoqualmiepass/kendalloop/DSC_0006.jpg
http://cascadecrusades.org/SkiMountaineering/snoqualmiepass/kendalloop/DSC_0063.jpg
http://cascadecrusades.org/SkiMountaineering/snoqualmiepass/kendalloop/DSC_0003.jpg
http://cascadecrusades.org/SkiMountaineering/snoqualmiepass/kendalloop/DSC_0005.jpg
http://cascadecrusades.org...
http://cascadecrusades.org/SkiMountaineering/snoqualmiepass/kendalloop/DSC_0006.jpg
http://cascadecrusades.org/SkiMountaineering/snoqualmiepass/kendalloop/DSC_0063.jpg
http://cascadecrusades.org/SkiMountaineering/snoqualmiepass/kendalloop/DSC_0003.jpg
http://cascadecrusades.org/SkiMountaineering/snoqualmiepass/kendalloop/DSC_0005.jpg
http://cascadecrusades.org...
Gosh it was worth it if not just for the photos. I like how you are framing them inside of a black border. Very nice.
Thanks for posting this Mike. When you told me what you had found last night I was hoping you would post it.
The surface hoar at Crystal on Sunday was amazing. Never seen it so thick up here in the PNW.
Scotsman
The surface hoar at Crystal on Sunday was amazing. Never seen it so thick up here in the PNW.
Scotsman
Nice report, a good read and beautiful photos as well Jason.
Sounds like you guys made a good choice to wait on the Catwalk. I'm a softie when it comes to exposure yes, but that thing, it gives me the freakies even in the middle of a long dry summer.
Sounds like you guys made a good choice to wait on the Catwalk. I'm a softie when it comes to exposure yes, but that thing, it gives me the freakies even in the middle of a long dry summer.
Hey it's about time I find a trip report from you funky cats :)
I knew the closure of MRNP wouldn't keep you out of the hills. Nice to see you guys skiing (where was Mad_Dog) and taking photos. I see the video camera on Jerry in those pics. Does that mean that we can look forward to another Danjer production in the coming days?
Ron, I've been using Picasa too and really like it. Seems like it's good for use with TAY? I haven't had the need to l...
I knew the closure of MRNP wouldn't keep you out of the hills. Nice to see you guys skiing (where was Mad_Dog) and taking photos. I see the video camera on Jerry in those pics. Does that mean that we can look forward to another Danjer production in the coming days?
Ron, I've been using Picasa too and really like it. Seems like it's good for use with TAY? I haven't had the need to l...
Always fun to tour with such great ski partners.
One noteworthy observation was that above about 5,000 in the open areas (w facing) the rain crust was pretty much gone but about six inches or so below the surface, the grauple from the previous weekend was alive and well in a nice embedded layer. It was obviously high enough that it did not get saturated by the...
One noteworthy observation was that above about 5,000 in the open areas (w facing) the rain crust was pretty much gone but about six inches or so below the surface, the grauple from the previous weekend was alive and well in a nice embedded layer. It was obviously high enough that it did not get saturated by the...
I was in the group that went into the Slot...we were wondering where you guys went. We thought for sure you had gone over to Lundin. The entrance to the Slot sucked, as you heard, but after the steep entrance ramp's boiler plate there was plenty of fluff on top of the crust for good turns - especially skier's right of the couloir. Actually all the sluff was channeling to the right so you couldn't go too far right. Two others had been in there before us.&nbs...
we saw your signature from heather ridge yesterday, nicely done. if i had a camera i would have grabbed a shot, very aesthetic line.
I have always spied that as well, but the avy threat that occurs most of the time has always scared me. Looks like it was a good run!
Isn't "Sea of Joy" by DM?
Isn't "Sea of Joy" by DM?
At least you did not get accosted by the lame patrollers at MP 37 outsode of Index. What constuction zone? There was no construction. Damn speed trap was lame.
Damn nice shot of the tele turn with Tahoma. Now that's a shot I'd enlarge of it was me shredding!
Awesome run! Saw it as I was driving out this morning. You prompted several others to go up Lichtenberg on Sunday.
Some pictures:
1. Mark exhibits "wise route selection," taken from the vantage point of unwise route selection.
2. Young Jason demonstrates nice free heel technique.
3. Jason, Mark, Jim all smiles and de-skinning prior to a last run down "The Line."
1. Mark exhibits "wise route selection," taken from the vantage point of unwise route selection.
2. Young Jason demonstrates nice free heel technique.
3. Jason, Mark, Jim all smiles and de-skinning prior to a last run down "The Line."
Hey - many thanks for providing your snowpit data...
My friend Brian and I started skinning out at 5:20 up to bear gap for sunrise and some runs off Pickhandle Peak which was somewhat wind scorn but clean but called it early because of the temps wind and visability Nothing like dropping into a huge alpine bowl with no Visabilty
Great to be pleasantly surprised eh?! Sorry to miss it; here in Winston-Salem it was 73 degrees today. Kam can relate I'm sure, tho he is a bit further north in Richmond, I believe.
Guess I will enjoy a bit higher freezing levels back home next weekend.
Guess I will enjoy a bit higher freezing levels back home next weekend.
That's funny. My partner David and I both have birthdays this weekend and we both enjoyed a great day near East Peak above Crystal yesterday. The snow was as good as it gets. The vis was less stellar and we got a little turned around for a while. But its just hard to complain when the snow is that good. What a great birthday party it was.
Happy birthday Zap.
Happy birthday Zap.
Can't beat the combination: road open early, 16" cold powder on 10 foot base, the poma wasn't open but the cat track was in making skinning a breeze, and where was everybody? I had first tracks every run. I found you could go very low and the conditions were still great plus the visibility was better. Euphoric!
Lets hope for some warm weather to help kill that layer. Maybe El Niño will finally kick in and spring snow showers will extend our winter so we can get back to some bottomless fluff again.
I was considering that run a couple of days ago but ended up skating on icy crust elsewhere. Not bad at lower and higher elevations. Must be between 4500' and 6500' or so. Anyone else have different observations?
I was considering that run a couple of days ago but ended up skating on icy crust elsewhere. Not bad at lower and higher elevations. Must be between 4500' and 6500' or so. Anyone else have different observations?
thanks for posting. That gives me a better idea of what to expect tomorrow. Nice pic!
alpymarr
Got your skintracks on Friday up Hyak. Thanks. Nice windless blubird day with virtually no one there. You're right though, the raincrust was brutal.
Got your skintracks on Friday up Hyak. Thanks. Nice windless blubird day with virtually no one there. You're right though, the raincrust was brutal.
author=Larry_R link=topic=6001.msg24839#msg24839 date=1168615898]Each week, I'm thankful that I'm simply able to see sights like this, and I try to remember that how strong or weak I am, or how well or poorly I ski is not really that important.
You know, a whole industry has grown up purporting to show you how to be a "soul skier." But I think you hit the nail on the head there.
same over below Silver Peak, toured up below the bowl and skied the meadows this morning 1/12/07. six-eight inches of fluff on that impressive crust . little too light of snow on my three pins and leathers for pretty turns but no one else up there to watch me flail. Nice morning though, groomer fellow stopped and told me he had -3 as a temp, I only saw 8 degrees or so on telemetry , wonder what sort of local variation one can have with the air so still.
pretty blue sky
pretty blue sky
It's a great area. I've headed up there for New Years the last couple years. There was a large group of about 8-10 people this year that laid down a nice track to the top of Sherman Peak on Sunday.
We came through on Monday and it was a quick skin to the top. We only saw 3 other people the whole day.
I still haven't gotten going early enough to do both Snow and Sherman Peaks, but maybe later this year (or next year).
As Telemack said, there was an a...
We came through on Monday and it was a quick skin to the top. We only saw 3 other people the whole day.
I still haven't gotten going early enough to do both Snow and Sherman Peaks, but maybe later this year (or next year).
As Telemack said, there was an a...
I skied the Phantom on Snoqualmie yesterday. I found the skinning awkward because
the new snow would give way to the boilerplate underneath. So if you have ski crampons,
bring em if you're going anywhere steep. Took one turn in the Slot, but couldn't hold an edge
with my ultra-dull-edged powder boards. I booted down 100 feet or so and still boilerplate
with a couple inches on top, so I opted for the Phantom which was good 10" or so dust...
the new snow would give way to the boilerplate underneath. So if you have ski crampons,
bring em if you're going anywhere steep. Took one turn in the Slot, but couldn't hold an edge
with my ultra-dull-edged powder boards. I booted down 100 feet or so and still boilerplate
with a couple inches on top, so I opted for the Phantom which was good 10" or so dust...
I'd say that the crust is pretty much boilerplate. I also agree that some major weather changes will need to happen to affect that crust. Kept thrusting my pole down through the fluff to try and break it, or to see if i was in a windslab area, and it was just like hitting concrete.....
I skied at Summit West on Weds 1/10 and the 4 to 10 inches of superdry pow pow was on top of hard unbreakable rain crust. I didn't dig a pit or anything but its gonna take some mighty weather changes to affect that layer.
Jimmy O
Jimmy O
glad to read a tr from this week...I've been wondering what the heck the snowpack was like up around snoqualmie, thanks for posting!
Is the 'crust' that you saw out by Chair breakable or is it pretty much boilerplate rain-ice crust?
Is the 'crust' that you saw out by Chair breakable or is it pretty much boilerplate rain-ice crust?
Nice report and photos. I've had Sherman Pass on my list for a few years but the conditions were not good during my last return trip from Red and Whitewater. We plan to swing by on the Zap & Jill, Shell 2 for 1 Grand Tour in February. :)