TR Replies
Love the pics!! Especially the second one, looks wicked cool ;D 8)
hey, stoudema. yeah, i'd like to go back myself.
we didn't see any avalanche signs. we did not conduct thorough tests (shame on us), but noticed no discouraging evidence. we followed the primary footpath up; others were going up and down, a few skiing. coming down we let milder terrain and the softer snow determine our course back to camp.
we didn't see any avalanche signs. we did not conduct thorough tests (shame on us), but noticed no discouraging evidence. we followed the primary footpath up; others were going up and down, a few skiing. coming down we let milder terrain and the softer snow determine our course back to camp.
Nice report,
I'm sure your pictures will inspire many of us to get up there and make the St Helens tour (myself included!). Even w/the variable snow conditions, I'm sure the views more than made up for it. Did you notice any evidence of avalanche conditions?
I'm sure your pictures will inspire many of us to get up there and make the St Helens tour (myself included!). Even w/the variable snow conditions, I'm sure the views more than made up for it. Did you notice any evidence of avalanche conditions?
hi, jck. i recommend the trip! i guess the potential for ice/crusts is good, with all that southern exposure. but all-day sun softened things up plenty for us.
the whole tour is doable as a day trip (depending on how far you must drive). it's probably only about 4 miles to the top from the sno-park lot. very straight-forward. and you get to potentially ski more than 5,000' down to your car! camping is easy, though, as you can find fine, quiet spots within two miles from the...
the whole tour is doable as a day trip (depending on how far you must drive). it's probably only about 4 miles to the top from the sno-park lot. very straight-forward. and you get to potentially ski more than 5,000' down to your car! camping is easy, though, as you can find fine, quiet spots within two miles from the...
Nice photos & trip report. I've been wanting to get down there & ski it since it was re-opened. Two questions:
How much length does parking at the Marble Mount snowpark add to the trip---on the FS map it only looks like a couple of miles?
I've only been in the spring after the roads have melted out to the Climber's bivvy.
Were you able to see into the crater---I didn't see any pics of the growing lump or steam, but it might have...
How much length does parking at the Marble Mount snowpark add to the trip---on the FS map it only looks like a couple of miles?
I've only been in the spring after the roads have melted out to the Climber's bivvy.
Were you able to see into the crater---I didn't see any pics of the growing lump or steam, but it might have...
Thanks for the photos Chris!
A nice short tour indeed. The views turned out to be better than I thought, with clouds breaking up around the Wine Spires off Silverstar, framed nicely by the torched hillsides of Driveway Butte.
The descent off the north side was perhaps a little more complicated than descending the ascent route, definitely 'Wild West', but the tight turns in the trees were aided by soft powder, and the Bulldog News Brew! An nice bonus for going thro...
A nice short tour indeed. The views turned out to be better than I thought, with clouds breaking up around the Wine Spires off Silverstar, framed nicely by the torched hillsides of Driveway Butte.
The descent off the north side was perhaps a little more complicated than descending the ascent route, definitely 'Wild West', but the tight turns in the trees were aided by soft powder, and the Bulldog News Brew! An nice bonus for going thro...
Hey guys, thanks for writing up the trip report. My shoulder is back in the socket but my typing is slow. For my and Sidnie's part we couldn't have imagined a better trip; three blue bird powder days in a row and the snow quality as perfect on the last day as on the first. Great company and even a pack of dogs. What could better? Could have done without the injury. But at least it was at the end of the trip. "Tis but a scratch" ;)
jamesellis, sorry James , I didn't know you where an official TAY'er. It was great to watch you ski so confidently and gracefully. Maybe one day, I'll be able to ski like that.
I should also mention some things I omitted from my first post.
There was another Portland couple with us, Portlandmatt( his TT tips name) and his lovely wife Jeanette. The Ellis family also brought their standard poodle, Lucy who managed the powder snow as well as any of the other dog...
I should also mention some things I omitted from my first post.
There was another Portland couple with us, Portlandmatt( his TT tips name) and his lovely wife Jeanette. The Ellis family also brought their standard poodle, Lucy who managed the powder snow as well as any of the other dog...
hey, warrior. yes, it was an awesome end to 2006 (good riddance) and the right start to "007!"
glad you enjoyed my shots - i take far too many on lovely days in pretty places (almost always mountains).
laughably, i have an "old" digital point-n-shoot Nikon Coolpix 4300; it's only 4 megapixel, and i've dropped it, cracked it, gotten it wet. it still works, so i stick by it. and once in a while i get a good photo or two. have fun out there! :)
glad you enjoyed my shots - i take far too many on lovely days in pretty places (almost always mountains).
laughably, i have an "old" digital point-n-shoot Nikon Coolpix 4300; it's only 4 megapixel, and i've dropped it, cracked it, gotten it wet. it still works, so i stick by it. and once in a while i get a good photo or two. have fun out there! :)
much niceness.. well, that first downhill run at least.
definitely nice to finally samply some Crystal Mtn backcountry!! ;D
definitely nice to finally samply some Crystal Mtn backcountry!! ;D
By the time (3pm) Dorothea,Diana and I got back to the top of Silver fir lift I had a 3/16 of ice on my helmet and I swear we could took of our jackets and pants and they would have stood there by themselves!
Our experience was similar: same 20 degree temps on arrival at 8:30AM as we found Saturday and Sunday, but seemed to warm as we climbed. Snow showers got heavier too, so we bailed after one run luckily before skiing got as bad as you describe. Traffic started to jam up on I-90 already by noon, I hear it got really heavy later.
Beautiful pictures; it looks like a hell of a way to bring in the new year! I checked out your Flickr site and you've got some killer pics. What are you shooting with? I picked up a Canon 20D but still don't have the quality glass I really want.
M, D, J^2: thanks for the nice track. we should have followed it further. at some point i'll learn....
Cass: glad to hear you enjoyed the Methow Valley.
Cass: glad to hear you enjoyed the Methow Valley.
Correction, five TAY'ers. You forgot me, overthehills jr. Great trip. We found by far some of the best snow I've experienced. McCully Basin is definitely worth revisiting.
Hey fellas,
My friend & I met you 2 at the saddle between Cement and Bullion Basins last year (we were splitboarding). Great to hear about the trip you just had. Sounds like something I would be very interested in with my girlfriend who also splitboards. I would love to see your photos. Thanks again for bringing this place to my attention. Good to see your getting some. Take care.
Rob
My friend & I met you 2 at the saddle between Cement and Bullion Basins last year (we were splitboarding). Great to hear about the trip you just had. Sounds like something I would be very interested in with my girlfriend who also splitboards. I would love to see your photos. Thanks again for bringing this place to my attention. Good to see your getting some. Take care.
Rob
Yeah it was excellent! Fine snow, lots of variety and great company. I'm getting photo CDs made and will try to post some, too.
The Wallowas are a super area of big, remote mountains. Biggest drawback was the long drive.
check out this site for info and fun pix:
www.wallowahuts.com/
The Wallowas are a super area of big, remote mountains. Biggest drawback was the long drive.
check out this site for info and fun pix:
www.wallowahuts.com/
There's another layer we'll have to watch, eh?
Thanks for the report.
Thanks for the report.
Kam- Bummer you couldn't make the drive out to the Methow Valley, but looks like you made the best of the day with Wu Dawg. (btw- the roads were in good shape in the Methow this weekend, though the drive home today was slowed substantially by sluggish traffic / freezing rain from about Cle Elum to Snoq. Pass). Way to wait until the last day of the month to keep your ski streak alive! :)
Thanks for answering the route question, David. You made it more clear than I could. I seem to wind up trying several ways out and never the same one twice.
Four of us put in the uptrack (M (I'm not Monika), D, J, and J) to just shy of the false summit on Friday. Very faint signs of down tracks in the low, old timber (below 4,000 feet) of others having been in the area earlier in the week. No signs of human activity in the upper bowl. We skinned to just short (less than 100 ft.) of the ridge top and farmed our lines from the middle of the bowl (below the false summit). Snow was stable. No signs of debris. We did four long powder runs from...
I agree Ron...that's a great shot. I'm suspicious, though...it looks like a Cristo sculpture: "Cascades Ridge Stacked With White Styrofoam" perhaps. :) :) :)
-Bill
-Bill
I found that keeping the camera (out of the case) in my pant pocket next to quads is the warmest spot and have had no problems since. That way you don't have to hassle with putting the battery in and out, or risk dropping it!
Tony is right, your digital camera will stop working due to the battery getting cold, not the camera it self.
Keeping your battery in a inside pocket will cure your problem...or what I do is carry an extra battery in an inside pocket, then I am still able to use my camera until it fails with out having to load the battery every time I want to take a photo. Then...when the first battery fails, I replace the cold one with the warm battery and continue shooting.
The cold ba...
Keeping your battery in a inside pocket will cure your problem...or what I do is carry an extra battery in an inside pocket, then I am still able to use my camera until it fails with out having to load the battery every time I want to take a photo. Then...when the first battery fails, I replace the cold one with the warm battery and continue shooting.
The cold ba...
Keep your battery in your inside pocket close to your core and only put it in when you are ready to shoot. I have the same problems in cold weather.
Nice job. Brrrrrrr!
Nice job. Brrrrrrr!
Glad you had a nice trip Don!
With regards to getting back, I call the weather station, above Windy Pass, as Nordic Pass proper. If I am parked at Summit Central, I aim for Grand Junction. I initially descend the drainage, staying on skiers left left of the creek. The key move is to veer more skier' left (West) maybe 1/3-1/2 mile down from the Pass. There is sort of a dog-leg; the first 200-300 vertical down from the Pass is semi-fall line and you can get...
With regards to getting back, I call the weather station, above Windy Pass, as Nordic Pass proper. If I am parked at Summit Central, I aim for Grand Junction. I initially descend the drainage, staying on skiers left left of the creek. The key move is to veer more skier' left (West) maybe 1/3-1/2 mile down from the Pass. There is sort of a dog-leg; the first 200-300 vertical down from the Pass is semi-fall line and you can get...
Speaking of Nordic pass. What's the best way back to HYak or grand junction from Nordic pass. The last two times I have traversed out in either direction. If you go straight down from the pass, can you just follow the drainage out to the cross country trails? I have gone over Nordic to get to Silver Mt. twice this year, and am starting to think it is too much work and I should just take the cat track from grand junction to Ollallie meadows.
Nice report.
Great pics.
I would nominate the sastrugi shot for the "Best of 2006" collection.
Great pics.
I would nominate the sastrugi shot for the "Best of 2006" collection.
I skipped town right after the trip to Yodelin on the 23rd, and I'm just now getting around to posting my pics. There are a few on my site. Scroll the photo strip to the left to find them. Happy new year everyone and I'll see you out skiing again soon!
We found similar conditions nearby, 8" powder at altitudes between 2500' and 5000'. The day turned out beautiful after early morning fog at the pass and high clouds above. Sunset on the peaks and snow covered stubby trees was excellent! Happy New Year!
Hmmm....I wonder where this snoqualmie pass mystery tour took place. Mt Margaret??? It seemed to have the most snow on the trees of any of the various tours at snoqualmie pass.
Nice to see that you are getting out, Silas. It's been a while since I've seen your name on the reports. I got in 3 days of lift-skiing at Stevens this week. Hopefully our paths will cross in the new year.
author=tdave link=topic=5895.msg24461#msg24461 date=1167502985]
Thanks for the tour, Larry. Any idea what the whole rig weighs?
David, the stuff is packed up right now, but I'll weigh when I get back from this week's trip.
After Snow lake, we continued on to the West ridge of Snoqualmie Mtn. There we find nice snow among nicely spaced old forest down Alpental.
Rich tasting powder after body-checking.
Rich tasting powder after body-checking.
author=ron j link=topic=5895.msg24458#msg24458 date=1167500494]
Ahhh... gear.
I love it.
You missed two pictured items in your description though. Probably just a troll for gearheads, eh? ...
I can't imagine a confessed precision gearhead such as yourself would omit mention of it without a specific purpose in mind ;)
Ron, as soon as I posted pic, I remembered that I had left the Optimus 'Mini-Pump'...
Thanks for the tour, Larry. Any idea what the whole rig weighs?
Ron, I think that picture is the second beer coaster. And thanks for identifying the pump, I was wondering what that was.
David
Ron, I think that picture is the second beer coaster. And thanks for identifying the pump, I was wondering what that was.
David
Ahhh... gear.
I love it.
You missed two pictured items in your description though. Probably just a troll for gearheads, eh?
My guess is the silver cylinder after the priming fluid is the pump to pressurize the fuel reservoir.
But what's with the picture between the lighter and the wedges?
I can't imagine a confessed precision gearhead such as yourself would omit mention of it without a specific purpose in mind ;)
I love it.
You missed two pictured items in your description though. Probably just a troll for gearheads, eh?
My guess is the silver cylinder after the priming fluid is the pump to pressurize the fuel reservoir.
But what's with the picture between the lighter and the wedges?
I can't imagine a confessed precision gearhead such as yourself would omit mention of it without a specific purpose in mind ;)
author=tdave link=topic=5895.msg24450#msg24450 date=1167458285]
See the thermometer? Check out that stove!! I particularly like the hardwood shims for levelling the base.
Thanks for noticing the stove TDave. Also got a PM also mentioning the stove stuff, so I thought that maybe a shop photo of more of it might be of interest….well to at least two TAYers.
Clockwise from the upper left corner in the pic:
- th...
See the thermometer? Check out that stove!! I particularly like the hardwood shims for levelling the base.
Thanks for the B-day wishes, John. Grapevine has it that you have Jill Fredston coming to E-burg to show slides late Jan, cool. I loved her book.
T-lux, this tour starts at the Cooper River road (FS 46) bridge. Cross the bridge and go one mile on the groomed snowmobile route. Then turn left, west into the forest to access the clearcut. From there there are lots of options.
John
T-lux, this tour starts at the Cooper River road (FS 46) bridge. Cross the bridge and go one mile on the groomed snowmobile route. Then turn left, west into the forest to access the clearcut. From there there are lots of options.
John
cass and all--those photos of all that snow are making me drool...looks sweet!
yodelin was the first place i ever went in the bc. it holds a special place. ;D
yodelin was the first place i ever went in the bc. it holds a special place. ;D
Good times on the 22nd. I'll second that yikes though!!. That whole was a monster.
You gotta send me some of the pics from that day. :)
You gotta send me some of the pics from that day. :)
we skinned around from summit east, and came back over and down under the lift.
Which route did you take? We were up the day before via Humpback Cr Trail to west face and triggered an 18" slab at about 4300 and only went a little further up. Great riding down below!
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/wenatchee/district/cleelum/winterrec.html
http://terraserver.microsoft.com/image.aspx?T=2&S=12&Z=10&X=802&Y=6561&W=3
http://terraserver.microsoft.com/image.aspx?T=2&S=12&Z=10&X=802&Y=6561&W=3
Looks like fun tree skiing! Where did you guys start this tour? Did you start near the Salmon La Sac guard station? Is this out near Davis Peak and/or Jolly Mtn?