TR Replies

A few pics to go with this John Delbridge photos

Very nice pictures, you seemed to capture Tom's excitement, and he must feel really good about making it all the way to the top.  Kudos to him for that!!

author=Lowell_Skoog link=topic=4615.msg19656#msg19656 date=1146462410]
But it didn't take long before he realized this was going to be a lot more work than riding the chairlift. 

Even though I hate to admit this, I too was saying that same thing to myself as I was...

author=GriffO link=topic=4617.msg19681#msg19681 date=1146508252]
I think the ski down from Colchuck Col to the lake is well worth the effort.

I'd fully agree  8) though I can see how the approach could be perceived as a "slog"  ;) I think the vertical ft ski-to-hike ratio was still pretty good [JOM = 2,000' skied / 5,200' hiked up = 38%] when I skied it ~ 5 years ago in late May (we were able to start from t...

Lowell,

I also have a nine year old ski enthusiast and hope to get him out on a couple of tours this spring/summer.  Maybe we will interesect routes.  I actually had the same experience with my son regarding the realization that a lift is way easier than walking up.  I sometimes think that one barrier to getting them to tour, other than their physical abilities to climb is lack of companionship.  Maybe a group of youngin's together might make for more motivati...

Wow - this was a lot of fun!! Thanks everyone - it was great to hang out with such a fun crowd. Ski, drink beer, chat about skiing, eat, ski, drink beer, relax in the sun and listen to the music and repeat sequence...there is no way to beat that!! I was impressed by all the food/drinks people had brought...whoever brought the oysters deserves a medal - what a brilliant idea!

...and Allyson, I don't know if it was the beer or the "q"  - or the combination of the two, but...

Thanks for putting on a great event. I had an awesome time and it was a great introduction to the backcountry community. I'll definitely come back for more...

Some highlights from the photos I took:



I've got a

"Tom started composing a song about what a slave-driver I was and how he was going to pay me back later. "

So a kid this creative must have come up with some good payback.  Can you share?

author=Tophervw link=topic=4618.msg19700#msg19700 date=1146523260]
...Does anyone have an elevation reading for the lodge there at campbell basin? 

My waypoint for the top of chair 9 (AKA "Gay Ranger" or "Forest Queen") seems to claim 6150.  Looking at the map I'd say that's probably close enough for government work  ;)
Nice to put a face to your handle yesterday. 

author=Mad_Dog link=topic=4618.msg19692#msg19692 date=1146515771]
If you can't trust where you set your "Q", just take it with you

everyone should toe a "q" sometime in their life... ;)

i too had a great day and got in some great skiing.  thanks for picking such a perfect day to be born, jeanette!  it certainly was a good time celebrating with you, and everyone else for that matter.

i'...

That's a wonderful story Lowell.  Congratulations on successfully introducing your son to the sport!

It was a great day in the mountains, the 3rd annual Crystal Ski fest was awesome  :D, the best one yet, even had new snow to ski.  Not only was it the perfect time, weather wise, for our annual outing, but it just happend to fall on a birthday weekend for me  ;D.  Thanks to all of you for the birthday wishes, cards, cakes and candles, birthday "stashes" and even the birthday song.  Just goes to show, that you don't have to go very far to have

We spltboarded the Colchuck glacier on Sunday, 4/30.  The upper steep section was nasty wet slide debris, but we still had a good time.  We camped at the lake on Saturday and hung out in the tent during the little storm that blew through in the evening.  There was a solid freeze overnight, so we cramponed/ice axed up to the col around 9:30, had lunch and descended around 1.  Probably should have waited; the nasty debris on the steepish roll over was very firm.  We made some turns here and there,...

It was a thrill to meet some of you guys and I am very impressed by your climbing and skiing abilities.  What a nice day!  Isn't it great that Crystal has their restroom open and had tables up there.  I don't recall ever seeing those tables before.  Anyway, now that we have a new thread here, another link to some video clips: http://www.lawrencetrotter.com/Crystal%20Pics/CrystalFestShots2006.wmv

I hope we get more pics posted here.

I enjoy trail skiing out colchuck as I've done it probably a dozen times, but I'm a sadistic, machonistic skier at times. Another good ski, is to go up dragontail via the west face couloir from the top of the Colchuck Glacier. It makes for a nice moderate ski with a fun traverse from the top to the true summit. That makes for a 5k ski descent or more not even counting the tree or trail skiing :).

author=Larry_R link=topic=4595.msg19590#msg19590 date=1146182999]
Gee, forgot to mention staying to the east.

Yes, I think you did forget to mention that! Oh well, it added some spice to the tour. Thanks for the report from the next day, Larry. I find it educational to find out how accurate my guess about the next day's snow conditions actually was (I did pretty well this time).

roald, welcome, and sorry I missed you (though n...

I think the ski down from Colchuck Col to the lake is well worth the effort.  It's a nice sustained 30-ish degree run for ~2000 vf or so.  But the trail is pretty lame on skis, its an icy bobsled run through trees...  I was there last week and decided to keep my skins on for the descent down the trail.

Nice to hear that the gate is open!  But I'm confused, why did you have to hike 8 miles each way if the gate is open?