TR Replies
Joe - what I was describing was not any sort of "corn" as I know it - rather I was wondering if what Peter found (mentioning being near the ridge where I assume rocky areas may be near surface, creating shallow snowpack) was TG snow - depth hoar that might perhaps be starting to melt now and then w/o necking/bonding. Sounds like you're describing non-TG metamorphism that's creating corn pellets w/o a lot of bonding between pellets quite yet?
Larry_R - Thanks for adding the historical notes, I've wondered about how those peaks were named. What about Earl Peak - any info?
Good trip report Dave. Sounds like a great tour with a great group of skiers.
We were also out there for Spring Break and need to stress that it's a great way to get both an early start and a late return on long tours. Base camp really lets you stretch your days. And it's cushy.
Our favorite was the "Braes" above lakes/lochs Julius, Eileen, & Donald on 4/10 with near bomber snow pack and good weather too.
-Dave R
(editted to remove the fourth photo of the thread!)
Our favorite was the "Braes" above lakes/lochs Julius, Eileen, & Donald on 4/10 with near bomber snow pack and good weather too.
-Dave R
(editted to remove the fourth photo of the thread!)
author=Swooz link=topic=4573.msg19457#msg19457 date=1145899640]
...where views to the west towards Merry Peak provided us with an opportunity...
Thanks for the great report Swooz. I'm envious. :)
I'm wondering if 'Merry Peak' is what I've known as Mary Peak, after Mary Sutliff.
For what it's worth, I got the following from John Roper a few years ago:
"Here is my und...
Thanks for the photos and TR. I was out there a few weeks ago, but went in via the other approach. Unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate as well as it did for you. :D
My theory is this. Below the surface frozen layer, the snow has remained largely unfrozen and liquid water is slowly draining from the grains and reducing mass. This may be untypical, but then the fact that prior to the last relatively cold and deep snows of two weekends ago, the snowpack was warm and wet. This old wet spring snow never really got a chance to be exposed to the freeze-thaw of these spring days, because they got buried by that insulating layer of fresh snow. ...
Sounds like good spring stuff and I hope the sprain heals quickly!
I've only been in Teanaway Road in the summer to climb; how close to the road end did you get? Cascadian or Ingalls/Headlight Bsin would be great but from your report it might be a bit early yet.
I've only been in Teanaway Road in the summer to climb; how close to the road end did you get? Cascadian or Ingalls/Headlight Bsin would be great but from your report it might be a bit early yet.
Good report, Bob-o. That was the best spring skiing----w/powder even---I've ever had, and the company, mountain environment and hut were excellent. I'll try to get my photos online and do a post this week. Cheers to all, especially our Canadian friends new and old. 8)
At least in the locations that I checked.
The snow was isothermal down below the crust (large grained wet).
I guess what Jim is talking about is more dry conditioned sugar corn.
What I saw was wide spread, but hard to predict exact locations- deeper isothermal wet with a ice crust layer on top seperated by a slight air pocket.
Strange.
The snow was isothermal down below the crust (large grained wet).
I guess what Jim is talking about is more dry conditioned sugar corn.
What I saw was wide spread, but hard to predict exact locations- deeper isothermal wet with a ice crust layer on top seperated by a slight air pocket.
Strange.
enjoyed your report. we stayed at high camp early april, spring break for the kids. mostly toured around but got in some turns off wild bill and the glades on the way down to the car. really enjoyed the cabin, don and chris's hospitality, hot tub and awesome sledding for the kids. first time there so hope to get deeper in the backcountry next time, spurned on by your foray.
Ditto on that. I've often thought it would be nice to have a sled to get in early up to the Teanaway tours, so no crabbing from me on your approach technique. Alas, I'm not quite motivated enough to purchase one, so I end up waiting for the magic weekend when the road is first melted to or near the trailhead. Sounds like Bean/Beverly may be a few weeks out...
Was it ball bearings (round bits) or more like typical faceted snow (aka "sugar snow") which has no cohesion? If the latter, then my next question is whether it was in a shallow area? or did you find it across a broad area, regardless of snow depth? It's pretty typical to find cohesionless sugar snow in shallow areas near ridgelines due to the higher temperature gradient found in shallow snow (if I'm getting the cause exactly right). Bascially the same thing as depth hoar.
Yeah, nice pictures! We were there Sunday as well after class, tricky crust on the top, then smooth going lower down and around the corner from the main chute. We were able to follow Allyson's tracks out at the bottom, made it quite a bit faster than having to break trail in the sticky mush . . .
Some more pictures here:
Some more pictures here:
author=markharf link=topic=4560.msg19428#msg19428 date=1145767699]
... Now, I am a charter member of the Ron Jarvis School of Generously Allowing Others to Break Trail...
I'm still trying to figure out whether I'm insulted or pleased at this implication, Mark. When I figure it out, be prepared that there is a chance that you will be reported to the moderators of this forum for terms of use violation(s) in the form of... well...
Thanks for the clarification - it all makes more sense now.
Great to see your report and photos. It's been a few years since I toured in that area and it was while doing the Garibaldi-Neve traverse and a couple of other adventures. The touring opprtunities are extensive in the surrounding area.
you worked hard for those photos, and it shows! they look awesome. we were up in that area this weekend too for a class, and some of us managed to ski down to the bridge from glacier vista on sunday. i'd never attempted that before, and it was great! unfortunately we did not have a car down there though, and had to hitch...but it was still early-ish, and eventually i got a ride to execute the shuttle. looks like you all had a good time too! :)
Sorry about the confusion, instead of Bean Creek Road, read Beverly Creek Road. As to driving conditions, Stafford Creek is the end of auto travel. From there another form of motorized transport was used, but only on open Forest Service roads, unlike the high markers we saw going into the Wilderness area. The lack of clarity was my not wanting to open a can of worms about snowgo use.
Swooz, thanks for the report! I'm a little unsure what you are saying about access, from these two parts of your report:
"We arrived at a large tree over the Bean Crk road" and "By next weekend the North Fork Teanaway Road should be melted out past Stafford Creek."
From the latter it sounds like you could drive to around the N. Fork Teanaway road - Stafford Creek road junction?
I'm not sure what you mean by the "Bean Crk road". I...
"We arrived at a large tree over the Bean Crk road" and "By next weekend the North Fork Teanaway Road should be melted out past Stafford Creek."
From the latter it sounds like you could drive to around the N. Fork Teanaway road - Stafford Creek road junction?
I'm not sure what you mean by the "Bean Crk road". I...
Those are some great shots indeed!
We skied the chute earlier this season in a trap crust and it was, hands down, the second worse skiing of my life.
Looks like you guys did good.
We skied the chute earlier this season in a trap crust and it was, hands down, the second worse skiing of my life.
Looks like you guys did good.
Great pictures, jd.
Sounds like you timed it just right.
Pretty windy up at the entrance on Saturday, eh?
Sounds like you timed it just right.
Pretty windy up at the entrance on Saturday, eh?
Some pics:
Pic one is Jolly's summit with my first turns, in center of photo.
The next is the high Teanaway.
The third is some of my favorite Spring sking terrain to the north with Hawkins, Skookum, Ingalls, and Fortune Mountains.
Pic one is Jolly's summit with my first turns, in center of photo.
The next is the high Teanaway.
The third is some of my favorite Spring sking terrain to the north with Hawkins, Skookum, Ingalls, and Fortune Mountains.
I saw the same stuff where we toured last weekend on SE exposures.
At the very summit a pole could not penetrate the surface.
At the 5500 ft level there was some slight punching through the hard layer.
Lower elevations even more predominant surface crust and punching.
As we climbed up from lower elevations the snow would collapse with the weight of the ski compressing mostly around the skis. Some times areas (4x4ft) would drop and as described earlier in the thread, that was...
At the very summit a pole could not penetrate the surface.
At the 5500 ft level there was some slight punching through the hard layer.
Lower elevations even more predominant surface crust and punching.
As we climbed up from lower elevations the snow would collapse with the weight of the ski compressing mostly around the skis. Some times areas (4x4ft) would drop and as described earlier in the thread, that was...
A pic. of Larry at the bottom of the first run.
Righteous, dudes.
Dave, what's next on the list of obsessions?
Skip, Sky has photos on cascadeclimbers...
Dave, what's next on the list of obsessions?
Skip, Sky has photos on cascadeclimbers...
Methinks Charles may have purchased (copied) his spellchecker from Wildsnow (Lou Dawson).
Near the west summit of Sasse Mtn. (5590' per my gps)
Wonderful report. 7100' in 5 + hours is great. ;)
Given our conversation the last time I saw you, I expected to find this report showing up sooner than later. Fine, fine work, Dave et al. I too look forward to the pics.
-s
-s
author=PeterC link=topic=4575.msg19464#msg19464 date=1145903163]
If anyone has a good hypothesis for what is causing the ball-bearing layer I'd like to hear it.
I forget what causes that granular, rotten layer, but during the transition from a winter snowpack to a spring snowpack I have often found such a layer sandwiched between various crusts. It hasn't concerned me much when it is near the surface, but when buried deeper it...
Good report, Dave. Thanks again for the good times and good suffering. Looking forward to seeing some pics!
-Pete
-Pete
What was the approach like? I have friends from Colo looking to climb this wekend. Would this be a good 2 day ski/climb. T
well thanks again for the great read!
a real life "short story" which captures those moments very nicely!
those moments of excitment, fear doubt and accomplishment are what bring us back for more!
(:wats
a real life "short story" which captures those moments very nicely!
those moments of excitment, fear doubt and accomplishment are what bring us back for more!
(:wats
That is strange, I put in "Randonnee", it changed it to "Can't tele?"
I put in "snowshoe", spell cheker changed it to "why"
For "Telemark" it was changed to "Fix the heel, fix the problem... and go take a bath you dirty hippy"
I think your spellchecker might need a bit more fine turning, er, fine tuning ;D
I put in "snowshoe", spell cheker changed it to "why"
For "Telemark" it was changed to "Fix the heel, fix the problem... and go take a bath you dirty hippy"
I think your spellchecker might need a bit more fine turning, er, fine tuning ;D
Glad to hear that you are back in action Mark, and thanks for the report from up north. Regarding the spell checker, I would note that randonee is not known to the spell checker either, so telemark is not being singled out. As a sign of the times, though, snowboard seems to be recognized. Must be a bunch of boarders that wrote the software!
I forgot to mention the last minute addition to our party. The third photo is (rocket man) John. We met him Friday night at the camp and he expressed some interest in coming, if he wasn't up too late partying. Apparently, snow is better than beer. He caught up to us about 30 minutes into our trip and was a great ski partner. Thanks John.
Thanks much, I was considering the west side down to Ollalie Lake but I may just head up the Cle Elum valley instead. It got quite warm today!
Thanks Again,
John
Thanks Again,
John
I found good snow on mainly SW facing slopes, especially first run about 10:30. I think that is because they were less baked. On the second run, maybe 11:30, near the top of Granite West, the SE facing slopes that face "in" to the ultraviolet reflector oven of the W face/bowl of Granite Real were already too soft. Anything that had caught longer morning sun was not good, so I turned SW. I would mention that the supporting morning crust overlay several to many in...
Which aspect(s) did you ski, dkoelle? Thanks for a Snoq Pass area report as I am looking for something to do tomorrow.
John
John
There is skiing, and then there is *skiing*. This was *skiing*. :D
Maybe pics tomorrow.
Larry
Maybe pics tomorrow.
Larry
I posted some more pictures here:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jonathanshefftz/album?.dir=d0d7re2&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jonathanshefftz/my_photos
This should be a direct link to slideshow:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jonathanshefftz/slideshow?.dir=/d0d7re2&.src=ph
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jonathanshefftz/album?.dir=d0d7re2&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jonathanshefftz/my_photos
This should be a direct link to slideshow:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jonathanshefftz/slideshow?.dir=/d0d7re2&.src=ph
Some more pics here:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jonathanshefftz/album?.dir=/dedb&.src=ph&.tok=ph_oavEBnQL_LU0k
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jonathanshefftz/album?.dir=/dedb&.src=ph&.tok=ph_oavEBnQL_LU0k
The Hog Loppet is a great event for a lot of skiers. No problem with it. The HL skiers are on designated snowmobile terrain for a day. Fine too. The road is groomed constantly- once or twice or more weekly for the snowmobiles. I and others ski parts of the road on some non-motorized tours all winter. Snowmobilers share the road with skiers and in my experience are careful. It is not correct that it is just groomed for the HL, just groomed and ski track added by the organizer. Snowmobilers...
Great trip reports, buddy. Those lifts sure are addictive for backcountry touring. :)
Zap(still in the Sierra)
Zap(still in the Sierra)
Well unfortunately this guy (jimw) isn't hosting the video anymore, but there was a scene in it that was quite appropriate! Maybe send him a PM and ask for it? Some classic mano-a-bergschrund...
http://talk.splitboard.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=906&highlight=
http://talk.splitboard.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=906&highlight=
Watson,
Thanks for the thoughts. My work here is done if I've been able to elicit pondering on the Bus, bike ride home, Drive to work, or boring staff meeting - I've passed the baton.
1. Musing or vivid recollection? Yup, it's all fact. I do have pictures, but they are for friends and family.
2. As the great Dirty Harry said (with clenched teeth), "A man's got to know his limitations". On th...
Thanks for the thoughts. My work here is done if I've been able to elicit pondering on the Bus, bike ride home, Drive to work, or boring staff meeting - I've passed the baton.
1. Musing or vivid recollection? Yup, it's all fact. I do have pictures, but they are for friends and family.
2. As the great Dirty Harry said (with clenched teeth), "A man's got to know his limitations". On th...
Sounds like a great trip Silas... I know what you mean by the lifts. I think the most vertical I ever climbed in a day on my Europe trip was 3000ft...
Charles,
Looks like you found a gem.
I was also very interested in this route into Big Snow. I posted on a "discovery" trip on this route several years ago and was discouraged by some of the replies, suggesting that this seemed like a long haul without much reward. I haven't had a chance to get back, but still feel that it is a worthwhile trip, one that I think might be more rewarding as an overnight. I hope someone does it soon and reports...
Looks like you found a gem.
I was also very interested in this route into Big Snow. I posted on a "discovery" trip on this route several years ago and was discouraged by some of the replies, suggesting that this seemed like a long haul without much reward. I haven't had a chance to get back, but still feel that it is a worthwhile trip, one that I think might be more rewarding as an overnight. I hope someone does it soon and reports...