TR Replies
a few more thoughts this post evoked for me as i biked home from work.
both your 12/8 snoqualmie mnt report and this bergschrung report have interesting commonalitites.
first, they describe dilemas i can relate to and they are well written, thanks for the great reads.
secondly, for me at least the main theme is a question we all face often and must decide for ourselves when we are there-
what is the value of a great run vs. the risk?
always diffe...
both your 12/8 snoqualmie mnt report and this bergschrung report have interesting commonalitites.
first, they describe dilemas i can relate to and they are well written, thanks for the great reads.
secondly, for me at least the main theme is a question we all face often and must decide for ourselves when we are there-
what is the value of a great run vs. the risk?
always diffe...
is this report fact or fiction?
i am wondering cause:
1. it took place at *** mystery location.
2. you seem to be skiing as you enter the run but you seem to be snowboarding at the bottom.
3. if i remeber, you are the same fellow who has a 2 year old daughter at home to return to (which we learned about in the long discussion about your early season mnt snoqualmie venture) and i think most dads would chose the left hand route, especially if alone.
4. both rep...
i am wondering cause:
1. it took place at *** mystery location.
2. you seem to be skiing as you enter the run but you seem to be snowboarding at the bottom.
3. if i remeber, you are the same fellow who has a 2 year old daughter at home to return to (which we learned about in the long discussion about your early season mnt snoqualmie venture) and i think most dads would chose the left hand route, especially if alone.
4. both rep...
Yeah, way to hit it on a stellar day, Jeffey.
It looks like the Silcox is almost completely buried if that's it peeking out just past the road cut on the left. If it is, I'm hoping it will still be buried when we're there in about 3 wks; I'd like to ski over the top of it :D
It looks like the Silcox is almost completely buried if that's it peeking out just past the road cut on the left. If it is, I'm hoping it will still be buried when we're there in about 3 wks; I'd like to ski over the top of it :D
Wow, you got a great day indeed, and nice photos! Good looking snowpack as well. Thanks for the report Jeff.
I agree that that midfork approach would be shorter, easier to navigate, and yield more turns, which is probably why I'm interested in the northern approach. To me, a trip starting at 2200 feet and involving miles of skiing through the woods and then up into the alpine to 6600 has all of the elements of a great ski tour. With fast snow and some good navigation it should be doable in one day, though a long one. I was hoping last Wednesday to make it at least to Gold Lake and sort out the nav...
I was told by the people at the hotsprings that the forest service had to bring the road up to forest service standards, at which point they were going to turn it over to the private landholders and gate it at Dingford Creek. The folks seemed to think that was going to occur this summer. In that case, the northern route would be more appealing. I tried to get to the north side of Big S. from Myrtle Lake, and got cliffed out on two seperate tries. I do see that Beckie desc...
Whenver they finally gate the midfork road way below Hardscrabble creek, the northern route may start to have more appeal. I haven't checked in a while - last I saw the FS seemed vague about the gating plans.
nice!! that video is great too (i actually got it up on my computer this time jw!). here's to hoping the conditions and weather are good for us this weekend up there for the glacier class... ;)
I tried to approach Big Snow Mountain via the drainage from Gold Lake a few times back in the mid 90's, during mid winter, and got weathered out both times. Part of the problem was trying to navigate which drainage to follow, as there are several choices to be made along the way. I remember wondering why Beckie said it was a good ski route in, after finally making it to the lake on my 3rd try, the next summer. For skiing, I find the Hardscrabble Lake route much superior,&n...
Ditto on the interest. I got as close as Chetwoot lake on a backpack last summer, but we explored in the opposite direction (toward La Bohn gap/Necklace Valley). It's some nice country up there.
I've been intrigued with the idea of skiing into Big Snow Mt. since a map that I have shows a skier symbol used for marking downhill ski areas. When I saw that on the map, I thought, "Huh? A mapmaker's typo or joke?"
Anyone know if there were ever plans to punch a road in and operate a lift area in there? Not that I'd want that, but I am curious as to how that symbol made it onto the map.
Charles, I'd be up for some exploring in the area if int...
Anyone know if there were ever plans to punch a road in and operate a lift area in there? Not that I'd want that, but I am curious as to how that symbol made it onto the map.
Charles, I'd be up for some exploring in the area if int...
Jim, I was going to try Lake Dorothy to Gold Lake by the drainage between them, then SW up to Big Snow Mountain. Lots of cliff bands in this part of the Alpine Lakes, but on the map this route looks reasonable. I think this is the route Bergdorfer shows. Even if I had been able to drive to snow, I wasn't expecting to be able to get to Big Snow Mountain with the new snow and being alone. Hopefully I can try again with faster snow (and a partner). The Beckey route I remember starts at the Mid...
Bravo!
Having two naked descents under my belt (so to speak), Mt Lassen (not from the summit) and Volcan Casablanca in Chile (quite possibly a first naked descent), I cannot agree more - there is something unbelievably liberating about skiing naked.
And the funniest part is how a little skin reduces grown men to act like giggling school girls. A must do.
Having two naked descents under my belt (so to speak), Mt Lassen (not from the summit) and Volcan Casablanca in Chile (quite possibly a first naked descent), I cannot agree more - there is something unbelievably liberating about skiing naked.
And the funniest part is how a little skin reduces grown men to act like giggling school girls. A must do.
This would be the one time shrinkage probably would work in your favor.
Well, I think I got the name wrong, the photo is of the Kingpin
on your overview photo, not Camel Toes...hmm it certainly
looked like Camel Toes as I was looking up at it.
on your overview photo, not Camel Toes...hmm it certainly
looked like Camel Toes as I was looking up at it.
Nice photos. And way to get on it. I was poking around that area in the
same time-frame you were, but still have a few of the left-most one's to
get to.
Here's a photo looking down Camel Toes
same time-frame you were, but still have a few of the left-most one's to
get to.
Here's a photo looking down Camel Toes
Nice exploring (once again) Charles. Did you have a particular route in mind for getting up to Big Snow, had you been able to get up the road? I've wondered about a route from the north as well, though when I poked around that area a bit last summer (hiking), there was certainly no no-brainer route. There was a creek-bed that was fairly dry that looked to maybe head up into the alpine from the hiking trail that might avoid a serious brush thrash, and a bit after that there was a ridge that...
I'm loading a bunch of photo's and other info onto a photosite and will post a link to it here shortly. You will be able to see the large format pictures there....... so stay tuned.
Great Charles,
I've been intrigued with the potential of that area. Cascade Powdercats is the commercial operator in that area. I've been wondering about the NW facing slopes off Windy Ridge. Does it look like there would be some runs on that side that may hold dry snow in winter?
I've been intrigued with the potential of that area. Cascade Powdercats is the commercial operator in that area. I've been wondering about the NW facing slopes off Windy Ridge. Does it look like there would be some runs on that side that may hold dry snow in winter?
author=gregL link=topic=4540.msg19360#msg19360 date=1145550447]
I think I'll watch you guys. . . .
Perv. ;D
Be careful in the deep tele turns, don't want to snip anything.
Sweet! That's a lot of lines back there... :)
I think I'll watch you guys. Kinda turns the whole mountain into a "no fall zone" . . .
...but later when the weather warms and you see that great looking snow slope that slides straight into a thawing lake or pond, avoid the tempation to treat it as a water slide and hit the sitting glissade into the drink. The plunge isn't so bad, but the sandpaper slide (think 100 grit) and the slap, slap leave a lot to be desired. ;)
cool. How about a new category, "first naked decents"?
I'll second the naked skiing thing. Everyone must do it once (or many times) in their life... :D
For me it's all about exploration. Perhaps Sled-heads' desire to go to new places brings them into conflict w/ skiers.
Tell me more about the HogLoppet conflict. It always seemed to make sence to me to close off Sauk P. E. for a one day event as ther eare so many more skiers than sleds that day. It is the one time a year that they try to groom the whole ridge. But you wanna be in the fore-front and finnish before 9am if you can because all...
Tell me more about the HogLoppet conflict. It always seemed to make sence to me to close off Sauk P. E. for a one day event as ther eare so many more skiers than sleds that day. It is the one time a year that they try to groom the whole ridge. But you wanna be in the fore-front and finnish before 9am if you can because all...
author=MW88888888 link=topic=4519.msg19345#msg19345 date=1145494852]
Like I said, where is not important. I don't care if it was a first descent, although that is fun to imagine.
I enjoy skiing where no one else is (especially next to a town of 2 million souls), and revealing where this area is may compromise that in the future. sorry, nothing personal.
Nah, I'm just being an ass and...
I skied the bergschrund once, so yeah, it's totally been done 8)
Like I said, where is not important. I don't care if it was a first descent, although that is fun to imagine.
I enjoy skiing where no one else is (especially next to a town of 2 million souls), and revealing where this area is may compromise that in the future. sorry, nothing personal.
I enjoy skiing where no one else is (especially next to a town of 2 million souls), and revealing where this area is may compromise that in the future. sorry, nothing personal.
As Username says, I'm sure it was already tagged.... ???
Hey MW88888888 wtf! You post such an exciting trip report but leave out the best part. Like delivering a killer joke but leaving out the punch line. At least what peak was to be so lucky to have been graced by your presence?
Username - such an appropriate response! ;D
Username - such an appropriate response! ;D
Hey nice trip report, but I'm pretty sure that *** got tagged *** years ago by ***, and the *** face of *** was *** by ***, ***, and also possibly *** on *** **, ****. Here's a pic from the first descent of ***:
*
*
In regard to the snowmobile and skier designated-use areas:
It seems to me that more signage may be helpful, and more hint of enforcement. I see a few tracks from snowmobiles violating (by over a mile) the designated skiing areas in my favorite touring area. I also know of an area where snowmobilers climb up to 7000' regularly (for maybe the past 15 + years) in the Wilderness to drop off skiers on a yo-yo circuit. I would like to see a little more emphasis on enforcement. Some sn...
It seems to me that more signage may be helpful, and more hint of enforcement. I see a few tracks from snowmobiles violating (by over a mile) the designated skiing areas in my favorite touring area. I also know of an area where snowmobilers climb up to 7000' regularly (for maybe the past 15 + years) in the Wilderness to drop off skiers on a yo-yo circuit. I would like to see a little more emphasis on enforcement. Some sn...
Technically speaking, this was a glide crack (as the slope is not a glacier), but as it was on the top of the snow pack, I thought the term "Bergschrund" was more descriptive.
Where is not important. I hope you enjoyed the adventure as I did, nontheless!
Where is not important. I hope you enjoyed the adventure as I did, nontheless!
author=JW link=topic=4529.msg19289#msg19289 date=1145369821">
.Here's Ron Busting it off
Great video-
Should have gotten a picture of Ron's shorts after the big release....
Looking forward to getting out with you soon!
Joe
Gary Peniston and I sawed through a cornice at Chinook pass(NAches peak false summitt )with a 30 ' knotted cordelette. We jumped and jumped and the damn thing never did drop! we left feeling guilty as hell. I also fell through one onetime and landed in front of my ski partners. As you can tell I'm still trying to figure them out.
Where? Other than Stuart, Daniel, Hinman, what other glaciiated ps are there in the central cascades? Which did you carve?
Main thing: I'm glad no one got burried last wk-end.
Wow! What a discussion!
My2Cents on snowmachines, what skiers and sled-heads should know-
The tracks from a sled, esp on groomed, when frozen, can litteraly be *deadly* for skinny skiers. When not frozen, the sled tracks are mearly dangerous and akward as hell.
Of the 120 snow-parks, 40 are for non-motorized use.
The state grooms 10 to 100 times the number of miles for snowmachines vs skii...
Wow! What a discussion!
My2Cents on snowmachines, what skiers and sled-heads should know-
The tracks from a sled, esp on groomed, when frozen, can litteraly be *deadly* for skinny skiers. When not frozen, the sled tracks are mearly dangerous and akward as hell.
Of the 120 snow-parks, 40 are for non-motorized use.
The state grooms 10 to 100 times the number of miles for snowmachines vs skii...
In response to khyak's comment that "I think it makes sense to have a few areas for non-motorized travel", Bandit wrote:
"How about MRNP? Is 241,992 acres enough non-motorized area for you? How about The Olympic National Park? How about The North Cascades National Park? How much land do you need to XC ski?"
Perhaps I might make a comment or two. I would like to take these questions at face value in part because the views implied by the questions ref...
"How about MRNP? Is 241,992 acres enough non-motorized area for you? How about The Olympic National Park? How about The North Cascades National Park? How much land do you need to XC ski?"
Perhaps I might make a comment or two. I would like to take these questions at face value in part because the views implied by the questions ref...
Nice! I keep joking/fantasizing with PeterC about "good" ways to release cornices. We usually start with discussions of snow saws, but eventually end up talking about how we can get our hands on avy control explosives! :) Maybe we'll try the belayed-jump-up-and-down method sometime - there are a couple lines I'd like to do if I knew the cornices above them weren't going to release. Usually we use the "steer VERY clear" approach...
Nice photos.
I'll let you know if I head out that way.
I'll let you know if I head out that way.
author=Randy link=topic=4511.msg19281#msg19281 date=1145331945]
How many acres do the snow machines need? 100% it seems There a very few areas left that are "machine free" -- but sledders can't seem to leave the few remaining scraps alone.
FYI: Snow machines are permitted on a number snow covered roads in Mt Rainer NP -- I believe Phil Fortier post a TR about using a snow machine to approach Glacier Basin during February a c...
I was also thinking about posting a TR and was stoked when I came across this thread. As some people down the valley were searching for Easter eggs I was out searching for late season pow. I'd been watching storms come through Mission Ridge all week and knew I had to get up for some turns.
Thinking I was ahead of the pack, I rolled into the parking lot at 8 and found 4 other cars. It only took a minute to throw the pack together and crank up the mp3 player and I was off. Starting...
Thinking I was ahead of the pack, I rolled into the parking lot at 8 and found 4 other cars. It only took a minute to throw the pack together and crank up the mp3 player and I was off. Starting...
A number of related topics have been discussed here. Not everyone is in agreement on everything, which is not surprising, and despite this, the discussion has remained mostly civil. Let's keep it that way.
The original issues that came up in this thread were whether it is (1) legal, and (2) acceptable, to use a snowmobile on the Cold Creek road where the winter-groomed XC trail runs. The issue of snow machines using traditional or designated non-motorized areas has come up severa...
The original issues that came up in this thread were whether it is (1) legal, and (2) acceptable, to use a snowmobile on the Cold Creek road where the winter-groomed XC trail runs. The issue of snow machines using traditional or designated non-motorized areas has come up severa...
author=Bandit link=topic=4511.msg19245#msg19245 date=1145265657]
How about MRNP? Is 241,992 acres enough non-motorized area for you? How about The Olympic National Park? How about The North Cascades National Park? How much land do you need to XC ski?
How many acres do the snow machines need? 100% it seems There a very few areas left that are "machine free" -- but sledders can't seem to leave the few remaining scra...