TR Replies
BTW, anyone know anything about doing a Rainier ski circumnav?
You can find some information by following the links that start here:
http://www.alpenglow.org/ski-history/subjects/R-info.html#mt-rainier-traverses
hi charles,
thanks for the great snowpack description! very usefull as i target the snowqualmie area for gettin' out this weekend! i was guessing that the 8" would be settled and transported/sculpted by the wind by this weekend.
this will help us choose a more effective search strategy to find those open areas with wind accumulation away from the forest/steeps :)
thanks for the great snowpack description! very usefull as i target the snowqualmie area for gettin' out this weekend! i was guessing that the 8" would be settled and transported/sculpted by the wind by this weekend.
this will help us choose a more effective search strategy to find those open areas with wind accumulation away from the forest/steeps :)
I was up there yesterday and was wondering about that 9 inches myself. I took some runs out near piss pass and then headed over into the xc trails out towards radio ridge. It felt more like 5 or 6 inches at best.
Whatever aspect alpental is facing that is the face to ski, the snow in the bc was very dry, moderate angle tours would probably fair bettter due to the crust underneath.
T
T
Don,
Glad to see your hip? injury is better and you are out and about in the mountains.
Glad to see your hip? injury is better and you are out and about in the mountains.
I'd have to say the circumnav is my favorite day out on Hood (and I spend a lot of days on Hood).
The sweetest part of clockwise is putting your skis on up on Cooper Spur and taking them off at Timberline. One shot.
I still have a little research to do on this one so I can easily be talked in going back out there.
BTW, anyone know anything about doing a Rainier ski circumnav?
The sweetest part of clockwise is putting your skis on up on Cooper Spur and taking them off at Timberline. One shot.
I still have a little research to do on this one so I can easily be talked in going back out there.
BTW, anyone know anything about doing a Rainier ski circumnav?
Yeah, but you did a darned good job of taking advantage of the lack thereof...
ron j,
Near the entrance to Summit East I noticed a sign prohibiting snowmobiles. So I don't expect to see any in the area. My comment about snowmobiles not only applies to the Nordic Pass trail, but applies to the whole Mt. Catherine area and is in contrast to other I90 destinations such as Amabilis, Microwave Hill and Mt. Margaret where you will find the nasty machines.
Near the entrance to Summit East I noticed a sign prohibiting snowmobiles. So I don't expect to see any in the area. My comment about snowmobiles not only applies to the Nordic Pass trail, but applies to the whole Mt. Catherine area and is in contrast to other I90 destinations such as Amabilis, Microwave Hill and Mt. Margaret where you will find the nasty machines.
Gary, thanks for the tour and the route info.
To all: if you like this route, then it would be a good idea to comment on The Summit's DEIS, because The Summit's plans as shown in their preferred alternative 2 will allow them to develop the area of the Nordic Pass Trail and the only big remaining area of mature forest, wildlife habitat, and "dispersed winter recreation" (like BC skiers) on this side of the highway. See the Random Tracks links to the DEIS.
http://www...
To all: if you like this route, then it would be a good idea to comment on The Summit's DEIS, because The Summit's plans as shown in their preferred alternative 2 will allow them to develop the area of the Nordic Pass Trail and the only big remaining area of mature forest, wildlife habitat, and "dispersed winter recreation" (like BC skiers) on this side of the highway. See the Random Tracks links to the DEIS.
http://www...
Nice vid Jim!
Oh but for some soft snow!
Oh but for some soft snow!
Great photos ! I have the circumnavigation "on the list".
Zap
Zap
Didn't you miss me? Maybe I'm not enuf of a regular. I talked to Elisa in person yesterday @ the climbing gym and checked out the report. Looked great, and oh so different from what this weekend might be. Stay tuned for some reports from Baker BC. cheers
Cool idea for a tour. It's hard to not point the skis down newton/superbowl when traversing across that terrain!
As always, great pictures Lowell. That looks like a fantastic area. I'm ashamed to say that as a Washington native, I've never been over there on skis yet.
As a sidenote, I read your comment re: the N. Face of Spider (but can't login for whatever reason). That was a tough pill to swallow for sure, especially considering how driven I was. There is some sense of accomplishment in doing the loop, however. Group dynamics were definitely great - the 3 of us get along we...
As a sidenote, I read your comment re: the N. Face of Spider (but can't login for whatever reason). That was a tough pill to swallow for sure, especially considering how driven I was. There is some sense of accomplishment in doing the loop, however. Group dynamics were definitely great - the 3 of us get along we...
Nice job - thanks for sharing. After I slept in and leisurely made my way through the clearcut on Kendall Stump on Sunday, I wondered if we'd be seeing reports from more ambitious folks who were surely out taking advantage of easy snow travel and good weather.
thanks for that report. it brings back memories. it's too bad conditions didn't allow for Klawatti...that's a great ski!
really enjoyed your photos 8)
really enjoyed your photos 8)
You know when your standing at the top of that chute....you have to ask yourself... am I really Nisqually-fied?? 8) ...Jerry
Great video, as usual, Jerman. It certainly deserves first tracks ;)
Nice report, Gary.
I've been to Nordic Pass a number of times both from Hyak and the Silver Fir chair, and have noticed the markers from time to time, especially near Nordic Pass, but I never really knew where the actual trail started.
I sent you an email requesting the map.
On another note, you mentioned snowmobiles...
My assumption is that they certainly wouldn't use the 9070 road while it is groomed for nordic skiing as the Catherine Loop (would they???). I've also seen their...
I've been to Nordic Pass a number of times both from Hyak and the Silver Fir chair, and have noticed the markers from time to time, especially near Nordic Pass, but I never really knew where the actual trail started.
I sent you an email requesting the map.
On another note, you mentioned snowmobiles...
My assumption is that they certainly wouldn't use the 9070 road while it is groomed for nordic skiing as the Catherine Loop (would they???). I've also seen their...
Thanks for the pics. I'd like to do that tour.
This time of year, it seems like counter-clockwise might be nicer, so you spend less time in the shade.
This time of year, it seems like counter-clockwise might be nicer, so you spend less time in the shade.
Lowell, what are the peaks in the background of the lower left photo? Nice pics as always!
If I read the map correctly, those peaks are about 2.5 miles SE of Obstruction Point (the end of the road) on the divide west of Grand Valley. The higher one right of center is labeled "Moose" (6753 feet) in the USGS Maiden Peak quad.
They look nice don't they?
Great trip report and video. Looks like Sierra corn conditions. ;)
Zap(in the Sierras)
Zap(in the Sierras)
Lowell, what are the peaks in the background of the lower left photo? Nice pics as always!
"For anybody interested in this trip, I'll put in a plug for thin skins. "
The trouble with thin skins is they are a nightmare if you have to do a rising traverse in sub-optimal snow. Kelvin and I talked about creating a skin for wide skis with a strip of some lightweight material down the center. It might work just as well, or better, with simply a long hole cut out of the middle. I have lots more material left from my last batch of homemade skins, it's worth an experiment.
The trouble with thin skins is they are a nightmare if you have to do a rising traverse in sub-optimal snow. Kelvin and I talked about creating a skin for wide skis with a strip of some lightweight material down the center. It might work just as well, or better, with simply a long hole cut out of the middle. I have lots more material left from my last batch of homemade skins, it's worth an experiment.
...... and I'm now kicking myself for having let other stuff/events get in the way!!! >:( ;D
sounds like a blast.
Sorry you missed out on one of the "best" Nisqually skis. It would have been fun to meet and ski with you too.
It was a great day, the weather was perfect and the skiing was awesome in the chutes and along the whole length of the glacier ;D down to the bridge. If this weather stays warm like it's been, wi...
I was considering going with John and Andy...... and I'm now kicking myself for having let other stuff/events get in the way!!! >:( ;D
sounds like a blast.
sounds like a blast.
Jerry - GREAT film and music. What a great ski tour!!
Great photos. This one on the Reid is my favorite:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickpope/99594706/in/set-72057594064218256/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickpope/99594706/in/set-72057594064218256/
Pete - Thanks for the quick report allowing us to avoid the abundant death crust and enjoy nice WA corn in the chute and glacier.
It was great meeting up with all you guys before the chute and thanks for showing us the safe way to get off the glacier as well. The river crossings at the end did get a bit interesting. I guess we somehow missed you guys at the Paradise lot on the way out.
That was one good run!
-John
That was one good run!
-John
You know when your standing at the top of that chute....you have to ask yourself... am I really Nisqually-fied?? 8)
Outstanding day, great friends! Sorry if I missed anyone....Jerry
Outstanding day, great friends! Sorry if I missed anyone....Jerry
uh-huh, i'd say great tour too! looks pretty spring-like up there...you guys always bring out the sunshine. ;) jw, nice job working the 'camera man clause' so that you get first dibs on freshies! yeah! 8)
I frequently skied both ends of this traverse in the early 90's when my skiing was more XC and less Telemarking.We would often make use of the Appalacian shelters at Deer Park for overnighters and explore the surrounding terrain with our preschool children.We also camped in the basin west of Obstruction Point with our boys, sometimes in a little known cabin.We often talked about linking the two areas, but the closest we actually got to achieving that adventure was to hike the traverse abo...
It was spring out there. Heres a photo of marcr riding.
The steps helped, thanks.
The steps helped, thanks.
nice work! doesn't happen all that often that you get more vert on the downhill than on the up, huh? ;)
Lovely, Lowell,
Having traversed the entire Park in summer from Deer Park west, I know it is a beautiful place. To tour in winter... ahh! Thanks for the stories and views.
Having traversed the entire Park in summer from Deer Park west, I know it is a beautiful place. To tour in winter... ahh! Thanks for the stories and views.
Here is a picture of Sidnie letting them run 
For anybody interested in this trip, I'll put in a plug for thin skins.
I took an old Montana skin and cut it in half length-wise, creating a pair of skins each one-inch wide. I used these extensively on the gentler sections of this tour and they worked really well. Much better glide than normal skins but plenty of grip if you're not climbing too steeply. For the steeper, icy climbs I carried and used full-width skins and harscheisen.
Alan and John did great using full-width skins...
I took an old Montana skin and cut it in half length-wise, creating a pair of skins each one-inch wide. I used these extensively on the gentler sections of this tour and they worked really well. Much better glide than normal skins but plenty of grip if you're not climbing too steeply. For the steeper, icy climbs I carried and used full-width skins and harscheisen.
Alan and John did great using full-width skins...
Thanks.
We were out about 6.5 hours, about one hour of which was lost running back down and up the hill to retrieve lost items ;)
We were out about 6.5 hours, about one hour of which was lost running back down and up the hill to retrieve lost items ;)
Great TR, Alisa.
The weather certainly cooperated with us on that one.
Based on the forecast I was expecting things to cloud over any minute but we didn't see a cloud up there until we got down to the bridge.
John, Andy and Dan, nice to meet you guys and thanks for the extra company crossing the glacier.
Here's a shot of the gang coming down the galcier snout:
The weather certainly cooperated with us on that one.
Based on the forecast I was expecting things to cloud over any minute but we didn't see a cloud up there until we got down to the bridge.
John, Andy and Dan, nice to meet you guys and thanks for the extra company crossing the glacier.
Here's a shot of the gang coming down the galcier snout:
We didn't see the sign. Heck the cabin itself was hard to see under the ten feet of snow in that area. Maybe it gets old having people tromping past your house all winter, but the other owners we say along the road all were quite friendly. Oh, well c'est la vie. In general that area is a wonderful trip. I am not sure why Skyline Ridge gets 100 times the traffic of its neighbor. It isn't even half as nice in my opinion.
Nice report Lowell. As I was looking up at the moon Saturday night, I was hoping you made a go of it. You picked a great weather window.
-Dave R
-Dave R
Nice trip Robert.
I was one of the people on the trip where the owner of the cabin had some choice words for us. On the way in we did not see the "No Trepassing" sign, so on looking back at it we deserved what we got.
Sounds like the area is getting some good use.
Cheers.
I was one of the people on the trip where the owner of the cabin had some choice words for us. On the way in we did not see the "No Trepassing" sign, so on looking back at it we deserved what we got.
Sounds like the area is getting some good use.
Cheers.
Hey Marc,
Nice pictures. That panorama is awesome. By the way, how long did the trip take?
Nice pictures. That panorama is awesome. By the way, how long did the trip take?
Blitz,I was with your husband looking after our respective kids and dogs while you where out having a good time >:( Glad you had a great day and the chutes have always been on my hit list and you beat me to it.
JibberD will be sorry he missed it although he may be powder skiing in Brooklyn by the sound of the weather report.
Looking forward to the viddy JW.
Nice work guys.
Next time grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! ;D
JibberD will be sorry he missed it although he may be powder skiing in Brooklyn by the sound of the weather report.
Looking forward to the viddy JW.
Nice work guys.
Next time grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! ;D
Lowell,
I was just sitting down to write a trip report on our weekend trip to Eagle Point when, to my amazement, I read your report. When we were shuttled down to our car, the ranger told us about a group going to Deer Park and when we reached the trailhead we met an unhappy fellow with a broken ski who said he was part of said group. Apparently his partner had hitched a ride with someone and had disappeared, causing him some concern. After several calls by the ranger s...
I was just sitting down to write a trip report on our weekend trip to Eagle Point when, to my amazement, I read your report. When we were shuttled down to our car, the ranger told us about a group going to Deer Park and when we reached the trailhead we met an unhappy fellow with a broken ski who said he was part of said group. Apparently his partner had hitched a ride with someone and had disappeared, causing him some concern. After several calls by the ranger s...
cool trip....yet another one to add to the 'must ski' list...
..and the single picture split four ways....pretty slick way to maximize Charles' single picture rule. I gotta start doing that.
..and the single picture split four ways....pretty slick way to maximize Charles' single picture rule. I gotta start doing that.