TR Replies
I think I met you guys in the turn out just before heading up. I found the same conditions, the top 500ft of Tronson had nice light snow but crust was everywhere below that. I was going to write a TR but I met a local up there named Ludvig and he made me swear not to reveal his ski hill to anyone else. Beautiful day to be out.
Lindahl and Skoog, there's some names from the past! Way to get it done, boys.
There were cornices abounding wherever a ridge was sharp enough to grow one. We saw no spontaneous cornice activity, but you would probably see a bunch of this tomorrow, if the predicted warming materializes.
There had been a few major crowns, probably during or shortly after the Saturday wind. The biggest was on the Arm -- about a hundred feet across, but only about a foot deep.
The picture in my previous post was Table Mountain, at the South end of the Bagley Basin in Heather Me...
There had been a few major crowns, probably during or shortly after the Saturday wind. The biggest was on the Arm -- about a hundred feet across, but only about a foot deep.
The picture in my previous post was Table Mountain, at the South end of the Bagley Basin in Heather Me...
So where exactly is this? Are you over near Herman or over closer to the Arm?
How did cornices look and where were they?
Any evidence of slides after Saturday's big day?
I was looking over old avy reports of the big slide in Rumble Canyon (99?) when a 10-15+ foot slab broke loose and, started thinking about how much snow got blown around in that big storm that came through.
How did cornices look and where were they?
Any evidence of slides after Saturday's big day?
I was looking over old avy reports of the big slide in Rumble Canyon (99?) when a 10-15+ foot slab broke loose and, started thinking about how much snow got blown around in that big storm that came through.
wow! I wish I was in the BC at Baker today! I remeber that climb up Table last year when we were walking on rock and clibing over bushes. Sick photo!
And I'll hope to join you next time -- sorry it didn't work out Pete! Would've been nice to have had Sunday's powder instead, eh?
High, open west facing slopes were very hard, lower down glades were soft (even west facing), tree skiing was best, but later in the day snow was melting off the large old growth trees on south slopes, so could make tree skiing less pleasant tomorrow. Maybe north and northeast slopes will remain powdery and dry.
Great windless blue sky weather this afternoon, with good powder skiing on well chosen aspects.
Great windless blue sky weather this afternoon, with good powder skiing on well chosen aspects.
In the summer, you can see that the west side of the tracks is signed No Parking, but no such signage on East side. And in the summer, that East side sometimes quite parked up by overflow from Surprise Lake TH because the "official" lot is so pathetically small. The fact that it gets plowed on BNSF's dime might change the equation but I kinda doubt it.
For what it's worth, I talked to a DOT worker there today. He told me our cars would be towed if we parked on the west side of the train tracks (gravel pit).
(We asked, because the lot of the east side of the tracks had not been plowed recently, and had a foot and half of snow in it.
I asked him about the east side of the tracks, and he said it was railroad property, and didn't know if it was legal to park there.
(We asked, because the lot of the east side of the tracks had not been plowed recently, and had a foot and half of snow in it.
I asked him about the east side of the tracks, and he said it was railroad property, and didn't know if it was legal to park there.
Thanks for the report John,
I sure wish my gimpy old legs would have had the strength to go with you today. All this new snow of late is taking its toll on me. :)
I sure wish my gimpy old legs would have had the strength to go with you today. All this new snow of late is taking its toll on me. :)
Amazing photos - those first few pow shots are incredible.
;D
;D
I went to Hyak today hoping to use the chair to get me to
Mt Catherine area the lazy man's way. But the top chair was
closed so skinned up the groomed chairline. Conditions off the groomer track matched your crust description. Meandered up Mt Catherine through the lowest angled trees possible. The crust got less pronounced around 3500 in the trees, and was noexistent above 4200ish. The top 800 feet was fairly good powder. Not as windy as we were led to believe...
Mt Catherine area the lazy man's way. But the top chair was
closed so skinned up the groomed chairline. Conditions off the groomer track matched your crust description. Meandered up Mt Catherine through the lowest angled trees possible. The crust got less pronounced around 3500 in the trees, and was noexistent above 4200ish. The top 800 feet was fairly good powder. Not as windy as we were led to believe...
I have some fond memories of my time at UVM and days at Stowe. Not to mention Mad River, Jay Peak, Sugarbush and the annual pilgrimage to Tucks... Can't say the skiing compares to out here, but I had some good days in VT.
Hey Steve. Looks like I'm not the only one filled with envy. Those are some great photos. Just curious, what was the stability issue that kept you in the trees? Not that it looks like you missed out by being safe. It's more of a continental snowpack there, right?
Oh, how were the accomodations? Appropriate for a 4 month old?
E
Oh, how were the accomodations? Appropriate for a 4 month old?
E
Damn dude!
I will take those visibility issues any day. My buddy has been wanting to get in a trip down there for awhile now. Your pics make me wanna go there tomorow. Nicely done!!!
I will take those visibility issues any day. My buddy has been wanting to get in a trip down there for awhile now. Your pics make me wanna go there tomorow. Nicely done!!!
Nice, Nice, Nice! Looks like you hit the killer Pow!
The shots when the sun came out are especially nice, better than what's on their web site.
You should submit a few to them...
The shots when the sun came out are especially nice, better than what's on their web site.
You should submit a few to them...
I went ahead and posted the same report on the NWAC snowpack info exchange as well. Glad it was of use for some people. I'm always so surprised at how little people post pit info, do people still dig them? I like knowing whats going on out there, so I'll be out there next week and I'll post some more pit info. :)
Hey, you're famous! From today's NWAC avalanche forecast:
Nice work. ;)
A fairly extensive snow pit report on Turns All Year from Tuesday at Paradise indicated some firmer slab surface layers had formed, or were forming, with some low stability test scores and clean shears beneath the slab layers.
Nice work. ;)
That sounds like a worthy adventure and the couloir looks nice.
Thanks
Thanks
Also a thanks for this sort of info from the NWAC. Info that is more purely snowpack info is great on the NWAC blog and no need to be a pro to post there. Or posting on TAY gives me an excuse to browse trip reports.
Sure was stormy at Paradise last night and this morning! :)
http://www.nwac.us/products/OSOPVC
Garth
Sure was stormy at Paradise last night and this morning! :)
http://www.nwac.us/products/OSOPVC
Garth
Thats great to hear! They're fairly intractable at that age.
Its really easy to make your own lines and save money. Mike Callahan has a nice how-to article here:
http://skijor.hypermart.net/line_article.html
Its really easy to make your own lines and save money. Mike Callahan has a nice how-to article here:
http://skijor.hypermart.net/line_article.html
Good info, CW. Thanks.
An additional location where posting this info would be helpful is on the NWAC Avy Blog. The avy pros post there and review other's posts there regularly. Their link is in the upper left corner of the TR pages here (then click on "Create Report" - upper RH corner of the Avy Blog page).
An additional location where posting this info would be helpful is on the NWAC Avy Blog. The avy pros post there and review other's posts there regularly. Their link is in the upper left corner of the TR pages here (then click on "Create Report" - upper RH corner of the Avy Blog page).
For Sale ; 90 Suburu wagon,Celtic Green ,plaid interior.Long in the tooth ,but still Braveheart.
Inexpensive but not cheap Good in snow with chains and manual.
Inexpensive but not cheap Good in snow with chains and manual.
So, how did the skijoring part go?
Going good. He's only 6 months old but already has this inbred desire to pull.Husky's are definitely a challenge though. Very intelligent and stubborn.I'm using a cheap harness I picked up and just some cord but I'm ready to buy one of the custom skijoring setups. It's tremendous fun. ;D
:) I can chain so quickly that my wife thinks were stopping for a pee break, and that bump bump sound is such a happy sound :D
Obviously, there are a lot of us out here who cut our backcountry teeth in Vermont and other Northern New England parts. The addiction led us here, to the gluttony of deep winters and the fun hog paradise of 8 to 12 month seasons, the high alpine of the Cascades and ridiculously long runs. Sure, I haven't forgotten how maddening it was to get 18 inches of super cold, dry powder followed by a hour of rain then plunging temperatures to lock it up (hell, I'm here now because of it...
Arguing over silly shit!..... this is true online community now! ;D
Lets make this clear. I have nothing against Subarus, I don't know why I even bothered to mention that they where Subaru's. I love frigging Subaru's. I am going to sell my truck and buy a SUBARU as soon as I get of this web site. I am changing my son's name middle name to Subaru. I am sending an e-mail to every SUBARU dealer in the county to tell them how much I love SUBARUS.
It was the dumbass, inconsiderate drivers that where the problem, NOT the SUBARUS. ???<...
Ok, So lemme get this straight, Scotty -- You're saying that Subaru's are Ok, is that right?
Lets make this clear. I have nothing against Subarus, I don't know why I even bothered to mention that they where Subaru's. I love frigging Subaru's. I am going to sell my truck and buy a SUBARU as soon as I get of this web site. I am changing my son's name middle name to Subaru. I am sending an e-mail to every SUBARU dealer in the county to tell them how much I love SUBARUS.
It was the dumbass, inconsiderate drivers that where the problem, NOT the SUBARUS. ???
It was the dumbass, inconsiderate drivers that where the problem, NOT the SUBARUS. ???
Question here, was it so deep that the Subarus were boggin down, or was it a case of dumbass drivers? I have an Impreza, with tires of questionable traction, I deliver pizzas in Cle Elum-Roslyn area. i have encountered some very challenging driving conditions, but the Suby has only failed me once, and that was because the snow in this guys driveway was so deep and wet that my little car could not go. Suby's are the best snow car I have ever driven and can't seem to grasp the idea of having to p...
Me? Tell a story ;D
We were actually Six, and I'd love to tell you more whenever you'd like.
What Jason meant to say was 'whether you'd like it or not'
;)
Mac, glad you came forward and wrote the trip report, representing the hordes in Bullion Basin(12?) on a high avalanche danger day. Now we can all surface and admit our folley. That SW slope sure skied well, even while scraping the ice layer occasionally. It seemed to be the only reasonable line under the circumstances.
As Justin alludes to, it's a never ending source of amazement and amusement to me how fragile the direction of a thread can be.
It's like a perfect example of the chaos theory -- the potential directions are limitless. What with the shortcomings of the written word and much of the time not actually knowing the person who is posting, we, probably as often as not, don't really get the message the poster is attempting to convey.
I was thinking about this...
Jason - thanks for the memory. You told me another classic story once when we happened to converge coming down from Heliotrope Ridge, about your dad taking you and your brother on your first attempt of Mt Rainier - do I remember right that it was when you were about 5 at the time? I was amused by your comment to the effect of "we didn't make good time because my brother and I weren't working well together on the rope." Your dad gave you some amazing exper...
Good Man TELEMACK, Exactly the point I was trying to make. You backed up to a pullout and did not impede others. I knew there was a reason I skied with you. ;D
My wife and I took the doggies to Snowbowl on 1/21 and I got 1 good lap below the point past the hut; long ski for 14 turns, tho.
We drove our SUBARU almost to the gate parking, but it got steep and I hate putting on chains so I backed 1/2 mile to a safe pullout. As we booted up the road several
SUBARUs passed us, as well as trucks.
We were the only ones with skins on that day; any other good turns to be had at MTTA?
We drove our SUBARU almost to the gate parking, but it got steep and I hate putting on chains so I backed 1/2 mile to a safe pullout. As we booted up the road several
SUBARUs passed us, as well as trucks.
We were the only ones with skins on that day; any other good turns to be had at MTTA?
When I was at UVM I would occasionally cruise up to Mansfield just to get last run down Bruce. Any run that spits you out at a bar is pretty special. Especially when there is a few inches of pow on a faster/harder surface, the ~4 miles from Stone Hut to the Matterhorn just fly by. On deeper days, bang a left at a little arrow tacked to a tree and dive down Bruce Waterfall, a sweet old landslide scar into a wide open streambed. I can still the remember the day I discovered it, alone, late in the...
(Apparently Jason, your vibe is way too positive for this thread.)
I like to be a positive influence 8)
While I personally don't have anything against subaru drivers, there was this apple weilding VW Van driver that I would like to have a few words with, but he passed me while I was stuck in my 4 wheel drive ;D
Jason - thanks for the memory. You told me another classic story once when we happened to converge coming down from Heliotrope Ridge, about your dad taking you and your brother on your first attempt of Mt Rainier - do I remember right that it was when you were about 5 at the time? I was amused by your comment to the effect of "we didn't make good time because my brother and I weren't working well together on the rope." Your dad gave you some amazing experiences, apparently. I hope to h...
As Justin alludes to, it's a never ending source of amazement and amusement to me how fragile the direction of a thread can be.
It's like a perfect example of the chaos theory -- the potential directions are limitless. What with the shortcomings of the written word and much of the time not actually knowing the person who is posting, we, probably as often as not, don't really get the message the poster is attempting to convey.
I was thinking about this phenomenon just the o...
It's like a perfect example of the chaos theory -- the potential directions are limitless. What with the shortcomings of the written word and much of the time not actually knowing the person who is posting, we, probably as often as not, don't really get the message the poster is attempting to convey.
I was thinking about this phenomenon just the o...
Dberdinka, there is nothing wrong with Subaru's, and that wasn't the point of the rant. What is wrong is when you effectively block access to a public area because you have not taken the time to learn how to put chains on or had the consideration for others to do it in a place where it does not impede others plans and outings.
All the people who got stuck or blocked the road ( with one exception) where completely unworried that they had spoiled other people's plans and acted like it ...
All the people who got stuck or blocked the road ( with one exception) where completely unworried that they had spoiled other people's plans and acted like it ...
(Apparently Jason, your vibe is way too positive for this thread.)
CLEARLY YOU ARE MUCH SUPERIOR TO ALL THESE FOLKS. Particularly people who drive Subarus. I believe I speak for the masses when I say we all stand in awe of your perfection.
Sweet, thanks for the stoke. I have vivid memories of skiing the front four at Stowe as a wide-eyed kid, dreams of Warren Miller and Scott Schmidt dancing in my head. It's about time I re-visited those mountains and learned what the real skiing was about.
Nice...Makes me miss the birches!!!!!!
I'm glad people still get up on the MTTA. My dad was the first president and one of the founders (though we didn't cross country ski much and haven't been a part of the organization since the very early days). I spent several years building High Hut and the Yurt as a kid (which at one point was on Champion land by Golden Lakes. From there we had access to the silver forest and Colonade on Mount Rainier). We had a good time building those. In fact we set out on a ski traverse from hut to hut thro...