TR Replies
After searching upstream for a snow covered route across the creek, we decided to go for it.
Indeed, a sketchy affair, the bridge crossing md2020 speaks of... We crossed it a few weeks back and it spooked me for sure. Then on a later trip we plowed over the creek upstream about 150 yards or so. I'd imagine with the added snowpack I'll do it that way again...
ronj, Mad_Dog, thanks for a great tour! My mental map of...
A friend of mine was up there on that day and also told me he had seen snomobiles. I am pretty sure they our not allowed up there on the route, but I could be wrong. I have worked At Stevens for a couple years and have never seen them on the ridge in all the Winters I worked there.
Good grammar... err and point, Phil. ;)
And those who have skied with me know I have no knee-jerk aversion to being around snowmobiles. In fact, I sometimes take great advantage of their trailbreaking and grooming functions.
And those who have skied with me know I have no knee-jerk aversion to being around snowmobiles. In fact, I sometimes take great advantage of their trailbreaking and grooming functions.
That place is packed with people: skiers, snowshoers, hikers, kids sledding, etc... seems like a dangerous spot for snowmobiles.
Here is a picture from that day. It was awesome.
Eva ;D
(Edit to fix your link, Eva, hope you don't mind. rj)
How's it look now, Tony.
Eva ;D
(Edit to fix your link, Eva, hope you don't mind. rj)
How's it look now, Tony.
Eloquent articulation Randonee,apropos. X
Nonetheless, the ratio of folks who post to those who lurk is rather high (read the numbers on how many readings posts get, and talk to Charles if you still don't believe it). Perhaps there are just a few Bellinghamites who read TAY, but there are plenty of lurkers who could share some useful info or even poetry if that's what they have to contribute in return for what they receive here...
In the last two posts there seems to be a notion that if your a backcountry skier you must read/post here.
.....
This site for whatever reasons is simply Seattle-centric in its users.
That's not what I intended at all. I do think that the folks who regularly post/peruse this site (given the "Turns All Year" idea) are probably more likely to go a little farther in a bad snow year. That may be because it's &quo...
Dear Jim D:
Most of us would prefer to be away from snowmobiles while bc skiing. But such language and such assumption, presumption, assumed selfish pre-eminence, and preadolescent fit is certainly a bore.
Did you bother to speak to those offending individuals, or did you lack the courage? If you did not bother to speak to them, is your anger justified? Aside from offending you, how were they in the wrong ("well behaved")?
I would suggest don't be such a "laz...
Most of us would prefer to be away from snowmobiles while bc skiing. But such language and such assumption, presumption, assumed selfish pre-eminence, and preadolescent fit is certainly a bore.
Did you bother to speak to those offending individuals, or did you lack the courage? If you did not bother to speak to them, is your anger justified? Aside from offending you, how were they in the wrong ("well behaved")?
I would suggest don't be such a "laz...
I know that some are exploring other areas, but there were literally hundreds of tracks on Shukan Arm, Table, Herman and the rest. I for one would love to hear reports and to see pictures...at the least I would like to know about snow conditions. It becomes a matter of safety. That being said. I asked everyone I passed if they'd dug a pit and not a one had. Don't people do this?
In the last two posts there seems to be a notion that if your a backcountry skier you must read/post here.
I don't think thats the case, at least around Baker. The BC there is packed as usual. Bagely Lakes Basin must have had a couple hundred sets of tracks after the weekend.
Conditions reports for Skyline, Bullion or Paradise really have little value for a place 100+ miles away so even though there are not many TRs I don't think people are simply leeching info of this...
I don't think thats the case, at least around Baker. The BC there is packed as usual. Bagely Lakes Basin must have had a couple hundred sets of tracks after the weekend.
Conditions reports for Skyline, Bullion or Paradise really have little value for a place 100+ miles away so even though there are not many TRs I don't think people are simply leeching info of this...
This is great. I am a Seattleite and have been living in Jackson since Jan 1st. I came here to take Avy II with the American Avy Institute and the AMGA Ski Guiding course. During the AMGA course we skied "25 Short", Albright, Glory Bowl and did a two day Trans Teton tour starting at JHR. It was epic. The snow pack here is solid and the snow stays consistently light. It also doesn’t seem to go more than 4 days without some new snow. I don&am...
I've discussed this a bit with some of my friends -- here's my theory. Last year was so poor that most of the decent skiing was to be had only around Baker or Rainier, a good 3-4 hours for most of the posters here. Given that the folks on this board are the most likely to be skiing regularly, no matter the conditions, perhaps the bulk of the TAY crew is exploring Snoqualmie and Stevens and other areas and giving the "long-distance" driving areas a break?
I know I am...
I know I am...
What struck me was the number of people up there and the lack of postings on this site.
I've been wondering about this as well. With all of the new snow there have consistently been reports from all of the major winter areas except Baker. Why is this? My first thought was that since Markharf is elsewhere contracting malaria, there has been nobody skiing/boarding in the Baker backcountry, but mjb266's post indicates otherwise (as do the follow-ups).<...
Brenda and I wondered where you all had gone. We climbed up Edith Creek, then hurried and skied the middle rib below Golden Gates down to the foot bridge before losing the visibility. First tracks and excellent snow. The bridge was interesting. There must have been 10' of snow piled on it, forming a very narrow ridge, with a long drop to the creek below. After searching upstream for a snow covered route across the creek, we decided to go for it. I think we'll ski to the road to cross next time....
Backcountry users seem to come in two flavors , motorheads and motorheads in denial. X
We are out there, just having too much fun to write about it. Skied 5 k by 2 pm in absolutely wonderful conditions. Headed in when it warmed up and the warm front moved in. Early starts are always a good idea in the Baker BC.
Are snowmobiles prohibited up there? If not, good luck getting the forest service to act quickly on anything.
Even though the vis wasn't the best, the group was. It certainly was just like a class reunion. Lots of us having the pre-Paradise breakfast party at the Tall Timbers in Eatonville before heading up. Once first tracks were laid, making our depth perception come back, the skiing was very good (just one more reason I don't always like to go first ;)). Our lagre group broke into several smaller groups, re-grouping at various stages for our tour to Narada. The tre...
there are a ton of people up there every weekend and i dont think any are TAYers. i gave up with the TRs earlier in the season. ;)
by the way, i managed to time it perfectly too. skin up was nice and sunny, ride down was nice and white out...
by the way, i managed to time it perfectly too. skin up was nice and sunny, ride down was nice and white out...
We were across the highway, skiing out of Gold Creek on Saturday. It was also much warmer than we expected - the temperature difference between the top and bottom of our runs was big... the snow was baking down at 4000ft, despite what the telemetry showed for that day - the filtered sunshine and fog was like an oven I guess. Snow in the open was gloppy, but in the forest it was powder.
We also triggered a small 12 inch slab on a steep roll.
We also triggered a small 12 inch slab on a steep roll.
The warm-up in the temps. Sunday in the Silver Pk/Mt. Catherine vicinity was quite noticeable; Skip and I had started out from Hyak in snow flurries, but by the time we got back to Hyak we were skiing down in drizzle (though the snow above ~4,200-ft seemed slightly less heavy)...
Saw a couple ~8-to-10" high crowns at steep convex rolls in the forest on Mt. Catherine; looked like the small slabs had been skier/boarder triggered somewhat recently at those locations, though the slides were...
Saw a couple ~8-to-10" high crowns at steep convex rolls in the forest on Mt. Catherine; looked like the small slabs had been skier/boarder triggered somewhat recently at those locations, though the slides were...
Thanks Scotsman! and Ron! and all the mouskateers! I have pictures of Ron’s militia in the conga line and bunny hop and the little hill we skied above the parking lot. Pretty day once we got below the clouds. I will contact AV nerd for tutorial tomorrow on how to send pictures. alisa :)
...RonJ , Mad dog and crew having orchestrated this conga line dropped, I suspect ,purposly to the rear and went AWOL and skied a different line down to Mazama road.( crafty old fox)We're not really all that crafty, just old. We really couldn't keep up with all you young chargers. 8)
No wolf, no gal, just me and my neighbor Timmy and his Volki's (aka Union Creek trailbusters). Me: "I don't know Timmy, looks a bit sketchy. I'll keep an eye on you though." Timmy: "Ok." Timmy breaks, I follow, repeat pattern...I cook Timmy dinner later that night.
These areas certainly are not secrets, but from 7 to 8 am it was just us, two guys heading off in a different direction, and the birds. Wonderful.
These areas certainly are not secrets, but from 7 to 8 am it was just us, two guys heading off in a different direction, and the birds. Wonderful.
Did you start out from Hyak?
Yup. I'm glad we turned around where we did, things seemed to get worse as the day wore on. Taking a look at my weather graphs from NWAC the summit (3800') and the alpental (5400') stations all read at or below freezing all day yesterday. Must have just been a localize inversion or something funky.
...What struck me was the number of people up there and the lack of postings on this site.You may be on to something, mjb266. Some of those ingrates may be just using us and not giving back. ;)
Nice report, by the way.
Nothing wrong with a little of that old school style. You definately got skillz to carve that bottomless on those pizza cutters. ;D Hey I got duck tape holding part of my splitboard together. Nice to meet you tomq and company. Sounds like everyone got there's in bottomless conditions.
Thanks for breaking the trail on Saturday ajjenkin. That was much appreciated. Assuming of course, that was your group with the wolf and a gal whose name, which I will butcher if I tryed to pronounce it, started with an "M".
Btw I didn't know that secret stashes still existed at Crystal, being the mountain of a thousand locals. If anything I'd call it excellent hill management. 8)
Btw I didn't know that secret stashes still existed at Crystal, being the mountain of a thousand locals. If anything I'd call it excellent hill management. 8)
Yup, you're right. From:
http://www.sundog.clara.co.uk/droplets/globrock.htm
"As the mountaineer reaches a high ridge, a ghostly figure towers out from the mist, its head sheathed in shimmering rings. This at one time unnerving apparition is the "Spectre of the Brocken", so named because of sightings on the Brocken, the highest peak of Germany's Harz Mountains."
A Sundog is a different phenomenom. Thanks for the info. The site above has...
http://www.sundog.clara.co.uk/droplets/globrock.htm
"As the mountaineer reaches a high ridge, a ghostly figure towers out from the mist, its head sheathed in shimmering rings. This at one time unnerving apparition is the "Spectre of the Brocken", so named because of sightings on the Brocken, the highest peak of Germany's Harz Mountains."
A Sundog is a different phenomenom. Thanks for the info. The site above has...
Did you start out from Hyak? Cass and I saw a few people leave just before we did. We assumed they were going to Mt. Catherine, as we were, but never saw them again. In fact, almost amazingly, we appeared to be the only ones on the mountain yesterday - we didn't see anyone to or fro.
As you mentioned, the forecast was most certainly wrong; it was 32-degrees as we approached the pass and 40-degrees when we got off the mountain. I've skied worse conditions wit...
As you mentioned, the forecast was most certainly wrong; it was 32-degrees as we approached the pass and 40-degrees when we got off the mountain. I've skied worse conditions wit...
That looks like the Brocken Spectre, not a sun dog. Very cool!
We'll take a rain-check on that beer! We were in there first on Saturday morning. Didn't see anyone for about an hour. That was a special hour. No noise, light snow, filtered sun, visibility breaks, and a thick carpet of stable fresh with no underlying crust (on north through east aspects). When things got busy we went over to Cement Basin to find a large party putting in a nice up track - cheers to them - felt like instant Karma. Amazing snow in Cement too....
I thought I recognized Charles from his clothing
Yes, snoslut informed me that my clothing was "old-style" - but at least I got rid of the duct taped ski pants a while ago!
Sorry we did not see you, Randonee or altasnob, but it was good talking with you and your wife, tomq. I wish we had known that someone was going to break trail back up the PCT from the east runs - we would have gladly followed. I guess the early bird does not alw...
rob, jon and I were there on weds. rode #2 and #3, made a trak btwn them and did laps. nice snow, but it was cold weds.
It was nice up there today... lots of tracks, but also lots of good snow. The sun was out all day, so south aspects now have a crust.
The wind was fierce on the ridgetops - lots of windloading going on, but just below the ridgetops it was calm.
The wind was fierce on the ridgetops - lots of windloading going on, but just below the ridgetops it was calm.
Thanks for the report. We were up there on Saturday as well. We were the group of five (Rob, Chris, Liz, Alex, and me; 3 on AT & 2 splitboarders). It was an epic (but busy!) day, with lots of people out enjoying the powder and laying down some very nice lines. We lapped the east facing slope off the ridge towards Union Creek. Whoever set the skin track, thanks:)! We owe you a beer. The snow was stable, with only v. minor sloughing. There was ev...
Here's a short video that I shot yesterday. I need to learn more about this new camera to get better exposures, but in the meantime this gives some feel for the day. I forgot to pull the camera out during some of the best skiing of the day, as I was having too much fun!!
Silas moved too fast to get on tape.
Silas moved too fast to get on tape.
Ditto. Even the mush (low snoqualitie) lower down was pretty fun in more open areas where you could choose your line, though I'm imagining we all did our yo-yos above ~3800. I love tree skiing in these conditions - it was hero powder on the steeps, though I did watch one of those "8 inch harmless soft slabs" my buddy kicked off fill in and just barely overflow a tree well before halting (probably a slab about 10x20 - other than that all I saw break all day were tiny unsupported rollove...
I believe I was the snowboarder augering in - my wife was on telemark skis. The snow was quite deep and lots of fun, as long as you kept your tip up and leaned back - like floating on a cloud.
Charles and Snoslut - thanks again for breaking trail and for sharing your knowledge. My wife and I are relatively new to the backcountry - we started last year after taking one of Gary Brill's classes. This site has been incredibly helpful and just a wealth of information - thanks Charles and all t...
Charles and Snoslut - thanks again for breaking trail and for sharing your knowledge. My wife and I are relatively new to the backcountry - we started last year after taking one of Gary Brill's classes. This site has been incredibly helpful and just a wealth of information - thanks Charles and all t...
I'll confirm your analysis. Good turns to be had, but horrid mashed-potato concrete below 3500-4000 feet. (Could have been mitigated by staying in the woods.) Nice exhausting trail-breaking was manageable with 5 willing breakers. Saw one other large party, who appreciated the extra-wide snowshoe/splitboard/ski skin track (turns out of if the snowshoers aren't last in line, you still end up with a pretty sweet skin track).
Don't shake hands with tree branches unless you like looking like a yeti. ;D
Nice Eric! Glad you had fun out there!
Yea, you guys were lookin' good!
I thought I recognized Charles from his clothing. Sorry that I did not catch up with you. Apparently I was going up as you took your last run down.
Thanks for the trail. Last time I was there I broke trail up and then the many skiers caught up before I got to the top.
I thought I recognized Charles from his clothing. Sorry that I did not catch up with you. Apparently I was going up as you took your last run down.
Thanks for the trail. Last time I was there I broke trail up and then the many skiers caught up before I got to the top.
Hmmmm...deep pow, fluffy in the morning and creamy in the afternoon. Hmmmm. Yeah trail breaking was tough and I now feel like a one legged man in an arse kicking contest but nothing a guinny and hot shower couldn't cure. The Lewis n Clark forest exploration thru some killer terrain in the trees sure made the day Charles. Them open slopes sure were bottomless as leaned back looking at the sky. Don't shake hands with tree branches unless you like looking like a yeti. ;D
Snoslut and I were up there too - hopefully the "boarder and telemarker doing nice turns". We got up to the pass early and were planning on heading up Nason Creek to the Crest, but the lower lot wasn't yet plowed (14-16 inches new). Headed down to the parking for Arrowhead - plowed but we couldn't see breaking trail all the way up there with just the two of us. Smith Brook parking wasn't plowed, so we headed back to the pass. The trailbreaking was very tedious. Very sensitive surface s...
I was up there today as well. We passed the antenna tower and went out the ridge a ways. I triggered a anvalanche coming off the ridge (30 ft wide, 6 to 12 inch crown) but was able to ski right through it. We were kind of expecting the instability due to the wind loading but kind of got comitted on the line. Watch the steep pitches off the top, but everthing after that seemed fine. We packed out the pacific crest trail back to the lot.
Two friends and I were skiing in the same area that day. We happened to top the ridge shortly before the two people that were caught in the slide made it back to the ridge after climbing out of Newton Creek. We were glad that everyone involved was safe, and although one person had to ski out on one ski, it could have been a lot worse.
Our pre-trip planning indicated six to eight of new snow and fourty to fifty five mile an hour winds that night and morning, all the red flags w...
Our pre-trip planning indicated six to eight of new snow and fourty to fifty five mile an hour winds that night and morning, all the red flags w...
alex and preston--
nice photos! looks like you all had a good time. i'll be up at bullion this weekend, it'll be interesting to see how much the conditions have changed with all this new snow...thanks for the report! :)
nice photos! looks like you all had a good time. i'll be up at bullion this weekend, it'll be interesting to see how much the conditions have changed with all this new snow...thanks for the report! :)