TR Replies
author=ErikT link=topic=39465.msg159030#msg159030 date=1515695416]
Has the requirement always been to tour all the way to Source lake before climbing? Without being... um... specific... I haven't always done that... I'll say that I've climbed only once past the point where all direct resort downhill traffic is no longer possible.
IDK -- but page 70 of their special use permit shows the permit area boundaries
author=Mr.Doober link=topic=39465.msg159006#msg159006 date=1515601726]
  When traveling to areas beyond the boundary such as Chair Peak or Snow Lake, always stay climbers right and off of any path or resort return trail. Uphill travel is not allowed for any terrain on the South side of the Alpental Valley until you reach Source Lake.
  From Source Lake the distinct drainage known as Great Scott trends south and up to the Tooth and Pineapple...
author=telemack link=topic=39448.msg158990#msg158990 date=1515536702]
Shouldn't that be "Fake Newns"?  ::)
I fixed it for you Mack.
I don't know why you'd choose an operating base area vs. one that isn't. Both Summit East & West were closed yesterday and probably would've made a better choice as it was snowing below pass level.
I also don't know why you'd think that, even if you checked-in with Patrol like you are required to, that they'd be okay with turn-earners on the upper mountain after chair 2 closes and the area is swept.
But thanks for the report... makes t...
I also don't know why you'd think that, even if you checked-in with Patrol like you are required to, that they'd be okay with turn-earners on the upper mountain after chair 2 closes and the area is swept.
But thanks for the report... makes t...
I just wanted to clarify the uphill policy that you said was "confusing"...this is directly from the ski area's website:
Uphill Travel Policy
Rules for traveling uphill at The Summit at Snoqualmie and Alpental via any method; including touring or skinning (skis or splitboard), hiking, climbing, snowshoeing, etc. The Summit allows uphill travel within its ski area boundaries ONLY when users obey the following rules.
Rules of Uphill Travel: For All S...
Uphill Travel Policy
Rules for traveling uphill at The Summit at Snoqualmie and Alpental via any method; including touring or skinning (skis or splitboard), hiking, climbing, snowshoeing, etc. The Summit allows uphill travel within its ski area boundaries ONLY when users obey the following rules.
Rules of Uphill Travel: For All S...
As I am known to myself as a “very stable geniusâ€, I'd be happy to arbitrate. Come join me at Whistler and we'll discuss the merits of the case.😜
author=Zap link=topic=39448.msg158929#msg158929 date=1515358280]
I agree with Andrew. This is "False News" without photos. ;)
Shouldn't that be "False Nuns"? ::)
author=telemack link=topic=39446.msg158942#msg158942 date=1515432750]
Thanks for the report! Where was the second photo taken?
They make some nice lightweight helmets these days; some are even light enough for you :)
Sometimes I feel that a helmet is less of a good idea at HR than other touring spots. Â Not sure if that's logical....
I have a helmet. Bad habits are hard to break :) Probably always smart to carry i...
...I can see it perfectly in my head, nuns in snowshoes. Oh yes!
Thanks for the report! Where was the second photo taken?
They make some nice lightweight helmets these days; some are even light enough for you :)
Sometimes I feel that a helmet is less of a good idea at HR than other touring spots. Not sure if that's logical....
They make some nice lightweight helmets these days; some are even light enough for you :)
Sometimes I feel that a helmet is less of a good idea at HR than other touring spots. Not sure if that's logical....
I agree with Andrew. This is "False News" without photos. ;)
And what were you smoking? This post has no value without pictures!!!!!!
A GREAT trip report with a “reality checkâ€. I have a similar “reality check†with our 5 grandsons. The 2 in the Everett area have crossed the “line†and are now snowboarders. I raised the 2 guys on skiing but after 5 years they became snowboarders because their Dad is a snowboarder. The 3 guys in NH are still downhill skiers because their Dad is a skier. Although we ski with them, they use fat, twin tips who ski backward a lot. They still like us. ;)
Many times it is the...
Many times it is the...
He'll be asking for new boots and boards in no time! Enjoy the cheap seats while you can.
Are you sure there is a kid in there somewhere? Glad to see you are getting out and about with the youngster!
Looks good. We are heading up there next week for my first time. Th - Sun.
Any suggestions on tours or maps that can help us.
We have the guide book for Canada coast mountains by Baldwin.
Any suggestions on tours or maps that can help us.
We have the guide book for Canada coast mountains by Baldwin.
Oops, didn't see your post! Probably not applicable now, but yes, on some of the south-facing slopes as we skinned up, we encountered an unsupportive crust with some hoar frost and it definitely could have been the freezing fog.
Thanks for the info. Did you go up the highway or tour right out of the snow park?
author=runcle link=topic=39407.msg158794#msg158794 date=1514919719]
Runnel Crust very cool pic!
Is that where your "runcle" screen name came from? ::)
So envious! What a great way to ring in the new year, great work! Thanks for the report!
I skied it with another of our party, we had the other two turn around. Wish I'd had an ice axe for more secure sidestepping down the ice and booting out the exit couloir. Many would probably want a rope, too. There was some soft snow in there, but not much, and some of it was wind slab.
thanks for the beta! i was thinking about a slot lap tomorrow....
It was a good day for skinning up and skiing down the groomers at Hyak today...
traffic going up the Alpental side of the source lake dog park trail was the suck.
author=Randy link=topic=39392.msg158745#msg158745 date=1514695854]
Toured between 2500 and 4400.
Snow in old growth was badly tree bombed cratered refrozen crust with a thin layer of new.
Open areas had semi-supportive crust with 3 inches of high density new snow.
Decent workout , opportunity to develop crust skiing skills.
Good to know it's bad all over...Gotta love those crust skiing skill build...
Thanks for the report! All except the yoga move over the log...my hammy is still cramping😛!
“Unskiable snow everywhereâ€...Yeah that's quite the line.😜 In reality, that unskiable snow with the nasty trap crust could have maybe need skied by a younger version, without a high ankle sprain. I just traversed off and limped down the road...I'd like to come back next week if someone would get up there and see if with last nights new snow - it's “skiableâ€
Nice report of the recent storm. Plus "unskiable snow everywhere". I remember those days. ;)
Nice trip report and video. It was been years since I was at Manning Provincial Park. ;)
Glad to hear you are healed up and back at it!
Let's go for a trudge this winter?!
Let's go for a trudge this winter?!
Well, it's back online: the Paradise total snow column was un-blanked in the NWAC telemetry after 6pm on December 28, with the note updated to read, "Total snow gage repaired 4 pm Dec 28"!
Northwest Avalanche Center
Paradise, Mt Rainier National Park, Washington
Total snow gage repaired 4 pm Dec 28
MM/DD Hour Temp  RH Wind Wind Wind Hour Total 24 Hr Total Solar
     PST   F   %  Avg  Max  D...
Northwest Avalanche Center
Paradise, Mt Rainier National Park, Washington
Total snow gage repaired 4 pm Dec 28
MM/DD Hour Temp  RH Wind Wind Wind Hour Total 24 Hr Total Solar
     PST   F   %  Avg  Max  D...
It all just felt sketchy. I'm glad we found fun skiing in the trees.
author=Rowen link=topic=39367.msg158632#msg158632 date=1514415560]
After doing the Smithbrook approach on the 24th and having to reset a completely snowshoer obliterated skin track up to Lichtenwasser, a friend and I tried the Nason Creek approach yesterday. Starting off with headlamps and plans of multiple deep laps in the north bowls, we ran into an increasingly worrying surface crust down low in the trees before the main ascent. Once on that more exposed as...
Did y'all encounter the freezing fog crust layer on your tour?
Myself and several friends skied from pt 5566 NW of granite mt to alpental that same day. The crust existed throughout the day but was the least prevalent (quite enjoyable skiing) high on our first descent which was the farthest away from the pass (once lower into the trees and into a cloud layer it became much more prevalent.). We were in the full sun looking at a cloud covered snoqualmie pass. From our observations it seems that further west of the crest may have been spared from the freezing...
Thanks for the thorough write-up and the education about freezing fog vs freezing rain. The crust was truly a most unwelcome Christmas present.
author=Rowen link=topic=39367.msg158632#msg158632 date=1514415560]
... we ran into an increasingly worrying surface crust down low in the trees before the main ascent. Once on that more exposed aspect, definite crust confirmed - small 1/2-1mm ball bearings bonded together into a layer about 2-3mm.
...
North side looked like it could have avoided the crust-ification, but a small huck off the cornice lead to a very face first examination of the crust l...
We toured up the Smithbrook side on the same day and found that crust on virtually every aspect at every elevation from the road to the summit. It was so thin you could see through it if you dug the pow out from underneath the surface crust. I was at the resort at Stevens the day before, and most of the morning and early afternoon there was precip in the form of freezing mist, the kind where you didn't even notice it but I had to de-ice my goggles twice per run. Is the mist the potential cu...
Experienced the same crust at pinapple Pass that day. I think it was a light freezing rain the night before. We were disappointed, but with steep enough slope we were able to bust through fine and pretend it was perfect pow. We had to wear earplugs though ;)
We found the crust on the solar aspects softened in the afternoon making it better.
We found the crust on the solar aspects softened in the afternoon making it better.
What is this "real news"?! I imagine a similar conspiracy lies behind this;
https://wcc.sc.egov.usda.gov/reportGenerator/view/customSingleStationReport/hourly/679:WA:SNTL%7cid=%22%22%7cname/-167,0/WTEQ::value,SNWD::value,PREC::value,TOBS::value?fitToScreen=false
Careful throwing facts around. You could end up on a rendition flight pulling stuff like this.
https://wcc.sc.egov.usda.gov/reportGenerator/view/customSingleStationReport/hourly/679:WA:SNTL%7cid=%22%22%7cname/-167,0/WTEQ::value,SNWD::value,PREC::value,TOBS::value?fitToScreen=false
Careful throwing facts around. You could end up on a rendition flight pulling stuff like this.
Thanks, Amar :)!
Amar, thank you for the reconnaissance mission photos of the snow depth sensor equipment and the detailed report here.
I'm curious now if NWAC has been alerted to the faulty sensor.
As always your detailed contributions here are extremely appreciated!
I'm curious now if NWAC has been alerted to the faulty sensor.
As always your detailed contributions here are extremely appreciated!
Amar, you are just a natural born over achiever! Great trip report, quelling any conspiracy theories, on a perfect blue bird day, great pictures too. Thanks