TR Replies
Yeah, 4 for Sky, which would make that 3 attempts for me...
Man, that's 33 miles in there! At least you took two days this time. Where the heck was that notch anyhow? To the right of where we came up in May?
It must feel good to have that approach down Sky. What is this, number four? Really, why even bother with peaks. It's the valley that offers the real excitement ;)
It must feel good to have that approach down Sky. What is this, number four? Really, why even bother with peaks. It's the valley that offers the real excitement ;)
You can usually avoid the alder altogether if you leave the road at the last hairpin turn (right next to the river).
Hey Sky, You should consider taking the brakes off your Dynafits. If you replaced them with a Lou Dawson leash system you'd save .58 of a lb per pair. Using the adage that a lb on your feet eqauls 5 on your back, that would allow you to bring over 2.5lbs of more 'whisky'!
I'm feeling like I want to go back for more. ???
Wow, you must be becoming hard core or something?
Nice job getting in there, looks like the skiing you had was decent anyway.
I must have some sort of mental illness. Despite the length of our trip (approx. 33 miles roundtrip from our highpoint at the saddle), and the soreness in my knee this AM, I'm feeling like I want to go back for more. ???
These hikes are starting to become a pattern for sure, but good times were had in the N. Cascades ;)
These hikes are starting to become a pattern for sure, but good times were had in the N. Cascades ;)
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the alder :)
thanks for another great trip Paul ! :D
Started skinning up the trail to Cascade Pass for only the beginning and then crawled/slid/pulled through ;) the Alder for a short while before actually heading across and onto the valley floor to skin up what we could then see as the best way to ski down. On the way down we had a nice view of a long thread of snow to take us within 25m of the parking lot so the Alder crawling was much more minimal.
Started skinning up the trail to Cascade Pass for only the beginning and then crawled/slid/pulled through ;) the Alder for a short while before actually heading across and onto the valley floor to skin up what we could then see as the best way to ski down. On the way down we had a nice view of a long thread of snow to take us within 25m of the parking lot so the Alder crawling was much more minimal.
No we didn't go into Boston Basin or summit. We went to Cascade Pass and up Sahale Arm; only followed the summer trail a short distance then made as direct line as possible up the basin to the pass. We considered going up the Boston Basin trail and skiing the Quien Sabe Gl, but opted not to, partly for the reasons you mentioned that its a more difficult approach.
Sorry for the dumb ass post, just trying to picture where you went. The 3 miles to the TH was the same TH that would take you to the Torment-Forbidden travers and or Sharkfin tower? Then you skied from the summit down to Cascade pass and then down the road from Cascade pass? Sorry for this :)
So my Q is, how was it taking the skis up that trail? If it is the same trail I has having a hell of a time in places durring the summer with trees and I was not packing skis.
So my Q is, how was it taking the skis up that trail? If it is the same trail I has having a hell of a time in places durring the summer with trees and I was not packing skis.
Just windpacked, not crusty for the top 500' or so on the glacier where its steeper. Actually soft enough to send down a few small pinwheels. The only real crust we found was coming back down from the pass into the basin. But it was pretty warm at the higher evelations on Sat; I expect it might be different this weekend with the lower freezing levels.
The Park Service could only say that the road was gated but had no info regarding how passable it would be. Thought it would be wor...
The Park Service could only say that the road was gated but had no info regarding how passable it would be. Thought it would be wor...
awesome... I'm suprised you were able to drive that far on the road, I would have expected it was under quite a bit of snow.
was the snow refrozen up high? Sounds like just wind-packed, not sun-crusty?
was the snow refrozen up high? Sounds like just wind-packed, not sun-crusty?
Great picture of the pass with the cloud in the valley!
Nice work! I like to see people that don't ask for beta and just go for it. Good stuff ;D
Great photo Kenji. Glad you had such a good group and got some nice turns despite the approach brush. Sorry I missed joining you.
Glad you could make use of the tracks. I wish I'd have had them so I could hit the summit sooner and the snow when it was better skiing. The number of rocks we hit was a little surprising especially in what appeared to be the more filled in areas. Gave incentive to turn less and point downhill more.
Sounds like the powder nazi was especially crabby.
(I believe he's refering to the rather gullied drainage descending from the basin below Pineapple pass)
What I'm referring to, I think Volken calls "Bryant Peak Couloir". There's no picture of it in his book, but it's an obvious deep cleft in the rocks, with (currently) a very narrow entrance. It's further around the basin, clockwise from Pineapple pass area.
With a lot more snow, looks like this:
http://www.lumenation.com/...
If I had to guess, I'd say 40 degrees, but that's only the 15 ft section right below the entrance. I just side slid through that part. After that, the pitch gradually mellows to about 30 degrees at the bottom.
A couple of us skied the chute Phil is refering to heading up toward Bryant Peak on Sunday morning (I believe he's refering to the rather gullied drainage descending from the basin below Pineapple pass). After Saturday's sun and warmth, our thinking was exactly that--look for north-facing shade. But, still no powder. The snow we found felt as if it had warmed up and then cooled and consolidated slightly, although not as much as an aspect in direct sunlight. It felt...
We went up there with a group of friends on Sunday - thanks for the great tracks ;-) !
Great day in the mountains, though snow coverage was lower then expected and the skis got a good base grind on the way down...
Great day in the mountains, though snow coverage was lower then expected and the skis got a good base grind on the way down...
Ahh - somehow I assumed, perhaps from the phrase "the tricky sections near the lower cliffs," that you were on the phantom, but don't know the routes and names on Snoqualmie that well. Still sounds outside my personal solo zone.
Kick ass photos! How steep is the slope at the crux?
Thanks for clarifying, Jim. I think we see eye-to-eye, then.
Just for the record, I did not climb or ski the Phantom. I looked at it, but it wasn't for me. Indeed, I much preferred the trees as the snow quality was best when protected from the winds.
Just for the record, I did not climb or ski the Phantom. I looked at it, but it wasn't for me. Indeed, I much preferred the trees as the snow quality was best when protected from the winds.
Nice photos Jeff. Looks like you had a great day. Thanks for sharing.
username - I certainly took your post in that light. I will admit to feeling at least a teeny bit defensive in response to Paul's post but got over it in a few seconds decided to take it as an opportunity to simply put out a few more thoughts. I like to question the "hah - you're just being overly conservative!" bravado-inspired decision-making in the group dynamic on trips I take, and so carried that spirit to this board as well. I like groups where no one feels berated or somehow les...
We are all like cocaine addicts. " Got to get some powder maaaaan!"
This sport is truly addictive and we are all sick little powder puppies ;D
This sport is truly addictive and we are all sick little powder puppies ;D
I think I know where there was powder - and had I not been on a snowboard (and thus, due to lack of skills, incapable of descending narrow couloirs without side-slipping) I might have suggested the idea on the way out. That narrow chute that rises west of Source Lake towards Bryant Peak. It is
1) shaded from the sun
2) not north-facing
Looked a little thin at the cruxpoint, but - it might have had powder. Might *still* have powder... ???
1) shaded from the sun
2) not north-facing
Looked a little thin at the cruxpoint, but - it might have had powder. Might *still* have powder... ???
For the record I just wanted to say something funny, and have no other reason to respond to this thread, except that MW8's rich prose aroused my imagination.
But I do think that peoples' conception of the avalanche potential at Snoq. Pass was exaggerated during the last system. I know it's been a year or two since we've seen any snow, but just because it snows, does not mean avy potential is high. The amount of snow that fell could have produced dangerous conditi...
But I do think that peoples' conception of the avalanche potential at Snoq. Pass was exaggerated during the last system. I know it's been a year or two since we've seen any snow, but just because it snows, does not mean avy potential is high. The amount of snow that fell could have produced dangerous conditi...
Charles,
It might not be in the interest of the board members to discuss the issues. Those who posted on this topic are experienced enough to make decisions that are independent of the collective thoughts of safety in the backcounrty. Independant thinking is I believe what keeps us from being part of the statistic. Nothing can help the fact that accidents will happen regardless of either experience or wisdom.
Perhaps the message that beginners need to see is not learned here as mu...
It might not be in the interest of the board members to discuss the issues. Those who posted on this topic are experienced enough to make decisions that are independent of the collective thoughts of safety in the backcounrty. Independant thinking is I believe what keeps us from being part of the statistic. Nothing can help the fact that accidents will happen regardless of either experience or wisdom.
Perhaps the message that beginners need to see is not learned here as mu...
good discussion! thanks to all for reviewing the issues i was wondering about after reading this report!
these were the features that jumped out at me after reading MW8888's solo adventure:
snow 4 days old
cold temps
fresh foot on good base
"simply had to go back"
forgot water (coffee)
avalance control in the valley
some evidence of wind activity near summit slopes
"i really should stop doing that"
but it is clear...
these were the features that jumped out at me after reading MW8888's solo adventure:
snow 4 days old
cold temps
fresh foot on good base
"simply had to go back"
forgot water (coffee)
avalance control in the valley
some evidence of wind activity near summit slopes
"i really should stop doing that"
but it is clear...
Thanks for the great report and for making me laugh. If you can't find powder, the next best thing is....humor!
Yes, Charles, I agree, these questions are very helpful for people to ask. I applaud Jim for raising the questions that were in my head as well, because it may not seem like it from my TR, but the decision to go on was a challenging one. I won't go into the details on how I came to accept the challenge and go for it, but I did weigh the risks. I was comfortable with my decision. Still am. I have a two-year-old daughter that needs my support. And dieing in an avalanche is very low on my to-...
It seemed like there was a pretty good discussion going on here, and I'm not sure what the point is of the later sarcastic posts. In his first post Jim raised some good questions. MW88888888 acknowledged this and outlined his thinking. All very useful even if one does not think that a 3000+ foot run qualifies as a big peak, and I don't think that anyone here should have to try to justify raising the questions Jim did. Unfortunately, as we have been recently reminded, people get injured and die p...
I'll just shoulder hop and add on...
So besides what was already said, our crew consisted of Rob, Sergio, Scott, Jerry, Andy and myself. We started skinning from the trailhead by Christine Falls around 9:20. Skinning could best be described as hip rippers. The snow surface in the trees provided some relief while on open slopes, everyone sported snow shackles. The traverse into Comet Falls was interesting. Somebody in our group cut a good track along the steep slope above the river, h...
So besides what was already said, our crew consisted of Rob, Sergio, Scott, Jerry, Andy and myself. We started skinning from the trailhead by Christine Falls around 9:20. Skinning could best be described as hip rippers. The snow surface in the trees provided some relief while on open slopes, everyone sported snow shackles. The traverse into Comet Falls was interesting. Somebody in our group cut a good track along the steep slope above the river, h...
We saw the turns on your upper line while driving to Paradise. It looked sweet.
Nice job!
Nice job!
Hey MW8888, I thought I was THE MAN around here. Welcome to the big boys club, Stanley!
Coffee in the backcountry is very European. Nice style. Nice TR.
I guess it may come off as wimpy geekdom to the true hard men out there to point out that people may reasonably draw the line differently on risks. Nevertheless, since there are also newbies reading the boards and likely taking inspiration from them, I'm willing to come off that way now and then.
Paul - you likely have learned that skiable trees are little protection from slides, and in fact provide an excellent "puree" function for bodies, unlike open slopes where you may have...
Paul - you likely have learned that skiable trees are little protection from slides, and in fact provide an excellent "puree" function for bodies, unlike open slopes where you may have...
Kenji,
Great trip and report with an outstanding picture! Looks like a postcard!
GerryH
Great trip and report with an outstanding picture! Looks like a postcard!
GerryH
I thought this kind of crazy stuff only happened in Colorado. This guy must be some kind of Rocky Mountain Badass coming to poach all our big lines, while the rest of us cower in our basements digging pits in our mashed potatoes, and the ski areas try to explode away all of last year's losses with their surplus ordinance.
OMG you went for a two hour tour without water.
OMG you went up a densely treed mountain in low avalanche conditions, alone!
OMG you were across the valley from a ski area where patrol was dropping bombs.
OMG I'll never ski with YOU!
C'mon folks, sounds plenty reasonable to me.
Nice writeup, MW, I enjoyed it.
OMG you went up a densely treed mountain in low avalanche conditions, alone!
OMG you were across the valley from a ski area where patrol was dropping bombs.
OMG I'll never ski with YOU!
C'mon folks, sounds plenty reasonable to me.
Nice writeup, MW, I enjoyed it.
Skiing a big peak solo? Foolish? For sure.
When did Snoqualmie Mtn. become a "big peak"
???
haahahahahhahahahahahaha
Welcome Iain. Kudos on your first report.
You shouldn't feel any guilt. I think the guilt was felt when the trail was being made and only the trailblazers around to enjoy the goods.
Rode the lifts for a few hours at Snoqualmie, and was surprised by how OK the New England style "packed powder" was, I expected something more refrozen. My first little exploratory probe into some untracked trees up high was ... powder! Then in a few feet ... sun crust! I wondered about where there might be continuous powder stretches still hanging about - I'm sure they're up there somewhere.
That's correct. You have to descend past the mile marker, and not ever cross the highway. I've been warned before...
Correct me if I'm wrong- to stay legal, you must descend 100 yds or so west of the road exit at the corner to the mp marker, then hitching is allowed?
watch out for the fuzz down there. They are being bitches this year about being on the road anywhere from TC to Yodelin. I know a few people who got tickets already this year. Its BS for sure, the man always gotta screw up a good thing.