TR Replies

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...

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-...

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...

Hey MW8888, I thought I was THE MAN around here.  Welcome to the big boys club, Stanley!

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...

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.

Skiing a big peak solo?  Foolish?  For sure.  

When did Snoqualmie Mtn. become a "big peak"
???
haahahahahhahahahahahaha

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.

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?

hope they are both doing well, tell Jill we are thinking good thoughts for her.

Jim - all very valid concerns.  Luckily all signals were green or I would have bailed. 1. no water - on wed I needed little b/c of cold. prior knowledge of conditions - green.  2. in avy paths - not really.  most of that was all in my head, but tantilizing, isn't it?  Skiing isn't gin rummy 3. I'm a pretty safe driver, but being in a car isn't like playing gin rummy either, is it? 4. avy danger looked pretty good when I timed it.  again the training run on wed helped a lot in making the decision...

The Phantom itself has never really concerned me in anything but the most extreme conditions. It's the product of what literally is a hundred-year slide that isn't likely to just happen on some random backcountry day, and it's since grown back enough little trees to provide at least some anchoring.
The upper slopes do make me a little more nervous though, especially when they get a little cliff constrained. While overlooking from Alpy I've been eyeing a line recently that basically goes up th...

I've got snow envy. We missed the good stuff on Red Mt.'s west face by about an hour and a half or so. Should've been up before the crack of dawn or bailed early and got it while the getting was good.

Such a wonderfull shot!  I love the combination of different layers.

Thanks for sharing.

Darn :-(  
Maybe splitboard skis will give enough flotation to be safe  :D

That's beautiful!

I'm really surprised no one else has said this yet,

WOW!


That looks awesome, great photos.

Glad your ok there Chris ??? I lost contact with my buddy Dan up at Sunrise for a short time in the fog cause my batteries were dead,gets freaky quick. See you soon ....Jerry

I just got done reading an email about a missing boarder at Stevens during the week...

Apparently one of the searchers fell from a chairlift on the way down after the search was over (the missing person was at home the entire time).  It sounded like he was, for the most part, fine.  Pretty sore though.  


nick

Thanks Mad dog. Learnt some serious lessons like carry a radio, and be sure that everbody in the group understands the proposed descent path and keeps each other in view.
  We literally had "powder fever" and the skiing was so good that IMO, we as a group, and especially me, started making poor decisions because we where so amped up and desperate to make another run.

Sky is my personal trail breaking machine hahahahaha
;)

My partner and I were going to head up there this past Sunday.  When we pulled into the lot we saw what looked like a skin track up the Phantom (snaking around climbers left of the waterfall).  This put a smile on my face as I was not looking forward to the long plowing session.  While getting ready my partner suddenly exploded into fits of rage...forgot his beacon!  We ended up skiing "The Stump" with longing eyes set on Mt. Snoq., Chair, and the Alpental valley. &...

Welcome back, Sky.

I was wondering whose skin track that was.