TR Replies

Northwest Couloir Mt Shuksan (conditions)

Parked 100 feet beyond mile 7, so only had to skin roughly 1 mile to the trailhead. This may be quite different after this week however as we nailed it right after that long high pressure window when the road had clearly melted out to bare pavement.

11/27/05 9:46pm

curmudgeon

Ryan, I am not sure what you are referring to as the "NorthWest Couloir". If you mean the line on lookers right of the Hanging Glacier, that is the White Salmon Glacier. It looks filled in enough to ski, although you would have scant to no cover at the bottom and therefore a long, ugly scramble out. Best to give it several weeks to build a base. (The picture is from March, 2001)

OTOH, if yo...

11/27/05 9:13pm

Kevin Steffa

Nice timing for the fresh pow and clear skies! What is the winter access like on that glacier creek road? Did you start from a plowed snowpark or do you need a 4x4 or snowmobile to get within striking range of the trailhead?

11/27/05 7:50pm

JibberD

Nice report Jeanette. It was a wonderful day in the park and great to see you all again.

Just wanted to note that the road was very icy in the morning and stayed that way for the return trip. Chains were required on all non-AWD vehicles (AWD required traction tires) and a ranger was making inspections on the road below Christine Falls on the way up. So get that snow gear on your cars 'cause the winter weather is here!

Jeanette, thanks for pointing out the ptarmiga...

11/27/05 7:50pm

David_Coleman

Justin - Glacier looked good to go. I'll send my pics to your email next day or so, since I don't have a website to link 'em.

11/27/05 7:32pm

Lahar_Dar

"From time to time I would have to scratch them roids as there was only dust on crust instead of boot deep just the turn before." Bwwwaaahhhhhh, ha,ha!! Funny stuff, slut.

11/27/05 6:47pm

snoslut

For sure good times! Mad_dog's tr summed it up pretty well. JW and Ronj's picks should seal the deal.

There were face shots throughout the day and maybe a tree shot or two. From time to time I would have to scratch them roids as there was only dust on crust instead of boot deep just the turn before.

That's one hell of a steep skin track you put in with those splitboards.

I was giving her all she got captain. Warp speed Mr. Sulu. L...

11/27/05 6:26pm

Scotsman

Last Chance nearly turned into Last breath. It was extremely difficult climbing back up to the road. JibberD and I basically crawled back up the slope on our knees as the slope was so deep in fluff. It honestly was the best snow of the day. You shoulda tried it ;)
Great day, great friends, great snow.
Nice meeting you Snowslut. That's one hell of a steep skin track you put in with those splitboards.
;D

11/27/05 8:06am

Tony_Bentley

I saw you but I thought you rode the chair up. I didn't see you hiking up but I did see the chair run for about 5 minutes and when I saw you come down it was just after Debbie's chair stopped going. I thought you were an employee stealing a run in the AM.

Nice work skiing the chute. I imagine it was pretty good for November.

11/27/05 7:21am

MW88888888

Not that it's important, Tony, but we'll need to call first tracks today. Left the lot by 6 am and down by 8 something. In fact, I think we saw you near Debbie's. We went down Schluct Chute in variable conditions, first time this year. Fun adventure.

The snow at the bottom we thought was better than the top, mostly due to the variable wind blown powder. But untracked powder by any name.

You're welcome for the skin track, although Ron had the steep switch-back pitch on Sideslip...

11/27/05 6:11am

Tony_Bentley

Once again, you guys and about 15 others beat us to the top.

I was solo this time but I was first down this morning. What a great day!

11/27/05 5:44am

John010289

Thanks for the nice uptrack to the top. Great snow on Upper I. We did a second lap on Lower because we still found plenty of fresh snow. Visability was excellent after noon and with chair 3 groomed, it was a quick trip all the way to the car. Nice meeting you today SkinnyS.

11/27/05 4:50am

skinnyskier

November 26, 2005, Silver Saddle

Thanks for the nice skin track. Ran into some folks up there, so we did a few laps.

11/27/05 3:16am

Lowell_Skoog

Thanks for the note, Chris. Nice to meet you two as well.

11/27/05 3:03am

gregL

November 26, 2005, Silver Saddle

Once again, you guys and about 15 others beat us to the top. Nice 8" of new over hard frozen bumpy stuff; be careful on Lower I, we almost hit several leg-breaker chunks of ice in the fog. Big news was the scheduled opening of Alpental for this Friday, December 2 . . . assuming they can resolve their sewer and power issues in time.

11/26/05 9:00pm

chrism

Hi Lowell, Mark, and Bryan. Liz and I were the couple who joined you guys in the basin yesterday. Nice to have met you all, and shared some turns.

11/26/05 3:21pm

ron j

November 26, 2005, Mazama Bowl

Great report, Sam.
Thanks.

11/26/05 11:20am

blindman

sounds beautiful, its rare that we get these oppurtunities to skin out at 1 am and find cold blower here in the northwest. Cheers!

11/26/05 9:14am

powscraper

Nice one. A family ski trip kept me away, otherwise I'd have come along. How does the glacier look with the new base?

11/26/05 4:14am

Jason_H.

Thanks Tony, but...it definitely wasn't nice corn. I think that others who were out over the weekend could vouch for that. You do know we only go out there for the fishing, right? ;) The skiing is just a bonus ;D

11/25/05 5:24am

Tony_Bentley

;D The video is great! Nice work making tele turns Hummels! Some funny stuff mixed with nice corn.

The video is definately a tribute.

Come home and lets make some turns Kilowani!

.....ski day 8 and counting......

11/25/05 5:15am

philfort

.
Did you get any good looks down towards Blanca lake?

Nope, couldn't see that side of the mountains from where we were.

11/24/05 9:49pm

sheispiste

Lovely video guys! Really gives me the sense of your adventures I've been reading about. Nice climb, ski, and documentation. Thanks for sharing.

11/24/05 8:28pm

ryanl

I really enjoyed your video- seems like you guys had a good time.

Did you get any good looks down towards Blanca lake?

11/24/05 1:29am

Darryl

Jerry - don't leave your toys out if you don't want us to play with them.

Ron - thanks for getting a picture of me standing up.

11/24/05 12:07am

ema

Excellent video Phil. Nice work!

11/23/05 10:50pm

philfort

November 20, 2005, Shuksan Arm / Lake Ann

And you can hear some of what Jason says around me in this video - (11 minutes, 22MB).

(don't worry Jason, I edited more stuff out from the version I gave you ;) )

11/22/05 10:18pm

Kenji

Thanks Paul for twisting our arms. That was a great tour, even with minimal skiing.

Those skis!! The worst color cordination ever seen: green skis, blue bindings, and red boots. I'd have to ski in the dark...or whiteout.

A few photos: Paul posing, another Shuksan shot

11/22/05 7:09pm

gregL

That slide-for-life from out of the frame is classic!

11/22/05 7:06pm

philfort

great pic!

11/22/05 6:51pm

Paul_Russell

Nice pics Michael. Looks like you had a great day. Thanks for posting.

Paul

11/22/05 6:47pm

ron j

It wasn't me... I was really good. It was Darryl -- he kept touching me... and Amy.

Nonetheless, there was fun to be had outside the Bronco:

Freshies on the way ;D

A few more pics HERE.
(Edit to add...

11/22/05 9:25am

Jason_H.

November 19, 2005, Skyline Ridge

It is about 13 miles round trip into the Basin, further if you want to climb anything or more snow falls and eliminates access to Barlow Pass.

BTW I loved the icecave! I regret not pulling out my flashlight, although I don't think that it was much deeper than 20-ft. Still cool. Oh, and thanks for the laughs Phil. I got to watch what I say around you ;)

11/22/05 9:19am

androolus

more pictures

https://home.comcast.net/~androolus/2005_11_19/scott.jpg

https://home.comcast.net/~androolus/2005_11_19/boulders.jpg

https://home.comcast.net/~androolus/2005_11_19/rock.jpg

https://home.comcast.net/~androolus/2005_11_19/descent.jpg

https://home.comcast.net/~androolus/2005_11_19/glacier.jpg

11/22/05 7:01am

nomad

nicely done phil - how far is the approach?

Good to see some action despite the warm conditions out there.

11/22/05 6:39am

philfort

Route photo:

11/22/05 12:42am

gregL

what time did you guys arrive back at the car?

Got back to the car a little before 6:00 . . . looked for you at the usual feeding zones, but I guess everyone was already fed and gone.

11/21/05 8:46pm

skykilo

I guess I should know better by now than to gather too much information before a ski trip...

The less information, the better!

11/21/05 8:38pm

Jerm

November 20, 2005, Grand Park, Mt. Rainier

Looks better than the mush we skied. Good call on the horizontal smoke, from our veiw point it looked like a cloud. We were wondering as we enjoyed a 2 hour lunch in the sun 8) nice trip boys.....Jerry

I think it was definitely smoke/steam. It started in the crater at St Helens and drifted eastward once above the rim. Really cool.

11/21/05 7:53pm

Charles

The headwall definitely looked to be out of condition, not because of avi danger but crust. We didn't have time to go all the way over to it, but could see it's shady blueness looming not far off. And yes, it was very pleasant in the breezeless warmth of the sunny park. Getting to Grand Park from so much farther down the road than I've done before has given me some new ideas for spring access...

11/21/05 7:48pm

Charles

Great photos! That is an incredibly beautiful side of the Mountain. We had thought about VTP for skiing Sunday, but I read on the Park website that the trail was "closed" so didn't pursue it any more. I guess I should know better by now than to gather too much information before a ski trip...

11/21/05 6:48pm

kam

November 20, 2005, Mazama Bowl

nice photos you guys. Michael, the lights off one is romantic.. oh, i like the lens flare one too...

see you guys in a few days... muuuahhhhaaa!!!

11/21/05 4:37pm

ron j

Yo Adrianne, You're right, there were certainly a lot of sliders in the p-lot at Paradise compared to the numbers playing around the Paradise area slopes... and no Muir TR's??
They must be hiding all their Muir stashes, eh? ;)
Too bad we missed you and Josh up there... maybe next time.

11/21/05 4:17pm

ron j

November 19, 2005, Skyline Ridge

Nice trip you guys.
And great Pictures!
I'm glad we didn't join you though, we skied out with artificial head mounted illumination the weekend before... what time did you guys arrive back at the car?

11/21/05 9:50am

scotteryx

I actually had a good time out there with Andrew on Saturday morning.

It was a perfect day with high temps and blue skies.
Some pics:

Skyline Lake

11/21/05 9:20am

Michael