TR Replies

That's no patch, that's a snowfield!

sheispiste

The tracks from Skip's crew the week before were now snow-fossilized, with their new reverse appearance reminiscent of a mini boarder-cross course.

Great trip report Lori. Nice photos Ron. Sorry to miss the festivities and Jeanette's BBQ. My sister's wedding on Orcas turned out quite nice though, even with my wacko tan lines from our now fossilized turns.

8/15/05 7:55am

Sam Avaiusini

Jeanette - thanks for hosting the fantastic tailgate party/bbq... Tasty.
Wanna see more? I've got a couple of pages of pics up HERE.

Yeah Jeanette, thanks again for sharing your grub with us moochers! Next time, we'll try to contribute a little better! ;)
Nice photos, BTW...I realized after the fact that I had my camera set to under expose (from a previous outing...

8/15/05 7:24am

ron j

You missed a good one, Skipper. Maybe next time.
Great Report, Lori.
It was fun meeting you and Sam. not to mention cousin Steve who put out an impressive performance for a flatlander. Them Navy guys are tough.
Amar, Dave, great running into you guys, it's been a while. Thanks for joining us.
Jeanette - thanks for hosting the fantastic tailgate party/bbq... Tasty.
Wanna see more? I've got a couple of pages of pics up

8/15/05 6:54am

JMor

I just love summer corn ;D it was a GREAT day indeed!! New friends, old friends, and the "Geezers" doing their thing. Check back for photos soon 8).

8/15/05 5:52am

skip

SP, et al -

Sorry I couldn't join you this week - I spent a lazy weekend out in the Olympics instead. It appears I missed a good day...

Nice report,
-s

8/14/05 10:42pm

snoslut

After looking at more of their pics there is a huge moat about 30 or 40ft below what I described as the line of snow running under Echo to O.

For me a turn is a turn even if the surface varies. (ie: snow, sand, asphalt, etc.) But for the sake of this site and my streak I try to keep it on the snow.

FYI...while thumbing thru some pics from the past I came across some pics a few years back but dated this past weekend. Yup we were taking turns down the west face of Pan Pt. ???

8/14/05 10:27pm

Pete A

thanks eric, think that its okay to expand ones definition of a turns-all-year streak to include sliding on H20 in any form, whether frozen or melted?

ie- can I count longboarding out at westport as my turns-earned day for August and Sept?

pray for a snowy labor day weekend like we had last year....

8/14/05 9:44pm

snoslut

Pete nope. From our spot we could see that a line of snow or ice still existed between Echo and O-rock. The headwall looked like a trap. Meaning bottom was all rock but the snow looked carvable climbers left. Couple inches on neve. Good enough for the first turn then whipee!

My friends described the snow of the central blob as sketchy. Few turns on corn then runnells, ice, dirt and repeat in any random order. Best turns were had in a trough of mel...

8/14/05 8:30pm

Pete A

did you get a view at all of what the central blob of the flett between Echo and Observation Rocks looked like?

I'm assuming the Ob.Rock headwall has already melted down to neve?

8/14/05 7:58pm

jimjar

Great report Eric and a perfect way to spend the weekend. Long approach with heavy packs for 100 feet of patch skiing. Kam would be proud.

8/12/05 4:06am

gusk

Hey John,
Nice, and definitely good seeing other skiiers up there.

Just to clarify, I skipped the last 1k ft or so to the summit.

It was definitely an interesting hike out through the wasteland.
You wouldn't have to worry about me skiing off a cliff like those guys on Mt Baker over the weekend ;^)

At one point towards the bottom of the snow, I had a nice cantaloupe sized rock fly by about 5 feet away. A little closer, and the only thing lef...

8/12/05 3:50am

John_Mauro

Hey gusk-

Good to see another skier up there on the hill, excited about a few thousand feet of vertical. I like your quick transition (from tie to polypro overnight).

Despite a slight blush, I take issue with your statement:

"I was passed by two aerobic super humans carrying skis like me. While I was getting more tired with the altitude, they were speeding up."

An illusion, my friend. Was it not you who made the first tracks and entered that des...

8/10/05 6:58pm

ema

August 6, 2005, Lassen Peak

Ahhh, I remember that. But who here wants to glissade?! I think it was her husband who pulled her off course (roped up), and she started to roll and ragdoll. He stuck a crampon point in his leg, and the gear explosion at the bottom was spectacular. I also remember the "hardman" husband say "oh, that, yeah, we just went for a little slide." ........Come on dude, you just almost killed your wife!!!!!......Glad you guys are OK, injuries suck.

8/10/05 9:11am

Jeff Huber

Walter and Jonathan, Nice photos and reports!

8/10/05 5:34am

Telemon

Last weekend was my first August trip to the Black Tusk area. I have skied up to it in the spring following the traditional hiking route from Rubble Creek (a 6 hour hike now if you wish to take that approach) and I have spent several September weekends using the microwave access.

To ensure some accurracy in my answer to Matt and Kam's questions regarding snow volume, I pulled out a 10 year old video of mine. I can not recall whether 1995 was a low or normal snowpack year, b...

8/10/05 4:36am

ron j

... JW's movie of your trip was great.

Yeah he's quite a cinematographical talent. We're quite fortunate to have him a part of our gang.

... Definitely making a note to hit Adams in June next year, looks like it is a great place to ski when there is alot of snow.

Definately look one of us up before you go. We've got a "killer" plan for next year to maximize skiing and minimize tort...

8/10/05 3:44am

Matt C

That does sound horrific. Last year we witnessed an accident in almost the same spot. A couple decided to glissade down the first steep section of the cleaver. Unfortunately for them, they decided not to take their crampons off. When the lady started her glissade she must have caught her crampon point...because all we heard was a high pitched scream and then witnessed her tumble towards the rocks below. Fortunately her tumbles and groans slowed her down as she neared the rocks...she was OK after...

8/10/05 3:11am

gusk

Thanks Ron,
I'm just kicking myself for not having the time to wait for the snow to soften.

JW's movie of your trip was great.

Definitely making a note to hit Adams in June next year, looks like it is a great place to ski when there is alot of snow.

8/10/05 2:48am

ron j

Nice pic, Gus.
Starting to get a little boney, eh?

Nonetheless, you got your August turns in.
Way to go 8)

8/10/05 1:34am

Pandora

August 6, 2005, Lassen Peak

Hannah put it this way, "That was one of the most horrific things I have ever witnessed."

Just to clarify, it was THE most horrific thing I've ever witnessed, and Seth agreed. Seeing those guys fly past me, over the drop and into the rocks was a stunner. Looking at them crumpled below, I was sure that there would be numerous broken bones. Luckily the boys hung tough and walked out.

But man, it was a fun climb and ski. I...

8/10/05 1:16am

Jonathan_S.

Month 11 for me, which is pretty much the most feasible outcome given Massachusetts residency.
More pics here:
www.jshefftz3.photosite.com/LassenAugust

8/10/05 12:56am

gregL

August 6, 2005, Lassen Peak

Thanks for the report, good to see there's still skiable snow on Lassen. Loved your Norbert Joos carving pic on that other forum, BTW . . .

http://www.jshefftz2.photosite.com/~photos/tn/2987_1024.ts1120550340000.jpg

8/9/05 11:44pm

gusk

For anyone that might be interested, I stuck a photo in the start of this topic. Interesting to compare to the postings from July.

8/9/05 11:32pm

kam

am i repeating myself...

8/9/05 10:39pm

Pete A

...so a couple rolls x 3 messages = six rolls of p-tex, right?

8/9/05 10:10pm

philfort

???
I was wondering... does anyone know if Kam has a couple of rolls of p-tex? 20cmx30cm would be good. And some edges too..

8/9/05 6:10pm

kam

August 7, 2005, Greater Muir Metropolitan Area

Telemon: nice report, and i enjoyed viewing the photos. it didn't look like the cups were much of a problem. and it's nice too see there's still a considerable amount of snow left... how long do you think it will last? can't beat a 20-minute approach! i'd hike for days to ski that...

8/9/05 5:48pm

kam

skip the cliffs!!

8/9/05 5:46pm

kam

Pete, these guys need a p-tex canon!

we have a couple 20m x 30cm rolls of p-tex laying around; and enough edges for 30 pairs of skis. need some? ;D

8/9/05 5:45pm

kam

Pete, these guys need a p-tex canon!

we have a couple 20m x 30cm rolls of p-tex laying around; and enough edges for 30 pairs of skis. need some? ;D

8/9/05 5:45pm

kam

Pete, these guys need a p-tex canon!

we have a couple 20m x 30cm rolls of p-tex laying around; and enough edges for 30 pairs of skis. need some? ;D

8/9/05 8:31am

Telemon

75 is the correct answer, Boot. We listened to one full length blues CD coming down the hill. I don't think that we went up much faster. However, I am sure that there will be those who drive these kind of roads with more skill and aggressiveness than I.

8/9/05 8:13am

Paul Belitz

Ouch!

;)

8/9/05 8:02am

Jason_H.

As any story by a Hummel goes, "I sh*t you not, there I was..."

Maybe Hannah or Seth will chime in ;)

If I'm smart enough to ski off a cliff then maybe my intelligence is somewhat lacking when it comes to numbers and such 8) but I must beseech of all of you, "Don't follow a Pbelitz."

8/9/05 7:54am

Boot

Bob, Did you mean 75 or 25 mins back down to the highway? If 75, is it that long or that bad of a FR? It doesn't look all that long. I'm going to be up at Whistler for 4 days and it looks like a nice, short high mtn approach. Thanks,
Boot

8/9/05 6:35am

Paul Belitz

Thanks for the offer, Pete, I've got Tognar's ptex iron, string, and metalgrip. Of course, that's of little use to Josh's coreshot ski sitting in Tacoma.

I maintain that the above is Hummel Hyperbole. The mountain was merely playfully embracing our presence. All heights, speeds, and times as reported by Jason should be considered untrustworthy. Further proof is the minimal nature of the damage inflicted upon our gear.

I, for one, will continue wearing a helmet, even in 'easy' ter...

8/9/05 2:51am

Pete A

Tognar toolworks- gave them plenty of money this past season cause of the low snowpack... ;)

check their 'surgery tools' page....new edges, screws, and epoxy

http://www.tognar.com/surgery_repair_equipment_tools_ski_snowboard.html#SPK-SEC

they also carry a specially formulated p-tex cord that bonds particularly well to metal edges for those next-to-edge gouges.

8/9/05 2:22am

Sam Avaiusini

I'd think P-tex gouges are the least of the concern. What about those poor edges? 20mph impact to large rocks=broken edges/delam ???

8/9/05 1:42am

Jason_H.

The HW didn't take long to climb (maybe a half an hour) and we didn't stay long on the summit, maybe 15-30 minutes, long enough to change cloths and get ready. The HW was under a shadow for the most part when we skied it. The top was alright, the bottom wasn't great.

Pete: Thanks for the offer. I'll have to let you know. I haven't even looked at the skis, but like Tim said, we may need a p-tex canon...

edit to add: I'm not sure when we started down, maybe at 2 or 3pm. One of the o...

8/9/05 1:37am

Matt C

That looks like a sweet trip! Great photos!

By the way, what time did you start your climb up the headwall...and what time did you start your descent of the headwall?

8/9/05 1:29am

Matt C

Nice Job Bob,

Looks like I missed out on some nice turns and a SWEET breakfast!!! I find it surprising to see how much snow is left up there this year...especially at such a relatively low elevation. I was hiking up there last year around this time and if I remember correctly, there appeared to be fewer and smaller snowpatches. Thanks for posting...I'm sure the info will come in handy in the future.

8/9/05 1:16am

curmudgeon

Pete, these guys need a p-tex canon!

8/8/05 11:41pm

Pete A

thats a hell of a story...glad you guys are okay.

how'd the skis handle the high speed encounter with the rocks? if you wanna borrow a p-tex gun, I got one.

8/8/05 11:33pm

ron j

Wow.
That clearly sounded like a "bonding experience".
Glad 'yall got back in one piece.

8/8/05 10:38pm

Jason_H.

Wow!

Nice to bump into you guys on the summit. I hoped you would make it down without incident. Sounds like you might have had a couple.

How did Seth fare with the constriction and rocks and all?

Edited to add, "Thanks for posting the report!"

Seth stopped in time.

Nice to run into you guys also. Now I can put a name to a face. What a nice day, eh?

8/8/05 10:12pm

powscraper

Note: I linked a few photos. I have a lot more, but I'm too lazy to make links.

http://cascadecrusades.org/SkiMountaineering/MountBaker/Routes/parkhw/parkhwaug2005/

8/8/05 10:02pm

wickstad

Wow!

Nice to bump into you guys on the summit. I hoped you would make it down without incident. Sounds like you might have had a couple.

How did Seth fare with the constriction and rocks and all?

Edited to add, "Thanks for posting the report!"

8/8/05 9:43pm

powscraper