TR Replies

Wow, those photos of the area formerly known as the lower Paradise Glacier are amazing. I have taken my kids there for some skiing thrills at this time of year for the last two summers. I figured that it wouldn't look too good at this point, but I never would have guessed that there would be no snow at all. Very disappointing. I guess it will take another mini-ice age to restore the area to its former glory. Thanks for the report and photos.

8/3/05 3:28am

David_Coleman

sssshhhhh - that's somebody's secret stash! ;)

All I can say is that I've been quiet not to tell, all of these years.

8/3/05 2:50am

Pete A

i think i'm wrong...the williwakas (to the southeast of Cowlitz Rock) is probably hidden in that photo...

sad to think the lower glacier used to look like this.

http://glaciercaves.com/assets/images/Paradise_Ice_Caves_1930.jpg

8/3/05 2:14am

philfort

I didn't see it in any of the photos, but is that final flat snow patch before Cowlitz Rocks gone? The one that was near the base of the upper glacier? I remember seeing tons of ice worms there. I wonder if they're all gone now ???

8/3/05 2:07am

Pete A

shouldn't the williwakas glacier be in that photo too on the righthand side? did we lose that one this summer too?

Kam, best of luck with the move and new job in Virginia.

If you'd like to leave some of your spatula skis here in Seattle I know I could find a good home for them :)

8/3/05 12:55am

philfort

So long, Lower Paradise Glacier.... (sniff sniff)

8/3/05 12:18am

Jeff Huber

Another amusing and classic Kam report. Thanks!

Over the past few years I've immensely enjoyed your reports here, Kam. Your presence is going to be sorely missed. Best of luck in VA, congrats for being brave enough to move and, in a morbid way, I look forward to reading how you will continue your streak!

8/2/05 11:14pm

gregL

What, no pictures of me working the corn on one ski?

At least August is in the book, and the day was as nice as it gets. Still can't get over a glacier that probably took thousands of years to form disappearing that quickly.

Pictures of Kam and Mr. Mountaingoat here

8/2/05 10:46pm

JibberD

July 31, 2005, Heliotrope Ridge

You're moving to Richmond, VA permanently ???

What's the deal? Well, if it's true, good luck to you and I'll miss reading your reports and enjoying your quirky photography.

Best of luck to you Kam!

8/1/05 11:09pm

skip

Mark,

I must say this was a pleasing report to read. Good show, Sir.
-s

8/1/05 8:44pm

markharf

I'd pay good money for a poster-sized print of Skip in mid- jump turn, just to answer all the people who ask me if there's really any skiable snow up in the mountains this time of year.

8/1/05 7:39pm

Lowell_Skoog

July 30-31, 2005, Muir Snowfield

Skiers of the Impossible! ;)

8/1/05 7:25pm

Lowell_Skoog

Great to bump into you, Doug. It sure was a nice day up there. Tom and I had a good hike to McClure Rock, up Alta Vista and down Golden Gate. I don't think I've ever seen so many people hiking the trails above Paradise. Nice to see so many people enjoying the park.

8/1/05 6:16pm

JMor

From the looks of the "patch technique/jump turn," and the water in the upper part of that photo, could Skip possibly be sneeking in some practice for next years "Slush Cup"? ;D

8/1/05 6:42am

Way to go boys! Original always 8) Did ya spend the night and knock out August?

8/1/05 4:44am

kam

Did you get any turns in?

8/1/05 1:22am

sheispiste

Awesome photo Kam... one of your best :)

Agreed. Fun to see you put it all together. Thanks for a "tour" of other images from your fantastic journey. You guys are too much fun!

8/1/05 1:10am

ski_photomatt

Awesome photo Kam. Skip's pose, Cass rowing, the centered composition, one of your best :)

8/1/05 12:59am

prgsmall

Where is the glacier? ???

Lookin' mighty sketch...

7/31/05 8:57pm

powscraper

Ah man I am totally losing right now, looking at those pics!

7/31/05 8:23pm

skykilo

This is my favorite volcano route. Way to find some nice turns, guys.

7/31/05 8:02pm

Darryl

Hmmmm, looks like we need to add training on lake rescue to the Glacier Skiing/Snowboarding and Crevasse Rescue course.

7/31/05 5:58pm

JMor

Nice you guys, how fun :D! Good thing Skip kept the sharp ends of the ski poles away from the boat ;D.

7/31/05 11:00am

Michael

So what's the deal? Cass gets the raft to move fast enough that you can do water skiing? ;-)

7/31/05 8:11am

ema

Your elevations seem to be close Matt. Also, the bottom of that ribbon of snow in your picture is about 4500'. Nice job, can't wait to go back!

7/31/05 7:34am

Lowell_Skoog

Water skiing, eh?

Great picture! :) :) :)

7/31/05 7:06am

ron j

:)
I love it.
You guys are a never ending source of creative amusement.
Did you get any turns in?

7/31/05 3:45am

Mason_White

July 23, 2005, Muir

Nice photos and TR, Smooshy. The Beer Ninja and you are having more fun this summer than I am. I have not found any stashes in Chicago, Minneapolis, Newark, New York, Boston or Palo Alto.

Let me know when you head out next.

7/31/05 2:12am

Charles

Matt, thanks for the additional information and photos. Looks very nice, but maybe more suited for an overnight trip like you did at this point. I'm just trying to get some August turns in a day trip - I get ski-lazy at this time of the year. Next year on our awesome snowpack...

7/31/05 12:35am

Pete A

so you paddled across Blanca Lake to access the columbia glacier? damn! how many miles of trail to get to the lake?
I wanna see pictures of y'all storming the beach.

7/30/05 11:20pm

Kevin Steffa

Excellent!

Captains log: July, 1997 - Party of 3 (Elias, Ian, myself) arrive to the shores of the lake with one Nautilus-class inflatable vessel only to find that the ice was too thick to make the crossing. Neither ourselves nor our vessel were equipped for the rigors of polar exploration at the time so the mission had remained incomplete...

- Kevin

7/30/05 10:34pm

philfort

No way! :D

Looks fun... kind of ;)

7/30/05 8:34pm

sag

of course.

7/30/05 11:25am

Matt C

Charles, I'll give you some approximate elevations along with another photo. (Maybe Toby can give you some more accurate elevations as he had his altimeter last time...Toby what's the elevation of those high campsites???)

The picture below shows a ribbon of snow (that we could have skied...but does not connect to the upper ridge).

However, we skied to just above the high campsites (where many people usually camp) approx 6000 feet...well below where the Cleaver starts (approx 6800 f...

7/29/05 12:21am

Charles

Thanks for the report, Matt. I'm wondering to what elevation you could ski at the bottom of your run?

Also, it looks like you were probably still skiing on the late season (June) snow up higher, the really smooth stuff. Did that new layer disappear at some point on the way down, putting you on more cupped/dirty snow?

7/28/05 4:50am

Matt C

Unfortunately I don't have any great photos of the headwall.

I will be surfing with my ski partner next week...I'll ask him to post any good headwall photos he has.

However, here are two links to some of my decent headwall photos:

The upper route:
http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic44025.jpg

Laurent feeding on corn:

7/27/05 9:26pm

Aaron_Riggs

July 23, 2005, Muir

I went and skiied the Muir Tuesday, July 26th. It was a gorgeous day. At pebble creek we saw a group of climbers/rangers carrying a climber down on a stretcher. They seemed to be all smiles and in no particular hurry, so I'm assuming all was well. At about 8,500 feet on the snowfield, I noticed 3 or 4 tracks up above the Nisqually Glacier (to the West) on what I think is the Wilson Glacier. It looks like a long approach for a short ski? It did looked nice, though. The turns down from Muir were a...

7/27/05 8:50pm

Paul Belitz

Nice! That's a great ski.

Do you have any photos of the headwall?

7/27/05 7:23pm

Jason_H.

July 23, 2005, Sahale Glacier, NCNP

Awesome!

7/27/05 4:51am

philfort

I looked down the NW face to the Quien Sabe below (has anybody skied that yet?).

I think A McLean, M Volken and others skied the W face a few years ago.

7/27/05 3:47am

wickstad

July 23, 2005, Sahale Glacier, NCNP

My first time up Sahale was from the south. I thought I could reach the summit via the west ridge. Once I reached the ridge I about soiled myself as I looked down the NW face to the Quien Sabe below (has anybody skied that yet?). I then found the gully. There is one move there that is ok going up but really sucked for a short person coming down. Luckily there was a group on top that let me use their rope as a hand line.

Your handle reminds me of the Ned Needl...

7/26/05 9:11am

sheispiste

July 23, 2005, Sahale Glacier, NCNP

JW.
Nice little video. Great fun you all have.
enjoy your days.
Jessica

7/26/05 1:10am

Sam Avaiusini

I'm sure that the view of Boston Glacier would have been awesome, but we'll save it for another day...

Sounds like a nice way to spend a day. The Cascade Pass region will always be one of my favorites.
Incidentally, while you can see a small part of the Boston Glacier from the top of Sahale, the best views are had by climbing the Quien Sabe (or Queen Sloppy as I like to call it) to col between Boston and Sahale. From there...

7/25/05 9:57pm

gregL

I like that intro - (nudge) yo Ron, now you drink the beer!

7/25/05 6:25pm

JMor

Great video J, ;D, I love Mt. Adams, it's my favorite ;D.

7/25/05 5:41pm

ron j