TR Replies
It mine as well have been spring skiing! Skinning shirtless, corn etc. Those pics of the Hill were taken on the 8th. The smoke moved in on the 9th! I thought I smelled smoke. There was a reddish hue, smog like. I should have trusted my sniffer!
Thanks for the weather info! Amazing that smoke from Southern Cal would be making it's way up here this time of year!
Thanks for the weather info! Amazing that smoke from Southern Cal would be making it's way up here this time of year!
The smoke was from the LA fires: http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2017/12/los-angeles-smoke-reaches-northwest.html
That third photo looks like spring skiing!
Were you seeing just fog and clouds, or was there actually smoke?
Were you seeing just fog and clouds, or was there actually smoke?
I've seen no reports from the volcanoes- any thoughts on the possibility of corn on Muir or St Helens?
The upper slopes are mostly East facing and the winter sun does't hit it much. The snow might stay powdery especially in steep chutes down to the lake. The trail is broken, nothing to lose with nice views!
So did it feel 57 degrees out?! Â Wish I understood how and when powder can last in these types of conditions. I would have figured everything had turned to ice/afternoon slip. There must be some temperature/humidity threshold.
Awesome photos. Any thoughts on snow conditions this weekend with all this sun?
No Fog Bowl, getting that Bryant couloir, Crispin?
Ye Olde Snoqualmie valley fog. Burning off by mid-day?
Thanks for the report -- looks like the jeepers are still having fun with RD 9070 :(
author=Stefan link=topic=39233.msg158125#msg158125 date=1512409381]
Huh? When were you up there? We were there on December 2nd....although we did not go for Green Mountain...we went for 5988 which is SW of Green Mtn. We the first to drive to the trailhead and we had the only tracks made by our vehicles to the trailhead. We were on snowshoes....We saw no one...and we saw no other vehicles even on the way down. Do you mean December 3rd? Just trying to see...
Huh? When were you up there? We were there on December 2nd....although we did not go for Green Mountain...we went for 5988 which is SW of Green Mtn. We the first to drive to the trailhead and we had the only tracks made by our vehicles to the trailhead. We were on snowshoes....We saw no one...and we saw no other vehicles even on the way down. Do you mean December 3rd? Just trying to see how I am crazy....
Cool pics...looks awesome...good steeps and deep too!
Wow..way to get the feshies..looks lovely..good video too...vicarious yada yada,😎
Thanks for helping me shift my head and body into ski season, Randy! The skiing was quite fun - better than I would have guessed, despite the "makes a good snowball" quality of the snow. I think modern gear may have been helping a bit there. I was pleased at how much the older rained-on snow was keeping my bases from any nasty wood or rock contact despite the relatively shallow snowpack down low. Did not look as savory in the deep forest adjacent to our op...
Nice snow pit! Thanks for sharing it as I doubt many would take the time for that. I know it's rare that I do more than just quick tests.
I rode Alpental 12/1 and found fun snow on the upper mountain, both the fan and upper nash. Conditions got much worse on lower mountain with a noticeable rain curst (still fun on a splitboard tho!). Upper nash had the best turns of the day! The fan was fun with some exciting holes.
Thanks Chairman! I'm digging out the gear for some early laps tomorrow. You?
Gib says no uphill travel restrictions at the moment.
See you Sunday, Silas?
See you Sunday, Silas?
I didnt dig a pit but was unable to break thru on skis. On the ridge top where windblown I didnt boot through when in transition. Â The bond was good as it had slowly changed from warm rain to cold snow. With the loss of some 30" what was left as base would be pretty consolidated .
Bring on the next batch!
Bring on the next batch!
Thanks for the report! Winter is taking hold up there.
That sounds better than I imagined. What is the crust like? Did the new seem pretty bonded? The forecast looks promising.
Thanks Lowell. I approve of the name change but still like to call it Big Chief! It was always my go-to lift when I was gettin' on top of the tele turn.
Heh.. the November to remember.. :/
I did one lap up tye mill to dudley's with my dog kololo that day. 12 pm start. Backside did indeed look amazing, with few tracks. We just did DD to khers, lift line direct. Not a scratch.
Reason for posting... Apparently Stevens no longer allows dogs during partial early season openings? Fortunately we got our day in, but in the past I've done it later. Only to smiles and waves from patrol. I didn't find out the hard way,...
I did one lap up tye mill to dudley's with my dog kololo that day. 12 pm start. Backside did indeed look amazing, with few tracks. We just did DD to khers, lift line direct. Not a scratch.
Reason for posting... Apparently Stevens no longer allows dogs during partial early season openings? Fortunately we got our day in, but in the past I've done it later. Only to smiles and waves from patrol. I didn't find out the hard way,...
Thanks for stopping by on the way home. Great to see you!
Im probably in the minority of people who stand in that line frequently, and liked the name change.
Mack, I think you might be confusing John Kerscher.. Khers chair:p? Similarly named old ski pioneers. :)
Im probably in the minority of people who stand in that line frequently, and liked the name change.
Mack, I think you might be confusing John Kerscher.. Khers chair:p? Similarly named old ski pioneers. :)
author=telemack link=topic=39149.msg157898#msg157898 date=1511368835]
It was renamed about 5 years ago after John Kehr, one of Stevens's founder/owners.
Bruce Kehr. He installed and ran the rope tow with Don Adams in 1937-38.
With his wife Virginia, he managed Stevens Pass ski area for many decades.
Considering the amount of time and effort the Kehrs invested in the ski area, I think the rename is fitti...
It was renamed about 5 years ago after John Kehr, one of Stevens's founder/owners. I still prefer big Chief, but he was important in the early days.
When did they rename Big Chief to Kehr's Chair? Lame.
No his heals were totally free, and he was slaying it!
author=Jake the Brit link=topic=39131.msg157837#msg157837 date=1511067100]
Is photo number 3 somewhere on the HiBox ridge? What a line! Reminds me of the back of Dragontail, but steeper and longer.
Stellar photos.
Looks like Kaleteen to me
That crust softened appreciably in the afternoon. Which was great because I rolled-out of bed around 1030 with a pair of logs for legs after going hard Sat. Made two sets of powder 1s (so one set of Powder 11s) and was home @ Hyak before the "rain" began. I much appreciated the compacted slope conditions for the ascent.
Interesting that Crystal would call/start preparing a search team for you at 3:30... I share your concern about the precedent that sets for skier self sufficiency (or lack thereof).
Like most folks here, when I ski in the backcountry, I expect to be self sufficient. I don't expect anyone to 'come after me' unless I either signal for help or am past my 'panic time,' as Chris calls it. I kit up expecting to be able to spend the night out, and I've also ski...
Like most folks here, when I ski in the backcountry, I expect to be self sufficient. I don't expect anyone to 'come after me' unless I either signal for help or am past my 'panic time,' as Chris calls it. I kit up expecting to be able to spend the night out, and I've also ski...
Maybe give Crystal Ski Patrol the time you want them to start calling/looking for you (we call it the "Panic Time" in my house), as opposed to the time you think you'll finish the tour if all goes well. For me, the two are usually not the same.
author=Charlie Hagedorn link=topic=39131.msg157839#msg157839 date=1511069470]
I grew up on the east coast; closer to the ocean is east... Oops. :).
I grew up in the Midwest, mountains are always to the west. I still get it wrong too. Feels weird saying going east to the mountains.
Great shots. I agree. That does look a little like dragon tail at the top.
Thanks -- these three were on a full-frame camera, using an older 70-300mm lens, mostly at 300mm. The key bit is the good visibility!
What lens/camera do you use? Those are stupendous images!
I grew up on the east coast; closer to the ocean is east... Oops. :).