TR Replies
Great report Jeff!
I never realized what a great climb to the summit of Hood can be, but you detailed that out really well.
Thanks for sharing.
Joe
I never realized what a great climb to the summit of Hood can be, but you detailed that out really well.
Thanks for sharing.
Joe
Great trip! Our fearless Toe-er Guide/Ringmaster has an uncanny ability to surround himself with fun and amazing people, just trying to figure out how I slipped in under his good judgement of character. :)
I think my face hurt from laughing as much as my legs hurt from skiing and my back hurt from driving.
Great photos so far and can't wait to see the rest of them. Looking forward to the next adventure.
Cheers-
jdclimber
I think my face hurt from laughing as much as my legs hurt from skiing and my back hurt from driving.
Great photos so far and can't wait to see the rest of them. Looking forward to the next adventure.
Cheers-
jdclimber
Very cool, Amar.
Which gps unit are you using?
Which gps unit are you using?
Thanks for all of the kind comments. I've added a topo map with a GPS track of our route to the original post.
This was really a great ski mountaineering tour more than anything else, skiing on and across very moderate glaciers and terrain but with mind-blowing steeps and cliffs and icefalls looming overhead the whole time.
This was really a great ski mountaineering tour more than anything else, skiing on and across very moderate glaciers and terrain but with mind-blowing steeps and cliffs and icefalls looming overhead the whole time.
Thanks for the TR Lowell. I'm glad I could join you on a trip to a great area, great mountain and a great line! And it's too bad we couldn't spend another few days up there cause carrying all that food up and down was reason enough to earn the sufferfest award of the week. 8)
I defer to Charles's experience
Amar,
Great trip.
I also want to THANK YOU for all the great info and links on your website. During my 2 plus months of skiing around Tahoe and the Sierras, I would constantly use the links provided on your site.
Jill and I used the 31st as a travel day from Lassen to Shasta due to the forecast. The wildflowers were incredible and Jill was happy. We spent the evening of the 31st on the Everitt Memorial Highway and the winds were strong and the clouds...
Great trip.
I also want to THANK YOU for all the great info and links on your website. During my 2 plus months of skiing around Tahoe and the Sierras, I would constantly use the links provided on your site.
Jill and I used the 31st as a travel day from Lassen to Shasta due to the forecast. The wildflowers were incredible and Jill was happy. We spent the evening of the 31st on the Everitt Memorial Highway and the winds were strong and the clouds...
Well, this is the most snow I've ever seen as of roughly June 1 on the upper parts of Shasta above 8-9000 ft, exceeding even the very deep spring snowpack of 2003 (although I missed out on the huge spring snowpacks of 1995 and 1998 in CA, which may have been deeper than this year). See this photo from June 3, 2003 for comparison, clearly less snow than this year. In 2003, the central West...
Road Cut, n
A compilation of B side type songs, often recorded live, used to entertain traveling motorists. :D
Really though, temps are nice and cool today! My pal wants to do Muir or Inter G tomorrow. But if it's socked-in weather, Chinook still has enough snow to be a safer navigation-wise alternative...
A compilation of B side type songs, often recorded live, used to entertain traveling motorists. :D
Really though, temps are nice and cool today! My pal wants to do Muir or Inter G tomorrow. But if it's socked-in weather, Chinook still has enough snow to be a safer navigation-wise alternative...
Amar.
You tell a fine tale. Nice to ski with you some out there. Glad your trip on Shastina was every bit as good as the weather promised.
Jessica
You tell a fine tale. Nice to ski with you some out there. Glad your trip on Shastina was every bit as good as the weather promised.
Jessica
Excellent report, thank you Amar!
Your photo of Hidden Valley is the best I've seen showing the West Face Gullies route, which looks mighty scrumptious, and genuinely makes me want to dial in sick and pack the freakin truck right this very instant. Do you have any estimates based on your frequent experience w South and West sides of Shasta how long the W Face Gullies might stay in that kind of shape? Seems like given their W facing these would be a good choice for a oneday from car ski ascent...
Your photo of Hidden Valley is the best I've seen showing the West Face Gullies route, which looks mighty scrumptious, and genuinely makes me want to dial in sick and pack the freakin truck right this very instant. Do you have any estimates based on your frequent experience w South and West sides of Shasta how long the W Face Gullies might stay in that kind of shape? Seems like given their W facing these would be a good choice for a oneday from car ski ascent...
;D
Now thats ski mountaineering. Way to find a line in a bad glacier season.
I have checked out your web site in the past it's a fun site.
Now thats ski mountaineering. Way to find a line in a bad glacier season.
I have checked out your web site in the past it's a fun site.
From looking at the good map at the Wilkeson RS, if you choose the Ptarmigan Ridge alpine zone I think you are committed to camping on the Russell itself or above the Flett on Ptarmigan Ridge. If you want to camp in the upper reaches of Spray Park (where we camped) or farther east between Echo and Seattle Park, then you want the Ptarmigan Ridge cross country zone.
The Spray Park cross country zone looks very small and confined to lower Spray Park, south of the Spray Park tra...
The Spray Park cross country zone looks very small and confined to lower Spray Park, south of the Spray Park tra...
No summit? What's there to comment on? ;)
Of course, I'm just jealous that I didn't get to go.
Of course, I'm just jealous that I didn't get to go.
Thanks for the input Robie-I will put the info to use!
Joe
Joe
Ok back again and did a little homework.
Jodabaker
The area you would want to ask for is called the Ptarmagin Ridge alpine zone.it appears Spray park is split into a couple of XC zones Also Seattle park has a xc zone
Backcountry zone map (Rosetta Stone)
The way the regs are written implies year round use!
Jodabaker
The area you would want to ask for is called the Ptarmagin Ridge alpine zone.it appears Spray park is split into a couple of XC zones Also Seattle park has a xc zone
Backcountry zone map (Rosetta Stone)
The way the regs are written implies year round use!
Jodabaker ,
I don't doubt your word but there is
something fishy about this "Snow season camping " I'm of the opinion that you can still go up there and legally camp this year.
I've always been issued permits to camp in the "crosscountry zone".
I could see where they might close down lower Spray Park Zone but hell, there's snow up on the Flett and Russell year round and on top of blue Ice I might add. Climbers get permits to camp up on the frying pan to ac...
I don't doubt your word but there is
something fishy about this "Snow season camping " I'm of the opinion that you can still go up there and legally camp this year.
I've always been issued permits to camp in the "crosscountry zone".
I could see where they might close down lower Spray Park Zone but hell, there's snow up on the Flett and Russell year round and on top of blue Ice I might add. Climbers get permits to camp up on the frying pan to ac...
Nice ! Was it about 3 years ago ? June 11th almost a foot of freshies up there. Of course it goes sour quickly. My strategy for that was park the car just east of the bridge and imediately drop into the "valley of no return." and ski down to the American.
Does anybody remember what a road cut is ?
Yes, it was great ski with Adam, Phil, and Oyvind. Alot of work but alot of fun with a great crew. I was suprised there were no other skiers that day.
Now that's a good trip report!
Paul: Any comments? ;D
Paul: Any comments? ;D
thanks to Chinook Pass. Really saved my spring this year. Five weekends along with 2 overnighters in late April thru May. I was just looking at some old photos from 6-23-2002. So much snow it would make you cry.
Lara -- it would have been fun to shoot together. Helmet cams only really work as an altrernate POV in a vidi of a skier. Just the HC shot by iteself is monotonous.
Jon -- I wanted the skiers view, so I have the "Lipstick lens" velcroed to the bill of a baseball hat. It is mounted about three inches above the bridge of my nose. I tried it on a helmet, but then you are seeing from one side of the skier's head. I wanted the camera to record what the s...
Jon -- I wanted the skiers view, so I have the "Lipstick lens" velcroed to the bill of a baseball hat. It is mounted about three inches above the bridge of my nose. I tried it on a helmet, but then you are seeing from one side of the skier's head. I wanted the camera to record what the s...
Tim, how have you rigged the cam since I noticed you're not carrying it?
Tim,
That video is a wonderful treasure! Now I wish Silas and I had something like that. Silas and I took some vid, but I'm still waiting to see it. Silas???
~Lara
That video is a wonderful treasure! Now I wish Silas and I had something like that. Silas and I took some vid, but I'm still waiting to see it. Silas???
~Lara
Four of us started out for the Coleman Glacier on Saturday morning. With me were Rod, my usual Powder Pig bud, Gary, a snowshoeing friend who has always wanted to climb Baker, and Mr. Coleman, the ashes of the dad of a friend. Judy had asked me if I could do this, since her dad was named Mr. Coleman and he was from the linage for which the Glacier was named. He had always wanted to go up the Mountain his grand daddy had pioneered, and now here was his last chance. What could I...
gravyb - the West side of the pass is where this shot is taken - you'll see lakes on topo when you check it out. It's the bowl tucked in on the SW side of Naches. the bowl you speak of (good fun indeed) I believe is the SE quadrant of Naches.
Always good to hear a fellow snow lover had a successful outing. I was up there 5-27 & 5-29, did Muir 5-30. I parked at the pass on south side of road & have been touring south, around the corner of Naches to a nice bowl. It's a nice lap-able 500' or more vert, but it's not the same bowl as in your photo. There's more snow and no lake at the bottom of the bowl I've been enjoying. Where did you park? A bit west of the pass at the bottom of the bowl the road passes? I'll study the to...
Excellent report and pictures, Amar. Thanks!
A finely crafted and very informative report, Amar.
You know, you do such a great job at this you should consider writing a book about it ;)
You know, you do such a great job at this you should consider writing a book about it ;)
There was a time just a few years ago when it seemed like "the map" was always kept under the counter and the general public didn't even get to see it except in unusual circumstances an only then after you told the ranger where you intended to camp. Back then scoring a copy of the "rosetta stone", as we used to call it, was a major help in planning overnight camping trips in the park... the info on the NPS web site was sometimes unreliable and seldom update.
Not so a...
Not so a...
I saw your tracks from Sunrise!
Great run and very accurate report on the climb up at least from my viewpoint! It looked like there was one prominent left turn on the climb up like you mentioned. From my view it appeared that the climb could have pursued a right turn with a two crevases pass, but that could have taken you to far (right) away from the true climb and it looked fairly steep (convex). It looked easier from my armchair than I'm sure it was.
Thank goodness I was not hallucinatin...
Great run and very accurate report on the climb up at least from my viewpoint! It looked like there was one prominent left turn on the climb up like you mentioned. From my view it appeared that the climb could have pursued a right turn with a two crevases pass, but that could have taken you to far (right) away from the true climb and it looked fairly steep (convex). It looked easier from my armchair than I'm sure it was.
Thank goodness I was not hallucinatin...
When I spoke to the Park Ranger today I asked him about official camping above Spray and he stated that the snow season camping, unless in designated areas such as Sherman, Curtis and Muir is done for the season. I am unclear on the designations other than the issues that I found out about in our fight against the Park allowing skiers from Crystal Mountain to ski in the Park. Which is where they designate areas for uses based on the amount of users of the park area and risk to the enviroment.
Good job MW88888888.
I have been skiing that line for the last few weekends and it is melting out quickly. It is a great short ski!
I am hesitant to climb up the snow strip because the cornices are ripe to drop like rotten pears from a tree. Note the cracks/separations behind the cornices and some debris that has broken off and slid down the bowl.
FYI-Safer option for those interested is to go around the Summer trail on the South side going to Dewey Lake and follow the goat trail alon...
I have been skiing that line for the last few weekends and it is melting out quickly. It is a great short ski!
I am hesitant to climb up the snow strip because the cornices are ripe to drop like rotten pears from a tree. Note the cracks/separations behind the cornices and some debris that has broken off and slid down the bowl.
FYI-Safer option for those interested is to go around the Summer trail on the South side going to Dewey Lake and follow the goat trail alon...
A_clark,
I think you will truly appreciate this: A picture of the sunrise you speak of from Glacier Basin trail.
If you look closely enough I bet you could find yourself in that shot!
I think you will truly appreciate this: A picture of the sunrise you speak of from Glacier Basin trail.
If you look closely enough I bet you could find yourself in that shot!
Way to get after it, guys! 
Boy, I'm sorry I missed this one! 
That face has been on my mind for years!
If I would have known this was only going to be a weekend trip, I would have come along, for sure!
I'm envious, to say the least! Congrats!
Boy, I'm sorry I missed this one! That face has been on my mind for years!
If I would have known this was only going to be a weekend trip, I would have come along, for sure!
I'm envious, to say the least! Congrats!
Now that's what I call jonesing for some turns and having an eye to meet the need. SWEEEEET!!! ;D :D
The Park Rangers as nice as they are won't offer that info on the XC zones. You have to know about it and ask. At least that has been my experience. Some zones have a bigger quota than others.
Great and timely report a_clark.
I especially appreciate the timing milestones. I've never been on the summit of Rainier and have been curious to know how long one might expect to spend on the different segments of a climb and descent.
Congratulations on achieving something that certainly isn't easy. Glad to hear you had a safe trip.
I especially appreciate the timing milestones. I've never been on the summit of Rainier and have been curious to know how long one might expect to spend on the different segments of a climb and descent.
Congratulations on achieving something that certainly isn't easy. Glad to hear you had a safe trip.
Sounds like a classic ski, well executed.
Thanks for the report.
Thanks for the report.
Charles, sounds like you had a great overnight at the Flett, :D thanks for sharing.
Ron and I have always said that camping in that area is like trying to figure out the "Rosetta Stone", it's always a puzzle. ;)
what are the rules for camping in the Spray Park area? Is it only allowed above treeline?
Ron and I have always said that camping in that area is like trying to figure out the "Rosetta Stone", it's always a puzzle. ;)
Paul - We need you around for Art Wolfe like encapsulated moment! Yeah, this was a great trip with incredible scenary. Hopefully a pic or 2 will be posted soon.
For camping that is not along a trail (in designated sites) the park is divided up into zones, with a limited number of parties camping in each zone. There are "cross country" zones (just above treeline) and "alpine" zones higher. It seems like the zones have recently been rearranged, but there is a pdf file on the park web site that shows the zones (though not much else, so it can be hard to read the map). There is a big xc zone covering the place we camped, and there seems...
Yeah, Summerland has a lot to offer: short drive, good campsites, mellow terrain with potential for turns, and as it turned out this time, fantastic weather.
I can't help but think our neighborhood should coordinate on the kid outings more. I'm sure having peers would only enhance the kids' experience.
BTW, I have photos but no host.
-Dave R
I can't help but think our neighborhood should coordinate on the kid outings more. I'm sure having peers would only enhance the kids' experience.
BTW, I have photos but no host.
-Dave R
hey Charles, what are the rules for camping in the Spray Park area? Is it only allowed above treeline?
Yes, Dave, this sounds like a great choice for a trip with kids. I hadn't thought of it before, but there is a lot of different terrain to choose from in the area. It's now on my list for a future kid trip. Thanks for the report and glad you got to enjoy the great weather.
Damn good report.
I kept wondering all weekend if you were above the clouds. It might be 9500' I'm not sure as KEN's altimeter was reading 9300 and mine was low at 9200.
Whichever it is one fine lookout.
The snow coverage was about the same when I was up there on july 6th of last year. Funny ,everybody I was with noticed your "Joke Boots " and light looking pack!
I kept wondering all weekend if you were above the clouds. It might be 9500' I'm not sure as KEN's altimeter was reading 9300 and mine was low at 9200.
Whichever it is one fine lookout.
The snow coverage was about the same when I was up there on july 6th of last year. Funny ,everybody I was with noticed your "Joke Boots " and light looking pack!
Don't know if we've met, OldHouseMan? Sometime soon, a trip, perhaps? Lara P, Silas and I have someth9ing up our sleeve for this Saturday, June 4. Interested?
No, I don't think we have ever met but I am always up for a good ski. Maybe our crew can meet you on this trip you speak of? PM me with the details.
Sounds like you had a great trip! I've often looked at the photo of Sinister in Nelson's book and dreamed of skiing it. Thanks for working out the details!
Inspirational....I've been thinking about undertaking a trip into this area soon....and this is enough of a reason.