TR Replies
Here's a quick rundown of the Illumination Rock tour.
Tuesday morning was clear and beautiful; Mt. Hood looked tempting, but Daniel & I initially decided to descend with the rest of the crew until Mark Harfenist mentioned that he was considering a tour up to Illumination Rock. We reconsidered and rigged to go.
We ascended in a long, traverse across the crusty surface of the Palmer glacier. The snow stubbornly stayed hard as we climbed. A small plastic ob...
Tuesday morning was clear and beautiful; Mt. Hood looked tempting, but Daniel & I initially decided to descend with the rest of the crew until Mark Harfenist mentioned that he was considering a tour up to Illumination Rock. We reconsidered and rigged to go.
We ascended in a long, traverse across the crusty surface of the Palmer glacier. The snow stubbornly stayed hard as we climbed. A small plastic ob...
What a great trip! I have some pictures posted here:
Sunday & Monday:
http://homepage.mac.com/mark.tomko/PhotoAlbum35.html
Tuesday:
http://homepage.mac.com/mark.tomko/PhotoAlbum36.html
Sorry if I haven't identified you all correctly. Send corrections and I'll update them.
Thanks everyone!!!
Sunday & Monday:
http://homepage.mac.com/mark.tomko/PhotoAlbum35.html
Tuesday:
http://homepage.mac.com/mark.tomko/PhotoAlbum36.html
Sorry if I haven't identified you all correctly. Send corrections and I'll update them.
Thanks everyone!!!
As you could tell by that photo, the Blazer is not really blocking the road. But it does appear to have been buried much deeper than depicted on Amar's picture, though it was in the process of melting out. Someone had busted out the back window but many items in the truck were untouched (copy of freedom of the hills, other books on climbing and backpacking, etc.). I doubt that a climber or skier played a part in breaking into the Blazer. As we know, there are others up there who prefer to enjoy...
It's always hard to be back at work on Wednesday after this trip. It was no surprise that the trip was a blast yet again with friends new and old, some climbing and skiing, and good food too. Thanks to Ron and Jeanette for organizing the trip.
The mountain was quite a sight in the early morning. I was in the second cat load to the top of the Palmer and looking up at the string of skiers headed toward Crater Rock was pretty impressive. It's so much fun to be out climbing with so many frien...
The mountain was quite a sight in the early morning. I was in the second cat load to the top of the Palmer and looking up at the string of skiers headed toward Crater Rock was pretty impressive. It's so much fun to be out climbing with so many frien...
Nicely done, Lowell.
Maximum participation with the minimum of risk to all.
Very smooth.
And it should make for some nice insights for the book.
My order's still in. ;)
Maximum participation with the minimum of risk to all.
Very smooth.
And it should make for some nice insights for the book.
My order's still in. ;)
With Ron and I organizing this trip for the past 8 years, it just keeps getting better all the time. This year was no exception, we had an awesome group! It was another great Mt. Hood Silcox adventure. ;D
As Robie stated, some of us went down on Saturday to ski, some came early Sunday to ski before meeting at the Rams Head for briefing, and snowcat ride up to the Silcox Hut. After dinner on Sunday, the Hut exploded into a real hubbub of activity as 18 of the...
As Robie stated, some of us went down on Saturday to ski, some came early Sunday to ski before meeting at the Rams Head for briefing, and snowcat ride up to the Silcox Hut. After dinner on Sunday, the Hut exploded into a real hubbub of activity as 18 of the...
Lowell,
If something like this just somehow happens again, and if there is a geriatric division, I'd give it a try. :) Provided that is if I think I could get up there with my old Rossi SM's and orange Lange boots. :) Now that would be fun!
Larry
If something like this just somehow happens again, and if there is a geriatric division, I'd give it a try. :) Provided that is if I think I could get up there with my old Rossi SM's and orange Lange boots. :) Now that would be fun!
Larry
Also of note, the Mt Washington Inferno has been resurrected in recent years as well, although it's now a pentathlon whereas the original was just a crazy DH (I'm not sure, but they may have used mass starts as well at some point). Anyone who has ever skied Tuckerman has heard the story of Toni Matt's Headwall schuss.
Absolutely. The Inferno in Tuckerman Ravine is an American classic. Toni Matt's 1939 schuss of the headwall (made by accident wh...
Feel free to extract such a quote from any of the following ;)
I wrote up a "brief" account of my experience on Sunday:
The casual friendly atmosphere up at Camp Muir makes for a pretty relaxed lead up to the race, but as Lowell announces "15 seconds!", and begins the countdown from 10, adrenaline surges into my body.
The race starts, I see most of the skiers head off pretty quickly, and am occasionally dismayed to see them as smaller and smaller do...
I wrote up a "brief" account of my experience on Sunday:
The casual friendly atmosphere up at Camp Muir makes for a pretty relaxed lead up to the race, but as Lowell announces "15 seconds!", and begins the countdown from 10, adrenaline surges into my body.
The race starts, I see most of the skiers head off pretty quickly, and am occasionally dismayed to see them as smaller and smaller do...
Rod, I have not been at the areas you mentioned. I would suggest you start your tours at high trailheads. The south aspects are consolidated and the north aspects seem to be unconsolidated. There is another system arriving Wednesday evening. Could be a powder day at Mammoth. :)
Listen to Howard S. weather forecast from Mammoth on 106.5 FM at 7:50 am.He covers the Mammoth areaplus the Owens Valley.
Zap
Listen to Howard S. weather forecast from Mammoth on 106.5 FM at 7:50 am.He covers the Mammoth areaplus the Owens Valley.
Zap
Thanks for the article Jerm.
I found this quote somewhat entertaining, ""This here was probably the most gnarly Chinese Downhill run in the world...."
Of course this run was only 1.5km in New Zealand ;D and it
I found this quote somewhat entertaining, ""This here was probably the most gnarly Chinese Downhill run in the world...."
Of course this run was only 1.5km in New Zealand ;D and it
was made by a snowboarder ;)
Come on Phil, give us another endearing quote :D
Back East the Geschmozzel was known by the less-PC name "Chinese Downhill", a term coined, I believe, in the late 70's classic Hot Dog the Movie.
http://classic.mountainzone.com/ski/99/ripcurl/downhill.html
Nice to see the tradition kept alive, here and elsewhere. Brings me back to grade school ski clubs nights at mighty Mount Southington.
Also of note, the Mt Washington Inferno has been resurrected in recent years as well, although it's now a penta...
Got up there a little after 1 myself (the guy heading up in your pic... second from left). The start really was a site to behold, not to mention all the figure 11's put down by the racers.
I tried piecing together some of the video clips from the finish area. After shrinking the file size to make it more manageable for us poor dial-up users, the movie image is kinda small, but the audio gives those who weren't there a taste of what it was like from the participant's own mouth.
Great video! Definitely a keeper. Call it "Ten Dirty Dollars." Boy does that bring back some grins. Thanks for posting it small enoug...
See...sometimes sleeping in pays off. Yep,yep,yep. ;D Cause Edith Creek looked mighty nice from our perspective.
a fantastic day overall. i enjoyed seeing/meeting everyone at Camp Muir. Adam (i think it was you), thanks for offering the bailing wire to save me the trouble of walking, instead of skiing, down! though this contraption functioned, i'm more partial to the real deal. ;D
i found the race a thrill. i remember most the first 30-seconds of the excitement and release of energy...
i found the race a thrill. i remember most the first 30-seconds of the excitement and release of energy...
Hi Allyson, Shasta indeed has a healthy amount of snow. The latest updates from Shasta Avalanche Center and Amar's Snowfall and Snowdepth page show snowdepth around 115% of normal.
I don't know what conditions were above Helen Lake on Saturday. If I had to guess, I would suspect it was pretty variable and for a good amount of the afternoon there was poor visibility. Shasta sho...
I don't know what conditions were above Helen Lake on Saturday. If I had to guess, I would suspect it was pretty variable and for a good amount of the afternoon there was poor visibility. Shasta sho...
jeff--thanks for the good info on shasta. despite the suboptimal conditions you spoke of, it still looks like there was quite a bit of snow up there from your pics! i am heading down there the end of this month, hopefully to find some good corn, and good weather... 8) any idea how the conditions were above helen lake?
I not sure where you were looking, but I found the snow perfectly skiable on Sat and corning up nicely on Sun around Chinook Pass.
I must be getting snow blind and becoming light weight in my old age. You know what they say-One man's Slurpee was another man's powder.
That is a great peak-that you have the picture of. My recomendation to those that venture out to that peak is to travel on the north side of the ridge line out. If you...
Lttle Tahoma in the afternoon clouds. We skied near the left edge in the photo (forgot to include it ;D)
I especially enjoyed Jason's prose. Well put!
It was very, very hard to think about hiking all the way up to Muir and then not make any turns on the way down. Some of us wondered if we should call it "turn-all-year" instead of turns...
But luckily there were enough guys up there and we all started talking a little bit of smack; I soon lost the desire to turn. I for one had my old Demetre ski sweater, circa 1986, but alas I don't think anyone was intimidated.
Once t...
It was very, very hard to think about hiking all the way up to Muir and then not make any turns on the way down. Some of us wondered if we should call it "turn-all-year" instead of turns...
But luckily there were enough guys up there and we all started talking a little bit of smack; I soon lost the desire to turn. I for one had my old Demetre ski sweater, circa 1986, but alas I don't think anyone was intimidated.
Once t...
Dang, I got pulled out of lurk-dom in order to be able to post to this thread. For an internet discussion group inspired event, this one must take the cake. Lots of great enthusiastic folks showed up.
I tried piecing together some of the video clips from the finish area. After shrinking the file size to make it more manageable for us poor dial-up users, the movie image is kinda small, but the audio gives those who weren't there a taste of what it was like from the participant's own mou...
I tried piecing together some of the video clips from the finish area. After shrinking the file size to make it more manageable for us poor dial-up users, the movie image is kinda small, but the audio gives those who weren't there a taste of what it was like from the participant's own mou...
Congratulations, you men of men.
I'm sorry I couldn't make it up there to add a woman to the race. Kam shared the details and made me rightly jealous of the blue bird, the snow, and the grand hurrah.
Lowell, hats off to your organization and well written tale. I hope there will be more opportunities for history revisited.
Jason, great poetic TR.
Jessica
"she'spiste she didn't make the Geschmozzel"
I'm sorry I couldn't make it up there to add a woman to the race. Kam shared the details and made me rightly jealous of the blue bird, the snow, and the grand hurrah.
Lowell, hats off to your organization and well written tale. I hope there will be more opportunities for history revisited.
Jason, great poetic TR.
Jessica
"she'spiste she didn't make the Geschmozzel"
'Geschmozzel'
Nicely done Jason. We will now expect all future trip reports in verse.
I thought my Dad, who raced in a number of Silver Skis races in the 30's might get a kick out of this thread, and here is his reply to my note to him with the link:
"The 1934 race was really crazy, but several years later with starts 1 minute apart it was better. Also by 1936 when I raced the equipment was far better. Later Hannes Schroll, the Austrian downhiller, made a super fast run and beat the rest of us by one full minute. I don't remember whi...
it's at the end of the ridge south from Naches Pk. Just above Dewey Lake. North side holds snow quite a while. You can't see it in this photo, but the back side is good too. Usually softens early and by the time you climb back up, the north side is ready. You can boot right up to the summit along that ridge in the photo. We might go back there again this weekend.
http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic39833.jpg
http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic39833.jpg
'Geschmozzel'
I wanted to try and explain the thrill I had racing down from Camp Muir. Here goes!
Wave to the cameraman we men of men
Promise yourself you will make it to the end
Yell to the mountain, 'Geschmozzel!'
And let the countdown begin, the rush to win
Eighteen start like in the race of '34
Where sixty pressed the metal down, all the way to the floor
No one to my side, no one out in front
Can I keep the lead? 'Yes of course!' I swore<...
I wanted to try and explain the thrill I had racing down from Camp Muir. Here goes!
Wave to the cameraman we men of men
Promise yourself you will make it to the end
Yell to the mountain, 'Geschmozzel!'
And let the countdown begin, the rush to win
Eighteen start like in the race of '34
Where sixty pressed the metal down, all the way to the floor
No one to my side, no one out in front
Can I keep the lead? 'Yes of course!' I swore<...
Newbie question - Where's peak 6567?
On Sunday we skied yo-yos on the north facing part of the bowl under Naches peak. It was a bit slow and grabby (firm mashed potatoes) but still fun.
On Sunday we skied yo-yos on the north facing part of the bowl under Naches peak. It was a bit slow and grabby (firm mashed potatoes) but still fun.
Zeno:
I like the photo too. Maybe the Geschmozzel racing event will happen again next spring, I would like to check it out.
I like the photo too. Maybe the Geschmozzel racing event will happen again next spring, I would like to check it out.
I thought my Dad, who raced in a number of Silver Skis races in the 30's might get a kick out of this thread, and here is his reply to my note to him with the link:
"The 1934 race was really crazy, but several years later with starts 1 minute apart it was better. Also by 1936 when I raced the equipment was far better. Later Hannes Schroll, the Austrian downhiller, made a super fast run and beat the rest of us by one full minute. I don't remember which year that was...
"The 1934 race was really crazy, but several years later with starts 1 minute apart it was better. Also by 1936 when I raced the equipment was far better. Later Hannes Schroll, the Austrian downhiller, made a super fast run and beat the rest of us by one full minute. I don't remember which year that was...
Hey ultragrrl you stole my sunshine! >:( ;)
Buddy and I were touring Edith Creek. Was high overcast with light misting. From time to time the sun would beam thru. Anyway if it wasn't steeper than 30 degrees it was work. Still a fun day. Kept thinking to myself where is everybody? Maybe everyones preparing for the Muir race on Sunday. One more 12 ounce curl and I'll have completed my set of 12. ;D
Buddy and I were touring Edith Creek. Was high overcast with light misting. From time to time the sun would beam thru. Anyway if it wasn't steeper than 30 degrees it was work. Still a fun day. Kept thinking to myself where is everybody? Maybe everyones preparing for the Muir race on Sunday. One more 12 ounce curl and I'll have completed my set of 12. ;D
When I checked their website Sat eve, it indicated the gate open. I think they just opened it Saturday (4/30). We saw two shoers, but no ski tracks.
Kenji, what day did they open the White River gate?
Something to dream about until conditions improve or next season arrives...
This was taken from the summit of Ruth Mountain last season.
Sorry it didn't work out for you this time. It could have just as easily been epic. But until you stick your neck out, you'll never know!
Ditto what Sky said...
This was taken from the summit of Ruth Mountain last season.
Sorry it didn't work out for you this time. It could have just as easily been epic. But until you stick your neck out, you'll never know!
Ditto what Sky said...
Your second photo has a strangely 1930's look to it, as well - maybe a PhotoShopped sepia version would be fun.
How about this.
Can you identify the participants in the group photo? I recognize many of the faces, but not all -
Okay, here's where I make a fool of myself. ;) Please correct me folks. I'd like to...
;D I too had to make turns. I started in a tuck but once I was going over 40mph, I started to worry about terrain irregularites and their implications at high speed. ???
I have my stategy all planned out for next year.
13 minutes just doesn't cut it for me!
That aside, it was a spectacular day with great company!
I have my stategy all planned out for next year.
13 minutes just doesn't cut it for me!
That aside, it was a spectacular day with great company!
Good job pulling this off, Lowell, and sorry I couldn't make it yesterday. Sounds like you hit the weather window perfectly. Your second photo has a strangely 1930's look to it, as well - maybe a PhotoShopped sepia version would be fun.
Can you identify the participants in the group photo? I recognize many of the faces, but not all -
Can you identify the participants in the group photo? I recognize many of the faces, but not all -
Sounds about right. I saw your tracks out of the bowl down the logging spur. We got a late start and climbed silver via a bushwack from the PCT up the eastern col (hard but fun) and reached the summit around 2:30. We dropped from a point a little higher on the ridge than you guys and took the road back down to the pass. We noticed a sweet chute on the NE ridge, right below the summit that were going back for today. This looks like the good line up there. Hopefully the lack of sun today will make...
Once again we were same place, different shifts. I parked at what may have been your picnic spot, just before a point on road where someone else made abortive deep ruts in what would have otherwise been skiable snow on the road for about 100 yards. BTW I don't understand the purpose of the rubble heaps left on this road past Windy, they are just big enough to stop normal cars with conscientious drivers making an honest attempt to gain some elevation, and just small enough to encourage the jacked...
The immediate drop to the valley and direct ascent to the ridge has worked for me, both with and without skis. I'd recommend it, even though I haven't tried to do the North Face via any other approach.
I'd encourage you to try again someday; this is one of the most aesthetic, exhilirating descents to be found.
I'd encourage you to try again someday; this is one of the most aesthetic, exhilirating descents to be found.
I not sure where you were looking, but I found the snow perfectly skiable on Sat and corning up nicely on Sun around Chinook Pass. North side of Pk 6567 was perfect corn yesterday afternoon. Where was everybody?
I had a great time too, quite a unique experience. Thanks Lowell and everyone else who participated. I was just happy to make it up to Muir at all, let alone get there nearly an hour faster than I hoped. I wouldn't have made it a couple of days earlier. Seeing you guys fly uphill provided me much-needed incentive and inspiration to keep chugging along, including trying to keep Lowell in my sights as he finally pulled away above 9500 ft after a nice chat in-motion.
It was amazing to...
It was amazing to...
Phil, that drop from the White Salmon Road through the jungles is not optimal for skiers. You can wiggle through the alder with a climing pack, but not with skies attached. (edited to add: unless, of course, you are a legend of self-abuse!) ;D The best route is the one both of you took -- down from the ski area, but on a decent snow year.
Or, up the Sulphide, but that invloves a whole bunch of car shuttling. Maybe have a friend drop you off on the Shannon creek road and pic...
Or, up the Sulphide, but that invloves a whole bunch of car shuttling. Maybe have a friend drop you off on the Shannon creek road and pic...
straight down to the valley from the end of the logging road that branches off from 542 just before the resort, then climb up the other side out of the valley, and then along the ridge to the col at the base of the face.
This is the way we went in last May when we climbed the North Face. Steep through the woods, but not very brushy and fairly quick to the col.
North Face is a fine line and definitely worth the effort to ski it in the...
Thanks for putting yesterdays trip together Lowell! What a kick!
I was originally a bit skeptical about the weather but it came together absolutely perfectly. The snowfield was butter smooth and the thin coverage around pan point kept speeds in check on the blind rollovers. The questionable forecast probably helped keep total number of Paradise visitors down too which helped crowd control on the lower sections.
It blew my mind witnessing the Hummel brothers, Matt and Carl pull awa...
I was originally a bit skeptical about the weather but it came together absolutely perfectly. The snowfield was butter smooth and the thin coverage around pan point kept speeds in check on the blind rollovers. The questionable forecast probably helped keep total number of Paradise visitors down too which helped crowd control on the lower sections.
It blew my mind witnessing the Hummel brothers, Matt and Carl pull awa...
Thanks for the great post - I feel like I was there. Perhaps I can take part in the fun next year...
Great day Lowell!
"If you post it, they will come."
It was super to put yet more faces to names. What a powerhouse group of tourers too!
Funny, I probably cranked out over a hundred turns between Muir and Pebble Creek. Maybe that has something to do with my 37 minute finish time. Then again, my quads were cooked from the trip up and wanted no part of a sustained tuck ;D Also, Amar should have a couple minutes shaved off his finish time sin...
"If you post it, they will come."
It was super to put yet more faces to names. What a powerhouse group of tourers too!
Funny, I probably cranked out over a hundred turns between Muir and Pebble Creek. Maybe that has something to do with my 37 minute finish time. Then again, my quads were cooked from the trip up and wanted no part of a sustained tuck ;D Also, Amar should have a couple minutes shaved off his finish time sin...