TR Replies
Yes, both the Mazamas and the Mountaineers teach uphill drafting as a means of conserving energy on long ascents. Why, many's the time I've snuck in behind Ron Jarvis and let the vortex created by his passing tow me bodily up the mountain. It's even better when he's breaking trail at the same time (as he so often does).
:) Yeah, I'm a trail breaking fool, allright :)
There must be a clone out there some where 'cause all I re...
Clearly this must have been for some tactical advantage.
Yes, both the Mazamas and the Mountaineers teach uphill drafting as a means of conserving energy on long ascents. Why, many's the time I've snuck in behind Ron Jarvis and let the vortex created by his passing tow me bodily up the mountain. It's even better when he's breaking trail at the same time (as he so often does).
There was about 8 people per party and they hiked in a perfectly straight line all within about 8 inches of the person in-front of them.
Clearly this must have been for some tactical advantage.
http://www.tourdegeorgia.com/2005/images/homepage_photo.jpg
Not sure about the Mazamas but this is the second time this year I've had a cable on my G-3's fail. This is the third full season on them and they probably have about 100 - 120 days on them. The first time the cable was replaced for free by G-3 though. Before this season I had never had any problems.
Maybe I'm just seeing things in the fog but it looked like Timberline had made ridges in the snow on a good portion of Palmer to try and catch snow for the summer.
Nice...
Maybe I'm just seeing things in the fog but it looked like Timberline had made ridges in the snow on a good portion of Palmer to try and catch snow for the summer.
Nice...
Bill, there was a strip of snow right next to the lift that was groomed recently. The rest of the snowfield didn't seem like it had been groomed in the past few days or week. They were (surprisingly) operating the Palmer lift.
Andy, do you think the Mazamas have made it back to Timberline yet? ;-)
Andy, do you think the Mazamas have made it back to Timberline yet? ;-)
Have they groomed the Palmer above the Magic Mile? Last I was there it was wind-whipped and very rough. Every time I go out I think do I need to carry a pound of repair pieces for my G-3's? Guess I'll keep doing it.
The Mazamas sound more regimental than the Seattle Mountaineers. Nice report.
bill
The Mazamas sound more regimental than the Seattle Mountaineers. Nice report.
bill
This is really a funny trip report Jeff. I'm still laughing!
It was good to get out after yesterday's rain. Hopefully next weekend will be sunny.
It was good to get out after yesterday's rain. Hopefully next weekend will be sunny.
That is a great line, I have done it a few times myself. Great picture and report!
Thanks for the report Robie-
My presumtion was that the snow was deep goo. Hopefully we can get a series of freezes to set the consolidation in motion before it melts away!
Joe
My presumtion was that the snow was deep goo. Hopefully we can get a series of freezes to set the consolidation in motion before it melts away!
Joe
David,
Sounds like a nice summer trip, except for the howling winds and squalls part! Thanks for posting. For the last couple weeks I was starting to think I really was going to miss a great spring ski season while my screwed together hip etc heal. Now I can get back to stationary cycling and weights with no regrets ;)
Sounds like a nice summer trip, except for the howling winds and squalls part! Thanks for posting. For the last couple weeks I was starting to think I really was going to miss a great spring ski season while my screwed together hip etc heal. Now I can get back to stationary cycling and weights with no regrets ;)
Bill, The avy conditions have been stable through Friday. Mammoth ski resort received 3" Friday evening and they expect a few more inches Saturday. The wind was blowing on Saturday and I expect windloading. We plan to ride the lifts on Sunday and return to the backcountry on Monday. The forecast is for sunny skies Monday and Tuesday with mostly cloudy Wed,Th and Fr.
Go to Mammoth mountains ski patrol site for detailed info. Zap
Go to Mammoth mountains ski patrol site for detailed info. Zap
What were the avy conditions like. I'm thinking of heading down next week, but may have to go solo.
Bill G
Bill G
About 1 PM. It was so warm and slushy though I don't think earlier would have helped. It would have been much faster to access via Narada or the lower road, unless one took the bicycle option.
I've been wondering what the Castle tour is like. Thanks for the TR. :)
What time did you start the descent from the Castle saddle?
What time did you start the descent from the Castle saddle?
Skip and Jerry Hoadley were both Alpental patrollers back in the day.
Tim, Glad to hear you finally got back to Fairy to see and ski many of the slopes that your knee limited you back on our previous trip. Fairy Meadows is truly a ski mountaineers mecca. Our first trip was an "11" on a scale of 10. The DVD you created of our trip is in my will. :) Zap
Ross, Rock Creek is just south of us and we'll probably visit in a few days. Evolution requires access to Lake Sabrina and according to Caltrans access ends near Aspendel currently. Things will definetinely open up more within the next week because the annual trout opener is Saturday, April 30. This is a key date because the roads we use to gain access to trailheads are plowed for the trout opener, not backcountry skiers.
A site to check for some trip reports is...
A site to check for some trip reports is...
Zap -- thanks for the Sierra TR's and Big Thoughts. I am planning a trip down that way from May 5 -- 11 -- am thinking probably Evolution or Rock Creek. I am assuming with the heavy snowpack that almost anything in Moynier would be good this year. Any particular beta would be appreciated. Also, are you aware of any web sites that have current info on Sierra conditions (of course there couldn't be anything remotely as good as TAY!). Thanks.
Ross
Ross
Hoadley's ehh? Would that by any chance be named for Skip Hoadley? I know he used to work ski patrol at the pass years ago. I met him when he was the winter rec. coordinator for the Cle Elum USFS district. He's now retired. He introduced me to the term "Guanch". (see my post in "Random Tracks"). Sounds like you found now guanch up there on "Hoadley's".
pc
pc
Some more info re: slide. It was not there Tuesday eve so must have happened Wed. No surprise. The Pass had seen a big change early in the week:
New Snow on Sunday, couple inches covering dense corn. Maybe some good skiing somewhere, but I couldn't find it. Ended up at Rainy Pass.
Monday more new snow, but very warm and no sign of cold anytime soon. Snow glopping in the sun, but still pretty dense down in the pack and in the shade. Not consolidated, however.
Tues -...
New Snow on Sunday, couple inches covering dense corn. Maybe some good skiing somewhere, but I couldn't find it. Ended up at Rainy Pass.
Monday more new snow, but very warm and no sign of cold anytime soon. Snow glopping in the sun, but still pretty dense down in the pack and in the shade. Not consolidated, however.
Tues -...
Fantastic!
Funny, the "other" line is next on the hit parade. A recon from below looked like a great rock-lined chute w/ weird kinks and exposure. Thanks much for the info.
Glad you liked the photos (and trips down memory lane).
Funny, the "other" line is next on the hit parade. A recon from below looked like a great rock-lined chute w/ weird kinks and exposure. Thanks much for the info.
Glad you liked the photos (and trips down memory lane).
That slide was there Thursday morning. I don't know if slides like that typically worry me. They move at very low speed if you happen to be there when it actually comes down, so as long as your terrain management is good you'll either be watching it from somewhere else or at least will have enough time to get out of the way (and somewhere to get away TO).
I think it will corn up eventually but it's a ways off from doing so. But when it does corn up you may as well go somewhere else besides Al...
I think it will corn up eventually but it's a ways off from doing so. But when it does corn up you may as well go somewhere else besides Al...
Thanks. I was hoping to find a Friday Alpental report. I think I'll pass on Alpental this weekend. I just hope that it settles and corns up before it's all gone!
It is part of a run called Hoadley's. Note the correct spelling is "Hoadley's"
The top part leads down to Hoadley's Hallow, but you have to keep on the skiers right of the rock outcrop that goes down a steep avy prone gully and opens on an apron which finishes below Airplane Turn. Also, on the other side of the ski area boundary. It was a good poach on last turrns on a powder day. At least it was that way when I was young. 8)
Nice...
It is part of a run called Hoadley's. Note the correct spelling is "Hoadley's"
Is that the common name for this line? "Thunderbird"?
Cascadesfreak is correct. I was pointing out the differing nostalgic memories evoked by your trip report.
The "common" name for the line is either Hoakly's or Hoaglys, something like that. It's a great line and fun to watch people rip it from the chair. I've only done it once but it's pretty cool little shot. Nice trip, thanks for sharing!
Is that the common name for this line? "Thunderbird"?
I'm not sure of the name of the line you skied, but "Thunderbird" is the common name for that "huge peak" (or is that a mole hill ;D) in the background of your posted photo; otherwise referring to the "steepest"
ski run at Summit West ;D Funny reference wickstad! (presuming you were in fact jokingly referring to Summit West as that...
Is that the common name for this line? "Thunderbird"?
Always interested in the coverage around Crystal --- Thanks.
Funny sheispiste. That photo takes me back to when I was about eleven years old. From the base area I looked up to see this huge peak emerge from the clouds.
Would I ever be able to ski Thunderbird?!
Would I ever be able to ski Thunderbird?!
Tucks? as in Tuckerman's Ravine? Although it was my first "backcountry" ski trip, that I remember fondly hiking with my long (185s) Olin's strapped onto an old external frame pack in the rain when I was 16 years old, I never thought I'd see that "backcountry" site turn up on TAY.
Nice photo of your recent adventure.
Nice photo of your recent adventure.
If the road is clear to the washout and the steep fishermans trail is reasonable travel to 4K, then Snowking is do-able in a long-ish day (long-ish being relative, but you seem to be up for big days from seeing reports here and on wta.org...). Definitely an extra bit above Shuksan, though. Better ski:hike ratio than Dickerman!!
if I ever reach my career goal of "ski bum" you'll find me "working" in Valdez. I've never seen so much white and so many 30-35 degree slopes.
Thanks for the info Jason, much appreciated.
We might just go after the Sulphide after all with the approach on SnowKing. We are doing a one-day trip only - so that or Ruth might be the better option.
We might just go after the Sulphide after all with the approach on SnowKing. We are doing a one-day trip only - so that or Ruth might be the better option.
I knew Jerry wouldn't be able to resist - Nice video! Great pictures Jeanette!
I didn't take a camera??? ??? ;) The lighting must've been nice with those breaks in the clouds. Glad you had a good day out on the bd tour, and lucked-out with the weather!
--Chris
Now it can settle in for a week or so and then maybe we'll get some more before we break out the summer corn boards, eh?
Sure was a good thing to have the "fatties" for this one though. ;D
Yeah, but 'cept... how 'bout those pictures?
Nice PICTURES Jeanette. :)
Was it snowing, or what? Gotta love it. Now it can settle in for a week or so and then maybe we'll get some more before we break out th...
Nice PICTURES Jeanette. :)
Was it snowing, or what? Gotta love it. Now it can settle in for a week or so and then maybe we'll get some more before we break out th...
JW gets busy. Hey, it didn't look too shabby out there! What are we...a bunch of whiners or something?
My footage of you Jerry, well, I'll do a better job next time. Lesson for the week: when filming or otherwise using photographic equipment, gloves should be removed.
My footage of you Jerry, well, I'll do a better job next time. Lesson for the week: when filming or otherwise using photographic equipment, gloves should be removed.
I didn't take a camera, but John took a few photos. It would have been a good day for them though; the light was nice. Or perhaps I appreciated its subtleties a bit more. The shadows on the cornices, the back lit powder turns, the huge shadows cast by the changing cumulus clouds and snow squaws across the way. Our relaxed pace allowed time for this sort of contemplation. Or perhaps I've had one too many martinis tonight ;)
So Ron says to me: Why do you suppose we thought the snow would be any better on the same exact aspect just a 1/4 mile south. My answer.... I dunno,Jack 8)
Hey, I was one of the 2 dudes you passed on your way out. There is a post of our TR on the Cascade Climbers page.
All I can say is what you skied was really impressive! Cranking turns above the Icefall and the sweet little air someone got off one of the small ice bits. We were checking out your tracks on the way up and oohing and aahing.
The snow was deep! More of a wallow than a climb but we bailed a bit below where yall did. Your boot tracks were hardly visi...
All I can say is what you skied was really impressive! Cranking turns above the Icefall and the sweet little air someone got off one of the small ice bits. We were checking out your tracks on the way up and oohing and aahing.
The snow was deep! More of a wallow than a climb but we bailed a bit below where yall did. Your boot tracks were hardly visi...
nice report, Matt! i'm glad you guys found great skiing, as well as good weather. i can't wait to see your photos.
-kam
-kam
Good to meet you too, Jan. Hopefully mother nature will provide a few more opportunities for post work freshies this season.