TR Replies
How long were the really tight sections? How would it have been with skis 15 cm longer? ;)
170cm-tight for only two spots of 10 feet or so. Then maybe 300ft of 10-ft wide. So slightly longer skis would have been ok :-)
I might be changing my opinion of the Volkl's. I skied lift-served today at Baker in the heavy deep chopped-up glop, and they performed pretty well. Maybe I just needed to get some mileage on th...
Interestingly we emerged from the forest at Beaver Lake and an abandoned lift station that appears to have once held a cable that crossed over Beaver Lake. Anyone have any historical beta on this little tidbit?
Whew, thank goodness I had Easter plans this weekend ;) but I have riden that horrible Beaver Lake chair lift once in my life and it was the scariest thing I have ever done ever. I don't have any historical...
The gate didn't open until 11:00 am. Is there a phone number to call to find out gate opening times?
Call the main MRNP number: 360-569-2211
Press 1, 1, 2 for road conditions.
The 7am report today says the gate would open at 11am.
SpellCheck... *attrocious grammer*
A nice little piece of irony there, M ;)
A nice little piece of irony there, M ;)
Bris is what I meant and you've uncovered my addiction to SpellCheck - blind corrections of attrocious grammer and language.
--The section above Panorama point proved to be the crux of the route and the Christening (or Brisk?) for our new snowboards--
Not to be picky, but the rite of fore-shortening is called 'bris,' though 'brisk' may be desirable as long as it's accurate.
Le chaim.
Not to be picky, but the rite of fore-shortening is called 'bris,' though 'brisk' may be desirable as long as it's accurate.
Le chaim.
Yes, a big thanks to Garth for leading the tour and Mark for letting us invade his space. I agree with Lowell that it was very useful to see the physical NWAC in operation and no longer have to just imagine what actually goes on there. Seeing Mark field phone calls made me aware what an interactive role the NWAC plays, at least when we are having active weather. The weather sure cooperated, too, giving us much to look at and learn from as Garth walked us through some of the data gathering steps...
I'm the one standing to the right of GregL. Elisa is between Lowell and Garth (just the top of her head).
And btw Karl Malden? Movie-star good looks for sure but Karl Malden?
And btw Karl Malden? Movie-star good looks for sure but Karl Malden?
Here's some more pictures from the event - if you see yourself and I didn't get your name, could you post who you are? Thanks!
In the parking lot: silaswild, markharf, allyson, Mason_White, ? , amy, kam, Sam Avaiusini, ? , Garth Ferber, Amar Andalkar, ? , ? , ? , russ, ? , Larry_R, Charles, Lowell_Skoog
Garth & Mark
In the parking lot: silaswild, markharf, allyson, Mason_White, ? , amy, kam, Sam Avaiusini, ? , Garth Ferber, Amar Andalkar, ? , ? , ? , russ, ? , Larry_R, Charles, Lowell_Skoog
Garth & Mark
Thanks again to Garth, Mark and Charles.
What a day to be there. Very informative.
Keep up the good work.
Eric and Elisa.
What a day to be there. Very informative.
Keep up the good work.
Eric and Elisa.
Mmmm, that doesn't sound promising. Thanks for the information.
I would say no more than 25 degrees on a short slope, maybe 200' long, not far from the ski area boundry. The depth was about 12" from the most recent storm snow, not the 30" from the previous storm last weekend. There was a break across the slope about 30' long. We talked to two ski protrols who indicated that there was alot of movement in the snowpack from recent observations in the Herman saddle area. Enough for me to head to safer terrain.
A fun time: highly informative and highly recommended if the opportunity comes around again. My thanks as well: Garth, for making it possible by, all else aside, standing patiently in the rain while the TAY motorcade filed slowly through the gate; Charles, for providing the organizing principle and the means by which planning could happen; and Mark, for giving up his time, privacy and comfortable chair to serve us for over an hour.
Thanks for the report (although you missed an outstanding visit at NWAC).
Could you be a bit more specific about "20+ degree slopes?" About, for example, how steep these slopes were, and how deep they slid (Within storm snow? Base of storm snow? Into previous snow? Etc.). I'm trying to think constructively about how to spend my tomorrow now that Rt. 20 is out of the running.
Could you be a bit more specific about "20+ degree slopes?" About, for example, how steep these slopes were, and how deep they slid (Within storm snow? Base of storm snow? Into previous snow? Etc.). I'm trying to think constructively about how to spend my tomorrow now that Rt. 20 is out of the running.
In such great snow, it's hard to tell what sensations can be attributed to the skis, but they struck me as shorter and fatter than my Miras (what a surprise!). The shorter length and slightly turned up and rounded tail makes them come around extremely fast. Intial observations lead me to believe that I like their flex more than the Miras. I suspect that the 184 will be a killer all around backcountry setup for me, though for inbound and/or fast cruising the 191 would be more appropriate.
Nice work as usual, Phil. As for skis, might I suggest some nice shiny R:EXs? :D
Thanks to Garth, Mark, Charles, and everybody else who supported the field trip. I thoroughly enjoyed the tour and the lunch get-together afterward. The avalanche center was pretty much just as I had imagined it. But now I don't have to wonder whether my imagination is correct. I especially appreciated Mark's good natured hand-holding of one of our local ski area operators over the phone. "Don't worry, it shouldn't rain until later this afternoon... Yup, that's what the models say..."...
I do my best GregL impersonation below the summit rime ice.
You've got my stamp of approval, Paul. How did the R:EX's work?
Nice work phil!
How long were the really tight sections? How would it have been with skis 15 cm longer? ;)
I agree on idea of having a website listing all known couloirs in the area, would be a great resource...
How long were the really tight sections? How would it have been with skis 15 cm longer? ;)
I agree on idea of having a website listing all known couloirs in the area, would be a great resource...
we lucked out in Tahoe though, for example seeThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Skip- Re: your video clip commentary: Thanks. Kick me while I'm down (working 60+ hrs this week instead of skiing the ridiculously deep Sierra powder)...you're dead to me, "friend".
I'm used to flakey light skis, since my previous skis were Hydrogens. My opinion so far is that the Volkl's are over-rated, and perform more poorly than the Hydrogens in general. However, they're fine in non-bottomless powder, which is what we had. And they were fine in tight spots too.
We should have a "amislotornot" website, where people could submit...
That's gotta be way up there on the Hot Slot scale.
We should have a "amislotornot" website, where people could submit...
Great line, Phil. How did your Volkls perform in the tight slot and also in the open powder below?
I'm impressed. Having grown up in Roseburg, I know Mt Thielsen area pretty well. I get down there a couple times a year - usually around thanksgiving - for some early season skiing. I've never skied that high up on the Mt though. Pretty cool.
Jim O. on the image issue... the original is 54000 bytes and the linked version is just under 10000 bytes.
Does this mean that the kinked image is actually only about 19% of the original? If that's the case...OUCH!
Wondering if there is another free site that is better (compresses images less). Any suggestions?
I'm off to try to hook up with the TAY NWAC tour group for lunch. Missed the tour of the avalanche center this morning, but am hoping to...
Does this mean that the kinked image is actually only about 19% of the original? If that's the case...OUCH!
Wondering if there is another free site that is better (compresses images less). Any suggestions?
I'm off to try to hook up with the TAY NWAC tour group for lunch. Missed the tour of the avalanche center this morning, but am hoping to...
Nice one, Phil. That's gotta be way up there on the Hot Slot scale.
Is it possible that Earthlink is recompressing your pictures? Some sites do that as you post them. Check out file size of the image on your local machine, and check it on the server and see if it's different.
If the forecast is right, you nailed the timing. Good work. When the east winds erode, maybe there will be just enough rain to make a nice firm crust for the next 14" or so to bond well to.
Nice picture indeed! With the warm temperatures forecasted for this week end...Crystal will probably not be a good option though >:(
Greg and Co: very nice pictures! the snow looks great and thanks for the report. i'll be back in town late Friday evening, and i'm thinking about a tour on Sat...
Ahhh...Skip...work is already hard...thanks for making it evne more painful to sit on a chair in front of my computer :-( We'll get back to you ;-)
not much in the way of face shots at the Salt Flats, but we lucked out in Tahoe though, for example see This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
also, it was a good thing there was over 2-feet of new snow, otherwise my cousin Kam and i would have had a hard time riding these things (5 MB movie). our conclusion: sidecut is o...
also, it was a good thing there was over 2-feet of new snow, otherwise my cousin Kam and i would have had a hard time riding these things (5 MB movie). our conclusion: sidecut is o...
Damn!!! It was killing me to have to work when I knew the skiing was going to be good. Glad someone got to enjoy it.
Gregg
Gregg
Hi, Amar - So far my practice has been to only keep trip reports/race reports up for a year or so (so everything there is fairly recent), but I'm reconsidering now as Apple gave us another 100 mb of space for free . . . the search engine thing is a mystery, I have a bunch of keywords and name permutations in meta names, I just thought it was a byproduct of mac.com's weird generic URL policy. Maybe someone else has the answer?
Greg, that's becoming an extensive and useful collection of trip reports at website does not c...
More pictures.
Make sure to check the box that says "check this if you'll be adding code (or don't like smileys)", or the ubb code won't work. Just quote my post to see the code.
Glad to hear that Washington is finally getting snow. Since we got spring and summer during winter, maybe we can get winter during spring? I hope so.
Make sure to check the box that says "check this if you'll be adding code (or don't like smileys)", or the ubb code won't work. Just quote my post to see the code.
Glad to hear that Washington is finally getting snow. Since we got spring and summer during winter, maybe we can get winter during spring? I hope so.
Thanks for the report Greg.
I'm suprised you could even ski Lucky-that was virtual dirt one week ago. Great picture!
Joe
I'm suprised you could even ski Lucky-that was virtual dirt one week ago. Great picture!
Joe
That's just beautiful. I'm glad you found a little piece of happiness.
Ahead of the curve as usual! 8) A unique base grinding technique ;D
ema, unfortunately nothing skiiable until you get up to the saddle on the trail overlooking the lake. seems like there would be plenty once you head over to the north side of the ridge coming from chair down to cliffs to the lake. i saw some sort of tracks coming down into the lake from the melawka pass side near gem sort of. it was getting near dark and hard to see when i had the most views.
as for snoq. there was nice snow where i was. if you know the cliffs w...
as for snoq. there was nice snow where i was. if you know the cliffs w...
stihlfree,
did you happen to get a look at the phantom slide (big one left of the snow lake th), if so, what was the coverage like, is it skiiable ? same question for back side (north that is) of mt snoqualmie.. thanks!
did you happen to get a look at the phantom slide (big one left of the snow lake th), if so, what was the coverage like, is it skiiable ? same question for back side (north that is) of mt snoqualmie.. thanks!
Larry Goldie was nice enough to give me permission to use this photo I pirated off of the North Cascades Mountain Guides website until I get my slides, so here's a photo:
That gully definitely showed signs of being a generally scary place avy-wise, Mark. But, you know, I just had to have a look...
That gully definitely showed signs of being a generally scary place avy-wise, Mark. But, you know, I just had to have a look...
You don't know how close you came to losing a cable on those deathtraps, uh.. I mean Superloops, Darryl ;)
I was "that close" to digging my "mini bolt cutters" out of my pack.
Ron - I didn't see that. I was concentrating on where you were swinging the self arrest grip that's on your ski pole.
Yeah, I suspect that knee will be "loosened up" for about a yea...
Looks like TOO much vertical for me.
How do you know when to take off your skins?
How do you know when to take off your skins?
Kam-
Did you use your special designed homemade tele waterski combo? It's about time someone put a tele binding on a waterski!
done
Oh, and BTW, Kamster, we covered for you last night at the SMSSGTCR.;D
thanks, Ron!
You're up next Tuesday!
...aahh, Sierra resort (south-shore Lake Tahoe) just reported 48" in the last 24-hrs! bad roads. we might have to stay... ;D
Oooh I can imagine the nasty, salty wipeout...
ron,
the rocks and tumbleweed made for great terrain features - big, big air. you'd love it.
-s
the rocks and tumbleweed made for great terrain features - big, big air. you'd love it.
-s