TR Replies
To answer your other question, we just headed up from the outhouse. The trail would avoid the brushwack but goes well out of the way.
The berm is easy to go around. The platform stayed solid all day (it didn't warm up much). The berm is at 3,000 feet, the trailhead at 3,700, so the distance is well within the reach of touring type skis if you don't want to do the drive on snow. I'm not really sure why they groom Glacier Cr. road since it's not long and seems mainly to be an open invitation to illegal snomo riding in the wilderness west of Mt. Baker (we saw 4 machines in the Wilderness).
Charles, I think when Jerry first started doing viddys I had to upgrade to the latest windows medial player (free download) to view them.
Could you be due a media player upgrade?
Could you be due a media player upgrade?
I have a question about the .wmv format videos that people post. I'm on an "older" Mac OS, and when I try to view this format of video, sometimes they play fine, and sometimes I just get sound without picture. Whether or not I can see the picture seems to be dependent on the person who made the video: for example, I can never view the picture on JW's videos, but I always can on those of tim_place. Does anyone know why this is, or if there would be a simple way for someone like JW to ma...
SB,
Just curious, did you go up the summer trail or did you head up just above the outhouse? Also, how much of a pain was the work you did to make the road driveable?
Mike
Just curious, did you go up the summer trail or did you head up just above the outhouse? Also, how much of a pain was the work you did to make the road driveable?
Mike
Excellent viddy Jerry!...nice cornice hucking and "randomark" landing ;) In the video you made that 'half unlatched' landing look sooo easy 8)
--Chris
--Chris
Nice movie work here Jerry. So I guess you've proven that there's more than one way to ski an AT binding. 8)
It seems like this group should be co-awarded the "tourture points award" for February, along with the Blum-Hagan group. Congratulations!
I thought our ~1,200 vf corn-snow payoff was pretty good for the uphill effort, though some others on the outing might disagree :) Seemed like our nicely maintaned approach trail would subtract a lot of those "torture points" ;).
btw- nice work on Hagan/Blum Sky...
Your videos are getting better and better, Jerry! Outstanding tele style from tdave, too.
Great job with the video Jer, thanks for making our fun even more fun. ;D
Jerry, I just finished watching your viddy for the umteenth time. What a great way to memorialize a trip. Exceptional work putting it together. Definitely a keeper.
Thanks.
Thanks.
3 days, though someone, starting early, not getting diverted by peripheral runs, and striving for speed, could do it in one day.
Wow, great video JW. Thanks. Let's do it again soon.
Hijack Alert...Hey bcpinhead how wuz the surf at Westport? Did you ride the jetty, half moon, or fingers?
Also did your eyes feel like there going to pop out of your skull when you duck-dived under your first wave?
Also did your eyes feel like there going to pop out of your skull when you duck-dived under your first wave?
How long did it take you to do the full circuit?
I love the film. That is awesome that you get these edited and posted so quickly.
I would have loved to ski with you guys this weekend, but dare I say, I went surfing at Westport.
I haven't given up on skiing as of yet, but I have never surfed in Feb. We don't get to do stuff like that in Utah.
I am sooo happy that I live here now.
Anyone going this weekend?
I would like to join in if possible.
Bryan
I would have loved to ski with you guys this weekend, but dare I say, I went surfing at Westport.
I haven't given up on skiing as of yet, but I have never surfed in Feb. We don't get to do stuff like that in Utah.
I am sooo happy that I live here now.
Anyone going this weekend?
I would like to join in if possible.
Bryan
Torture points? I felt like our reward to effort ratio was pretty good, so they can have it. Way to go, Cass----! 8)
Now Charles, if you were talking about the Jan. 30th Blum trip, well, that would be another story.
Now Charles, if you were talking about the Jan. 30th Blum trip, well, that would be another story.
It seems like this group should be co-awarded the "tourture points award" for February, along with the Blum-Hagan group. Congratulations!
Her skis are basic XC skis: 45mm wide, no sidecut, 150cm long, with SNS bindings. We've got some old col-tex skins which provide more than wall-to-wall coverage. I doubt that I could ski as well as she does on that kind of setup! Hope you find good conditions on your outing.
Awesome! What a great video! I think I need to start calling Jerry "maestro" or something.
Here's my ski porn contribution, with compliments to Ron, MadDog and JW for showing us the goods, and to everyone else on the trip for making it such a great outing. ;D
http://community.webshots.com/album/286478394WHpWXJ?977
http://community.webshots.com/album/286478394WHpWXJ?977
Looks like fun Cassman! Nice report and pics---Jerry
I have a new appreciation for the telemark crowd after hopping off that drop with one with one heel free!!! It felt like a pre-release, but my ski stayed on! ;D Never noticed it again till the bottom ,where I fell over 8)
Anyway, great trip you guy's! Nice skiing with you all!
Here's how the day looked to me: East Gate 22705
P.S. Nice photos Maddog and Michael,thanks!
Anyway, great trip you guy's! Nice skiing with you all!
Here's how the day looked to me: East Gate 22705
P.S. Nice photos Maddog and Michael,thanks!
Charles
Great report, Turner and I are planning a W/E the 1st of April for the same. I am curious, what length skis do you have Tahoma on? Turner is sking on fisher 120's with a 3-pin but am thinking of having him switch to a 3-pin on a downhill ski for more turn control and using skins. Sadly he is now out sking me, and I won't provide details ;D
Charlesw
Great report, Turner and I are planning a W/E the 1st of April for the same. I am curious, what length skis do you have Tahoma on? Turner is sking on fisher 120's with a 3-pin but am thinking of having him switch to a 3-pin on a downhill ski for more turn control and using skins. Sadly he is now out sking me, and I won't provide details ;D
Charlesw
Thanks a bunch Mad Dog, Jerry and Ron for being so welcoming. It was a real pleasure to join you and explore new terrain. I look forward to more trips with you.
Thanks, I've been feeling a lack of climbing so it felt good to get in those short blasts. And I was already missing skiing after our ski trip to N Japan last week with their 4.5m base.
get it while there's still a bit here I guess.<...
motherlode of puppy powerrrr...
Thanks, I've been feeling a lack of climbing so it felt good to get in those short blasts. And I was already missing skiing after our ski trip to N Japan last week with their 4.5m base.
get it while there's still a bit here I guess.<...
Excellent north cascades action! Not much more snow now than our trip on Halloween...
I was with some friends on Trappers Peak on sunday (just north across the Skagit from the Little Devil, near Triumph). Not a ski outing but excellent views of the pickets!
Interesting that you would run into snow on 20 when biking -- I was wondering if it would open soon with such little snow...
A few years ago, I bivied on top of that knob 6708. Definitely easier ascending the trees on th...
I was with some friends on Trappers Peak on sunday (just north across the Skagit from the Little Devil, near Triumph). Not a ski outing but excellent views of the pickets!
Interesting that you would run into snow on 20 when biking -- I was wondering if it would open soon with such little snow...
A few years ago, I bivied on top of that knob 6708. Definitely easier ascending the trees on th...
Allyson the glacier itself is opening up well. I wouldn't be on it unless I had to. Compared to last year things are looking like May - June up there.
About the chute itself...as long as there's a hint of an entrance (board/ski width ramp) it's doable. Also I recall a grip of more people been carving the chutes this year, stomping down the pack a bit more than the past. This could be a good thing but only time and more storms will tell.
One thing I forgot to...
About the chute itself...as long as there's a hint of an entrance (board/ski width ramp) it's doable. Also I recall a grip of more people been carving the chutes this year, stomping down the pack a bit more than the past. This could be a good thing but only time and more storms will tell.
One thing I forgot to...
Cool pics Michael 8) . I really need to get my SLR camera repaired (just isn't the same with my 'point-and-shoot' ;) ). Looks like you had a good "snow/ice ride" on Hwy 20 on Sunday :).
did you guys see anyone else out there?We seemed to have the place all to ourselves on Saturday. There were a couple of other cars at the trailhead when we arrived back; possibly hikers enroute to Lookout Mountain (we sa...
And what's this about Jerry launching off the cornice?........
Jerry, you're a wild man!
Yep, he's wild, ;D and yet one more lesson was learned on Sunday. Not only did he leap off the top, he did it with only one heal latched down, nailed the landing, and skied all the way to the bottom without even a bobble. Hence the term from tdave "randomark" landing. So far in snow school we have learned what happe...
Come on Ron, it's clearly a shot of Monika, you just happened to be in the foreground. :)
And what's this about Jerry launching off the cornice? I must have had my head in a can of Rockstar or something because Mad_Dog's pic is the first I saw of that spectacular leap of faith... Jerry, you're a wild man!
And what's this about Jerry launching off the cornice? I must have had my head in a can of Rockstar or something because Mad_Dog's pic is the first I saw of that spectacular leap of faith... Jerry, you're a wild man!
Nice trip report Chris! It was a really fun week end! The variation from the standard trail definitely added some spice to the experience.
The corn snow was just perfect...if only these turns could last a little longer!! Here is Chris enjoying the corn:
Corinne and I went biking on highway 20 on Sunday and ended up spending more time on snow with our bikes on Sunday then we...
Yeah, what MadDog said.
All you guys sure made it a fun day. A great bunch, to be sure. Strong skiers, strong climbers... all great ski partners. I lost count of Monika's runs. All I know is we had to put in a "passing lane" just for her on the uptrack.
My only, ah, "feedback" is, ah, Doug, it seems like the TR would have been a little easier on the eyes if you'd devoted more picture space to some of the more photogenic folks in the group, like...
All you guys sure made it a fun day. A great bunch, to be sure. Strong skiers, strong climbers... all great ski partners. I lost count of Monika's runs. All I know is we had to put in a "passing lane" just for her on the uptrack.
My only, ah, "feedback" is, ah, Doug, it seems like the TR would have been a little easier on the eyes if you'd devoted more picture space to some of the more photogenic folks in the group, like...
well, i'm glad the mothership seemed to provide some nice (enough) conditons for you...i am wondering about how that nisqually looks though. big holes? will we be cruising down it in april like we're so accustomed?
sweet pics cass! did you guys see anyone else out there? perhaps the spring-like conditions makes nice solitude on the slopes?
all i can say is 17 days until utah.... ;)
all i can say is 17 days until utah.... ;)
I second those thanks, Ron, Maddog, JW... It was great meeting all of you and reconnecting with you, Doug. There's nothing like 8 or 9 friendly people to make a few hundred feet of not-quite-corn a lot of fun.
I must also extend kudos to Monika for her motherlode of puppy powerrrr - I thought I counted 8 laps, Jibber.
JW deserves special mention for his cornice launch memorialized in Maddog's photo. Especially notable (and not at all discernable in the pic) was his smoothly execut...
I must also extend kudos to Monika for her motherlode of puppy powerrrr - I thought I counted 8 laps, Jibber.
JW deserves special mention for his cornice launch memorialized in Maddog's photo. Especially notable (and not at all discernable in the pic) was his smoothly execut...
Your welcome Doug. It's always a pleasure to take fun energetic people and great skiers to some of our "special" haunts. ;D Fortunately we were able to produce the goods and everyone was able to get their fill of great skiing before it started to crust over for the day. There were lots of photo opportunities yesterday, and you can view some (or actually, lots) of mine here 8).
http://groups.msn.com/WildHeartsSkiing/paradise22705.msnw
http://groups.msn.com/WildHeartsSkiing/paradise22705.msnw
Nice trip report Jason. I just blew away about an hour of work reading it. Hopefully the boss doesn't cruise these threads.
C
Wow, what a tour in really big terrain. Nice work.
We got the pass when we were there in December and wondered if we really needed it or not. I think we were OK in the Best Western lot but after hearing your story I'll be sure to get one before parking anywhere else. It really seems absurd for the park to make such a big deal about a $6 pass - it seems like a warning or more reasonable fine would been more appropriate.
We got the pass when we were there in December and wondered if we really needed it or not. I think we were OK in the Best Western lot but after hearing your story I'll be sure to get one before parking anywhere else. It really seems absurd for the park to make such a big deal about a $6 pass - it seems like a warning or more reasonable fine would been more appropriate.
Instead of skiing today, I opted to spend the weekend healing. As usual I became bored as so this is what I did. I hope you enjoy...
http://cascadecrusades.org/SkiMountaineering/Haganpeaks/routes/haganpeaks/haganpeaksfeb2005/haganpeaksfrontpage.htm
http://cascadecrusades.org/SkiMountaineering/Blum/routes/northwestface/northwestfacejan2005/northwestfacejan2005.htm
http://cascadecrusades.org/SkiMountaineering/Haganpeaks/routes/haganpeaks/haganpeaksfeb2005/haganpeaksfrontpage.htm
http://cascadecrusades.org/SkiMountaineering/Blum/routes/northwestface/northwestfacejan2005/northwestfacejan2005.htm
hey Greg:
it was a wonderful surprise to run into you and your family at Whistler. maybe next time we'll be able to take a few runs together. as for the snow, i agreee that it was hard in places, but i managed to find really fun stuff off Spanky's Ladder at Blackcomb. most sheltered aspects kept the snow relatively soft, and most importantly, carvable! you could easily sink your edges. Amar and i ran a few laps on Spanky's with smiles, but found the luge course at...
it was a wonderful surprise to run into you and your family at Whistler. maybe next time we'll be able to take a few runs together. as for the snow, i agreee that it was hard in places, but i managed to find really fun stuff off Spanky's Ladder at Blackcomb. most sheltered aspects kept the snow relatively soft, and most importantly, carvable! you could easily sink your edges. Amar and i ran a few laps on Spanky's with smiles, but found the luge course at...
I was one of those people finishing Spearhead traverse; thank you for the room in the hut and the hospitality.The trip was a blast with snow conditions varying from different kinds of crust to good powder on N-NE aspects.No problem with snow coverage over cravassees(good),a bit sketchy down climb to Overlord glacier(shallow, sugary snow with bad footing)could be by-passed by skiing around.Moonlight ski descent between Whirlwind and Fissile peaks was magical...Thanks to guys from Squamish(one day...
Kam, sorry not to be able to get together for turns after seeing you and Allyson at Whistler on Saturday; the week was dedicated to lift skiing with the family - lots of vertical on "East Coast" like hard pack. Went out a couple of times at twilight for rando laps (Whistler patrol freaked out once when I started skinning up just before sweep, so it had to be after 5:00 PM).
Quite a few interesting potential touring sites visible from 99 to the north of Whistler as well - locals...
Quite a few interesting potential touring sites visible from 99 to the north of Whistler as well - locals...
Whoa! An epic tale, ably told!
But wait: who's this "rabble?"
I sure wish I'd written this sentence.
a day with the rabble...
But wait: who's this "rabble?"
[We]snowplow, fall, curse, slam into unseen banks, curse some more and flail like druken dervishes down the icy trail until the full moon lightens our mood and the path in front of us.
I sure wish I'd written this sentence.
Oh, by the way, we ar...
Mike, I was on light tele gear -- fairly skinny Atomic TourCarve skis with soft Targa G3 bindings and Garmont Excursion boots. My experience has been that my boots have popped out of the bindings when torqued sideways. In this incident, the ski on the leg that broke did not get hung up, it just kept sliding while my left leg was hung up by the sapling, so I don't think releaseable bindings would have made a difference.
Don,
Have a speedy recovery, from another 53 year old male. I'm curious whether you were on telemark or randonee gear? A friend of mine broke his hip at Alta a few years ago(also a 53 year old male) in a weird spin out type of fall without binding release. Your report was a good wake up call for a season with low cover. Good luck.
Have a speedy recovery, from another 53 year old male. I'm curious whether you were on telemark or randonee gear? A friend of mine broke his hip at Alta a few years ago(also a 53 year old male) in a weird spin out type of fall without binding release. Your report was a good wake up call for a season with low cover. Good luck.
... an excellent picture courtesy of the flying photographic phenom, John Scurlock ...
Sky, we were really hoping that you wouldn't discover John's site for a few years -- to give the rest of us a shot at one of those lines first! ;)
A big part of the joy of this trip for me was bouncing around the Hagan Peaks deciding what to do, without knowing what was there beforehand. I didn't check Beckey or look for photos of them anywhere. We just went there knowing that there was a nice, open glacier and cirque with lots of little peaks. It was so rewarding to see a nice looking line from afar, go there, ski it, and get giddy ogling the views the whole way.
Watch out Sky. The nex...
Hahaha, that TR caused some serious grins. Glorious napping indeed. I think my most glorious nap was below Young's Peak, after I plunged over the handlebars so suddenly that I had no idea what was going on until I realized my head was buried in powder up (not down) to my navel. After extricating and skimming the slope to make sure nobody was looking I promptly took a nap on my pack right there in the sun-soaked crater. What fun ;D