TR Replies
Yeah Laura and I enjoyed a great day up there on the 23rd as well. We skied creamy corn on the soft side of Table Mountain. Then searched out the powder in the wind deposits on the North side of Table down to Bagley Lakes. We had so much fun we skiied powder on the lower slopes into the lakes by moonlight before finally going home. Super Fun.
Nice photo!
I drove up today in search of that very secret stash shown in your video, but warming temps had already had their way with the powder. Still, with 3-4 inches of damp, fresh snow covering a strong crust, skiing was perfectly reasonable ("better than expected") whenever I could see more than ten feet in front of me. Also of note: the new snow seemed well-bonded to the crust, and the approaching storm is starting out warm, as evidenced by the light dr...
I drove up today in search of that very secret stash shown in your video, but warming temps had already had their way with the powder. Still, with 3-4 inches of damp, fresh snow covering a strong crust, skiing was perfectly reasonable ("better than expected") whenever I could see more than ten feet in front of me. Also of note: the new snow seemed well-bonded to the crust, and the approaching storm is starting out warm, as evidenced by the light dr...
Wolfs, it was a pleasure chatting with you yesterday.
I was able to sneak in under the boiler plate on the chute proper, but it was a bit sketchy traversing over some very steep water ice to get there. As you said, no complaints from midchute down. Looking back I figured your first few turns must have been over some wicked ice, but your skin trick explains the drastic difference from your turns lower down. Glad to see that you were able to make it in from the top but all in all where I entere...
I was able to sneak in under the boiler plate on the chute proper, but it was a bit sketchy traversing over some very steep water ice to get there. As you said, no complaints from midchute down. Looking back I figured your first few turns must have been over some wicked ice, but your skin trick explains the drastic difference from your turns lower down. Glad to see that you were able to make it in from the top but all in all where I entere...
Thanks for this report. We are planning on heading to this general area on Sunday and will take your elevation suggestions into consideration.
Also, thanks for sharing your skins on, locked heals experience. I've tried it too and had similar results, but thought it was all related to my propensity to gack on ice.
Is it your experience that the Muir snowfield remains windswept and icy throughout the winter or might the expected snowfall later this week soften things up?<...
Also, thanks for sharing your skins on, locked heals experience. I've tried it too and had similar results, but thought it was all related to my propensity to gack on ice.
Is it your experience that the Muir snowfield remains windswept and icy throughout the winter or might the expected snowfall later this week soften things up?<...
If I ever move back to New England, I'll remember to invite you guys out for some tours right after the freeze that always comes after the thaw. Sounds like you'd love it...
it was a nice day, especially after it cleared later in the afternoon. thanks everyone for the laughs. below is a photo of Daniel keeping his edges under control:
More Pictures: ascendingenjoying the view
More Pictures: ascendingenjoying the view
Inclined hockey would be interesting, and pucks or not, skates would have been quite useful in places. Sounds like we were off by a day, but I'm with Eric, any day outside in the mountains is better than a day working on the house.
It was nice meeting and skiing with all of you!
It was nice meeting and skiing with all of you!
Water-ice not withstanding, it was a pretty fun ski! ;)
It had been a long while since the last time I used my ski-pons.
--Chris / Casshole
It had been a long while since the last time I used my ski-pons.
--Chris / Casshole
The eastern contingent was my brother and myself. We're from Ohio, but both live in Washington now. Yesterday's conditions brought back fond memories of skiing ice rinks laid over recovered trash heaps in lower Michigan.
The best part of the trip was probably the ascent, as well as some of the skiing at the very top. It looked like a storm was coming in as we left, but the snow's likely to blow off. Until there's some real accumulation, a pair of ski crampons is a...
The best part of the trip was probably the ascent, as well as some of the skiing at the very top. It looked like a storm was coming in as we left, but the snow's likely to blow off. Until there's some real accumulation, a pair of ski crampons is a...
Yes, I'm reading this. As long as it's small and econo I don't hold that much of a grudge against cars.
Thanks for the report, Jeff - Great picture, as usual!
Nice, I'm jealous... we skied crusty slush in the fog below the Easton Glacier today.
Sounds like Rainier was the place to be...
Sounds like Rainier was the place to be...
The rain had done good job of firming up the base higher, and clearing the road and the trail. The summit looked a little windy, but inviting. We saw one other group of four ahead of us.
welcome "Ericd"! Thanks for the conditions update in the Stevens Pass vicinity. I had been wondering if that obnoxious breakable crust was still persisting up there this week ;).
--Chris
--Chris
twin lakes rd: we were able to drive to the yellow aster butter th sat before last in a subaru. past that point, it's a struggle even with no snow at all. took about 1.5 hours of mellow skiing on the road to reach the lakes, with trail broken, mind you.
How much of the twin lakes road is there? I'm thinking of checking out the area and want to gauge how early of a start I should get (hopefully the snow is better than what was posted here!). Some corn would be nice.
aha, more addicts to graham's fish tacos!
and i have finally figured out WHY it is that said tacos
are irresistible to bc skiers! this came to me as i was peaking into the kitchen a weekend ago and saw that the cook making the tacos was none other than the fellow who had obligingly broken trail for us on the twin lakes road earlier in the day...so see, the tacos he makes are imbued with the bc spirit, how can we not respond to that ??
i am wondering whether my trail-breaking s...
and i have finally figured out WHY it is that said tacos
are irresistible to bc skiers! this came to me as i was peaking into the kitchen a weekend ago and saw that the cook making the tacos was none other than the fellow who had obligingly broken trail for us on the twin lakes road earlier in the day...so see, the tacos he makes are imbued with the bc spirit, how can we not respond to that ??
i am wondering whether my trail-breaking s...
My altimeter said 6400', Big Boy. Wind was prob. 60-70mph!! You need to buy that Brunton wind guage. MMMM, Extra Tuong sauce on those open face fish tacos yields a sweet ambrosia for wind chapped lips.
Ouch!
Can't say that Marmot Ridge was any better Tim. We made it up to about 6000 feet where we were almost blown off our feet and over the ridge...we had to dig in our toes and hold onto the ice...never experienced wind like that before!!! Pockets of wind blown snow were found along with some good laughs and some hot Phish Tacos!!!
Can't say that Marmot Ridge was any better Tim. We made it up to about 6000 feet where we were almost blown off our feet and over the ridge...we had to dig in our toes and hold onto the ice...never experienced wind like that before!!! Pockets of wind blown snow were found along with some good laughs and some hot Phish Tacos!!!
European (French) Internet retailer. http://www.telemark-pyrenees.com/
i was up there also, at heather ridge, but for the everett moutaineers, nice sun, terrible snow. learned a lot though
You were probably following our tracks. Overall, quite a nice morning. The sky was clear, the peaks were out and white. Not a breath of wind. We three met up with MW88888888 and broke a difficult trail above the quad to Shot Six's exit. Turns in the open were delightful -- if you could stay perfectly balanced over your skis. I emphasize perfectly because any thing else yielded less stellar results (at least on our modest mid-fat to less fat skis). ...
Nice. Yes I do recognize the Trab Sintesi. Did you buy them in Europe?
I'm not a detective, Michael. That's the exact set-up I ski, and I like it! If you look hard at http://www.turns-all-year.com/indexyrsimages/hostetlerb/pho.html you'll recognize my Trab Piuma Sintesis. My technical skiing is intermediate level. The skis do everything I ask and are delightfully light on the uphill. The newest model Dynafit binding is a good one. Happy skiing!
I don't know who the would-be skier is in the photo, but the choices of skis (Trab) and bindings (Dynafit) are good ones ;)
Sorry - only reading this now. This work thing has kept me pretty busy this week... >:(
Wow, BrentH, I am impressed: you must be a detective to see these details on this picture!!!
Yeah, this is indeed a great setup. The Trabs are super light but still really good to ski. An amazing ski...and no - I am n...
26" should just about do it - at least until lunch on Saturday . . .
BTW -
12/8/2004
Crystal opens Saturday!!
Mother Nature just hit us hard with 26" of new snow overnight!! Crystal will open Saturday, December 11th with Chinook Express, Forest Queen, Rainier Express & Green Valley lifts in operation. See you on the slopes...
12/8/2004
Crystal opens Saturday!!
Mother Nature just hit us hard with 26" of new snow overnight!! Crystal will open Saturday, December 11th with Chinook Express, Forest Queen, Rainier Express & Green Valley lifts in operation. See you on the slopes...
Mark, I usually never leave a powder event but I had to return to Seattle for a couple of doctor appts on Wednesday. Even more important , Jill and I take my grandson(age 3) for his ski lesson at Mini Mtn in Bellevue(an indoor revolving carpet). I must admit that I have been working on the development of his "sherpa" skills since his arrival. The first words he heard from me on day 1 was "how much fun it is to break trail for grandpa and also carrying some...
Yesterday (12/07) Ellen Butzel and I were also over there. We went over to Herman Saddle for better visibility. I was surprised how much new snow there was there since Sunday. It was pretty skied up Sunday but yesterday I saw only a trace of a couple of tracks. Fairly windy. Returning back to the parking lot, we saw about a half a dozen slides from the Table Mt. half of the valley that extended down to the lake.
Nice photo Greg! Powder on the rocks at Crystal, been there, done that, didn't get the shirt, but still have the remnants of owie in the base even though the skis have been through a stone grind. Sounds like you had a fun time though.
Hi Eric, the worst rocks and most deceptive "smooth" looking run was off the top of the Green Valley chair (should have known better); straight down from REX and below the Lucky Shot traverse were actually pretty good. The picture was taken from the flat area under the lift in Green Valley on the "main run" - West Face looked a little boney.
All the fresh snow was pretty well consolidated and sticking well to what was below it.
All the fresh snow was pretty well consolidated and sticking well to what was below it.
For our post-dining pleasure Crystal dished up a wind-affected powder cocktail, unfortunately served "on the rocks" - Even at best, there is 18-20" of fresh over a base of basically nothing (some aspects had a few inches of refrozen granular snow underneath, but not enough to protect bases from rocks). If I didn't have a pair of rock skis before . . .
If you don't mind reliving the horror, where were you when you encounter...
Zap, your literary skills are without compare, your nose for fresh powder legendary, your skiing prowess almost superhuman...but I judge even your unique talents insufficient to enjoy skiing the 8th of December prior to midnight on the 7th.
That aside, a Seattle resident with a taste for speed and an acute sense of timing can make Baker in just 2.5 hours. Stop by anytime.
That aside, a Seattle resident with a taste for speed and an acute sense of timing can make Baker in just 2.5 hours. Stop by anytime.
Actually, that was a great report. I have a weekday season pass for Crystal and have been anxious to get started. Thought about skinning up Crystal and you just changed my mind, I'll stick to Paradise (looks like it might be nice next weekend, Dec 11/12).
I spent the 7th and 8th at Baker enjoying the powder. On the 7th I ended up touring just outside the ski boundary. I planned to ski Herman but the road to the upper lodge was closed. A tow truck was attempting to winch a vehicle out of a ravine about 100' down. Someone didn't make the hairpin turn and had a slalom ride in their vehicle down the ravine. Spent the night in the camper at the White Salmon lot and woke to 3" new and a continous storm all day. Another 3" fe...
Hey -thanks for the viddy Tim. Good to re-live the runs. (Ah...winter IS here!) Thanks again to all the powder pigs (et. al.) for the "ride". My email is here and I'll be in touch if when I come up again.
cheers,
Jim
cheers,
Jim
Hey Rob, good touring with you. (I was one of the "4 guys from Seattle".) What a day we ended up having, eh? I expected the upper slope to be OK (of course it was not just OK but great), but those last few plunging turns after hitting the trees were just plain awesome. The total vertical for the day was 4,400', if you're into that kind of info. And now we know what the hill is called: Tye Peak.
Pictures would be great, if you want to shoot me...
Pictures would be great, if you want to shoot me...
Good work.
I like your report. I was close to that area this Summer climbing Black Peak.
I can imagine how beautiful is in Winter.
Please, keep up with good work and post new tr soon.
Zoka
I like your report. I was close to that area this Summer climbing Black Peak.
I can imagine how beautiful is in Winter.
Please, keep up with good work and post new tr soon.
Zoka
You gotta be careful of the ninjas when skiing after dark...
The weather changed incredibly fast when we were up there. If went from incredibly beautiful - one could see all the big peaks with deep blue skies and lazy mists in the valleys - to full on blizzard in less than a few hours. It was if a wizard were summoning in the clouds and they came out of nowhere - like Saruman at the pass of Caradhas.
Several times when one of us stepped out of our bindings, we would fall into botto...
The weather changed incredibly fast when we were up there. If went from incredibly beautiful - one could see all the big peaks with deep blue skies and lazy mists in the valleys - to full on blizzard in less than a few hours. It was if a wizard were summoning in the clouds and they came out of nowhere - like Saruman at the pass of Caradhas.
Several times when one of us stepped out of our bindings, we would fall into botto...
Nice photos Cass! I don't recall running into a tele-ninja on the trip, but you never know.
Lovin that bushwackin, oh well at least we all were out there doing something! 8)
Yep, a little bushwackin is always good for the soul, but I had a great time trying out some new gear. 8) Was able to get a short sweet dance in though, and it was a goodie, (guess who didn't fall down) ;D
Lovin that bushwackin, oh well at least we all were out there doing something! 8)
Don't think you're the only winner, Kam.
With over 30 inches at Paridise last Sunday we still managed to do nearly as well as you, in finding the least covered areas with the most bushwhacking points available for the area.
With over 30 inches at Paridise last Sunday we still managed to do nearly as well as you, in finding the least covered areas with the most bushwhacking points available for the area.
I don't know who the would-be skier is in the photo, but the choices of skis (Trab) and bindings (Dynafit) are good ones ;)
the skier is Michael T. Trab skis are more common in Europe (Michael's home land). i'm sure he'll chime in soon about how much he likes his super-light AT setup.
Russ: there's plenty of alder up there, but it wasn't the problem. the most annoying is the devils club. because of the lack of...
that picture reminds me of the time I tried to go to Yodelin too early in the season
I did the same early season Jim Hill trip a few years ago - alder maddness. Of course I didn't learn since I went with Bud on his Yodelin trip as well. I'd like to think I know better now, but I'd only be fooling myself. ;)