TR Replies

In my vast sand skiing experience (one time last October ;)), we found that skins of any type were not at all necessary.  In fact, the sand alone creates a very thin film that sticks to your base on the way up and acts as the "glide" surface on the descent.  
TR from last year:  

Yes.
Very nice.
So did you skin up "skinless"?

Note the skin track in Kam's recent photos - it was much easier than booting up.  I was, however, using too cold a wax; it was great for the ups, but a bit sticky on the downs.  Next time I'm going with the 75-F glide wax.

Sweet.  Although....it doesn't appear that any actual turns are being made.  

You're right again Lowell ;) After skiing we spent the rest of the day sport climbing / camping at Frenchmans Coulee, a mere ~10 minute drive away from the sand slope  8)

It looks like the junction of Routes 26 and 243, just southeast of the I-90 bridge near Vantage. But I don't remember if there is a sand dune there. Am I right?

Oops, maybe I just blew somebody's secret "stash".  ;)

;)  Yup that's the place;  Wanapum Lake (Columbia River) and Routes 26 and 243 are in the photo background beyond Skip and the sand slope.  This sand slope (~150 vert. feet) is visible from Interstate 90...

where is that?  I've been dying to try sand skiing. I figured that ones options were limited to the Oregon Coast dunes around Florence or the Bruneau (sp?) Dunes out in Idaho...
very cool!

Hey man, my August turns were sweet! Now your August turns were.....something else.....

wow, i really need my licence!

Paul:  nice photo.  the snow looks creamy and tasty...

-kam

Stop it, I'm going to cry man, am I the only skier/snowboarder I know who wasn't at Muir yesterday?  Strep throat's a bitch.

;D

I was with Sky and Corey. I think Corey was skinning. And yes, after 5 hours and 30 minutes, I did make it to Muir; thanks for the encouragement. You guys were so right, the snow was incredible for the upper part, and quite good on the lower part.

Silas and I went today (Monday, 9/6), and I was thinking exactly the same thing about Sept. skiing. That was the best since my first ÊSept. of consecutive months - 1997. I went in mid to late Sept, and I remember new snow from several storms covering everything down to below Pebble Creek, with skiing quality comparable to today's between 9 and 10K - fantastic. If this keeps up I might have to ski again in September!

Great photo, Amar!

Leftovers were fine Sept 6 also.  Silky corn first 1000', much better snow than August the next 1500'.  Blue sky, no wind, tough day to beat at Muir.

A friend and I had a later start. We saw our descending first skier at about 11:00.  Was that Wolfs in the yellow t-shirt?  We broke out of the cloud deck at about 8,000 feet.  Conditions were fine until the gusts kicked in at about 8,800 feet.  We were doing the four point stance for several of these blasts. I am sure that most of these were in the 40-50 mph range and one must have approached 70.  (It sure keeps the idlers away.)  The wind was quickly redepositing...

Hey Wolfs, I saw you skiing down around 11:00 just before I got to the windy zone on the way up.  You definitely timed it right.  Leaving Camp Muir around noon, I hit a solid wall of fog around 8200 ft. and had to pick my way carefully down after that.  That first 1900 feet was probably the nicest September skiing I've seen in four or five years.  Definitely worth dropping whatever you're doing and heading up there.

But...if you were the one headed down early, what happened to prgsmall?  ...

Baker Lake Road where Skagit County starts is a speed trap. I recently got a ticket there too. At the county line the speed goes from 50 after 10 miles to 35. I got nailed at 51 in a 35 - ouch and hadn't had a speeding ticket for like 10 years. I've contested the ticket and got it deferred, an option you may want to consider since the insurance increases are huge.    

On the way up I only saw 2 boarders, freeheeler (wolfs), and an at'er descend.

Hmm. Mistaken ID or perhaps my evil twin, getting in better turns than I did, as I was car camping in the rain at Baker. There was a ton of precip, but snow level at Baker/Shuksan appeared quite high, I think the top of Park HW got some recent fresh but nothing that was easily reachable got cover. I also got a good look at the Ruth Mtn snowfield/glacier on a hike to Hanne...

Kam-
You crack me up!!
Although after a little simple math, I probably got around 1400 vertical on my ladder last weekend working on my house. Should have slung my skis so I could post a report ;). I would have rather earned my vertical the way you did than by tediously sanding a 3 story log home.
Good work and thanks for the laughs!!
Joe

And here I was at home working on my broke down car while pouting about not being on the mountain.

Nice to meet you snoslut.  You looked great on those big turns going down.  Have to agree, it was a terrific day for August.  Some the best snow conditions I've had on Muir, although a bit short.  But no complaints on 1500+ vf for this time of year with a climb-ski ratio of about 2.5.  The Turtle and Van Trump looked to be in excellent shape for those willing to hike a bit further.

With more precip forecast this week below 7000' freezing level, it might be shaping...

Casshole:  insane?  i don't know what you're talking about.  i think this looks pretty normal...

Ron J: september is a special month: Skip and I will celebrate our TAY anniversary.  knowing Skip, he'll want something more burly than Ruby -- 50 vf. patch is a bit much. recall Skip's big smile last september after skiing

600:1?? Then either Kam skied 10 feet, or you hiked 60,000! Now THAT'S a big day!  ;)

The Casshole didn't bring skis?  Weak!
Fine work on your part, Sir.

Impressive vertical  8)