TR Replies
Nice work Zap. the Silver Fox still remains my hero. lets get together for some turns before the year is out.
Mike
Mike
I just skied Helens the other day and fwiw my gps read the distance from the top to the Marble Mountain parking lot as 4.98 miles. Am I a geek or what?! ;)
Charles usually doesn't mind if the photos are terrain related...I hope...
yup, the Sharksfin:
I came down the right side of the scoop. Very fun!
And this time I was snowboarding.
yup, the Sharksfin:
I came down the right side of the scoop. Very fun!
And this time I was snowboarding.
Nice work.
I'm confused, were you boarding or skiing?
St. Helens is definitely in this month. I just did my third trip in a month there last Sunday! (unemployed ;D)
The fees start April 1st, right?
I don't want to hijack your thread with my own TR, so here is just a photo that may look familiar:
Sharkfin?
I'm confused, were you boarding or skiing?
St. Helens is definitely in this month. I just did my third trip in a month there last Sunday! (unemployed ;D)
The fees start April 1st, right?
I don't want to hijack your thread with my own TR, so here is just a photo that may look familiar:
Sharkfin?
thanks for the great report Zap. Skiing with Chic Scott, nice!
Phil -- with your excellent photo, the snow levels expected this week, and the melting out of the GC Road, I expect that we will see a Muir Circus effect on Heliotrope Ridge this weekend.
The Roman Wall might be in primo shape for early risers. In fact, I think that camping at about 8500 ft Friday night would allow for the Roman Wall to be skied in "pre-slop" conditions on Saturday. 8)
The Roman Wall might be in primo shape for early risers. In fact, I think that camping at about 8500 ft Friday night would allow for the Roman Wall to be skied in "pre-slop" conditions on Saturday. 8)
It must be noted that Charles has a real knack for finding the perfect terrain for waxless skiing. Most people would have plodded along on skins but we were always able to find the perfect terrain and moved much quicker.
On top of Polallie Ridge there was a definite demarcation between the corned south slopes and the wet powder on the north slopes. The skiing on the south side of the ridge would have been better, but would have required a climb out.
Also, we disc...
On top of Polallie Ridge there was a definite demarcation between the corned south slopes and the wet powder on the north slopes. The skiing on the south side of the ridge would have been better, but would have required a climb out.
Also, we disc...
A most interesting report Charles! I suppose if one wanted a real thrill, you could ski from Diamond Lake over to Cone Mtn. and try one of the avalanche chutes that go all the way to the valley floor. :-)
Larry
Larry
Phil, I gather a soft slab. He is highly experienced, and he said he noticed no warning signs and did not feel at all at risk. The fact that he was slid on a relatively moderate pitch just as he was about to drop onto a far steeper slope is interesting.
He also said he was tired of explaining to everyone, so I tried not to press too hard for every last detail. What most interests me is that a great many people skied similar lines that day, including some that are pretty...
He also said he was tired of explaining to everyone, so I tried not to press too hard for every last detail. What most interests me is that a great many people skied similar lines that day, including some that are pretty...
Glad your friend was ok. Do you know if it was a slab, or wet sluff?
Picture from high point of ridge.
More Photos at:
http://groups.msn.com/RandysSkiTripsII/haneymeadowloop3212004.msnw?Page=1
More Photos at:
http://groups.msn.com/RandysSkiTripsII/haneymeadowloop3212004.msnw?Page=1
Anyone suggest or have beta on doing this tour from the Nisqually Bridge? I'm planning on making the trip from PDX soon.
tia ;D
tia ;D
Yeah, great trip, great company.
Pics at:
http://groups.msn.com/WildHeartsSkiing/paradise32104.msnw
Pics at:
http://groups.msn.com/WildHeartsSkiing/paradise32104.msnw
I claimed my traditional position far to the rear on this trip, with others more energetic than myself far out front, heroically breaking trail up 45 degree powder slopes. Under sb's guidance, we toured through spectacular terrain to one of the northerly bowls on Mt. Herman, then finished with a run on the north side of Table Mountain. North aspects featured dense, very stable powder; southerly exposures got sloppy in the sun and tended to sluff on a layer within the recent (18") storm sn...
Those slabs developed in the PM, after the slopes had baked for several hours in the unseasonal warmth. The slopes that I saw the crowns on were around 45 degrees. The crowns were down to the pre-storm layer (16-20"). Before noon we were able to ski these aspects on slopes that steep or steeper in complete security. When the warmth hit, we skedattled.
Interesting. At the ski area today, I counted six slabs on Shuksan Arm & one on top of Hemispheres. All seemed to be on lee slopes.
I *really* like that photo. Thanks for posting the report!
Thanks for the useful information. I haven't skied down to the bridge in several years, but I was hoping to do it again this spring before the snow melts down there. By the way, I think the word you're looking for is "nunatak", meaning "a hill or mountain completely surrounded by glacial ice."
Thanks for the report, Amar.
We're headed that way today and your report is helpful.
We're headed that way today and your report is helpful.
In the past few year s the skiers right of nanatucks has been better
After I got my slides developed I decided to turn this report into a web page, including a couple of historic photos. Enjoy:
http://www.alpenglow.org/skiing/patrol-race-2004/index.html
http://www.alpenglow.org/skiing/patrol-race-2004/index.html
This is a response to Paul, and nothing more:
Your overnight pack is NOT an overnight pack.
Thank you, I have nothing else to say.
Your overnight pack is NOT an overnight pack.
Thank you, I have nothing else to say.
Mark - I was starting to think that it was about time for you to take your turn at the roasting podium.
Possibly the reason my pack looks smaller is that it is the only one sitting on the ground. Maybe they look bigger way up on someone's back... how 'bout that? Yeah, that's the ticket.
And as far as breaking trail goes, I break trail; why I just broke trail back in, uh, I think it was 1976.
Possibly the reason my pack looks smaller is that it is the only one sitting on the ground. Maybe they look bigger way up on someone's back... how 'bout that? Yeah, that's the ticket.
And as far as breaking trail goes, I break trail; why I just broke trail back in, uh, I think it was 1976.
Nice photo, Lowell! I backpacked around that area one time and thought it seemed like an island of North Cascades in the middle of the Alpine Lakes, as in the big terrain in your photo
Here's the view south from near the top of Snowgrass Mountain.
Did everybody bring a personal keg or something? My overnight pack is half the size of those monsters!
I like the shot of the snow bunny...
I like the shot of the snow bunny...
I was able to ski through the woods (lost the trail a couple of times!) and wound up coming out at near the Hidden Valley trail. I headed back to Hyak via the Serpentine run. Snow was nicely forming up corn and even managed to get in a few tele turns on the way down even with my nordic gear. Much different than with fat skis and plastic boots, but fun nevertheless.
;D
;D
Ya know something Mark, it's been a bit of a bewilderment to me too. I have been watching Ron for the past umpteen years and never quite figured out where he hides all that overnight stuff. When we get to camp his pack is like the endless cavern of cool stuff. Just a little secret, don't ever offer to trade packs with him cause when you pick up that little snippit of a pack, you'll soon discover that looks can be deceiving. ;D
Great photos, Jerry, but I admit a certain bewilderment at #2. It appears to depict a group of four big and burly Mountaineers trip leaders, all grinning happily, carrying great big and burly backpacks....and Ron Jarvis with his own wee little snippet of a pack. This begs the question: why does everyone but Ron seem to be carrying their fair share? And further: why is it that Ron, with that tiny little insignificant wisp of a backpack, always seems to have something more pressi...
Great job on the photo work, Jerry.
That was a bunch of photos, which is a bunch of work.
That was a bunch of photos, which is a bunch of work.
Did you retrace to return or close the loop by skiing east through the forest?
Zap, I tend to agree with your assessment of the Ymir Yurts operation.
We skied down the couloir, out the bottom, then glided across the flat (and up) to the 'rib' on the left edge of the glacier (in the moraine?).
At about 6200 we cut back onto the glacier proper with some turns down off the 'rib'. Then we cut back to the left to follow the glacer down stream and worked our way around to the left of the 'nanatuk', at least I think that's what you call the big rock at the bottom.
We then skied the steeper slope on the skiers left of the...
At about 6200 we cut back onto the glacier proper with some turns down off the 'rib'. Then we cut back to the left to follow the glacer down stream and worked our way around to the left of the 'nanatuk', at least I think that's what you call the big rock at the bottom.
We then skied the steeper slope on the skiers left of the...
Sounds great ,After you left the couloir Which side of nisqually did you ski down?
We debated between this and the Paradise Glacier as well. The coverage at the bridge was pretty good. Maybe 3 feet? But that's just a guess I wasn't really paying much attention....
How was the the coverage on the Nisqually? We considered the same trip Saturday, but headed up to the Paradise glacier instead.
Nice imaginative tour! I bet the dogs were glad to be home on Saturday night.
The slope from Goat Lakes down to the valley bottom is your choice of 100% avy slopes (nearly always full of debris from the cliffs above), or 50% open glades, then 50% avy slope (since the open glades start cliffing out). It gets bouldery near the bottom, but still had just enough snow, but probably not for much longer.
Then out the valley to Money creek we stayed right of the drainage, then crossed to the left at a certain point (not shown in the picture), just because that's the...
Then out the valley to Money creek we stayed right of the drainage, then crossed to the left at a certain point (not shown in the picture), just because that's the...
Nice one, Phil. That's what I call a real ski tour - use those skis to cover some distance!
I am curious about your route from Lennox down to Money Creek via Goat Basin. I did a hike up there one fall to check out the terrain, and thought it would be a good ski with enough snow down low. From your photo "Our route down to the valley" it looks like you descended around the skier's right side of Goat Lake, and then stayed skier's right of the main drainage out of Goat Lake down to...
I am curious about your route from Lennox down to Money Creek via Goat Basin. I did a hike up there one fall to check out the terrain, and thought it would be a good ski with enough snow down low. From your photo "Our route down to the valley" it looks like you descended around the skier's right side of Goat Lake, and then stayed skier's right of the main drainage out of Goat Lake down to...
It was a great field trip with a fun group of students, and leaders. We dug deep holes, and shallow holes, and small holes, and big holes, we have dug so many holes over the last couple of weekends I'm afraid I'm going to start dreaming about them ;D BTW we also covered up those holes with more digging when we were done. ;)
Looking forward to seeing the pictures and the "nifty" centerpiece on our group kitchen counter.
Yours truly, holedigger #2 8)
Looking forward to seeing the pictures and the "nifty" centerpiece on our group kitchen counter.
Yours truly, holedigger #2 8)
From Justin's report it sounds like an hour made some difference...
We left the summit around 2-ish.
Were you on skis? I think being on a snowboard makes the snow feel more firm. I remember looking back up the slope, I could see plenty of ski tracks but none of our board tracks. Of course, That's why we are so good in powder ;D
We went from the lower parking lot... I know, we should have represented... actually, I prefer packing up in the company of skiers rather than inhaling exhaust.
Oh wait, Climbers' Bivy? No no, we went from the sno-park, it is much closer I think.
Hey, I think I am going down there again on Sunday, a boarder friend of mine wants to do it. There could be freshies! Let me know if you want to hook up. Or if you want to do something midweek, I'm up for it. ...
Oh wait, Climbers' Bivy? No no, we went from the sno-park, it is much closer I think.
Hey, I think I am going down there again on Sunday, a boarder friend of mine wants to do it. There could be freshies! Let me know if you want to hook up. Or if you want to do something midweek, I'm up for it. ...
Great pics, Justin! maybe a stupid question, but which parking lot were you guys all leaving from? the climbers bivy or the sno park? I'm thinking of climbing it this week.
nice job, Phil, Ed and dogs! sounds like a little less schwackage than our trip on Saturday...and that's a good thing!
Well our party of 10 contributed to the Sat. horde. Actually I think there were more dogs on the mountain than people. Too bad they had to walk down.
We left at 7:30 and took our time, patiently waiting for the temp to rise or sun to warm up the snow. We skinned up about 1/3 of the way and then booted it the rest because it was too icy. Yawn! From Justin's report it sounds like an hour made some difference. (I remember seeing you with the yellow approach skis.)
We left the su...
We left at 7:30 and took our time, patiently waiting for the temp to rise or sun to warm up the snow. We skinned up about 1/3 of the way and then booted it the rest because it was too icy. Yawn! From Justin's report it sounds like an hour made some difference. (I remember seeing you with the yellow approach skis.)
We left the su...
Snowbank was about 4 feet of at the parking lot, but with the high freezing levels it is going fast. We got there at 7:00 AM and it was already soft, meaning it is not freezing at night anymore.