TR Replies
I was with the group of 4 (3 AT, 1 Tele) you mentioned ahead. We found some fairly nice stuff from 9100 down to about 7500 so did it again. Quite challenging below Pebble. Very careful going up Pan via the tree ridge. Everyone then seemed to follow our path. A beautiful day to be on the snowfied.
Yes Mr. Slut, you MUST get a split. Shoes are the lamest since it is of course illegal to shoe up a skin track. Stop carrying your tools.
Yes Mr. Slut, you MUST get a split. Shoes are the lamest since it is of course illegal to shoe up a skin track. Stop carrying your tools.
Good call! We skipped Sunday cuz the snow we skied Saturday off Pan Pt. + the forecast suggested some eal back breakable crust or concrete the next day; plus the south facing slopes had a really complex somewhat scary snowpack. should have gone to Castle.
Might have been one that passed you or met you on top; had 3 following, 2 slow. So we skied down below McClure to Golden Gate. While waiting for others, I did a ski cut then a pit at the top of Golden Gate slope. Not good. Shovel shear -> spring loaded pop out at 8-10 inches on either buried hoar or recrystalized snow (had my shovel but not my avy kit etc); the same layer gave with 3 wrist taps on a compression then a much deeper layer down to a sun/rain? crust about 1/4 inch thick with the...
Great writeups for some magical days. Geezzzz, I could have stayed home and saved money on the Helicopter in the Selkirks!
Gregg
Gregg
I've skied the slot twice, once we climbed it before skiing, the other time I went from the top blind, but it had been previously been skied that day. I have noticed that the snow in the first rope length or two is a different than the rest - it tends to be more wind effected and more shallow than the rest. Because if this, I'm wondering how much of a representative sample one gets by skiing the first rope length on belay, especially if the belay anchor is set on one of the large tre...
not to sound too cavalier...But the good thing about the Slot is that once you are in it, you've got that awkward fall-line to the right. As long as you choose your line wisely and are solid on your edges, if you peel anything loose, it's going to sluff off to skier's right.
But seriously: The Magic Carpet over at Central is a way better time! ;D
But seriously: The Magic Carpet over at Central is a way better time! ;D
Yes, I was snowboarding, I had my 164 short board on this descent. I use snowshoes, btw, so I don't worry about $600 snowboards or iffy home jobs (not that either are bad, just not my style).
My particular style of snowboarding is probably indecernable from a skier's, I did jump turns down the steep sections and half of a powder eight the remainder (hense my name: MW88888888 - those are my tracks, dude, and you probably can't tell if I was skiing or snowboarding!). That said,...
My particular style of snowboarding is probably indecernable from a skier's, I did jump turns down the steep sections and half of a powder eight the remainder (hense my name: MW88888888 - those are my tracks, dude, and you probably can't tell if I was skiing or snowboarding!). That said,...
In the 3 separate occasions that I've skied the Slot, I've never seen any need whatsoever to belay the entrance...never even thought of it until this last time when the people following us offered a belay and we declined.
That being said: The Slot it way too steep and scary to ski! A better choice for your day of recreation at the Pass would be to ride the Magic Carpet over at Summit Central ;D
That being said: The Slot it way too steep and scary to ski! A better choice for your day of recreation at the Pass would be to ride the Magic Carpet over at Summit Central ;D
Well you can do jump turns on a snowboard too. Anything to avoid the infamous heelside powder-slide!
Man that looks cool now if I only had a real split instead of my temperamental home-job.
Man that looks cool now if I only had a real split instead of my temperamental home-job.
Nice report. I too have stared with mixture of longing and terror into the masked entrance of Slot a couple of times now, but both times we opted out (first time on midweek morning w lack of time to do the whole circuit including climb back over W Ridge so opted descent of Phantom, and second time earlier risers beating us to Slot so opted Crooked instead). It's nice to hear something of what lies beyond the bend. So would you snowboard this thing (or did you?) Personally I'm still less confiden...
STOP IT! I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!
;)
I'm cooped up inside and you're making me way too jealous for my own good.
I keep having this conundrum: climb or ski? Ice is in, and when I read trip reports of ice, I REALLY want to climb. Then I come over here and see ski porn of the Slot Couloir and I start twitching. >:(
;)
I'm cooped up inside and you're making me way too jealous for my own good.
I keep having this conundrum: climb or ski? Ice is in, and when I read trip reports of ice, I REALLY want to climb. Then I come over here and see ski porn of the Slot Couloir and I start twitching. >:(
And who needs that condo in Vail? Instead of the altimeter, I took the garage door opener and skied down the driveway right into the basement garage.
Thanks everyone for your UR (Urban reports) they have all been very entertaining and makes me smile BIG. It's been a great week in the PNW expecially in the "city".
So, are we adding garage door openers to our bc 10 essential list now? ;D
Lowell, sorry we missed you. I was amazed at how many people were out playing in the snow - I don't remember ever seeing so many in our neighborhood. Little kids, medium kids, big kids, and quite a few adults as well, on all kinds of sliding devices (FedEx boxes seemed to be working pretty well, but the human sleds, wrapped in a plastic bag, were going pretty slow). In my experience, a few cars usually trash the couloirs early on, but this time all of the muscle-powered activities quickly made t...
I took the leather boots and scaled skis out of the basement and skied the Crown Hill-Ballard-Greenwood traverse. Lots of coverage, very few cars. Great to be skiing in town. Now I have to see about driving to work today, much scarier prospect.
My girlfriend and I headed over to Gas Works Park last night after work and yo yo'd the main hill about eight times before we were soaked from the freezing rain. The hill was largely 'sledded-out' but it was still fun. Always wanted to ski in town since I moved to seattle five years ago and even though I was stuck at work all day I still had to get out and see what snow was left.
We skated up the low angle paved path to the top of the 'run' and then made six to eight turns on each...
We skated up the low angle paved path to the top of the 'run' and then made six to eight turns on each...
Well its raining now and the snow is going, but I was lucky enough to get out and do a one-armed urban tour in the same area.
I met Steph I. at Cowen park after she completed the Ravenna - Cowen traverse from her perch on 35th Ave. We were heading to Greenlake when the tip of her skin attachment broke so we quickly detoured back to my place for a replacement skin. On to Greenlake over 65th and down the gradual NE 63rd slope. We toured to gentle slopes just below the zoo...
I met Steph I. at Cowen park after she completed the Ravenna - Cowen traverse from her perch on 35th Ave. We were heading to Greenlake when the tip of her skin attachment broke so we quickly detoured back to my place for a replacement skin. On to Greenlake over 65th and down the gradual NE 63rd slope. We toured to gentle slopes just below the zoo...
Heh heh. And to think I abandoned the limitless thrills (and threatening pah vay moh) of Bellingham's urban backcountry in favor of (shudder) the Mt. Baker ski area today. What was I thinking?
In my defense, I should point out that the backcountry avalanche danger was listed as considerable, trending to high this afternoon. This alone was sufficient to dissuade me from attempting, for example, the very arduous Lake Padden Traverse or the seldom-attempted Cl...
In my defense, I should point out that the backcountry avalanche danger was listed as considerable, trending to high this afternoon. This alone was sufficient to dissuade me from attempting, for example, the very arduous Lake Padden Traverse or the seldom-attempted Cl...
Tele skis, tele boots, tele bindings, but somehow I missed out on the tele turns ;)
The surface underneath the 4" of light new was incredibly firm and rough (I have heard this surface called "pavement", but I think that's a French term)...
Yes. I believe the correct pronunciation in French is "pah-vay-moh". ;-)
Great report, Charles. My son, Tom, and I were among the sledders packing those couloirs, although we spent most of our time in the more gentle quadrangles of the Maple Leaf Range, a little farther south. We used the 50-year old toboggan that my parents owned when my brothers and I were kids.
A blurb on the Times website said the snowfall record for Seattle was set in February 1916, when 21.6 inches fell in a single day! During my historical research, I've found articles about the f...
A blurb on the Times website said the snowfall record for Seattle was set in February 1916, when 21.6 inches fell in a single day! During my historical research, I've found articles about the f...
And just imagine all the new gear we'd need for those traverses.... ;D
New from K2... The Seattle Urban line
The Wallingford - K2's all-around urban rider. Good in all conditions, from powdery lawns to icy roads. The high-density bases are also designed for the occasional patch of asphalt or sand on snow.
The Dravus - For those big descents when you need maximum power. Tested to withstand impacts with parked cars at...
New from K2... The Seattle Urban line
The Wallingford - K2's all-around urban rider. Good in all conditions, from powdery lawns to icy roads. The high-density bases are also designed for the occasional patch of asphalt or sand on snow.
The Dravus - For those big descents when you need maximum power. Tested to withstand impacts with parked cars at...
Might as well put in my 2 cents worth. For the past three days I've been using my XC skis to flatten the driveway out to the road. Laid a track in my backyard of 2 acres and spent each day skiing for about an hour. Boring, but exercise. Skied up the road today to check on an old neighbor. People stared at me, I live in redneck country. We have 11.5" on the ground here in the boonies that are becoming more and more urban, between Roy and McKenna.
Juan: Your localized touring in that area is going to turn into the specialty "T.R.-du-jour" of Skyline Ridge! Your info, especially the pit and other test info, is a great head start for those of us who need to remember to do these things each time out. And, your updates tell the sweet side of the story, as well. Thanks...Greg Lange
Up here in B'ham, took the homemade (no kit) splitboard out for a test run in the moonlight on Saturday night. Skinned up Easton Ave. to 16th St., spent 10-15 minutes assembling frankenboard (gloveless), rode down to 10th St. (~300 v.f.). Several unfenced yards provided choice fresh powder turns. Took the split up to Baker the next day for some more frigid fun around Artist Point.
Today I built a kicker on a steep sidestreet. After a few jumps and scraping down to...
Today I built a kicker on a steep sidestreet. After a few jumps and scraping down to...
My son and I went sledding near our house this afternoon and saw at least a dozen skiers. There must have been hundreds of skiers all around the city today. Too cool! I started fantasizing about the "urban traverses" you could do if the snow would only last: Wedgewood to Ballard, enchaining the Seattle hills, the Lake Washington loop ...
Too bad it's supposed to rain tonight. I thoroughly enjoyed just shoveling my driveway and walk today. I like pretending that I live in snow co...
Too bad it's supposed to rain tonight. I thoroughly enjoyed just shoveling my driveway and walk today. I like pretending that I live in snow co...
Looks like we must have been posting the link to this video at the same moment. For the record, Russ and I both agree this is Russ. I gotta say that it was fun watching said plumes from above (that's me watching Russ from above).
Silas has posted a nice video of Russ at http://home.comcast.net/~silaswild/skiing/jo010404.mpg - check it out!
Skiied Kendall Ridge on Sunday ;D
It was just like the photo above. Truly amazing, couldn't believe I was at Snoqualmie. Our first run was on a south aspect clearcut on the skiier right side, it was just AMAZING!!
Our second run we went off skiier left, and we were finding some crust, and then as we dropped down to the rocky knob halfway down the clearcut, it got really warm and gloppy. That was probably around 3:30 or so.
Hope that wasn't the end of it. ...
It was just like the photo above. Truly amazing, couldn't believe I was at Snoqualmie. Our first run was on a south aspect clearcut on the skiier right side, it was just AMAZING!!
Our second run we went off skiier left, and we were finding some crust, and then as we dropped down to the rocky knob halfway down the clearcut, it got really warm and gloppy. That was probably around 3:30 or so.
Hope that wasn't the end of it. ...
Oh no, not another catagory ! ;) Urban touring ? Probably more dangerous than the backcountry in some places ;D
I just did a tour around Wallingford. Lots of skiers out - I probably saw 25 or so.
Headed down to Stone Way and then up to "downtown" Wallingford, and over to Zoka's for lunch (I wasn't the only skier there). Then a nice run down 55th to Stone Way/Green Lake, and returned via Woodland Park.
Unfortunately I didn't have the right wax for conditions, so my arms are tired from the uphills.
When I li...
Headed down to Stone Way and then up to "downtown" Wallingford, and over to Zoka's for lunch (I wasn't the only skier there). Then a nice run down 55th to Stone Way/Green Lake, and returned via Woodland Park.
Unfortunately I didn't have the right wax for conditions, so my arms are tired from the uphills.
When I li...
Great photo - that's really what it was like! MW88888888, I think it would be interesting if you wrote up your trip in a new thread, given the local variations that people seem to have found. It looks like you may have been on fairly sunny slopes but didn't find the glopping that phil reported?
I'm afraid that we didn't get any such spectacular action photos, as our runs were mostly in the shade or bigger trees, but maybe that is what saved us from getting glopped. There will be some phot...
I'm afraid that we didn't get any such spectacular action photos, as our runs were mostly in the shade or bigger trees, but maybe that is what saved us from getting glopped. There will be some phot...
No worries on the photo - it could have been taken near our runs for sure (though Charles might wish you to write another TR and put the photo there ;)).
You know, there are a few things I miss about the NE cold, such as sea smoke, skating on black ice (where I employed the foot-on-belly technique once after falling through some stream ice, followed by cutting the frozen laces with a swiss army knife) and the crisp feeling you get in your nose at about 10 below when you inhale. But...
You know, there are a few things I miss about the NE cold, such as sea smoke, skating on black ice (where I employed the foot-on-belly technique once after falling through some stream ice, followed by cutting the frozen laces with a swiss army knife) and the crisp feeling you get in your nose at about 10 below when you inhale. But...
Oh, and Jim I forgot to add that I know 1 photo per thread, so if you want add your own let me know. It sounded like we were skiing a similar area, but I didn't want to trample your expression.
And don't you miss that NE cold?!?
And don't you miss that NE cold?!?
Silaswild: In defense of my own ordinarily-impeccable grooming, I insist that the snotcicles pictured in another thread consist primarily of condensed exhalations and melted face shots. I've always been especially prone to the former, being one who pants like an old steam engine on the uphills.
Edited to add: Whoa! Nice photo!
Edited to add: Whoa! Nice photo!
Jim - Thank you, I have been searching a long time for the expression "squared off" to describe the phenomenon you found at the Pass yesterday. Funny, I feel more and more like an eskimo everyday.
Anyway, as you can see from the photo take...
Yeah - you must have had an oven effect. The only times I wasn't cold (or heavily clothed) was when skinning up at a fast clip and the quick lunch break in the calm sunny hole in the forest where I still put on a thick layer, a shell, and a warm hat.
It's been a while since I've carefully inspected my weird-feeling fingertips to be sure they weren't getting waxy, and getting into that state took just a few seconds of gear-fiddling with thin gloves on to achieve...
It's been a while since I've carefully inspected my weird-feeling fingertips to be sure they weren't getting waxy, and getting into that state took just a few seconds of gear-fiddling with thin gloves on to achieve...
I think we must have been baking in a little oven where we were. Aspect was SW. (original destination was the north slope of Chair, but we couldn't pass up this slope as we passed by - and then we decided with snow like this, it's better to yoyo than to break trail for a few hours). Our lunch break, during which the powder->glop transformation happened, was very warm: I was comfortable with my hat off and only polypro + thin shell. The only time I was cold was zipping back t...
One more cold weather detail:
Don't touch anything metal when the temperature is below 10 degrees F!
How did markharf get frozen snot yesterday, my nose hairs (and nose) froze before any liquid could show up?
Too bad there was only 8.5 hrs of daylight, but then again my body could not take much more, tho the endorphins yesterday made skinning up a lot easier than the average Pac NW tour.
Though I could only imagine how fine the skiing near Stevens and Crystal must have be...
Don't touch anything metal when the temperature is below 10 degrees F!
How did markharf get frozen snot yesterday, my nose hairs (and nose) froze before any liquid could show up?
Too bad there was only 8.5 hrs of daylight, but then again my body could not take much more, tho the endorphins yesterday made skinning up a lot easier than the average Pac NW tour.
Though I could only imagine how fine the skiing near Stevens and Crystal must have be...
didja ever notice how old people never quite make it to the front of the line to break trail?
The thanks go to Darryl, Ingrid, Stefan and Jerry for breaking trail through two ft of ootah pow (uphill, both ways!) to get us there. Nice job, gang. Great group.
The thanks go to Darryl, Ingrid, Stefan and Jerry for breaking trail through two ft of ootah pow (uphill, both ways!) to get us there. Nice job, gang. Great group.
Mark: I was drooling at those on the skin track yesterday; must have been including yourself. I was escorting my company's (Ski-Attle) first-ever bus of teenagers to the frozen Baker hinterlands. My fellow chaperone, Ian, even suggested that we head your way. I told him that it'd probably be bad policy to tell the kids, "No O.B.", and then take off all day to do it ourselves. I hope to catch up with you again, maybe in the spring...Greg Lange
;D
Thanks for the info. I guess a lot of times these things are like that telephone game that we played as kids. I had heard a rumor of patrol stumbling upon a similar "situation" in shot 6. Maybe it's all just permutaions of the same story having changed by the time it reached my ears.
Thanks for the info. I guess a lot of times these things are like that telephone game that we played as kids. I had heard a rumor of patrol stumbling upon a similar "situation" in shot 6. Maybe it's all just permutaions of the same story having changed by the time it reached my ears.
Alpentalcorey - good overview of the rescue but I do have one minor correction regarding run names. The bowl south of Pineapple is called "Fuck Bowl".
At the risk of not being PC, the origin of the name as told by an older fellow patroler goes like this - " I came over the ridge to ski Pineapple and two homos were fucking in that bowl on the other side of Pineapple..." and thus the name.
Also - earlier there had been some confusion about the name of the "P...
At the risk of not being PC, the origin of the name as told by an older fellow patroler goes like this - " I came over the ridge to ski Pineapple and two homos were fucking in that bowl on the other side of Pineapple..." and thus the name.
Also - earlier there had been some confusion about the name of the "P...
Three of us skied the lower avy slopes of Cave Ridge/Snoqualmie yesterday, about a mile up the valley trail... (we saw several tracks coming down the phantom waterfall). The snow was phenomenal until early afternoon. After the first run, greg announced "that was the best ski run of my life". But sometime between noon and 1pm, the snow went from deep champagne powder to glop. On our skin up, we noticed the snowpack had settled about 3 inches outside of our skin t...
My current understanding is that the guy climbed up from piss pass towards pinapple but instead of curving around towards great scott bowl he skied down into the Denny creek valley (rather than back into the Alpental valley)via a run known as "fucked bowl". This run offers great skiing but is called that because there is no way to return to Alpental except of course by climbing/skinning back up. My understanding is that he then climbed over Low mountain to the next valley w...
Jerry - thanks for getting some pictures of me standing up. Thanks for Ron for showing us a great safe place to ski.
Honesty compels me to admit that I had a bit of trouble keeping up with this trio of AT skiers, who always seemed to be waiting patiently for me far below.
Mark, how is that possible, I remember a time last summer, at Mt Adams, when Ron and I had a three hour head start, you came running up the hill, over snow, in those super fast tennis shoes of yours while almost passing us, but you did stop and chat for a moment ;D and then took off...