TR Replies
Did I mention it was cold? The day's accumulation:
Ah -- the waiting game!
It was nice of Steve and Jeff to wait for me and Mark on the way down, and all three of them to wait for me on the way up! Hey, "they also serve who ony stand and wait". Milton said that.
Truth be told this was the last of a series of days of "Chugach Snow" -- the kind of stuff Baker gets a few times a year which proves stable at any angle you choose -- save for a slab of a few inches of wind-drift. My only regret is leaving behind so muc...
It was nice of Steve and Jeff to wait for me and Mark on the way down, and all three of them to wait for me on the way up! Hey, "they also serve who ony stand and wait". Milton said that.
Truth be told this was the last of a series of days of "Chugach Snow" -- the kind of stuff Baker gets a few times a year which proves stable at any angle you choose -- save for a slab of a few inches of wind-drift. My only regret is leaving behind so muc...
Mtn Frk - thanks! not sure if it was ours, but we skied the Waterfall on 1-1-04 (happy new year indeed, more like happy new skid mark)
Where did they find the guy? We bumped into the search team ourselves early saturday morning. and watched/heard the helicopter all fri-sat-sunday. It was like skiing in Utah (shameless dig).
Where did they find the guy? We bumped into the search team ourselves early saturday morning. and watched/heard the helicopter all fri-sat-sunday. It was like skiing in Utah (shameless dig).
Thanks, but remember Madoggy, next time I'm bringin the liquid courage so we can see you fly! ;)
;D It was one of the best days so far. Those pow pow face shots over the head and down the neck were quite exhilarating!! BTW nice job to you and Stephan on that jump from the rock, it was GREAT!!!
Mark,
And when I grow up I want to write entertaining trip reports like yours. I too have perfected the "Hey folks, where are you heading " partner needed come on. Although it failed me for the first time at the pass when I approached a couple on the trail near the hut. Dude coped an attitude with me and told me with a mocking voice and a laugh to leave my shovel and beacon at home since I was alone and wouldn't need it. " I will tell you what, I said, I will le...
And when I grow up I want to write entertaining trip reports like yours. I too have perfected the "Hey folks, where are you heading " partner needed come on. Although it failed me for the first time at the pass when I approached a couple on the trail near the hut. Dude coped an attitude with me and told me with a mocking voice and a laugh to leave my shovel and beacon at home since I was alone and wouldn't need it. " I will tell you what, I said, I will le...
Were those yer tracks coming down the Phantom Waterfall??? Very nice to whoever it was. Wish I could have been there..
~Greg "the only splitboarder on the Alpie Volly patrol" D.
~Greg "the only splitboarder on the Alpie Volly patrol" D.
Thanks Ron. Glad that you enjoyed it. Had not planned on hitting the road but on the 19th the conditions locally were horrible. Remember high 50 F. temps? Mazama and the Pass ended up being great given the west side conditions. The hut trip had been in the works for a few months.
Forgot one other stat from this road trip:
Total Feet of Descent:
35,300 ft. over ten days. (60 k for the year so far)
Forgot one other stat from this road trip:
Total Feet of Descent:
35,300 ft. over ten days. (60 k for the year so far)
Russ, I day-skied out of the Salt Creek snow-park at 6,000 feet, climbing to about 8500 feet on Wing Ridge for two runs. McCully Basin looked tempting, but I slept late and was skiing alone, so decided to rein it in.
Ridges were wind-scoured, but sheltered areas facing east and northeast were fine powder over a surprisingly dense base (recent warm temps). The surface powder was totally unconsolidated and sluffed harmlessly at about 45 degrees. It skied very...
Ridges were wind-scoured, but sheltered areas facing east and northeast were fine powder over a surprisingly dense base (recent warm temps). The surface powder was totally unconsolidated and sluffed harmlessly at about 45 degrees. It skied very...
Thanks for including me in the tour -- I thought the north face powder was particularly sweet. The exit out Nason Creek to Yodelin is pretty reasonable in most snow conditions, but sorry if it was false beta this time.
Mark - where did you ski in the Wallowa's and how was the snowpack? I skied in McCully Basin toward the end of January last year and the snowpack was very thin - any better this year?
Sorry, Ron. All I noticed was that it looked remarkably like the one in the photo (though substantially larger in real life), and contained not one, but two of the largest 12v batteries I've ever seen. You could jumpstart a battleship with one of those machines. I mean, should you find yourself so inclined.
I sincerely hope that helps satisfy your curiosity.
I sincerely hope that helps satisfy your curiosity.
I figured I'd let Bill add his own details of the shoulder busting episode. That radiology tech may know X-rays, but he don't know Bill! Speedy recovery, Bill!!!!
I have not managed to get that much computer time over the holidays, but yesterday finally did set up a new board for non-backcountry skiing reports. It is in the "Hot Air" section and is titled "Lift-accessed Skiing Reports - non-backcountry". Here's the link for it.
I decided that "lift-accessed" might best describe the difference between reports that should go in the new board a...
I decided that "lift-accessed" might best describe the difference between reports that should go in the new board a...
From the bottom of Silver Fir lift, I took the Hyak-to-Central crossover trail a very short distance toward Hyak before seeing the tree markers and snowshoe path. The crossover trail must have a little bridge over the creek, because I was already on the east side of the creek when I started up the marked trail. Otherwise, I think the crossing would have been very difficult due to the deep cut of the creek and lack of snowbridges.
When you say that you took the Mountaineer trail, was it the one that starts by crossing the creek? If so, how easy is it to cross now?
Yeah, I shoulda thought of that.
So did you notice whether Alexandra was skinning the PB 100, the PB 200, or the PB 300?
So did you notice whether Alexandra was skinning the PB 100, the PB 200, or the PB 300?
Ron: If I've learned anything since I was a young, callow fellow, it's that Google.com will answer almost any question with ease (c.f., http://www.winnmarketing.com/parkbully1.htm).
Sorry to hear it Bill. Hope you have a speedy recovery.
Great report, Mark, and up to your general level of readability.
So what's this "Pisten-Bully" that these guardian angels... drive?
So what's this "Pisten-Bully" that these guardian angels... drive?
Hi Brent: Nice skiing, wasn't it? Sorry we missed you, although with your appetite for vertical you probably soundly thrashed the Swift Creek trees.
I'm wondering what you mean by "Herman Arm." The ridge which connects Mt. Herman to Mazama Dome? If so, was the surface snow getting crusty in Monday's sun?
Thanks.
I'm wondering what you mean by "Herman Arm." The ridge which connects Mt. Herman to Mazama Dome? If so, was the surface snow getting crusty in Monday's sun?
Thanks.
One sinificant detail Sam left out: The curse of the man who ate everything.
The night before I read an excerpt from a book where the author reasoned (using flawed logic) that he could eat more raw oysters if he gave up skiing because the risks injury from skiing far outweight those from eating raw oysters.
Well, those risks of skiing caught up me in a bad way after Sam and I completed our backcountry run. We headed over to Alps for a few runs after our backountry fresh...
The night before I read an excerpt from a book where the author reasoned (using flawed logic) that he could eat more raw oysters if he gave up skiing because the risks injury from skiing far outweight those from eating raw oysters.
Well, those risks of skiing caught up me in a bad way after Sam and I completed our backcountry run. We headed over to Alps for a few runs after our backountry fresh...
Greg, that's good to know about the descent out to Yodelin Place. I've been tempted to head out that way myself, but it looked a little as you described it.
So I'm not sure which one is Tye Peak, but I think I've been on it. Our tracks from Sunday were off the NE face of (Tye Peak?) down some steep glades and to the skin track below the boulder garden.
I want to ski the W side of that peak/saddle and drop down towards Tye Lake, that looks pretty good too, but not sure a...
So I'm not sure which one is Tye Peak, but I think I've been on it. Our tracks from Sunday were off the NE face of (Tye Peak?) down some steep glades and to the skin track below the boulder garden.
I want to ski the W side of that peak/saddle and drop down towards Tye Lake, that looks pretty good too, but not sure a...
what was the David Lynch line - "I don't like pictures, I want to remember things as I want, not how they actually happened." Or something like that!
Yeah, I know...rookie move. However, taking time to snap photos, can sometimes detract from the skiing experience. I've shot tens of thousands of photos... missing a trip here and there just forces me to write more detailed reports and enjoy the skiing more.
Sounds like a great trip, Greg.
Thanks for sharing it.
Thanks for sharing it.
Gregg,
Thanks for a great report. Timing is everything. I'll be touring at Roger's Pass later this season and touring over to Glacier Circle hut if conditions permit.
Zap
Thanks for a great report. Timing is everything. I'll be touring at Roger's Pass later this season and touring over to Glacier Circle hut if conditions permit.
Zap
I like to refer to it as the "Pooky Slot" ;D
Damn, it was awful!!!! Oprah never sounded better. ;)
Damn, it was awful!!!! Oprah never sounded better. ;)
Skykilo will try to refrain from posting as AlpentalCorey in the future, now that he has noticed the Logout link.
Skykilo will try to refrain from posting as AlpentalCorey in the future, now that he has noticed the Logout link.
AlpentalCorey has never skied the Slot Couloir, but skykilo skied it a week ago and it was really great. Conditions at the ski area were horrendous, rain crust action happening, but the couloir was just sweet pow.
Skykilo would like to second Sam's assessment: do NOT go ski the Slot Couloir! It is all mine! If I catch you there, I will sick Panama on you...
Skykilo would like to second Sam's assessment: do NOT go ski the Slot Couloir! It is all mine! If I catch you there, I will sick Panama on you...
Jim - boy, did we ever. It was sunny and beautiful all morning, and only until we neared Snow Lake did the snow really come down hard. But I don't think that was a bad thing at all, really.
Nice day to be out, huh? Did you get some of the sunbreaks in addition to the squalls?
Gotta love the low snow level.
Gotta love the low snow level.
Nice trip.
Thanks for sharing it.
Thanks for sharing it.
Thanks, Jim.
That's exactly what we needed to hear!
That's exactly what we needed to hear!
Hey Big Snow! We'd love to get together with you and Little Snow for a trip sometime. More on this later, but we had a litter of 6 husky pups and by next year, we should consider a dog-supported midwinter trip into Pasayten.
Yes this is the northern Blue Mountains. This particular part is a really healthy beautiful forest whereas other parts have succumbed to pine beetle. Snow doesn't get crusty here very often. Great glade skiing too. You come out some...
Yes this is the northern Blue Mountains. This particular part is a really healthy beautiful forest whereas other parts have succumbed to pine beetle. Snow doesn't get crusty here very often. Great glade skiing too. You come out some...
Hey Dave,
Glad to see you were able to get the time to get out!
I am not exactly sure of the location, is this the Blues?
Any photos?
We are still hoping to get out your way, but with a new job it is hard to put many free days together.
Alan
Glad to see you were able to get the time to get out!
I am not exactly sure of the location, is this the Blues?
Any photos?
We are still hoping to get out your way, but with a new job it is hard to put many free days together.
Alan
Thanks for the clarity, Charles. FWIW, this keeps the TR board focused on what I'm looking for - routes, stories, and conditions that help me in my own BC travels, and that also help me daydream about more of them.
This seems like an appropriate moment to thank you once again for running such a fantastic resource for all of us!
This seems like an appropriate moment to thank you once again for running such a fantastic resource for all of us!
Good info, Scott.
I've been wondering what snow conditions were like up on the muir snowfield. Most folks have not been going up that far.
I've been wondering what snow conditions were like up on the muir snowfield. Most folks have not been going up that far.
My 2 cents is that it would never occur to me to use a site like this to glean avy info. Rather, my primary interest is in learning about routes that I was unaware of, be it front, back, or sideways country. In this, the board has from time to time excelled, but it seems not to be a stated use or purpose. Charles' latest TR about the hanging valley is a case in point.
Have a great holiday everyone...
David Lowry, aka Skijorer and Huskyrunnr elsewhere.
Have a great holiday everyone...
David Lowry, aka Skijorer and Huskyrunnr elsewhere.
With all of the suggestions and opinions, it is a little hard to know where to start. Maybe with an historical perspective: for a number of years, Brent H. ran a "Backcountry Skiing and Snowboarding Trip Reports" site for the Mountaineers. It was the only real source of backcountry conditions info for this area of which I was aware. Brent had announced his intent to turn over operation of the TRs to someone else well in advance, but when April 2001 came around there was no new Mountain...
Jim Hill revisited, Dec 21:
Our original plans to visit an East Side peak were thwarted by a miscalculation of snow depth and our inability to drive a crucial logging road in the not quite burley enough Subaru. As PH remarked, "We applied West Side gradients to the East Side." Standing in the road side pullout, I vehemently argued we should skin up the road anyway - after all, there was already a trail broken by a truck and we could make great time. In the end...
Our original plans to visit an East Side peak were thwarted by a miscalculation of snow depth and our inability to drive a crucial logging road in the not quite burley enough Subaru. As PH remarked, "We applied West Side gradients to the East Side." Standing in the road side pullout, I vehemently argued we should skin up the road anyway - after all, there was already a trail broken by a truck and we could make great time. In the end...
It's good to hear that you're finally getting out, Tim.
I could tell how antsy you were last year from your posts.
I'm glad no one got hurt on your first trip out.
I could tell how antsy you were last year from your posts.
I'm glad no one got hurt on your first trip out.
Thanks, Chris.
I've been wondering how conditions were back in there.
I've been wondering how conditions were back in there.
nice report, I have always enjoyed the "easier" sking / touring on the East side. Interesting that the freezing level had been still low, I had been thinking that though not as much precip, the east side had been protected a bit more by the what I presumed to be cooler temps.
So was that a "one corn dog day" or "two corn dog day" ;D
cw
So was that a "one corn dog day" or "two corn dog day" ;D
cw
Yes inbounds reports
some days these are the only ones and some information is better than none. I found the snow level info in the report above very useful.
Most people posting inbounds reports know what kind of info the board is looking for. Move the ones that vaguely recap heroics without addressing environmental conditions.
As far as the transferability of information to the BC and avalanche safety issues (the snow compaction factor, etc): seems to me a...
some days these are the only ones and some information is better than none. I found the snow level info in the report above very useful.
Most people posting inbounds reports know what kind of info the board is looking for. Move the ones that vaguely recap heroics without addressing environmental conditions.
As far as the transferability of information to the BC and avalanche safety issues (the snow compaction factor, etc): seems to me a...
Nice troll off of MW88888888's TR, Charles!! Wish I could do that :D
Charles, while you've done and outstanding job of organizing and administrating this forum to provide us with the best bc planning tool we've ever had, I think that blue blood in your heritage tends to lean you a bit too far towards the rule making/organizational side of things for my style (which is proly why the forum is such a great tool) :)
I tend to agree with the more laid back approach to this subject, fo...
Charles, while you've done and outstanding job of organizing and administrating this forum to provide us with the best bc planning tool we've ever had, I think that blue blood in your heritage tends to lean you a bit too far towards the rule making/organizational side of things for my style (which is proly why the forum is such a great tool) :)
I tend to agree with the more laid back approach to this subject, fo...