TR Replies
This is interesting. On Friday we saw a skier hiking up the N ridge, and later in the afternoon saw one set of tracks coming down what you must be calling the Big Tuna (what we skied would probably be called the "Little Tuna", right next door). We figured that this skier was with your NFNWR party, but apparently not. On Saturday we must have been around toward the Pinnacle Glacier when you descended. The snow looked awesome on the NFNWR, but it's likely that I won't be doing that run a...
You need to post the photo somewhere else on the web and then the link to it goes where the "URL" is inside the img code. If you don't have a place set up I'll post it where I post my photos and link it for you if you like. Just email it to me.
He did and I did.
Nice shot:
He did and I did.
Nice shot:
Charles,
Bill and I saw what must have been yours and Andy's turns on Friday evening after we got to our camp at ~6,800ft. We thought those tracks looked pretty fresh (less than a day old). Looked like you guys had a pretty long run on the slope we call "the Big Tuna". Also saw your tracks on the lower north ridge. Too bad we missed meeting you in person since we were there at essentially the same time. We were done skiing the NFNWR by about 2pm on Satu...
Bill and I saw what must have been yours and Andy's turns on Friday evening after we got to our camp at ~6,800ft. We thought those tracks looked pretty fresh (less than a day old). Looked like you guys had a pretty long run on the slope we call "the Big Tuna". Also saw your tracks on the lower north ridge. Too bad we missed meeting you in person since we were there at essentially the same time. We were done skiing the NFNWR by about 2pm on Satu...
I've tried repeatedly to load a stripped down, web ready photo into here but haven't yet succeeded. It shouldn't be so hard. I've copied the photo then tried to paste it into this reply (I also tried to paste it into the original post). Why doesn't that work?
Does anyone know which issue of Couloir magazine featured that photo?
Volume V, number 4, Apr/May 1993.
Allow me to expound on Kam's message with an emphasis on 'perfect snow'. Starting down at noon, the top 4,500 feet held incredible, mostly untouched corn; outside of the area between the caldera and the bridge over Easton's bergschrund, which was highly trafficked, the snow was virtually unsullied by post-holers beyond the primary climber's track. It was turn after turn after turn. Beautiful.
A quick note on the trek up: If approaching at night, the trail is rather easy...
A quick note on the trek up: If approaching at night, the trail is rather easy...
Looks like you guys all nailed it.
Nice viddy, Kam.
Nice viddy, Kam.
Nice photos, thanks for sharing, looks like you and Todd had a great trip.
Amar - looks like our troop of three weren't the only ones to have a Volcano tour last week. My brother and friend and I racked 5 in 7 days for a whopping 23,400' VF of corn. What a great week for it indeed. My TRs to follow.
Thanks for the trip reports - so fine to see some routes I myself want to ski (and some I have already skied) and how you logistically skied them - of course in touring fashion of the vertically inclined. Good show.
Thanks for the trip reports - so fine to see some routes I myself want to ski (and some I have already skied) and how you logistically skied them - of course in touring fashion of the vertically inclined. Good show.
It seemed better to capture it all as a mental image, one that you can never forget.
Some of my favorite and most treasured photos are neuro-chromes.
Lowell - making a decision to honor a friend's memory is very noble. Naming your son Tom is just about the highest honor possible.
Alan - none of the skiing is what I would consider difficult. The steepest slope was perhaps 35 degrees, but the steepest slopes were not exposed...
This area of the Cascades is unlike any other. Glaciers reach to high cols and interconnect, separated by craggy, beautiful spires. Far below, they tumble chaotically into lakes and deep valleys but above have benches with relatively crevasse free lanes for travel. Because the valleys are so deep and the walls so steep the views are spectacular. The view of the cirque from the Forbidden Glacier, across the north walls of Forbidden and Torment to the Inspira...
Yeah, the White Chuck Glacier - Suiattle Glacier - Honeycomb Glacier Traverse has been on my list for a long time. Nice job.
A classic trip, Steve.
Thanks for sharing it.
Did you get any pictures?
Thanks for sharing it.
Did you get any pictures?
nice and enjoyable report as always mark! hopefully jason will post a picture out of the many he took...
btw. we've sent you email to your yahoo account.
btw. we've sent you email to your yahoo account.
very nice report! that is such an incredibly beautiful area, words fail to do it justice but the last part of the report comes close...
Hi Randy
I'm glad you had a nice day. Do you go solo on purpose or just because you didn't manage to put together a crew?
thanks for the tips you e-mailed the other day
Cheers
Ivo
I'm glad you had a nice day. Do you go solo on purpose or just because you didn't manage to put together a crew?
thanks for the tips you e-mailed the other day
Cheers
Ivo
So Greg: you called Jim from the summit? I thought he was going with you. Had I known, I would have joined the taunting.
Sounds like a nice ski, snowmachine trash aside. Well done.
Sounds like a nice ski, snowmachine trash aside. Well done.
The lookout is supposed to be a sweet place to spend the night. Stocked with water, food, beds, stove, and lantern I think. My friend Jerry Sanchez who posts on this board has stayed there before as I am sure many others. Were those freakin awesome views or what?
Send me your email so we can hook up some other time
Send me your email so we can hook up some other time
Bruce used mountain boots, but Carl and I used AT boots. I debated which to use before the trip, but decided I wanted to maximize my ski chances.
Nice report, Matt, especially the final paragraph. The name of my website, alpenglow, was inspired by views like the one you described. The cover photo of that old Couloir magazine was taken by me of my wife Steph during our 1987 trip. It was a fabulous trip, but bittersweet, because our friend Tom Wiesmann died on Mixup Peak that weekend. Our son Tom was named in his memory.
Looks like I missed a good one ! Great photos Ron ! 8)
Jerry
Jerry
I was just about to post a question about skiing this peak. I had always been interested ever since I saw a photo on the cover of an older Couloir magazine showing a skier descending Primus peak with what I remember is being an obvious frozen lake distant far below.
Now you have answered most of my questions. How long was the trip time-wise? What was the general nature of the steepest descents?
Thanks!
Alan
Now you have answered most of my questions. How long was the trip time-wise? What was the general nature of the steepest descents?
Thanks!
Alan
Vincent,
You were on the true summit. I was there last week and had a fine time.
Did you get a chance to sample the terrain just north and east of the summit/ridge?
Alan
You were on the true summit. I was there last week and had a fine time.
Did you get a chance to sample the terrain just north and east of the summit/ridge?
Alan
Nice to meet you Scott. What a great day out there! :) I couldn't believe the snow was only 30 mins from the car.
I went all the way to what I what I think is the true summit at ~7000ft. The lookout was one more peak over and seemed somewhat lower. I wonder if one can camp in that lookout?
The descent was just awesome on great corn snow. I got greedy and followed the fall line throught the trees and went a bit too low... I had to turn around hike back up 500 to make a few ex...
I went all the way to what I what I think is the true summit at ~7000ft. The lookout was one more peak over and seemed somewhat lower. I wonder if one can camp in that lookout?
The descent was just awesome on great corn snow. I got greedy and followed the fall line throught the trees and went a bit too low... I had to turn around hike back up 500 to make a few ex...
Congrats Bruce, Carl and Lowell. Yet another extremely impressive achievement!
Yeah - we should probably have tried the "blind ski date" while she was in town, as you never know when alchemy will strike...
Hey, I've got a couple of friends I could introducer her to. Oh, you know my friends.....
Hi Lowell, glad you guys had a good ski - also that you did it in mountain boots is awesome. Yes, we've met a couple of times at the climbing gym and crossed paths on ski outings. I wasn't sure that was you, but should guessed when someone said "Carl". Definitely a fine day.
Nice report and pictures, Russ. We've met before, haven't we? I remember thinking that you guys looked familiar on the summit, but with glacier glasses and parkas and such, and my slightly hypoxic brain, I wasn't sure. Great day on a great mountain.
Great job, Russ.
Great report, too.
You couldn't have picked better weather, eh?
Great report, too.
You couldn't have picked better weather, eh?
Definately a a great day for the "N Chutes".
Here's a shot of Darryl ripping it up.
Robie accused us of ripping off his group of primary party members, but hey, when they just show up in the middle of the day when you arrive at the top of the chute what are you supposed to do...
Here's a shot of Darryl ripping it up.
Robie accused us of ripping off his group of primary party members, but hey, when they just show up in the middle of the day when you arrive at the top of the chute what are you supposed to do...
I knew it! ;D
Glad to hear you had another nice day, guys. Can't wait to see the new pictures. Nisqually looked pretty nice on Mike Gauthier's website - he was riding with an ice axe so it must be prrretty steep :)
cheers
ivo
Glad to hear you had another nice day, guys. Can't wait to see the new pictures. Nisqually looked pretty nice on Mike Gauthier's website - he was riding with an ice axe so it must be prrretty steep :)
cheers
ivo
Very nice report, Lowell.
Well written and very informative.
Thanks for sharing your classic experiences with us all.
Well written and very informative.
Thanks for sharing your classic experiences with us all.
J.P.-
Thanks for the info.I have looked at that nearly everyday I drive by and think that we could bike then hike.
Great effort! Thanks for the info. I also thought of hiking the back way to Lake Eleanor and up to Grand Park, but that could be a long haul. I have some other trips in mind if you want to stay in touch.
Joe
Thanks for the info.I have looked at that nearly everyday I drive by and think that we could bike then hike.
Great effort! Thanks for the info. I also thought of hiking the back way to Lake Eleanor and up to Grand Park, but that could be a long haul. I have some other trips in mind if you want to stay in touch.
Joe
Hey J.P.-
Did you hoof up the road or hoof and skin the switchbacks?
Thanks-Joe
Joe - As part of our 2003 emphasis on multi-modal adventures we biked up to the last switchback before Sunrise Pt, then booted up onto the ridge/shoulder and into Yakima Park. We found it easier to hike than skin in most areas. One could bike the entire way although this was not known to us at the time of our ascent.
J.P.
Hey J.P.-
Did you hoof up the road or hoof and skin the switchbacks?
Thanks-Joe
Did you hoof up the road or hoof and skin the switchbacks?
Thanks-Joe
That's so cool that you took your kid up to C Pass! I wish my Father had done that with me.
I also was up at C Pass and I agree the skiing was superb. My girlfriend wanted one last ski before knee and back surgery Friday. We left a car below Cayuse and drove to Tipsoo then skinned up to the false summit on Naches. (Locals I guess have the luxury of car shuttling.) ;)
From the false summit we walked along the ridge twords Naches summit. Half way to the rock cliffs that go to the...
I also was up at C Pass and I agree the skiing was superb. My girlfriend wanted one last ski before knee and back surgery Friday. We left a car below Cayuse and drove to Tipsoo then skinned up to the false summit on Naches. (Locals I guess have the luxury of car shuttling.) ;)
From the false summit we walked along the ridge twords Naches summit. Half way to the rock cliffs that go to the...
It turned out to be a great day- and you made quite a Herculean effort to make the entire climb in a single push- congratulations! We were happy to see you guys forging on.
DavyZ did lose his knife off his rack... I don't know what it looks like, but I called him to let him know you found it and he'll probably post a followup. He owes you a beer for finding it, so I wouldn't just settle for mailing it away ;-). Thanks.
The trail we took can be found by continuing...
DavyZ did lose his knife off his rack... I don't know what it looks like, but I called him to let him know you found it and he'll probably post a followup. He owes you a beer for finding it, so I wouldn't just settle for mailing it away ;-). Thanks.
The trail we took can be found by continuing...
Two laps?
Brent, did you forget you're not a kid anymore?
You're an animal.
Proly got back to the car about 1:30, too, huh?
Brent, did you forget you're not a kid anymore?
You're an animal.
Proly got back to the car about 1:30, too, huh?
... We'll have to share a few lines in the future. I enjoy skiing with you young kids, especially when you break trail. ;)
:)
I don't mind breaking trail. I'm not sure you'll be happy with the snail's pace that seems to be my upper limit, however.
While I'd certainly love to share some lines with you (skiing that is) and while there is plenty of strong healthy kids in the gaggle that I hang out with, I fear that you might l...
The slopes on skiers left were in great shape but became softer on the last 200 vf as I approached the climb out. Soft but stable. If you get a late start, I would save time and ski the lower northwest facing slopes before they soften too much. Zap
Ron,
Thanks for the kind words. We'll have to share a few lines in the future. I enjoy skiing with you young kids, especially when you break trail. ;)
Zap
Thanks for the kind words. We'll have to share a few lines in the future. I enjoy skiing with you young kids, especially when you break trail. ;)
Zap
Snow was great. Firm with about 1/2 to 2 inches of soft, perfectly baked Cascade Corn. There's skiing on every aspect up there so you can work it to stay away from the mank....I think I might be up there again next week too...
Ross
Ross
Kam,
I have no doubt that there was much more unstable snow when you were there. Like I said, even later in the afternoon I got a bit concerned. Just to the north of the corniced section, there was some very steep snow up high on the ridge. Some of this had glide cracks and that is why I recommend an early start.
On the other hand hopefully this hot weather will cause any weaknesses to either slip of relax.
Pt. 7088 is really just a bump on that long ridge...
I have no doubt that there was much more unstable snow when you were there. Like I said, even later in the afternoon I got a bit concerned. Just to the north of the corniced section, there was some very steep snow up high on the ridge. Some of this had glide cracks and that is why I recommend an early start.
On the other hand hopefully this hot weather will cause any weaknesses to either slip of relax.
Pt. 7088 is really just a bump on that long ridge...
Another good call... ideal for a short day.
I was eyeballing that as we came by the bottom of it on Sunday. It's a pretty sweet little avy chute. We climbed it last fall on a "ski terrain recon" hike, but I haven't stopped to ski it yet. In fact, as you undoubtedly know, there is 3 or 4 nice lines along that side. So much to ski, so little time :)
Which reminds me, Zap, the tour we did last Sunday was a direct evolutionary descendent of yo...
I was eyeballing that as we came by the bottom of it on Sunday. It's a pretty sweet little avy chute. We climbed it last fall on a "ski terrain recon" hike, but I haven't stopped to ski it yet. In fact, as you undoubtedly know, there is 3 or 4 nice lines along that side. So much to ski, so little time :)
Which reminds me, Zap, the tour we did last Sunday was a direct evolutionary descendent of yo...
Nice trip. We were the group you passed at 8500 feet, just before the cravasses. Those peeks at the sun made the difference for us as well.
I must thank you for cutting the track from there! Two of our group roped up and followed you for a great summit. We avoided some of the weather of the previous night by climbing the whole mountain in one day, starting at 3am.
Great turns all the way down.
We missed the Paul Scott Trail on the pre-d...
I must thank you for cutting the track from there! Two of our group roped up and followed you for a great summit. We avoided some of the weather of the previous night by climbing the whole mountain in one day, starting at 3am.
Great turns all the way down.
We missed the Paul Scott Trail on the pre-d...
Ross,
Sounds like it would be great for next week. What was the snow like?
Alan
Sounds like it would be great for next week. What was the snow like?
Alan