TR Replies
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
Ron,
there's no way my wife goes backcountry. she loves groomed runs only. also, i used to carry her skis around when we skied together... i've heard that for backcountry it's pretty hard to haul your own gear, especially at high elevations, hehehe
As for telebabes - this is funny because my wife gave me quite a look when she saw that I bought a pair of Patagonia capilene boxers. She dismissed all my "Cotton kills" quotes and seems to think i am renewing my intimate wardr...
there's no way my wife goes backcountry. she loves groomed runs only. also, i used to carry her skis around when we skied together... i've heard that for backcountry it's pretty hard to haul your own gear, especially at high elevations, hehehe
As for telebabes - this is funny because my wife gave me quite a look when she saw that I bought a pair of Patagonia capilene boxers. She dismissed all my "Cotton kills" quotes and seems to think i am renewing my intimate wardr...
Kam,
Did HLP yesterday and I will post on that great trip. Some comments on your experience with the route and the obvious avalanche hazards that I may have misinterpreted and reevaluated after being there myself. I think the area of cornices directly west of pt. 7088 can be an issue, but my assessment of the conditions yesterday was that even if those cornices dropped the snowpack was pretty homogenious (pretty well bonded yet not frozen hard) to as far as I dug. So if...
Did HLP yesterday and I will post on that great trip. Some comments on your experience with the route and the obvious avalanche hazards that I may have misinterpreted and reevaluated after being there myself. I think the area of cornices directly west of pt. 7088 can be an issue, but my assessment of the conditions yesterday was that even if those cornices dropped the snowpack was pretty homogenious (pretty well bonded yet not frozen hard) to as far as I dug. So if...
Good call for a trip yesterday.
I was just thinking this morning that they should be getting nice. We noticed last Sunday when we were up on the Tatoosh that the main chute had a slid during the day. How as the snow stability in the west facing morraine slopes on the climb out?
I was just thinking this morning that they should be getting nice. We noticed last Sunday when we were up on the Tatoosh that the main chute had a slid during the day. How as the snow stability in the west facing morraine slopes on the climb out?
Yeah, I enjoy a little bush wacking from time-to-time; it adds a little excitement. Wasn't that stuff dense though? How about that devil's club?
-kam
-kam
I just wish we hadn't followed your boot tracks away from the trail in the clearcut (I saw your fun video and now I get the brush part!!) ;). On the way down, we found that we were suckered upwards when we were within 2 feet of the trail, but no one had gone that way yet (that left boot prints anyhow)!! That convinced me to finally memorize how the trail approaches the ridgetop, which I thought I'd already done!
Jim,
Nice report and glad to hear you had fun. The sulpide is such a good ski!
kam
Nice report and glad to hear you had fun. The sulpide is such a good ski!
kam
If you're looking for skins, go with the G3's. Have had mine for a while now and have no complaints...
Nice.
Very nice pictures.
Great report, too. Good info. Thanks.
That's some gaggle of Sumos ya got there, too ;D
Very nice pictures.
Great report, too. Good info. Thanks.
That's some gaggle of Sumos ya got there, too ;D
any hopes for an extended trip around July 5?
Kinda early to say, yet, mate. Depends on the weather, access participants, and so on... What ever we do it'll proly be more fun than skiing the mountains of Florida, though ;)
oh, my wife saw the emergency fire starting kit and got upset, big time... took me a while to deal with the situation, the fact that i'd be going with you helped...
What a difference a week makes. We did the same route on Memorial Day weekend and had perfect conditions. Camped much lower - at the junction of the PCT and the trail leading to Boulder Basin.
The summit gulley had a lot of avalanche debris, so started skiing about 100 ft down. Icy for the first 1,000 ft. Then 6-700 ft of grabby crust, followed by almost 3,500 ft of corn (got progressively heavier).
Nice trip that I'll probably never repeat....
The summit gulley had a lot of avalanche debris, so started skiing about 100 ft down. Icy for the first 1,000 ft. Then 6-700 ft of grabby crust, followed by almost 3,500 ft of corn (got progressively heavier).
Nice trip that I'll probably never repeat....
Alan:
You're right, there is a lot to explore up there. When I find the time, I'll do a little poking around and keep you posted. Thanks for your thoughts.
Bill G:
Okay, now I'm really curious about those chutes. I'll have a closer look during my next visit. Also, thanks for the suggestion about the Triad...definitely on the list of places to ski.
Cheers,
-kam
You're right, there is a lot to explore up there. When I find the time, I'll do a little poking around and keep you posted. Thanks for your thoughts.
Bill G:
Okay, now I'm really curious about those chutes. I'll have a closer look during my next visit. Also, thanks for the suggestion about the Triad...definitely on the list of places to ski.
Cheers,
-kam
Kam,
Those chutes into the lake are short, but pretty fun. There are also some good runs towards the Triad on the east side, as well. I quite often go straight up the HLP ridge and either ascend the ridge (fun later in the year when it is a romp over huge granite boulders) dropping onto the east side when the ridge is no fun.
A secret stash for many for a number of years. I guess the secret's out!!
Bill G
Those chutes into the lake are short, but pretty fun. There are also some good runs towards the Triad on the east side, as well. I quite often go straight up the HLP ridge and either ascend the ridge (fun later in the year when it is a romp over huge granite boulders) dropping onto the east side when the ridge is no fun.
A secret stash for many for a number of years. I guess the secret's out!!
Bill G
Also good for beginners is the southwest shoulder of Naches that curls around little Tipsoo lake.Its possible to boot up that and either ski down to Little Tipsoo or from that Saddle ski down the shoulder heading west.Its very possible with some zigs an zags to ski back down to lower road access. Be careful with rock bands.If it gets as hot as expected stay away West face above Little Tipsoo lake