TR Replies
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
Kam,
One thing that I forgot to mention was to comment on your ideas of skiing the chutes down to the lake. I have not done so, but I have been up into the area where I have seen individuals ski east of the peak/ridge area. In fact I hope to explore this area.
I will not do the steep chutes that you mention. A bit more than I want to handle solo and in leather boots, but I will explore the rather extensive area that covers just east and north of point 7088. ...
One thing that I forgot to mention was to comment on your ideas of skiing the chutes down to the lake. I have not done so, but I have been up into the area where I have seen individuals ski east of the peak/ridge area. In fact I hope to explore this area.
I will not do the steep chutes that you mention. A bit more than I want to handle solo and in leather boots, but I will explore the rather extensive area that covers just east and north of point 7088. ...
Ron J, thanks. Beautiful terrain it is! ...lots of options.
Alan,
Wonderful comments. I agree, it is active, but with some planning, the "zone" can be easily avoided. As you mentioned, heading up through the more mature timbers is a good option. You should find good conditions because of the recent weather. Unfortunately, we had to deal with saturated snow, which provided nearly zero glide. Overall, the tour was well worth it--beautiful scenery. Have a wonderful time.
...
Alan,
Wonderful comments. I agree, it is active, but with some planning, the "zone" can be easily avoided. As you mentioned, heading up through the more mature timbers is a good option. You should find good conditions because of the recent weather. Unfortunately, we had to deal with saturated snow, which provided nearly zero glide. Overall, the tour was well worth it--beautiful scenery. Have a wonderful time.
...
Thanks a bunch. Sounds like we'll be there Saturday.
Greg
Greg
Hey Ron, Jeanette
the photos look great!
and I am supposed to sit in my office now and finish a draft report...
any hopes for an extended trip around July 5?
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 :)
Of course, the shovel / probe combo is getting delivered to the office and i am not bringing it home
more power to you
ivo
the photos look great!
and I am supposed to sit in my office now and finish a draft report...
any hopes for an extended trip around July 5?
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 :)
Of course, the shovel / probe combo is getting delivered to the office and i am not bringing it home
more power to you
ivo
Hard to say, Greg.
Could be 15, could be 20 feet. All depends on where you park ;D
Actually the NE facing side of Naches Peak has some nice slopes that your boy should have a ball on; runs right along the road, just east of the summit.
Could be 15, could be 20 feet. All depends on where you park ;D
Actually the NE facing side of Naches Peak has some nice slopes that your boy should have a ball on; runs right along the road, just east of the summit.
I'm glad to hear that the conditions are good. I will be heading up to HLP this week, probably tomorrow. I am hoping that this clear weather, with warm days and radiational cooling will firm up the base and corn up the snow a bit more.
The slide area off of the north ridge is an ultra active zone that often climax avalanches. It is one of those rare (maybe not so rare, actually) slopes that is very steep, yet not too steep, allowing snow to actually accumulate heavy amou...
The slide area off of the north ridge is an ultra active zone that often climax avalanches. It is one of those rare (maybe not so rare, actually) slopes that is very steep, yet not too steep, allowing snow to actually accumulate heavy amou...
I'm thinking of heading up Sat (6/7) with my 10yr old for some tele skiing. Z will climb if there's snow, but he's not much for climbing to get to snow. Any advice on how far we'd have to hike in to get to skiing?
Yeah, Charles, it doesn't get any better than "Both". :D
Three weeks ago when we did the Paradise Gl there was plenty of snow at Cowlitz Rocks. Gary and Dorothea did the PG last week (less than two weeks after we did) and the cracks on the PG were already opening up. But no mention of low snow coverage yet.
We started our climb to Plummer from Reflection Lakes.
Looks like you'll have great weather for your trip this week. Stay safe.
rj
Three weeks ago when we did the Paradise Gl there was plenty of snow at Cowlitz Rocks. Gary and Dorothea did the PG last week (less than two weeks after we did) and the cracks on the PG were already opening up. But no mention of low snow coverage yet.
We started our climb to Plummer from Reflection Lakes.
Looks like you'll have great weather for your trip this week. Stay safe.
rj
Hey Ron
Great report, sounds like a great group of fun people I'd rather have a great group of folks rather than great snow and when you have both................ ;D
How's the snow holding up over toward the cowlitz rocks area? thinking of a solo trip there on Thur, also a question where did you start your trailhead for Plummer peak? is the road to Reflection lakes open ?? how about Stevens canyon road?? Thanks for the info
Charles W
Great report, sounds like a great group of fun people I'd rather have a great group of folks rather than great snow and when you have both................ ;D
How's the snow holding up over toward the cowlitz rocks area? thinking of a solo trip there on Thur, also a question where did you start your trailhead for Plummer peak? is the road to Reflection lakes open ?? how about Stevens canyon road?? Thanks for the info
Charles W
Robman - you may have something there. That stuff MD had on her upper lip may have been Elk TP. It smelled kinda funny after she threw it down.
Kam - We'd of had more fun if you guys 'd been along with you yelling "POINT "EM" all the time :)
JW - All I can say is that for a "Rookie" you sure don't need much baby sitting. Wish all the pilgrims were as self suficient as you.
Kam - We'd of had more fun if you guys 'd been along with you yelling "POINT "EM" all the time :)
JW - All I can say is that for a "Rookie" you sure don't need much baby sitting. Wish all the pilgrims were as self suficient as you.
Thanks for the kudos, and just thinking about the slog makes me want to vomit. All i could think about was dropping the skis in boulder basin and coming back later in the spring to get them. With my BD Ice Pack (44L) and all my gear, it was just too much for my shoulders. Now if I had my Bora 80 it might have been less painful, but heavier for sure.
Frostbite Ridge looks like fun, but it'll be a few years before I want to do that again, and I wont bring my skis. I don't ever want to have...
Frostbite Ridge looks like fun, but it'll be a few years before I want to do that again, and I wont bring my skis. I don't ever want to have...
Ditto from me too, I'll never go back either. After you have done this trip you realize that there are much easier tours where you can get out of the car walk about 10 feet, start skinning, and have a great day with a lot less headache. You get the kudos for posting such a gruesome trip.
Thanks again to Ron and Jeanette for sharing the best locations, and welcoming a relative newcomer to this very cool sport! 8) JW
Ron, you crack me up! Great report and it sounds like you guys had fun.
-k
-k
Nice TR, Scott. An epic trip.
I, too, have vowed to never go back to the "Other G-Spot" that decent folks don't talk about in public. ;D
I, too, have vowed to never go back to the "Other G-Spot" that decent folks don't talk about in public. ;D
Great trip report. You're an animal ! :)
It's refreshing to read a trip report that we've all experienced but may not have posted.
Zap
It's refreshing to read a trip report that we've all experienced but may not have posted.
Zap
Ron and Jerry, just to let you know, I'm back to normal today!! ;D
Nice pics you guys! Looks like another great day.Funny I always thought that furry looking stuff was elk tissue paper. ;)
nice!
Skinut, a question from a newbie: what is every piece of clothing you put on?
I want to ride there in early july and plan to have:
CoolMax T-shirt
Fleece (Polartec 200) - not on me but in day pack
Waterproof / breathable shell
shell pants (no thermal underwear)
Does this seem reasonable or I need thermal underwear, and Polartec 300? I would like to be prepared for spending a night out in case of emergency
happy turns
ivo
Skinut, a question from a newbie: what is every piece of clothing you put on?
I want to ride there in early july and plan to have:
CoolMax T-shirt
Fleece (Polartec 200) - not on me but in day pack
Waterproof / breathable shell
shell pants (no thermal underwear)
Does this seem reasonable or I need thermal underwear, and Polartec 300? I would like to be prepared for spending a night out in case of emergency
happy turns
ivo
hi there, i was in the group of three, good to meet you guys and the clever dog! we only made it a bit further, to the saddle..we kept hoping we'll break thru the clouds...
i'll remember your way out for next time, we stuck to the summer trail and had to carry skis for quite a while.
i'll remember your way out for next time, we stuck to the summer trail and had to carry skis for quite a while.
Your description of the Porcupine drainage is correct. There is a short step up if you choose to start off the road close to where the creek intersects rt20 and then the trail really levels off, almost all the way to just below the pass. On the other hand the travelling is relatively fast. I generally left the road at 8AM and was at the pass by 10:30, so there is plenty of time in a day to explore the large numbers of skiable acres.
I have to say that after doing some yo...
I have to say that after doing some yo...
Thanks for the beta on Hidden Lake Peak.
I think that the area has been consistently covered by high and middle level clouds and this is preventing a solid refreeze during the nights. Judging from when I left yesterday (when it cleared) and today, the clear skies will greatly assist the refreezing. I hope.
I think that the area has been consistently covered by high and middle level clouds and this is preventing a solid refreeze during the nights. Judging from when I left yesterday (when it cleared) and today, the clear skies will greatly assist the refreezing. I hope.
Next week I think I will be heading up to Hidden Lake Peak. Anyone been there lately? Condition?
We were there on Monday (Memorial Day). Trail is mostly melted out to where it exits the woods and enters the slide path below Sibley Pass. Lots of avi debris here making travel somewhat annoying, but easy. Higher up coverage is still great. Except for very near the top of Hidden Lake Pk, the snow didn't refree...
It's interesting to read Scott Wicklund's article in the Jan 1991 issue of NW Skier. His party did the descent in early May. (Better snow coverage in the couloir but harder access.) They skied the route on their fourth day out after two days of approach and a third day when they decided to bivi on the mountain due to avalanche hazard. They used full alpine gear. They climbed the Cascadian Couloir and descended Ulrich's, making a rappel at the lower waterfall (which we avoided).
Assuming t...
Assuming t...
Guess that's why it took until 1990 for the 1st reported descent of it - the intimidation of the initial turns? Sky, Cory and I skied Cascadian Couloir on the 18th. It was cloudy up top, but Sky and Cory linked some turns up high on Ulrich's before having to traverse over to the false summit.
Lowell - I attempted to send an e-mail to you from your website, but it was returned to me undeliverable. I had some questions/input on the Park Glacier headwall on Baker.
Lowell - I attempted to send an e-mail to you from your website, but it was returned to me undeliverable. I had some questions/input on the Park Glacier headwall on Baker.
Congratulations to you both on a big run! Did you climb Ulrich's or the Cascadian? I've only been on Stuart August-September, so I am curious as how you skied off the summit? That terrain without snow makes it hard for me to imagine how it's best done. Did you run the summit-false summit ridge top towards the false summit, traverse that ridge's R hand side (scramble route) towards the false summit, or descend directly towards Ulrich's (very steep)?
...
Congratulations to you both on a big run! Did you climb Ulrich's or the Cascadian? I've only been on Stuart August-September, so I am curious as how you skied off the summit? That terrain without snow makes it hard for me to imagine how it's best done. Did you run the summit-false summit ridge top towards the false summit, traverse that ridge's R hand side (scramble route) towards the false summit, or descend directly towards Ulrich's (very steep)?
Mad Dog was out on sweety duty (a camping trip w/her family). Dorothea's lookin' good there, tho, don't you think?
Drop me an email and I'll get you out a reply with the gps tour track for this last tour and some directions on how to access the road.
Drop me an email and I'll get you out a reply with the gps tour track for this last tour and some directions on how to access the road.
Ron: I'm surprised your ski model isn't Mad Dog!
I'd like to do this trip on Saturday. How do I access the Catherine Loop Rd.? I know how to do it on X-C skis, but never been there in a car. Also, how long of a ski to the slopes from the car park?
It's always nice to see your reports. You guys are my "American Idols", going out every weekend. I've only got 17 more years until my kids are grown, or 5 more years until we all go "uphill skiing"!
Greg Lange
I'd like to do this trip on Saturday. How do I access the Catherine Loop Rd.? I know how to do it on X-C skis, but never been there in a car. Also, how long of a ski to the slopes from the car park?
It's always nice to see your reports. You guys are my "American Idols", going out every weekend. I've only got 17 more years until my kids are grown, or 5 more years until we all go "uphill skiing"!
Greg Lange
As usual, Mark, your reports are always a great read... and the goods are in there, too, if you look for them. Thanks.
Sweeeeet viddy, Kam, and great report.
Tks for sharing.
Tks for sharing.
Toby,
There is plenty of snow to ski below the summit block on Broken Top, South Sister and Middle Sister also is skiable. A few years ago, I did the Three Sisters traverse and skied Broken Top, South Sister and Middle Sister. On that trip there was no snow at the trailhead for Green Lakes and we had great skiing. I was able to see the ski routes on Broken Top and the Sisters from Bachelor Butte and they looked great. Zap
There is plenty of snow to ski below the summit block on Broken Top, South Sister and Middle Sister also is skiable. A few years ago, I did the Three Sisters traverse and skied Broken Top, South Sister and Middle Sister. On that trip there was no snow at the trailhead for Green Lakes and we had great skiing. I was able to see the ski routes on Broken Top and the Sisters from Bachelor Butte and they looked great. Zap
Good news, thanks for the info... Heading down for a week this friday. Can Broken Top still be skied from just under the summit block? Hope so....Also planning on skiing the Middle Sister, did you get any views of it?? Just thought I'd ask....