TR Replies
Yeah, we were also considering the consequences of an unexpected lift start-up. We would have surely lost our lunches. We decided not to risk the most important (hard hauled) libations.
Ron, your solution would seem to be the best. I think some sites are set up to not allow other sites to link directly to their photos.
Nice photos by both photographers! I'm trying to imagine the action if the lift had "unexpectedly started at any time"?
Nice photos by both photographers! I'm trying to imagine the action if the lift had "unexpectedly started at any time"?
Charles, it appears the picture problem is specific to the site where Jerry posts his pics. I swapped one of mine out for Jerry's and it seem to come up ok now. Strange...
Anyway, the link for more pics is in the original response now.
Anyway, the link for more pics is in the original response now.
Charles -
I believe the person who could answer your question is Larry Donovan, Winter Sports Recreation Coordinator with the USFS. His phone is 425-744-3403 and e-mail isThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Larry is also the lead on the master plan permit review for the Crystal ski area expansion.
I believe the person who could answer your question is Larry Donovan, Winter Sports Recreation Coordinator with the USFS. His phone is 425-744-3403 and e-mail is
Larry is also the lead on the master plan permit review for the Crystal ski area expansion.
The coverage is still very good right from the Alpental road. We went up on the left of the creek following the road above Sahale Hill slope. Creek crossing in the basin is not problem at all.
powderpig - nice trip, and thanks for the report. I'm wondering about your descent route? You wrote that you started down the east ridge from the summit, then dropped off the north side of the ridge. Is the "east ridge" the same as the "northeast ridge" (you wrote that you ascended by the "northwest ridge")? Also, did you drop into the north bowl from the ridge, or did you start down toward Twin Lakes (east facing slope) to get back to Windy Pass?
Thanks for the report, Lowell. It sounds like a great tour. I'm wondering what the story is with snowmobiles at closed ski areas - Stevens, Crystal. Does anyone know if this is an activity approved by the NF/ski areas, or are the machines sneaking in to poach some lines?
Thanks for the report, Kenji. What is the coverage like from the road into Commonwealth Basin - skiable? Also, did you go into Commonwealth on the left or right side of the stream, and, if you got a look, how did crossings look in the basin?
Ron, I'm not sure why that's image is not loading - it failed for me too. When I found the URL for it by looking at the page source, then went to that address, the photo came up, and then it also appeared in your post, replacing the red X box. For some reason the browser won't pull in that image from the post?? I don't have any explanation.
Sounds like you all had a great time. I was hoping to make it, but I'm glad I didn't try because I was assuming it was on Sunday (I didn't look closel...
Sounds like you all had a great time. I was hoping to make it, but I'm glad I didn't try because I was assuming it was on Sunday (I didn't look closel...
So what's up with the img posting thingy... Am I doing somthing wrong, Charles?
I only get the "red X box" for the Jelly pic when I view the thread but when I hit reply and then back I get the Pic??? What's up with that???
I only get the "red X box" for the Jelly pic when I view the thread but when I hit reply and then back I get the Pic??? What's up with that???
Woo Hoo, what a hoot that was!!
Perfect conditions... the rain soaked snow 6 to 8 inches down was totally refrozen and the newer above was still virgin!
Super skiing in the morning. Typical cascade skiing in the afternoon... just like my dear ol' (RIP) dad used to describe sex ("the worst I ever had was wonderful") ;D
Nice pics Jerry!!
Here's one of Jelly Belly and her new Doggles:
Perfect conditions... the rain soaked snow 6 to 8 inches down was totally refrozen and the newer above was still virgin!
Super skiing in the morning. Typical cascade skiing in the afternoon... just like my dear ol' (RIP) dad used to describe sex ("the worst I ever had was wonderful") ;D
Nice pics Jerry!!
Here's one of Jelly Belly and her new Doggles:
Did the birthday tour today, not expecting much... but the snow turned out to be great, although that wasn't obvious until we reached Blue Lake col (firm snow and breakable crust to there). South slopes were silky smooth once the sun warmed them a bit. And there is still powder on sheltered slopes.
What a difference a day makes.
I went up again this morning (Saturday) for seconds. But the snow had completely changed. The fresh snow seemed to have completely vanished, or somehow glommed into the crust that underlay it. I went Great Scott this time, but I would guess that where I was yesterday was probably the same. North faces were a little less crusty but also were more likely to have slid, probably because the crust helped stabilize.
The crust was at exactly the wrong consistency as...
I went up again this morning (Saturday) for seconds. But the snow had completely changed. The fresh snow seemed to have completely vanished, or somehow glommed into the crust that underlay it. I went Great Scott this time, but I would guess that where I was yesterday was probably the same. North faces were a little less crusty but also were more likely to have slid, probably because the crust helped stabilize.
The crust was at exactly the wrong consistency as...
damn i knew i should have gone today! Lets hope that this snow stays around a bit. I won't be able to hit it until Monday.
word up Phil?
"... was the sun out at all? If so then maybe south slopes will be good? "
The sun was out 1/10 of the day at times. There was a smidge of fresh on this crust. Most of the folks we saw looked like they headed up towards that corniced area at the col and dropped on on the other side, as I think that is the B-Day tour? I am guessing the south facing slopes were probably much better, as where we were....it was survival skiing at it's best.
"... was the sun out at all? If so then maybe south slopes will be good? "
The sun was out 1/10 of the day at times. There was a smidge of fresh on this crust. Most of the folks we saw looked like they headed up towards that corniced area at the col and dropped on on the other side, as I think that is the B-Day tour? I am guessing the south facing slopes were probably much better, as where we were....it was survival skiing at it's best.
Maybe "garland" is not a commonly used term, or maybe it is specific to free-heel. It is a technique I think all skiers and boarders use at times, but maybe with different names or no name at all. I learned it as describing a way of doing a descending traverse that is not side-slipping (or that augments side-slipping). A garland is when a skier in a straight descending traverse drops their tips down toward the fall line and accelerates, but instead of continuing across the fall line in...
That's not good news... was the sun out at all? If so then maybe south slopes will be good?
What's a "right turn garland" and why can't it be practiced to the left? :)
no, the uptrack was already there for us too. I would never be gung ho enough to be the first to leave the Narada Falls parking lot.
Skinut we did have a very good time, although the weather turned on us in a very short time. You would have enjoyed the tour with us, we thought about you, had talked about doing Foss Peak, but didn't quite get there because of the change in weather. And as you say " so much to ski, so little time."
md2020, I'm sure that you had some deep snow the previous week, but for us "old timers" it's always much better if we can drop in on someone else's uptrack, just lik...
md2020, I'm sure that you had some deep snow the previous week, but for us "old timers" it's always much better if we can drop in on someone else's uptrack, just lik...
excellent, but the Sunday before that up track was about 18 inches deep.
Gosh, Jeanettte, I wish I could have been on your trip! Sounds like you had great snow and a great time. I have yet to do this tour, and also the Narrada Face, this year. So much to ski, so little time!
Nice stills, excellent video! Great work and it looked like a decent day on the Tatoosh! Thanks 8)
Nice run down on the trip, Jeanette.
Yep it was classic mixed bay of mountain weather, that's for sure.
Jerry took this classy shot of Castle:
Seems like it outta be on the cover of a coffee table book somewhere.
There's a few more action shots of the gang at:
...
Yep it was classic mixed bay of mountain weather, that's for sure.
Jerry took this classy shot of Castle:
Seems like it outta be on the cover of a coffee table book somewhere.
There's a few more action shots of the gang at:
...
Just missed you :D We climbed up above McClure Rock, hit a white out, skied down, down into Edith Basin all on excellent snow then down the D slope across the creek from Mazama in unpredictably breakable crust and decided not to go up Mazama. Today (Sunday) we hit that wedge area on Mazama between the trail up and the slopes above the Paradise Valley Road and did 3 runs (Me, Regine, & 2 kids) and then did the 1st glade run above the PV road--great snow today! Saw Ron...
Zap, tells it like it is. There are guide services that will take you up there if the guide service is lucky enough to win the lottery and/or you can hire a guide and cook if you win the lottery. The guide service is up to you, but save the money and have the group do the cooking for themselves. It was a great way to bond. It was actually one of the most interesting parts of the trip. The skiing was some of the best I ever did. If you go guideless, make sure t...
no trouble with the surface releases, since we stayed mainly in the moderate sloped parts of the upper bowl and never really got much warming at that elevation and aspect. We did see one surface slide come down from steep snow running up the side of Castle Peak, caused by a skier who had climbed for some steep turns. Stayed in the trees on the way down and away from the steep open parts of the lower bowl-snow was much heavier down there.
Randy, thanks for that great up track to our first destination. Sure glad we were able to fumble around in the parking lot long enough for you to do all the dirty work.
Greg, will look forward to skiing with you soon.
md2020 sounds like you had a great time over on the Tatoosh. Did you have any trouble with the surface releases that were happening later in the day?
Greg, will look forward to skiing with you soon.
md2020 sounds like you had a great time over on the Tatoosh. Did you have any trouble with the surface releases that were happening later in the day?
I'm pleased to hear that Charles got out, Dorothea. Sounds like he got in a shakedown crusie in for his new gear for the Hood/Silcox trip. Can't wait!!
Mad Dog: You write a nice report! It makes me wish that I'd have been there. Looking forward to skiing the Tatoosh with you guys in June or so...Greg Lange
Yeah, Sunday was a worthy ski day.
Here's a shot of Mad Dog skiing across and uptrack similar to the one that Randy made (thanks Randy!):
Here's a shot of Mad Dog skiing across and uptrack similar to the one that Randy made (thanks Randy!):
we skied the bowl up near Castle Peak in the Tatoosh both Sat and Sun and the snow was excellent. Better on Sun with the low snow level and overnight dump Sat night. We figured Mazama Ridge area wouldn't be as good as the north facing Tatoosh slopes. One of the best days of the season.
I'm glad you enjoyed the uptrack we made! It was pretty heavy work! ;D The three lost guys had no snowshoes or skis, just postholing!. They got lost in the fog Sat. afternoon and ended up on the slopes below Glacier Vista above the Nisqually glacier. They managed to dig a snow cave using a ski pole and faired the night without injury. The searchers that found them reported numerous shooting cracks in the soft slabs on the steep slope below glacier vista, but luckly...
Posted eight of the better pictures I took on the trip here:
http://www.cascadeclimbers.com/plab/showgallery.php?cat=510&thumb=1
http://www.cascadeclimbers.com/plab/showgallery.php?cat=510&thumb=1
Sounds like you had a great time. Other folks who were out the same day, same area, reported snow was very crummy. But then, the day before when I was out ("giving blood"), I thought snow was good, and all my sign-ups hated it.
skinut
skinut
The nice trail was made by search & rescue looking for 3 lost snowshoers who spent the night out--turned out they were up near Glacier Vista. abc
Nice report, Tom.
Thanks. It's getting to be that time of year, isn't it.
Thanks. It's getting to be that time of year, isn't it.
The topo was by Paul Klenke
Ask him for a good copy
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Ask him for a good copy
Great Topo Scott, I think I'm going to steal it! I was wondering exactly what your line was. You flirted with a lot of cliffs! Good show.
Alpentrol - let me guess...two little whipper snappers with helmuts on, near the Members Only club (forget the name of the group but they have a sweet cabin with a nice deck that they do BBQs in season, next to the "begginners lift")? I commented to my wife that I saw my destiny today with Dad teaching his kids the basi...
Alpentrol - let me guess...two little whipper snappers with helmuts on, near the Members Only club (forget the name of the group but they have a sweet cabin with a nice deck that they do BBQs in season, next to the "begginners lift")? I commented to my wife that I saw my destiny today with Dad teaching his kids the basi...
Sounds like it was pretty busy up there Saturday. Did any of you happen to see a couple of toddlers getting pulled up the ski area? My wife and I decided to try towing our boys, Stig-6 and Per-4, up Hyak as an alternative to lift skiing Alpental. It worked better than I had hoped! We got to ski two runs in good snow and got a workout as well. The boys liked it except Per was getting a bit bored on the second uphill lap.
I made sure to take some pictures for proof so I can get them to retu...
I made sure to take some pictures for proof so I can get them to retu...
We stayed a bit north of your route. We didn't go to the top of the ski area - we rounded the pass just above where the map says "radio facility" and were near your "down" line except I think we were just a little west of there. We must have been up there at similar times of day, as we got started around 11:30 (though we got bogged down with logistics at one point so I'm guessing you were at the top a while ahead of us).
Definitely no avy debris on our route and no sla...
Definitely no avy debris on our route and no sla...
Good question, but I want to know where you guys went?
Of course we started so late in the day, leaving the car around 11am or noon. Surprised we did not see you at the top of Hyak Mtn on your way back. We did not see any other tracks the entire day, and the avy debris on the upper slopes was all over the place, about a week old though. I think that everyone should get an avalung, they are the coolest, and so lightweight now!
Here is our route:
Of course we started so late in the day, leaving the car around 11am or noon. Surprised we did not see you at the top of Hyak Mtn on your way back. We did not see any other tracks the entire day, and the avy debris on the upper slopes was all over the place, about a week old though. I think that everyone should get an avalung, they are the coolest, and so lightweight now!
Here is our route:
Yanna and Skip skied your chute, and I worked over toward skiers right along the ridge before dropping down into flat steep aprons of snow among widely spaced trees that I spotted on the climb - the fluff was flying!
Definitely one of my best two backcountry outings of the season to date, though just a really good day compared to a better season.
Makes me wonder where the heck Scott was - maybe ascending a completely different high point on the ridge, perhaps coming up more from...
Definitely one of my best two backcountry outings of the season to date, though just a really good day compared to a better season.
Makes me wonder where the heck Scott was - maybe ascending a completely different high point on the ridge, perhaps coming up more from...
Yup - that be us. I took off my skis early and Ron near the top. The walking was so easy it just seemed faster than changing back and forth. Did you ski the chute we did? That shot off the top will get me through this week.
The tracks we followed included someone who was booting as it got steep near the top (smart move - seemed more efficient than the tight switchbacks given the step-kickable crust), and I don't *recall* going through any avy debris.
Couldn't say - we left Hyak at 7 am and where back to the car by 11:45. So maybe 11?