TR Replies
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
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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?
You sure did go a different way. We crossed Mill Creek where the Hidden Valley nordic trail crosses, in the big clearcut behind Hyak. Then entered the forest and traversed around the lower part of Catherine, staying above the stream. We then switched back and scaled the steep wall that guards the NW rib. You were on the north ridge and we were on the NW rib. Sounds like the forests of the NW rib were much safer for travel than the North Ridge, we saw no avy activity...
Damn, I thought we were the first ones to summit catherine yesterday?
We left around 11am or so and did the same thing. Up to the top of Hyak mountain, down a FR on the left, crossed some streams, one had a log crossing that was fun. Then we gained the FR again and hit the right side of Catherine and gained the Northernmost ridge to the top. We saw no other tracks on the way up unless we went a different way? Darn steep for the last 5-600 feet with lots of previous avy debris, but the pow...
We left around 11am or so and did the same thing. Up to the top of Hyak mountain, down a FR on the left, crossed some streams, one had a log crossing that was fun. Then we gained the FR again and hit the right side of Catherine and gained the Northernmost ridge to the top. We saw no other tracks on the way up unless we went a different way? Darn steep for the last 5-600 feet with lots of previous avy debris, but the pow...
I wish I didn't have the pay for too much fun with some "must-do" chores today, otherwise I'd be heading up for another dose! Looks like Snoqualmie was the snowfall winner overnight.
Jim - you saw Ron and my tracks, sorry we missed you! Boy, I said I couldn't wait for Catherine on a cold powder day, and we sure hit it, didn't we! Fabulous snow up high with my first chest shots in Washington.
Thanks for the scoop. Hope to be somewhere there tomorrow.
Well, I walked up the ski trails with no snowshoes and my snowboard under my arm. Pretty hard underneath, frozen granular, kicking steps no drama. When skiing down I stuck to the edge of the woods and found hard underneath, harder to say if it would support as much weight as the ski trails but I'd have to say you'd be ok. I think your pooches would find the going fine.
So what was the crust like underneath the new snow at Hyak? Breakable, walkable, or driveable? Or did you notice? I'm wondering if I can get my aging dogs out for a tour Saturday, so I'm hoping the crust is pretty bomber so they won't posthole while we skiers float on the surface (they just can't handle that any more so the get left home on many tour days).
What a trip! Check out Mt Gibbs and the Walker Gullies when driving down to Mammoth - those are next on my hit parade when in the area...but way early, prob only safe with corn.
I've skied off Mt Humphries next to the Snobowl - awesome place to camp and ski that area - but best descents are on the "wrong side" of the mtn - to the East. When I was walking the ridge to the summit I was drooling at the descent down that side. The west side needs boo coo snow to ma...
I've skied off Mt Humphries next to the Snobowl - awesome place to camp and ski that area - but best descents are on the "wrong side" of the mtn - to the East. When I was walking the ridge to the summit I was drooling at the descent down that side. The west side needs boo coo snow to ma...
We'll probably start in the Bend area and then head for Mt Ashland, OR. Then to the Tahoe area and perhaps Signal Peak and Kit Carson Pass. Then towards the Sherwin Region near Mammoth. We have already skied at Tioga Pass and Rock Creek Canyon so we''ll bypass those areas.Then try Arizona Snowbowl the day before we start our rafting trip of the Grand Canyon. Should be a helluva vertical drop. :).
Zap
Zap
Too funny...I guess elevation and timing is everything (I left at 7 am). Across the road and 1,000' higher sounds like you had the goods.
Where in the Sierra you heading? (Don't worry, I won't be going there - I feel like the great "no snow" god lately - my brother in VT says big storm for him moving in, a week earlier and maybe I could have had a foot of fresh for my trip!)
Where in the Sierra you heading? (Don't worry, I won't be going there - I feel like the great "no snow" god lately - my brother in VT says big storm for him moving in, a week earlier and maybe I could have had a foot of fresh for my trip!)
I was at Alpental this morning and there was 6-10" of new on the upper mountain and 2-4" off the Express chair. You could still feel the hard layer up top on some of the steeper pitches. It was snowing hard all morning.
Noticed the Sierras received up to 2 feet overnight. Jill and I are heading there next week. :)
Zap
Noticed the Sierras received up to 2 feet overnight. Jill and I are heading there next week. :)
Zap
A remarkably complete and coherent trip report from Zap, posted in all sorts of random and widely-scattered places (e.g., Couloir, Telemarktips, RSB, Turns-All-Year). I find I've got hardly anything to add...although I did want to clarify certain events which transpired during our descent to the cabin that second day. Despite published reports to the contrary, I was not trying to pick my nose with my ski tip; rather, I was executing a wondrously graceful and complex aerial maneuver w...
Great report - sounds like you guys had fantastic conditions for the trip. I was up there several years ago after a big storm cycle so we had lots of great powder our day and a half (during which we managed to yo-yo the wonderful descent of the Granite Glacier from Unicol), then the wind picked up and cooked the snow anywhere at all open. Though there were still some nice pockets here and there for turns, for the most part we turned to "mountaineering objectives" for the remainder of t...
I was wondering who was going to write the trip report first! Zap, I was so glad you were able to join our group for this trip, without a doubt I had the best ski days of my life up there last week. The high alpine tours over the friendship and pioneer cols and the various glaciers were beyond my highest expectations.
I think our group was very lucky to hit the Adamant Range when the weather and snow conditions allowed us to ski so much big mountain terrain.
Now...
Nice report, Zap.
Thanks. It was the next best thing to being there.
Thanks. It was the next best thing to being there.
Thanks guys, good info for trip planning this morning.
Very informative post.
Funny, was up at Stevens Pass today (Yodelin) and we had a similar experience even there. 18" must have been the magic # b/c that's where our column broke as well, on a similar denser snow resembling graupel.
Same snow wheels, same winter conditions in the shaded trees, but did have a little "crust" at lower elevations until the warm temps took care of it. Pretty good skiing (well, snowboarding really) all things considered....
Funny, was up at Stevens Pass today (Yodelin) and we had a similar experience even there. 18" must have been the magic # b/c that's where our column broke as well, on a similar denser snow resembling graupel.
Same snow wheels, same winter conditions in the shaded trees, but did have a little "crust" at lower elevations until the warm temps took care of it. Pretty good skiing (well, snowboarding really) all things considered....
You're like me then, Jim. I left NE 7 yrs ago because I couldn't bare the rain in the middle of winter; fled to CO and found that rain wasn't the problem but lack of moisture at all; and now am in a region where there is no lack of moisture and if you want snow - climb high, young man! Even as it pours downtown Seattle (or SnoQ for that matter), it's pounding at 10,000' on Rainier. That just gives me a little warm fuzzy deep down inside.
About EA - I seek solice i...
About EA - I seek solice i...
Greg - I actually don't ski that much, sometimes the trips just come in bursts!
Jim - Well, my memory seems to be failing...I know it is somewhere in the Wentachee NF. Oh yeah, it's near Easton, that's it. It is a very beautiful place. A while back I read a description of it as one of the few watersheds which has never seen logging, so I took a hike one fall and realized that it could be a great place to ski. It is not mainly a place for turns, but it nonetheless provides a number of back...
Jim - Well, my memory seems to be failing...I know it is somewhere in the Wentachee NF. Oh yeah, it's near Easton, that's it. It is a very beautiful place. A while back I read a description of it as one of the few watersheds which has never seen logging, so I took a hike one fall and realized that it could be a great place to ski. It is not mainly a place for turns, but it nonetheless provides a number of back...
So where the heck IS Silver Creek? Sounds like a nice place.
Charles: How DO you do it? You are my envy, doing a few trips a week! Oh, well, when my little ones start "uphill skiing", as my son says, I'll be yanking them out of school for some REAL education! (I'm a teacher, so I know what I'm talkin' about!!)
Sounds like a good trip. Looking forward to a trip with you maybe later this spring...Greg Lange
Sounds like a good trip. Looking forward to a trip with you maybe later this spring...Greg Lange
You hit the only areas that I really truly miss in the backcountry from having moved away from NE 9 years ago, but your description of the conditions reminds me why I'm happy I'm out here despite this lousy winter we've been having (there will always be spring/summer...).
The Northeast Kingdom guys are going to be coming after you for even mentioning Ethan Allen - I've been up there in deep delicious powder, and the spacing of the trees is nothing short of perfect.
The Northeast Kingdom guys are going to be coming after you for even mentioning Ethan Allen - I've been up there in deep delicious powder, and the spacing of the trees is nothing short of perfect.
Greg, we'll be looking forward to skiing with you this summer. Have a great time in Italy!!
Mad Dog: The last gatewait I did was in November. Left at 4:30 AM, sure to be on snow by 7:30. Nope; it was 9:15 before it happened, and we had the same experience - "Where's the !@#$%^&* snowplow? It's not needed!" As I said, we had a blast in the variable condiitons/snow.
Hope to tour with you and Ron this summer. My next gig is in Italy for 6 days, just west of the Dolomites. Hut time!!...Greg
Hope to tour with you and Ron this summer. My next gig is in Italy for 6 days, just west of the Dolomites. Hut time!!...Greg
Great report, Dorothea.
Thanks for posting it.
Yes, it was quite a crowd, and a great time was had by all. Not sure I was leading anything tho. It's kinda hard to lead when you're at the tail end all day :)
I MAY have contributed to the assemblage of the crowd, but anyone can do that with nothing more than a reasonably well timed joke from time to time. Gary was responsible for the fine terrain choices.
I didn't get much in the way of pics (that's kinda hard t...
Thanks for posting it.
Yes, it was quite a crowd, and a great time was had by all. Not sure I was leading anything tho. It's kinda hard to lead when you're at the tail end all day :)
I MAY have contributed to the assemblage of the crowd, but anyone can do that with nothing more than a reasonably well timed joke from time to time. Gary was responsible for the fine terrain choices.
I didn't get much in the way of pics (that's kinda hard t...
Nice report Greg. It's always a toss of the coin as to where to go when the snow level is suppose to be low, either the Snoqualmie area or Paradise. As you know, the snow at Snoqualmie can be really great, or not so great, but then again you have to deal with "gate wait", at Paradise. When the gate finally did open at Paradise, we were grumbling all the way to the parking lot since the road to Paradise was clear and wet and had been clear wet, with a very clear parkin...
It was a great day ;D. Lots of new snow, good ski partners and lots of fun. The skies cleared, and the mountain came out in all it's glory just as we started to ski down to Narada. It surely proved to be a great powder run through the trees.
Charles: Even though it wasn't formally, GREAT to finally meet you! It seems as though the die-hards of TAY meet up when no one else is around. That's how I met Ron and Mad Dog last December. Glad to hear you got a bit of good turning in.
I just spoke with Lara Pazemenas, Bruce' and my neighbor. She just spent 8 days up at Carlyle Lodge in the Selkirks. Powder snow nights, followed by bluebird days! I'm going to urge her to do a TR for us, maybe with pix!
Hope to ski with you soon....
I just spoke with Lara Pazemenas, Bruce' and my neighbor. She just spent 8 days up at Carlyle Lodge in the Selkirks. Powder snow nights, followed by bluebird days! I'm going to urge her to do a TR for us, maybe with pix!
Hope to ski with you soon....
ski_photomatt,
Thanks for the TR, and especially for the beta about the ventillation tunnel parking area. ??? I was thinking about heading up to those parts soon. Guess I'll try and make some phone calls to see what is going on...
-If anybody finds out more, please post.
Thanks,
-Tom M.
Thanks for the TR, and especially for the beta about the ventillation tunnel parking area. ??? I was thinking about heading up to those parts soon. Guess I'll try and make some phone calls to see what is going on...
-If anybody finds out more, please post.
Thanks,
-Tom M.
That said, despite a bit of variability, the skiing under the trees above about 4500ft was pretty darned nice, as long as I anticipated the softer deeper hollower stuff in open areas in glades (which I mostly avoided by skiing near to the trees) and at most of the wind rolls. The tree bombs were adequately buried, but provided a nice firm base.
A day like yesterday reinforces my feeling that it's nice to have a very famliar tour that you've explored a bit, so you can more effectively seek...
A day like yesterday reinforces my feeling that it's nice to have a very famliar tour that you've explored a bit, so you can more effectively seek...
Hey climbdog- you forgot to mention the highlight of your day- meeting up with your beautiful newbie wife and watching her get in some good turns and even better faceplants! ;)
Glad to know I wasn't the only late riser. When no one else said they wanted to hook up with Yanna and me, the alarm was turned off and I must admit that we hit the trailhead pretty late ourselves. Sounds like we found similar snow - the stuff up in the higher trees was worth the treck in my book. We'll have to hook up another day.
Unkown to all up there I snuck in there and made 2 runs on Silver fir. Felt good skiing but think I'll wait awhile to let the knee firm up some more.I did get March in!