TR Replies
author=MW88888888]
By the end of last week's 40" storm cycle it could have been January by the feel, March by the depth and September by the crowds.
^^ I love that description. Thanks for the report too!
We went to Kendall and found very large cornices over the Mainline and other NE lines with lots of D1-2 Wet Loose activity. We booted and skied the West Face couloir. Stopped 100' from the summit ridge due to punchy snow with covered up hole we could not climb over. The Couloir skied so well! chalky packed pow on 45+ degree terrain, then smoo below into the trees skier's left of the Avi Swathe. Commonwealth trees skied well in previous side slipped areas.
Wow, that snow looks wintery again. They say corn is coming, but it sure is coming slow...
author=mosetick link=topic=38363.msg155418#msg155418 date=1493060229]
Is the fisherman's trail different from the one that Kevin was working on a few years ago?
Sure looks like the same trail especially the part about going under fallen trees.
That is such a beautiful setting after you bust out into the alpine, thanks for the awesome pix.
What a lovely mountain..glad u hit $$. Might have to get down there and take in the huge snowpack
What a year for Oregon! Thanks.._
What a year for Oregon! Thanks.._
. It's better to communicate directly in a calm manner in the moment any concerns a person has, anywhere any time.
OK - Snowmobilers, please obey rules and laws and do not ride in areas CLEARLY marked as Non Motorized area! Sign even says "you are being watched - Sherriff will be notified". 'Claiming Stevens pass is different, or there's traditions, etc is not an excuse to break the law'.
I am not at all complaining about snowmobile...
OK - Snowmobilers, please obey rules and laws and do not ride in areas CLEARLY marked as Non Motorized area! Sign even says "you are being watched - Sherriff will be notified". 'Claiming Stevens pass is different, or there's traditions, etc is not an excuse to break the law'.
I am not at all complaining about snowmobile...
Conditions update, skied the slot today and was still holding some great snow! 8-10 inches of chalky powder that skied really good. Skiing the phantom on the other hand was a bit different....
author=aaron_wright link=topic=38401.msg155550#msg155550 date=1493653587]
Okay, you're saying it's okay for sleds to access Mill Valley by going through the frontside of Stevens where they're prohibited. If you read the op it's clear that the sleds came from Mill Valley. That means they would have no need to illegally access Mill Valley(an area open to sleds) by traversing the ski area because access is good by the nordic center.
Atta boy, Bill! And kudos on impending retirement
Yesterday was the third anniversary of my retiring.
It has been worth working for!!
Yesterday was the third anniversary of my retiring.
It has been worth working for!!
author=Mike Cheney link=topic=38401.msg155548#msg155548 date=1493610815]
Making excuses? Not clear enough?
I've been getting along with the sledders for years up there - it usually doesn't last very long.
This is Stevens Pass...
Any sledder w/common sense usually traverses to Mill Valley... or rides across of Hwy 2. I have got extra laps in via sled before from people I've met up there.
Myself I would...
author=aaron_wright link=topic=38401.msg155543#msg155543 date=1493597193]
Are you saying that you're okay with the sleds on the frontside? Are you making excuses for them? Your message isn't really clear. I'm okay with sleds in areas where they are allowed but they need to stay out of areas where they are prohibited.
Making excuses? Not clear enough?
I've been getting along with the sledders for year...
author=Mike Cheney link=topic=38401.msg155538#msg155538 date=1493579215]
I thought everyone knew about this?... It's been going on for years...
Myself I view it as similar to being on a fireroad - could be Mtn Bikers, could be equestrians, could be hikers along the way... could even be a pick up truck to haul you up the road after a 4000 ft descent (Mt 7, Golden BC)
Like w/the horse people your other senses will alert you before you...
The road is dry and easily drivable to within 100 yards of the Cascade Meadows Bible Camp, where there is a muddy patch.
Nice! Thanks for the TR, I was just wondering how the snow pack is up there. How's driving the last miles?
I thought everyone knew about this?... It's been going on for years...
Myself I view it as similar to being on a fireroad - could be Mtn Bikers, could be equestrians, could be hikers along the way... could even be a pick up truck to haul you up the road after a 4000 ft descent (Mt 7, Golden BC)
Like w/the horse people your other senses will alert you before you see them (smell)... or sleds (sound and smell)
Like w/a shuttle truck sometimes you get extra run...
Myself I view it as similar to being on a fireroad - could be Mtn Bikers, could be equestrians, could be hikers along the way... could even be a pick up truck to haul you up the road after a 4000 ft descent (Mt 7, Golden BC)
Like w/the horse people your other senses will alert you before you see them (smell)... or sleds (sound and smell)
Like w/a shuttle truck sometimes you get extra run...
Pretty similar conditions in the Slot and Phantom. The top half of the gully held good powdery snow, while down low rollerball-dodging was in effect. Nice couple hundred feet of corn on the way back down the front before some breakable, then better soft snow where more consolidated down low. Tricky skinning conditions coming up in the morning.
I love the pictures of the ranger, vehicle and signage. Looks like everyone kept their sense of humor and enjoyment of the outdoors. 4+ the combination of bicycling, snow-lined roads and early access to skiing. I don't have an aggressive bike (or an e-bike) like you do but I do OK on a non-suspended workhorse (e.g. search koelle bicycle on youtube). Send a PM if you get in a similar mood for any MRNP etc. multi-mode shenanigans.
I take it, Crystal Lake was a bust?
E-Bike to Sunrise Ranger station, but run into 3 feet of snow on the road. Good news Chinook is open to bike on the weekend and Monday.
https://goo.gl/photos/MW1HXZtJg9g673a76
SFIV
E-Bike to Sunrise Ranger station, but run into 3 feet of snow on the road. Good news Chinook is open to bike on the weekend and Monday.
https://goo.gl/photos/MW1HXZtJg9g673a76
SFIV
Nice photos!
Was up there a couple weekends ago for the first time. On day 1 of the spearhead, we skied by GPS.
Was up there a couple weekends ago for the first time. On day 1 of the spearhead, we skied by GPS.
Spectacular! Always appreciate your updates and words
good for you! Thanks for not mentioning our rather hungover skin track.
Hope that splitboarder made it. He was struggling with the slippery crust and what looked like not enough skin coverage on his planks.
Hope that splitboarder made it. He was struggling with the slippery crust and what looked like not enough skin coverage on his planks.
author=gscruggs link=topic=38243.msg155512#msg155512 date=1493414770]
I sometimes feel the same way, but believe me east coast is plenty swelled -
quality of life is much better out here. Bagged Mt. Washington from Boston on a day trip a couple weekends ago but it was a haul. You'll spend twice as long in the car driving to the mountains. Today I skied the Slot an hour from home and it was better than any line in the Presidentials today.
Hey Andrew,
I grew up in WNY (Orchard Park) and live in Everett now. Not much for bc skiing in that area. Some hills and cow fields, and meadows. Some ice climbing in the Niagara Gorge. 'Daks are great but a long haul best suited for a 3 day trip at a minimum IMHO. At least there's some new breweries opening up out there. PM too.
I grew up in WNY (Orchard Park) and live in Everett now. Not much for bc skiing in that area. Some hills and cow fields, and meadows. Some ice climbing in the Niagara Gorge. 'Daks are great but a long haul best suited for a 3 day trip at a minimum IMHO. At least there's some new breweries opening up out there. PM too.
author=wcurchin link=topic=38243.msg155047#msg155047 date=1491584511]
The gf and I have long toyed with the idea of moving back east for community, family, and quality of life especially with the swell of pugetopolis, but the cascades are one helluva magnet.
I sometimes feel the same way, but believe me east coast is plenty swelled -
quality of life is much better out here. Bagged Mt. Washington from Boston on a day trip a...
author=cumulus link=topic=38391.msg155506#msg155506 date=1493407166]
Didn't see any additional tracks coming up our skin track out of Thunder but while skiing out we ran into two parties of 3 coming up the phantom trees at 9:30am... not sure if all of them made it up.
Can't speak for the first party of three, but the second party of three, which was actually four, definitely made it and the Slot was primo. Snowing hard up top...
author=cumulus link=topic=38371.msg155490#msg155490 date=1493331991]
I think what toddball may be trying to say is thanks for making Snoqualmie look so good! There is no eight mile road. You just drive up. Occasionally it snows too much. What a drag.
Funny.
The dinner turned out to be worth the rush. Fresh morels over fru-fru toast on a bed of sauce with ingredients I didn't know existed. That was just the appetizers. A...
Ah, the Winds! Where I first learned to backcountry ski (and make a tele turn) on a winter NOLS course many years ago. Good memories. Thanks for posting.
Looks great and good call!!
Welcome to the site!
Welcome to the site!
Thanks guys! I was only there for a week and have been back in Finland for the past week.
Leaving tomorrow for 3 weeks in the Lyngen Alps including a 2 week traverse from the South end to the North. Will post the results when back in Finland. :)
Leaving tomorrow for 3 weeks in the Lyngen Alps including a 2 week traverse from the South end to the North. Will post the results when back in Finland. :)
Great post Kyle, thanks. Your search for and appreciation of adventure in all its forms is inspiring. Safe travels!
Pete, You are correct! There was also a pair of cols between the two massive faces looker's right of the one I skied (almost visible in your photo). They would have been an awesome descent though you would need more consistent snow type.
:). First place I ever saw someone ski from a summit was that route on Lincoln in about 1997.
Nice!
Your weight is always on the cutting edge
Your weight is always on the cutting edge
Sheesh. I've looked down that wall in April and it scared me.....such relief and snow plastered rock baking in the sun. Well done guys!
At the exact instant you took these photos, Steve and I were slogging up isothermic mush somewhere up Hwy 20 (on snowshoes!). We ultimately did nothing but find an extremely scenic lunch spot. It's embarrassing to compare the time stamps.
At the exact instant you took these photos, Steve and I were slogging up isothermic mush somewhere up Hwy 20 (on snowshoes!). We ultimately did nothing but find an extremely scenic lunch spot. It's embarrassing to compare the time stamps.
Saturday was a lot of fun, while Sunday was outstanding.
It took four tries to nail the full descent of Lincoln. You need plenty of snow up in the 'theatre - so early in the season is better - and also you need a hard freeze like we had to really enjoy the headwall as it is low in altitude and heats up pretty quick.
A great visit, oh yes, but especially nice as the inner dirtbag in you, Ron, glows with delight at the thought that work paid for all that fun...
It took four tries to nail the full descent of Lincoln. You need plenty of snow up in the 'theatre - so early in the season is better - and also you need a hard freeze like we had to really enjoy the headwall as it is low in altitude and heats up pretty quick.
A great visit, oh yes, but especially nice as the inner dirtbag in you, Ron, glows with delight at the thought that work paid for all that fun...
author=cumulus link=topic=38371.msg155490#msg155490 date=1493331991]
I think what toddball may be trying to say is thanks Andy for making Snoqualmie look so good! There is no eight mile road. You just drive up. Occasionally it snows too much. What a drag.
You do realize you make us west-siders look like a bunch o' wimps. This renders us almost completely speechless. The nerve!
Well, it was a good read as always, thank you. Hope the...
The last photo in the cluster below was taken on a 2009 descent of Eightmile Mountain when there was time for the luxury of photography
I thought that was Tom Janisch in that last photo!
Well done!
I thought that was Tom Janisch in that last photo!
Well done!
I think what toddball may be trying to say is thanks Andy for making Snoqualmie look so good! There is no eight mile road. You just drive up. Occasionally it snows too much. What a drag.
You do realize you make us west-siders look like a bunch o' wimps. This renders us almost completely speechless. The nerve!
Well, it was a good read as always, thank you. Hope the dinner was good if not on time.
You do realize you make us west-siders look like a bunch o' wimps. This renders us almost completely speechless. The nerve!
Well, it was a good read as always, thank you. Hope the dinner was good if not on time.
awesome effort! thats quite the haul in there with skis.
might this be your couloir? My wife and I were backpacking through the Winds this fall and despite there not being much snow around, as we climbed towards Knapsack Col, we both kept staring back at the big couloir on Mt.Helen.
might this be your couloir? My wife and I were backpacking through the Winds this fall and despite there not being much snow around, as we climbed towards Knapsack Col, we both kept staring back at the big couloir on Mt.Helen.
I like the mystery in this thread oh yes I do. I think I've looked down your line wondering "does it go?" but I'm not sure.
author=ADappen link=topic=38371.msg155479#msg155479 date=1493309874]
I thought a few people would weigh-in with their own anecdotes of racing the clock, or being beholden to some other stricture that made for a day of stoopidity. Anyone?
For some reason I decided it was a good idea to dawn patrol Hyak on March 8th. It dumped overnight and dumped all morning up there, so I figured I'd get some hippy pow laps in and then he...
I thought a few people would weigh-in with their own anecdotes of racing the clock, or being beholden to some other stricture that made for a day of stoopidity. Anyone?
Wow, that is a big line in a special place. Similar to Salal, I have made a couple of runs at constance but haven't quite had it all fall into place. None of my attempts were this ambitious though. Good job!
Nice to hear from you big dog! Sounds like a good time.