TR Replies
This argument has happened before.
Or is it annual?
Or is it annual?
Please, pretty please, with sugar on top...
NEVER put that skin track there ever again, no matter how stable you think it is. The life you save may be your own.
If you're going to ski that area, the preferred method (by ski area management*, ski patrol*, and virtually everyone that taught me about that area) is to ski that from the top to the lake, then go around and ski it from the top again. You'll get a longer run and be out of the line of fire from other p...
NEVER put that skin track there ever again, no matter how stable you think it is. The life you save may be your own.
If you're going to ski that area, the preferred method (by ski area management*, ski patrol*, and virtually everyone that taught me about that area) is to ski that from the top to the lake, then go around and ski it from the top again. You'll get a longer run and be out of the line of fire from other p...
The tests were performed at 4300', uphill from the smithbrook road. Yes the slab showed signs of sliding, after 2nd test failure and propagation one more tap caused the slab to slide off clean.
Thanks for the feedback. My partner and I had no intentions of touring higher in the avy zone, even after the other group's claim of stable conditions and seeing them ski the slope, I was spooked.
Hopefully it settles out this week, but conditions are still quite variable...
Thanks for the feedback. My partner and I had no intentions of touring higher in the avy zone, even after the other group's claim of stable conditions and seeing them ski the slope, I was spooked.
Hopefully it settles out this week, but conditions are still quite variable...
That skin track is exactly where I found the best turns last Saturday and Sunday, what an unfortunate spot to put it.
Great skiing. About as good as it get in these parts!
One thing I found interesting... with the warming around 1/2pm, the Black Diamond Glop Stopper actually works to keep the snow from sticking to your skins. Anyone have other solutions?
Turns were really nice even in the sunny aspects. Overall snow seemed to have bonded well. We did set off a couple small wind slabs along north facing ridges (maybe 10 cm in depth and 3 meters in width that never turned into much). Scaled our objective of 'mt ann' back a bit because of the storm slabs and low visibility in the morning. It seemed like snow was consistently being deposited from the south onto the northern facing slopes.
Another great day in the mountains.
Another great day in the mountains.
Yeah it was warm when that sun came out. We should've got an earlier start. Turned around when we got hit with full-slope rollerballing traversing under the S side of Table. Went back yesterday and slayed lots of untracked on Ptarmigan ridge. Thanks for the skintrack, whoever you were!
Thanks for reaffirming our decision to not visit the back bowl . Most all of skiing was in tree sheltered west slopes.
Evidence of good mid-week cleansing cycle all over. We had variable snow in back bowl, ranging from scoured, non-breakable crust to 4" of buttery goods (wind transported) below north-facing slopes. Some isolated E-SE facing slopes displayed well consolidated soft slab formation, giving out on steeper terrain (<38*), poorly bonded to crust layer underneath. Signs of shooting cracks and propagation were evident on these faces, and larger slopes of similar aspect would hav...
Curious what the slope angle was where you did your ECT's & whether slab showed signs of sliding in addition to propagation. Either way I wouldn't have messed about either based on the info you've reported.
Sounds like something to keep an eye on, so thanks for the PSA.
Sounds like something to keep an eye on, so thanks for the PSA.
Mr. Bell and I would sure like to hammer out some stuff with you this year. ;) The poetry is impeccable, as usual. Thanks for the great report.
Indeed. It is possible that both groups made 'good decisions' based upon the information that they had gathered. Both the extent to which people gather/observe information and the way in which people interpret that information can vary tremendously.
Wumphfing is a clear indicator of concern. ECTP3 strongly suggests propensity for propagation, too. The corroboration with another party's observation sure builds a case for caution. NWAC observers' statements of sensit...
Wumphfing is a clear indicator of concern. ECTP3 strongly suggests propensity for propagation, too. The corroboration with another party's observation sure builds a case for caution. NWAC observers' statements of sensit...
Great day of freshies and discovering new terrain up there! Well worth the 4:45 wake up bell!
Coulda woulda shoulda. You made the right call.
Looks like a very happy holiday!
author=silaswild link=topic=37675.msg152688#msg152688 date=1485149522]
How is the new snow going to adhere safely to that ice?!!
Glue.
.the white school kind
...on yer favorite runs only
no-one will notice.
WE did venture off the Nordic trails. Nice 6" fluff on a firm base below 4000'. Higher we found a bulletproof 1/2" ice crust on rocks, tree limbs, and sadly the surface below the 6" fluff. Skinning was too slippery for us above 4300', so we enjoyed skiing down. How is the new snow going to adhere safely to that ice?!!
"I have been up there a few times since my last post. No sign of your helmet yet. "
Thanks river59 I appreciate you look'n out.
Thanks river59 I appreciate you look'n out.
author=Chamois link=topic=37650.msg152589#msg152589 date=1484942187]
Killing me Randy, killing me!
Maybe next year --- how's the fatties workin' for ya?
I took a pair of Dynafit Grand Tetons on this trip 108mm at the waist. I have fatter skis, but choose not to bring them as their 128mm waist and lightweight construction (Voile Drifters) makes them kind of lousy for any lift skiing on groomed snow.
Amar, thanks for the stupendous TR and all your great photos, and on your 1,000! Looking forward to reports and photos and data from the next 1,000!
Paradise, if you can do the road trip ! easy for me to say sitting in Sumner .
In addition, a friend leaving Stevens for Leavenworth around 5pm reports pouring rain at Smithbrook Road.
Tough decision for tomorrow.
Tough decision for tomorrow.
thanks !
That helped me make up my mind about sunday.
That helped me make up my mind about sunday.
Recommend the search function.
http://www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboarding/trip_reports/index.php?topic=35202.msg144384#msg144384
There are several crossings you just have to tour up our down till you find one. Obviously easier when its super cold. Beware the locs though people get pretty shifty about this zone, even though the zone is massive...
http://www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboarding/trip_reports/index.php?topic=35202.msg144384#msg144384
There are several crossings you just have to tour up our down till you find one. Obviously easier when its super cold. Beware the locs though people get pretty shifty about this zone, even though the zone is massive...
Awesome AMAR. 1,000 days is pretty dedicated as is, but the quality is top notch. Always enjoy your reports and posts. Good reading and a lesson on how it's done. Here's to 1,000 more healthy high pressure days for you!.
We were there yesterday and found all exposed slopes on the north side to be quite wind affected. Steeper slopes were reactive. The small bits we cracked were small and soft, but it kept us off the steep stuff and in the trees. Pretty windy all day.
I have been up there a few times since my last post. No sign of your helmet yet.
I have accessed Newton via the Lamberson butte area. It's never pretty dropping in, especially near the ridge line where it is always bony, but there are some nice gullies when the stars align. It is not something I get to ski often.
In winter you can always access via Tilly Jane, but I like the tour up the elk meadows trail to access Gnarl. Not sure that it is shorter, but the run out do...
I have accessed Newton via the Lamberson butte area. It's never pretty dropping in, especially near the ridge line where it is always bony, but there are some nice gullies when the stars align. It is not something I get to ski often.
In winter you can always access via Tilly Jane, but I like the tour up the elk meadows trail to access Gnarl. Not sure that it is shorter, but the run out do...
Thanks for putting in our track for this weekend :)
Classic shot of fog in the Elwha!
Classic shot of fog in the Elwha!
That's awesome John! I've been eyeballing Tom McCall from the Lyle side and thought it looked worthwhile. That's some amazing bird watching too.
Good stuff. I saw that there was some storm slab activity reported off the back side. What is the diving board? Does that drop you down to highway west of the parking lot?
Killing me Randy, killing me!
Maybe next year --- how's the fatties workin' for ya?
Maybe next year --- how's the fatties workin' for ya?
Boy, the snow looks great, and clear skies! When we were there the snow was great, but the viz was horrible I'm green with envy, thanks for the report.
Amar, nice work and congrats man! See you up there again soon.
John thanks for the report,looks delicious, been wondering if the crest was holding up.
I was inspired by your earlier trip report for Stacker Butte, I thought about heading there on Monday (1/16), but time was limited so instead we decided to try Tom McCall Point. We parked near the Rowena Crest Viewpoint (700' elev.), skinned up close to the normal trail up the ridge then on the new trail to the top at 1700'. Most of the way the snow was 16-20" deep. Top layers were very light, snow near the bottom was dense enough that we weren't hitting ground most of...
Hmmm, I think it was about 1.30ish setting out. ...and apologies for the lack of photos; I am in a love/ hate spiral with my camera right now & that day was not a camera lovin' day.
On another note though, the summit east runs were not open in the week & were powderpacked & supercreamy in the post moonrise light.
On another note though, the summit east runs were not open in the week & were powderpacked & supercreamy in the post moonrise light.
Very good. This might be the first report I've seen with a cattle gate in it!!
A few years back, a guy was partially buried when he triggered and avalanche while skiing in our shrub-steppe foothills in Wenatchee. The ground cover was bunch grass and balsam root remnants.
author=Jake the Brit link=topic=37580.msg152297#msg152297 date=1484260528]
Yesterday PM I skinned up from Summit East, up the powerlines to Grand Junction, over towards windy pass, down the west facing slope between Catharine & Radiotower hill & towards Silver. I was aiming to get onto the NW ridge of Silver, but it was 4pm by the time I got there so I backtracked.
Snow:
Was creamy & wonderful in the (mostly flat) trees, and was sup...
Look at those temps at Muir!
Mazama Ridge and regular rt in the Tatoosh was great Sunday.
Then it rained.
Mazama Ridge and regular rt in the Tatoosh was great Sunday.
Then it rained.
author=tabski link=topic=37638.msg152537#msg152537 date=1484789326]
Cool report!
Also remember that the entire snowpack is undergoing "glide" as it constantly moves downhill, probably laying the grass layers down flatter that when they were weighted by snow in the first place.
Great tip, thanks!
author=natefred link=topic=37638.msg152536#msg152536 date=1484788711]
PGlad you only got 1/2" of ice, I heard you might get up to 1-1/2" on the radio yesterday! Do you think you could ice skate on it?
Nope. It collapses into the snow below. I'm sure you could ice skate on the roads though! :)
Cool report!
Also remember that the entire snowpack is undergoing "glide" as it constantly moves downhill, probably laying the grass layers down flatter that when they were weighted by snow in the first place.
Also remember that the entire snowpack is undergoing "glide" as it constantly moves downhill, probably laying the grass layers down flatter that when they were weighted by snow in the first place.
Picturesque looking terrain in the 2nd pic in your original post, fun that you get to ski it now and then! Sort of looks like it could be someplace in Japan or Australia in that pic. Glad you only got 1/2" of ice, I heard you might get up to 1-1/2" on the radio yesterday! Do you think you could ice skate on it?
Runcle,
Yes, the wide open spaces are wonderful aren't they?
I wouldn't say Stacker Butte is normally skiable. It kind of goes in cycles with La Nina and El Nino. If I had to guess I would say it is good skiing about half the time.
This year is really exceptional! I don't think the low altitude snowpack is going anywhere for a while.
Unfortunately now there is a very scary 1/2 thick layer of ice fr...
Yes, the wide open spaces are wonderful aren't they?
I wouldn't say Stacker Butte is normally skiable. It kind of goes in cycles with La Nina and El Nino. If I had to guess I would say it is good skiing about half the time.
This year is really exceptional! I don't think the low altitude snowpack is going anywhere for a while.
Unfortunately now there is a very scary 1/2 thick layer of ice fr...
Thanks for the post! It's rare to hear from folks down your way. I was wondering, is there normally enough snow for turns on the Butte? When I was much younger I would ski Steptoe Butte and Kamiack Butte near Pullman. I love skiing in those wide open spaces in the high desert. It will be glorious when it clears off!
Examples are: balsam root, lupine, and big bunch grasses and super sturdy non-bunch grasses like Rye. These plants are TOUGH in order to withstand the local windy climate.
Here's some pix. In the first, before the latest storm you can get an idea of how stiff the grasses and plants are by how thick they look.
In the second picture, after the latest storm, you can see how they are still sticking up through the surface - probably two feet of snow here....
Here's some pix. In the first, before the latest storm you can get an idea of how stiff the grasses and plants are by how thick they look.
In the second picture, after the latest storm, you can see how they are still sticking up through the surface - probably two feet of snow here....