TR Replies
Really like the first picture!!! Inspiration for a future oil painting.
Thanks for posting these great pictures, turns look good as well.
Epic ride, what an effort! Well done and thanks for the TR.
Two weeks (not quite) later, snow at lower elevation melted out significantly but higher up it still is holding well. Snow is more bumpy closer to the ridge and Anvil Rock, smooth lower down.




Mike and Dave:
I've been using Meidjo bindings for a few seasons. But those in the photo are home-made prototype functions like Meidjo. So far, so good. I'll post some pics and info sometime, soon.
Martin:
I saw you guys above the ice fall. Since you were heading up toward Sherman Peak, I thought those foot paths were to the summit. I'll follow your way next time!
I've been using Meidjo bindings for a few seasons. But those in the photo are home-made prototype functions like Meidjo. So far, so good. I'll post some pics and info sometime, soon.
Martin:
I saw you guys above the ice fall. Since you were heading up toward Sherman Peak, I thought those foot paths were to the summit. I'll follow your way next time!
Hey Mike,
I believe Kenji's skiing the Meidjo binding. I've been watching that one for the last season. Lots of chatter about it on the Earn Your Turns site... Tempting.
-Dave
I believe Kenji's skiing the Meidjo binding. I've been watching that one for the last season. Lots of chatter about it on the Earn Your Turns site... Tempting.
-Dave
author=bfree32 link=topic=36707.msg149591#msg149591 date=1468552248]
lost their iPhone (pink case) on the glacier, likely just below Anvil rock, and would appreciate if folks kept an eye out.
PM sent
That's a lot of words Jim. ;)
Awesome stuff, so stoked you pulled it off!
Awesome stuff, so stoked you pulled it off!
fantastic write-up! congrats on such a great climb & descent.
Aha, that was you! We saw your afternoon tracks in the morning and then you skinning up solo. I did think the boot pack traversed off in the wrong direction, we went up straight to Sherman Peak. The skiing was better than expected. Beautiful shots Kenji! Next time I hope to say hi!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/runningclouds/albums/72157671113834575
https://www.flickr.com/photos/runningclouds/albums/72157671113834575
Your photos are always amazing, Kenji. I like the star picture.
I also looked at your smugmug photos. What kind of tele set-up are you using? Looks like a duck-butt with pin toes. I use the TTS system with pin toes and a heel spring. I haven't seen your system before.
I also looked at your smugmug photos. What kind of tele set-up are you using? Looks like a duck-butt with pin toes. I use the TTS system with pin toes and a heel spring. I haven't seen your system before.
I read the whole thing and enjoyed it all. Thanks for the report!
Kenji, I had my heart set on spending the night on Dege to shoot some time-lapses - I love that view. Not really any good spots to bivy, though I managed to find an ok spot for my neo-air wedged between sharp rocks.
Going Down
I debated waiting around to see if the cloud would dissipate. It might. On the other hand, I could tell that this cloud was (currently) just in the middle section, and it was clear below (and above) it. If I waited it could just as easily get worse. Also, it was getting late - 2:45 PM! Normally this would be waaaaay to late to descend along the Cooper Spur route, but the conditions worked out on this particular day to keep things from getting too soft, and I kne...
I debated waiting around to see if the cloud would dissipate. It might. On the other hand, I could tell that this cloud was (currently) just in the middle section, and it was clear below (and above) it. If I waited it could just as easily get worse. Also, it was getting late - 2:45 PM! Normally this would be waaaaay to late to descend along the Cooper Spur route, but the conditions worked out on this particular day to keep things from getting too soft, and I kne...
So, that's where you went. A nice Milky Way shot above Rainier; it must be the time of the year, I guess. Glad you got some skiing ;)
Great star photo! I love that you can see headlamps on the mountain.
That's pretty funny considering the skis I see in your second photo :)
author=JimD link=topic=36726.msg149593#msg149593 date=1468632582]
... a few hikers who exclaimed "Hey there's a snowboarder over here!"
That's pretty funny considering the skis I see in your second photo :)
author=Robie link=topic=36707.msg149528#msg149528 date=1467723428]
That kinda sums it up nicely. Basically it was a good day for navigation skills. Good chatting with you. Your baby stroller was still there when we left. Our readers ought to count on carrying skis to Van trump very soon.
Yep, carried to the monument yesterday evening. Still very easy access with an enjoyable 30 min walk through emerging wildflowers. A friend los...
author=Pete Alderson link=topic=36717.msg149578#msg149578 date=1468288520]
Hell of a steep line there :)
That does look steep! Nice work!
author=PhilH link=topic=36718.msg149581#msg149581 date=1468344474]
You skied a ribbon of snow and side-stepped over rocks in July with brand new skis? I like your style!
Yeah, I'm somewhat conflicted with my feelings about ski equipment. I love my various skis, and they are super important to me, but I don't have any problem skiing over dirt or walking on rocks. I always clean the bases and I never put my skis away wet....
You skied a ribbon of snow and side-stepped over rocks in July with brand new skis? I like your style!
nicely done! I skied Snowdome for the first time on July5th- hadn't seen that side of the mountain in person before- I never woulda guess that Cooper Spur was still ridable. Hell of a steep line there :)
Hey degnaw I wish I'd gone Saturday I'd have tagged along with you! That pitch off the shoulder of Dragontail is one of my favorites. The west gulley from Dtail to Colchuck Col looks scary to me. If you fell it would be ugly. I've skied it once in February (with Peteyboy) when it was filled in, and it was fun then. Nice work. I saw your tracks on Colchuck and I met a couple who had watched you ski Saturday, and were back up for a thru-hike on Sunday.
Gonna piggyback off this TR, I was up there on Saturday!
Went up Asgard Pass and did a run on the snowfield on the north/east side of Dragontail around 10am - the sun had been hitting it for a bit and it sloughed a little but was otherwise perfect.
Scrambled back up and around to the west route of Dragontail. The chute has two short, discontinuous patches of snow, followed by a couple hundred feet of walking down to Colchuck pass.
It was also cloudy by the time I...
Went up Asgard Pass and did a run on the snowfield on the north/east side of Dragontail around 10am - the sun had been hitting it for a bit and it sloughed a little but was otherwise perfect.
Scrambled back up and around to the west route of Dragontail. The chute has two short, discontinuous patches of snow, followed by a couple hundred feet of walking down to Colchuck pass.
It was also cloudy by the time I...
Ah yes Jtack! the chain requirements ARE CRAZY!!!
If there is even a wiff of slush on the road they pull everyone off the highway and force all 2WD's to fit chains and reduce the speed limit down to 30mph!!
We were laughing because the same conditions on US HWY2 you would be doing 60mph no problems and it would be what the WSDOT would classify as ''road way bare and wet"
If there is even a wiff of slush on the road they pull everyone off the highway and force all 2WD's to fit chains and reduce the speed limit down to 30mph!!
We were laughing because the same conditions on US HWY2 you would be doing 60mph no problems and it would be what the WSDOT would classify as ''road way bare and wet"
Great snowy Emu! Great report! I worked in Australia, and try as I might, could not manage to get in a ski. I did manage to bump a kangaroo my first day of driving, fortunately just a bump, and neither roo or car were the worse for the experience. Green with envy! I bet you will find plenty of good places to tour, and just the exotic environment will make up for the modest terrain!
Let us know about the "chain requirements" they sounded so crazy?
Let us know about the "chain requirements" they sounded so crazy?
Nice, dude! Looks like you climbed the Spur. A couple folks and I were planning to ride that line as well, but were ascending from the South. We were deterred by the clouds.
Good to hear from you "down under" ;).
FreeBird, trenching:

Forgot your handle, Z:

Montana friends:

Glaciers lookin fine for July:

Forgot your handle, Z:

Montana friends:

Glaciers lookin fine for July:
Really liked some of the video, so swoopie, praticularalary the skier on the slope with the tracke, sooo good. That steep pitch looks great, thanks for the report, pictures, and video!
Some video from last weekend :D
https://vimeo.com/173993999
https://vimeo.com/173993999
author=kamtron link=topic=36706.msg149552#msg149552 date=1467951713]
... Then we went rock climbing!
Phoenix Buttress! 8)
Pretty good conditions for us, besides some suncups in the 10-12k range. We were able to skin the entire way to the summit, myself without ski crampons. But the low snow is melting fast, and it's probably already patchy from our low point.
Will, let's do something closer to home!
Will, let's do something closer to home!
Jeeze, maybe I will have to truck it down there after all. That looks like fun
author=kamtron link=topic=36700.msg149546#msg149546 date=1467916155]
Nice report, guys.
Done for the season, or maybe have another in ya?
Another! Summer is filling up, but I can sneak out still......so long as this grey tapers at some point
Prime spot for roadside skiing! On Mt. Hinman you can straddle the crater crest before getting about 800'.
Nice report, guys.
Done for the season, or maybe have another in ya?
Done for the season, or maybe have another in ya?
Great to get out with you, Silas. I think it wasn't as bad as you make it sound. How about that smooth and fast pink snow psychedelia for the final descent?
Nice work making it to the top, anyway!
Pictures to follow, soon...
Nice work making it to the top, anyway!
Pictures to follow, soon...
I'll poke around next time I'm up there and see if I can find it from above. Thanks for the tip.
As I remember, it looked pretty easily accessible to get into it from above, yeah.

