TR Replies
@Doug, I'm not sure if #7 is a requirement but it definitely shows dedication. Thanks for all your hospitality, it was awesome hanging out and skiing with you!
7. Prefers sleeping in an aged Econoline in a driveway over Doug's deluxe guest bedroom 12 feet away.
Like I said already, I'm just going to copy your trip, but in a more civilized timeframe - say two or three seasons. Nice work!
I could see snowmobile tracks up the Roman Wall to the summit of Baker on Sunday from the West.
Yep, what is it about snowmobilers in Mill Valley?!?!?? I’ve skinned up Tye Mill / Skid Road after the Stevens Pass season ended and had to quickly scoot off to the side to not get run over as snowmobilers came flying over the crest going down Skid Road and into the front side of Stevens Pass resort. It is VERY CLEARLY MARKED … absolutely no snowmobiles ! Not only breaking laws, but extremely reckless and dangerous. Definitely need to post LEO’s and confiscate their sleds wh...
A few years ago I saw a video of a helicopter tossing a bomb on that! Massive!
The FS LEOs used to post up on sleds at the wilderness boundary near Josephine on opening weekend, probably no LEOs keen on sledding currently or it's fallen off Wenatchee River RDs radar entirely. There is at least one wilderness boundary sign on the skin up to Susan Jane that I know of, but most sledders probably don't even realize that it's off limits as its probably not on the sled route. It is sort of up to the FS to do better with enforcement or signing for this case.
Either way...
Looks like you’ll have to make another trip up unfortunately…
@doug-hutchinson forgive me, the new generation is completely historically illiterate of the exploits occurring during the dark ages before IG and FB destroyed our online forums! Cascade climbers - who would write about a ski trip on a climbing forum?! I will have to contact my ghost writer and editor to fix the details of my blog. Who actually writes their own blog anymore?
Yes, I did. It looks spicier than it is and there was plenty of snow.
Yeah @kyle-m, like wtf? First, no mention of P3 (whatever that is) and then no mention of the historic burning of the original Snowbird hut?? What are we paying you for? Please pull the TR, and rewrite.
Tim seriously save some for the rest of us. Fucking sick. Catch you out there sometime
Heck ya buddy, I figured you would find some more room in that tank.VORTEX!!!
It was full of incredible powder just below the firmer entrance. I didn't find it so bad even with relatively flimsy Wailer 112s and we made it down with a combo of hop turns and side stepping. Of course there would have been less snow on the surface for each successive party to follow. I almost always bring crampons to downclimb into something like this if necessary, given the propensity for wind to prevent snow accumulation at the top and the way everyone scrapes it out all the time.
Jeezpers, did you ski that choke in those trees? All the waitstaff must be out skiing...the table aren't even cleared for après ski
We were up there Friday April 1 and found it a mixed bag; whomever beat us to it had a great run, and the group that came after us bailed. We encountered some well-scrubbed sections bookended by areas with a modest amount of new snow.
I was up there on Saturday and bailed... maybe we chatted with you all?
There were definitely a couple groups that skied it without issue, finding good pow below the icy choke. I just try to avoid sketchy sideslipping.
We found good powder in the crooked instead.
Nice going, it makes me green with envy the great lines you have been skiing. Super nice you take the trouble to post such great trip reports. If Mr Scott is motivated to come out of hiding, you may be what’s good for TAY. Thanks.
I went up last year on March 31st, which was the last weekend before permits were required. I estimated there were 800 people on the mountain that day. Cars were parked almost 2 miles down the road from the lot. That many people makes the outing a "happening" rather than a ski tour.
What continues to surprise me is the ratio of skiers to hikers on the volcanoes. Not too many years ago skiers were a rarity (we used to be the cool kids). Now skiers are more than half.
Had the whole worm flows to myself with my friend Jesse years ago on my birthday in January 2015, really nice corn conditions. Hard to motivate to go back and deal with the crowds....
Not bad at all. Plenty of parking available in the TH lot around 9p the night before and pretty quiet throughout. Crowds were thinner probably due to a bad weather forecast for Saturday.
Morning crowd was basically all skiers willing to brave light rain/snow/clouds. Never had back-to-back traffic. In fact it was probably the most quiet/lonely approach through the trees I've ever had lol.
Afternoon crowd going up was more like a conga line of hikers but still no...
Nice Tim! Brought back some good memories.
Do you think this zone would still have things to ski in June?
Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado is a good place for this. I've done it there. I've heard lots of different suggestions for stuff to put on the bottom of skis to help with glide in sand, but never got it working too well. Mostly had to keep jumping out of the sand to keep it moving. On skis, old 75mm tele bindings are the best option I think...minimal moving parts to get sand in. And skinning uphill in sand can be done without anything on your bases and...
Really a hell of a nice line and good conditions, score
Plenty of swift silent types out there these days! That being said, I dont have instagram or facebook and I dont get to hear about what anyone is skiing often (which i prefer!) but I do appreciate your TRs and this forum. Maybe ill do a TR someday haha! Nice TR from the Stuart range too! Solo Coulie crusher!
I think it has been skied a number of times. I've only made it part way up and had to bail due to avy conditions but have friends who have tagged it. Always good times in Holden, especially Big Creek!
Looks like more vertical than the other option:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ski_Dubai
Hey Tim Gibson, that is a fine killer TR worthy of many accolades.
Well I suppose that's one option regarding diminishing snowpack 🙀
Well done, Sang - bummer I couldn't join you, but thanks for scouting out the area.
Just need a Helicopter Drop at the right time!🤪😉
"Backcountry Ski & Snowboard Routes Washington" by Martin Volken
Thanks arb definitely some proper firm conditions to be had up there but most definitely a classic.
Thanks Ava I think the best time for it would be a spring with lots of snow relatively decent stability and high freezing levels but that’s a pretty rare lineup, it’s definitely not a route renowned for good skiing conditions but that makes it all the more of an adventure.