TR Replies
author=JPH link=topic=36150.msg147581#msg147581 date=1459452095]
Not to take away from the sentiment that people shouldn't head into the mountains unprepared - but avy gear while skiing alone is really just body recovery gear since no one is digging you out until you've been gone way to long for it to matter.
Roger that boss. Hence why I tell my wife where I am going to be, so they can find me.
Seriously, I a...
The only "tips" I've ever seen exchange hands at NCH's heli barn after a good day of skiing are cold ones. The guides are well-compensated and certainly don't live on tips, plus they get to go out and do what we all love 4-5 days a week for a living.
Glad to hear you had a good tour and that when things looked dismal, the folks of NCH (who would've gotten the call anyways had you been able to call for SAR) stepped-up and helped you in a big way. If anyone...
Glad to hear you had a good tour and that when things looked dismal, the folks of NCH (who would've gotten the call anyways had you been able to call for SAR) stepped-up and helped you in a big way. If anyone...
That does sound pretty great. We didn't have good weather to get up high, so maybe I'll head back there when the road to jack lake improves to take a look at the east side.
Ah, now I get it. I was confusing the "gate east of Silver Star Creek" with the "Silver Star Gate".
BTW - Here's another link for Hwy 20, showing plowing progress - http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Traffic/Passes/NorthCascades/updates2016.htm
BTW - Here's another link for Hwy 20, showing plowing progress - http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Traffic/Passes/NorthCascades/updates2016.htm
No snowmobiles are needed now. Originally when the highway closes for the winter, it's gated on the east side just east of Silver Star Creek (around milepost 171). As the snow deepens during the winter another gate 7 miles closer to Mazama (east) is used for the closure. Then at some point during the spring when plowing of the highway commences, the closure point moves back up to the Silver Star Gate. We knew the Highway was open to that higher gate.
author=Griff link=topic=36150.msg147572#msg147572 date=1459441319]
>> Is this trail dangerous? LOL. Well yes kids this is Avy terrain. And yes as the day gets warmer the danger increases (which is why I am wearing avy gear).
Not to take away from the sentiment that people shouldn't head into the mountains unprepared - but avy gear while skiing alone is really just body recovery gear since no one is digging you out until...
Bummer about your buddy's leg! Did you guys snomo in to Silverstar Creek? Your link mentions you can access this before the Pass opens, but after the plowing has started. I thought they kept the gate closed down by Mazama, until the highway opens. Is that incorrect?
author=rover link=topic=36147.msg147574#msg147574 date=1459445610]
How was the ski out on XC-15? Last time I was there the snowpack was already very thin, lots of small logs/branches poking out and waiting to grab an unsuspecting skier.
Yes, noticed that on my way out. Went back yesterday with the pruning saw and cleared the trail up to the 1st opening under Diamond Head. There's still a log across the trail just below there but e...
How was the ski out on XC-15? Last time I was there the snowpack was already very thin, lots of small logs/branches poking out and waiting to grab an unsuspecting skier.
author=Zap link=topic=36150.msg147566#msg147566 date=1459433560]
Somebody in the group may have said "That DOG has great lines." Of course Lucy would stop and get a few "pats" and be of to the vehicle to get a snack and a nap on the way home. ;)
Yes, she sleeps pretty darn good after these trips. Won't be many more years of this so I cherish every trip we go on together.
Now, as for the comment...
Your photos and videos are great. It brings back memories when I was in the area.:)
Somebody in the group may have said "That DOG has great lines." Of course Lucy would stop and get a few "pats" and be of to the vehicle to get a snack and a nap on the way home. ;)
I bet those people towards the bottom must have been "Wow, look at that skier coming down!"
cool TR. 3 finger jack via jack creek road in the spring is super wild, I've never seen another skier up there before. I've been able to drive up in a 4WD truck in late march and get within 1-2 miles of the trailhead, and occasionally the road is plowed or packed down enough by snowmobilers to make it a reasonable ways before skinning. Its only about 30 minutes of route finding from the TH to timberline. The fastest way seems to be pointing it through the trees, towards a small but pro...
author=PhilH link=topic=36147.msg147545#msg147545 date=1459353140]
Were you able to skin from the trailhead?
Yes.
The Upper Tronsen Road Trail is in the Non-Motorized Area, however, since it crosses the groomed snowmobile trail near Blewett Pass it does't surprise me to hear of motorized "incursions" into the area.
author=Zap link=topic=36150.msg147541#msg147541 date=1459345025]
I like your ski buddy-Lucy. ;)
Thanks Zap. Yep, she is the best.......2nd Lab that I have skied with. Her favorite thing to do even at 9 years old. A great partner.......always ready to go, quiet and provides unconditional love even on the days when the skiing isn't that great ;D
Thanks for the trip report - my last visit to the area was in January. Were you able to skin from the trailhead?
Nice sighting on the Ptarmigan! Such a cool bird! I've only seen them once before in winter at Rainier over 30 years ago.
Hi powersa, yes, what a fun day.
Seems like the days of Ruby TR controversy are over. Which seems fine, since it's in Volken's book.
Seems like the days of Ruby TR controversy are over. Which seems fine, since it's in Volken's book.
author=kamtron link=topic=36121.msg147467#msg147467 date=1459118734]
Looks great. Cool pictures of the folks dropping into Not So Super Steep in your link.
Thanks, yeah that group got a great ski of Not So Super Steep, perfect day for it. Saw them climbing up the approach and made our way down after skiing the twins to watch the action.
The density significantly increased overnight and the snow this morning was much wetter than it was yesterday. I blame the fog, which certainly didn't improve the visibility much better than yesterday, either. Lots of tracks on the face of Hyak this morning, none of them mine.
We found similar on Silver, Charlie:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/23557848@N03/sets/72157665921320540
We were down by 2:00PM and the storm was late in develpoing, so we only had a few inches of new on that big mass of wet grains, more in wind deposited pockets.
Today would be a good one, if I didn't have to work.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/23557848@N03/sets/72157665921320540
We were down by 2:00PM and the storm was late in develpoing, so we only had a few inches of new on that big mass of wet grains, more in wind deposited pockets.
Today would be a good one, if I didn't have to work.
Great report.
Glad you made it up there - it's a beautiful area (with a price to pay for visiting). Thanks for road condition update.
Glad you made it up there - it's a beautiful area (with a price to pay for visiting). Thanks for road condition update.
^^^^ Thanks man. Yep, always good to "get in" and I am an alum as is her mama. She has gotten few "yes" answers including the ASU Bioengineering program. Friday is the big day..........maybe Stanford!
As for UW freeriding good to hear. I ran the UW ski school from 1988 to 1997. Love the kids and the past 2 years doing the Collegiate freeride comps with my son has been a blast.
It was lovely day, wouldn't change a thing!
As for UW freeriding good to hear. I ran the UW ski school from 1988 to 1997. Love the kids and the past 2 years doing the Collegiate freeride comps with my son has been a blast.
It was lovely day, wouldn't change a thing!
author=danpeck link=topic=36120.msg147472#msg147472 date=1459121189]
That is the start of my alpine adventures. I started BC skiing at age 13 on leathers and 3 pins and that was my zone. It's funny to think that the winter of 1993 my friends and I were foolish enough to ski that thing in leathers and on pins. There was enough snow that year that the entire thing filled in. Crazy.
Thanks for the post. Been wanting to go back for a long time...
The road is still closed but snow doesn't start consistently until about 2 miles up it. From there you can skin the rest. Luckily for us the snow was iced up enough to walk quickly and get to the Lake before sunrise.
thanks for the post, Calvin. Looks like you guys hit it just right!
East is now closed for the season so no one there to say nay. One word of caution would be the avy potential if there are further storms. There are mellow runs to the west of the face.
author=tabski link=topic=36128.msg147475#msg147475 date=1459124184]
Sweet! Whats up with road conditions? Internet says Icicle and 8 Mile roads are open... Did you park at the trailhead?
Thanks!
it should be a rule that this information is always posted when a TR from the stuart range goes up.
I really enjoyed the tour, the condition was very good for traveling though not ideal for turns. W all want to go back and ski many slopes we just skinned across.
Yes, Meidjo V1.1 on G3 Synapse 101, worked great, no failure to affect the trip. However, I did discover a minor breakage afterward, see my posts,...
author=Dave_R link=topic=36110.msg147478#msg147478 date=1459129989">
Kenji, I have to ask: were you on your Meidjos?
Yes, Meidjo V1.1 on G3 Synapse 101, worked great, no failure to affect the trip. However, I did discover a minor breakage afterward, see my posts,...
'Grats to your young 'un for getting into UW! Must be relieving to know you'll still be able to ski w/ your daughter while she gets a top notch education (and hey, college passes are kind to the wallet, too). UW's a big school, but they've got a great club of freeriders who get after it more than they probably should (I know I did during my time there). Yesterday was a beautiful day for a tour, even if it got warmer than desired in the afternoon.
Thanks for the report! Very, very nice and I'm very, very jealous!
The 17th found Debbie & I up above Scottish Lakes on our last of 9 days, enjoying the snow and the view. Had we known you'd be blasting through in three days, we would've built a snowman/cairn for you guys. That afternoon, Eric took advantage of our skin track and made a run up to Baldy and down the north/west-facing bowl beneath Baldy out to Cascade Meadows.
Kenji, I hav...
The 17th found Debbie & I up above Scottish Lakes on our last of 9 days, enjoying the snow and the view. Had we known you'd be blasting through in three days, we would've built a snowman/cairn for you guys. That afternoon, Eric took advantage of our skin track and made a run up to Baldy and down the north/west-facing bowl beneath Baldy out to Cascade Meadows.
Kenji, I hav...
Everyone wants the slot, myself included, but when the phantom skis well, it's a really good run
Sweet! Whats up with road conditions? Internet says Icicle and 8 Mile roads are open... Did you park at the trailhead?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Kamtron - definitely still worth it. It was a fantastic day up there, awesome to see the various groups having such a great time.
I triggered the wind slab on the ridge. I probably pushed it a little too far out onto the convexity in the start zone, but the stability seemed good and the consequences low.
I just threw up a TR on http://thepeakoftheweek.com/2016/03/ruby-mountain-north-cascades/ that's mostly thoughts on the history of Ruby Mountain TRs.
Hope t...
I triggered the wind slab on the ridge. I probably pushed it a little too far out onto the convexity in the start zone, but the stability seemed good and the consequences low.
I just threw up a TR on http://thepeakoftheweek.com/2016/03/ruby-mountain-north-cascades/ that's mostly thoughts on the history of Ruby Mountain TRs.
Hope t...
That is the start of my alpine adventures. I started BC skiing at age 13 on leathers and 3 pins and that was my zone. It's funny to think that the winter of 1993 my friends and I were foolish enough to ski that thing in leathers and on pins. There was enough snow that year that the entire thing filled in. Crazy.
Thanks for the post. Been wanting to go back for a long time now.
Thanks for the post. Been wanting to go back for a long time now.
Looks great. Cool pictures of the folks dropping into Not So Super Steep in your link.
author=JimD link=topic=36120.msg147452#msg147452 date=1459085294">
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I don't know how many times I climbed or skied up around there BITD when I lived in SLC. Skiing this line was not an option (for me) back then, but I love that little mountain. Your TR needs a nice portrait of the beautiful peak!
Nice! My buddies said I should be kicked out of UT for not yet skiing this line during m...
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More photos
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More photos
I'm pretty new with the touring stuff, I've been hiking/riding over at Gold Creek Pond and have my gear dialed in. I've been thinking about hiking some runs at summit East, any words of wisdom? How does the ski patrol feel about it?