TR Replies

I watched you drop in and stop on the high side. Glad you're ok :) After both triggering and witnessing a few 100-250 foot-long fast moving, storm slabs this winter in Niagaras, Southback - and even directly under the gondola - I always ride with avy gear at Crystal post-storm. All best with the FWT!

3/5/16 6:56am

Lowell_Skoog

author=Lowell_Skoog link=topic=35914.msg146805#msg146805 date=1456983507]Wolf's 1963 recollections say they used "narrow cross-country racing skis." They were probably still heavier than our light skimo gear.

Turns out I have pictures of some of those skis.

Bill Degenhardt's team won the Patrol Race in 1935 and 1937 (the years that bracketed Wolf Bauer's victory). Degenhardt was later President of The Moun...

3/5/16 2:30am

gregL

Fine work, guys! A tremendous accomplishment and a fitting tribute to Wolf at the same time.

3/4/16 12:36pm

kamtron

author=Lowell_Skoog link=topic=35914.msg146790#msg146790 date=1456969342]
The Facebook page includes the full lyrics for the tune, and I've reproduced them below:

Lowell, that song is great! Beats the heck out of all those other Winter songs

3/4/16 12:28pm

flowing alpy

author=wcurchin link=topic=35906.msg146755#msg146755 date=1456874951]
I'm always wowed by people who tell me they've been skiing the terrain for years and years and that they can handle it. I see it even more at Alpental. Although much of the back bowls terrain poses less risk than some of the open higher angle terrain on the king and surrounding zones, it still requires caution. .

Glad you weren't swept.

*I wish I could...

3/4/16 11:43am

Norseman

author=tabski link=topic=35906.msg146747#msg146747 date=1456862276]

I just wanted to post this as a reminder to not get complacent when skiing Washington's (or anywhere's) near-resort terrain. Though Southback is controlled for avalanches, it still should absolutely be treated as a backcountry area. I find it disconcerting that a lot of skiers go out those gates without backpacks, especially following a new snowfall. Its crucial to still practi...

3/4/16 10:03am

Lowell_Skoog

author=JasonGriffith link=topic=35914.msg146803#msg146803 date=1456981031]
How much advantage do you reckon modern gear gave your team Lowell? I'm not nearly as familiar as you with the old gear, but I have to think that it was a lot heavier than what you had?

I think modern gear provides an advantage, but it's hard to say how much. Wolf's 1963 recollections say they used "narrow cross-country racing skis.&q...

3/4/16 7:24am

JasonGriffith

author=Lowell_Skoog link=topic=35914.msg146788#msg146788 date=1456967618]
Note that Wolf Bauer writes in 1963 (27 years after the race occurred) that his 1936 club-race record was just under four and one-half hours. Two different times have been published, and I've spent a fair amount of time trying to figure out which one is accurate. The two times are 4:27:23 and 4:37:23 (ten minutes apart). I have gone with the longer time for the following reasons:

3/4/16 3:08am

ryanl

So long as you have fun, that's all that matters. Nice job

3/4/16 12:35am

dbkiker

on the contrary, i didn't find the standard route up from eightmile creek to be particularly unpleasant. we got a bit off track with a premature creek crossing that added an extra 40 min or so of quality bushwhacking, but once back on track it seemed pretty straight forward.

that being said, I love to hear the variations on this. from the top i think i saw 3 or 4 lines i would add to the todo list. funny how that always happens ::)

3/3/16 11:08pm

T. Eastman

Skiing steep terrain is not more difficult than skiing lower angle terrain, but it can be more hazardous.

If you want to use risk as a measure of skills...

... well good luck.

3/3/16 6:29am

ryanl

My god John, are you actually encouraging a rat creek approach?! I've never heard that before. If you ever publish a guide book, which you should, I'll make sure to not buy it :-).

Best approach is via Aasgard and Prussik Pass. A little more vert but not much more effort and way better rewards.

3/3/16 2:30am

Seth

Nigel and team, Thanks for putting on such a great event. It is a special route ending in a special place. Next year our whole family is coming to make turns on the Meany rope tows! The Mach rope tow is impressive!

3/3/16 2:19am

Lowell_Skoog

At the end of the awards program at Meany Lodge on Saturday, several of us sang an old 10th Mountain song to celebrate the event.

For those who would like to learn the tune, you can listen to it on this video I produced in December:

https://www.facebook.com/lowell.skoog/videos/1162627847097885/?pnref=story

The video features my teammates Seth and Brandon, as well as a third friend, Ian Mackie, skiing powder at Snoqualmie Pass.

The Facebook page include...

3/3/16 1:05am

Lowell_Skoog

Note that Wolf Bauer writes in 1963 (27 years after the race occurred) that his 1936 club-race record was just under four and one-half hours. Two different times have been published, and I've spent a fair amount of time trying to figure out which one is accurate. The two times are 4:27:23 and 4:37:23 (ten minutes apart). I have gone with the longer time for the following reasons:

1. The longer time was published in both the Seattle Times and Seattle P-I immediately following the...

3/2/16 10:27pm

Lowell_Skoog

author=nsteere link=topic=35914.msg146781#msg146781 date=1456957818]
Great report Lowell - it is really neat to see your passion for this route and we really appreciated the articles that you shared during the awards.

For those who weren't at Meany during the evening, and for those who'd like to refer back to the articles I read, here is the text I extracted from three articles in the Mountaineer Annual. The full articl...

3/2/16 10:15pm

nsteere

Great report Lowell - it is really neat to see you passion for this route and we really appreciated the articles that you shared during the awards. After the results from the first year (when you and Brandon ran the "modern" route as a twosome) I was skeptical that Wolf's record could be equaled. Here's to a great Patrol Race in 2016 and the beginning of a rekindled tradition!
-Nigel

3/2/16 1:38pm

cumulus

Way to go!

Next year: leather boots, wooden skis and wool sweaters. I'd join you for that!

3/2/16 12:57pm

AlpineRose

Feb 21-24, canada: keith's hut and blackcomb bc

control work offers reassurance but no guarantee.

Another way of putting it is control work decreases risk but does not eliminate it. I find it useful to eliminate the concept of "safe" from one's mental landscape, replacing it with "continuum of risk".

3/2/16 12:43pm

kamtron

Score!

3/2/16 12:14pm

Nate Frederickson

Another consideration is that the majority of control work is done early morning and it often warms up throughout the day, sometimes dramatically. Also with wind transport on a storm day, patrol has to monitor and decide when to close areas that are loading up faster than they're getting skied, there are human factors... There's a balance struck between closing avalanche prone in-bounds & side country terrain and getting it open and keeping it open so it gets skied up.

A...

3/2/16 11:39am

Bronco

Congrats Lowell, Brandon and Seth! Kind of a crappy weather day but we did have a sun break or two. You guys passed us right where the trail dropped off the old road and crossed Rockdale Creek. We would've continued on the road if you hadn't come by when you did, thanks!

Thanks to all of the volunteers, especially Nigel and Pat for organizing and executing the event. You guys are awesome!

3/2/16 11:38am

savegondor

Feb 20, 2016, Vallunaraju, Peru, 18655 feet

let's not kid ourselves, even in bounds should be treated with more respect. i set off a large slide on exterminator last Spring. clearly crystal is a very large area and wind loaded aspects right in the middle of the area aren't always controlled. Exterminator has gunpowder all over the top. didn't stop me from setting off a wet slab three feet deep and 50ft wide that wend 200ft.

same thing happened on Cowboy to me a couple years back.&nb...

3/2/16 10:26am

Dr. Pow

Oh. And there was a collectivo upside down 30m below the road on the way out of huascaran. Scary shit. Same van I was riding in.

3/2/16 9:42am

Dr. Pow

Feb 20, 2016, Vallunaraju, Peru, 18655 feet

These skis were yellow.. Long approach to Pisco, strong work! I was looking at it yesterday. Just got back from a 7 day alpamayo yoyo circuit in the rain. Beauty!

3/2/16 9:13am

jtack

Congratulations you guys! It was a rainy day, and did not seem like a day for records. It does not seem possible to travel that far over such demanding terrain in such a short time, an exceptional effort!

Lowell, we were holding up the "old" patrol race tradition, and stopped for coffee:

3/2/16 8:30am

silaswild

author=wcurchin link=topic=35906.msg146755#msg146755 date=1456874951]
In my opinion, Baker's policy is much more effective and actually enforced.

http://www.theinertia.com/mountain/there-is-no-sidecountry-its-all-backcountry-riding/

3/2/16 6:30am

wcurchin

Was up in silver basin on Sunday and boy was it a crazy rapid-cycle of weather change. Noticeable loading kept us off of the upper parts of 3way.

Could not agree more with policy comments. I'm always wowed by people who tell me they've been skiing the terrain for years and years and that they can handle it. I see it even more at Alpental. Although much of the back bowls terrain poses less risk than some of the open higher angle terrain on the king and surrounding zones, it...

3/2/16 5:02am

tabski

Feb 29, 2016, Leap Year Muir

MattT, sorry for the unclear description. Partner 1 skied skier's right side of Toaster and then down the middle with no issues. Partner 2 skied closer to Pinball. I entered on the far skier's left side of Toaster, triggering most of the top face of snow undisturbed by Skier 1.

3/2/16 4:57am

toph

Great trip! Looking forward to a repeat in 4 years. With any luck, STM will be cured by then 8)

3/2/16 1:35am

jwplotz

The Rat Creek approach has always seemed easier for me to access this couloir. Plus it gives you a chance to play around on the slopes above Coney Lake.

It's the sad story of a lot of East side shots: Mucho approach for poco descent.

3/2/16 1:30am

MattT

It may be my reading comprehension, but to be clear - the slide was indeed in Toaster, but just on the left side (or at least to the left of your partners tracks)? I skied Toaster in the afternoon I was surprised by the scratchy bed surface on the left, which I couldn't see scouting from the top with the flat light. Bailed over a rib into Pinball. Just curious if it was the same slide I encountered, as yeah the debris pile was impressive. Glad all are okay.

Thanks for the beta a...

3/2/16 1:26am

ErikT

February 25, 2016, Mt. Mcloughlin corn harvest

Car to car was just under 12 hours - I was dragging most of the way through the basin after the climb up, but especially with more consolidated snow, it would be a few hours better I would think. While we were able to skin to and ski back down to Icicle Creek, which was nice, I think hitting it just a little later would have provided better travel / ski conditions.

3/2/16 12:55am

Timstirling

Very nice, brings back memories, I lived in Eugene 2012-2013 and did this fine mountain twice. Both times I went from the snow park and just headed up through the woods, using GPS on my phone to check progress in approximate correct direction, aiming for the main ridge that leads to the summit. No need to wait for the road to fourmie lake to open. Both times I failed to traverse back to the snow park, the second time I knew it was a not really worth it so it hit the highway 1.5miles back. IMO, h...

3/1/16 8:21pm

Gary Vogt

Feb 24, 2016, Muir + Wind Slab Release Observed

author=savegondor link=topic=35877.msg146625#msg146625 date=1456524577]
and here I thought PR was going a bit better at the Park. Ranger needs some education that her primary job is not in fact law enforcement - it's public service.

Overall, I've thought MRNP this year was communicating better and several staff have gone out of their way to be helpful. There have still been many late openings, but also quite a few bi...

3/1/16 8:12pm

lrudholm

That looks ten times better than installing tyvek! Way to go.

3/1/16 4:11pm

dbkiker

author=Good2Go link=topic=35899.msg146714#msg146714 date=1456772523]
It takes a surprising amount of effort to get that line.

a little bit of effort to get out of it too! we had a ripping traverse to get back over to the other side of the ridge

3/1/16 8:35am

Chamois

Given the forecast this was the morning to get it. Jealous.

3/1/16 7:29am

Skier of the Hood

North aspects near granite were pretty good till we left around 3. Little snow on top of rain crust below 4500 ft. 8-10 inches at 5600

3/1/16 7:27am

haggis

Yes, early on was key today although the N facing stuff should still be OK I would imagine. We got up to around 5800' on chair but it was a whiteout in the bowl just as we turned around. Open slopes were also key rather than trees which were much thinner but still a very easy approach and exit from to and from source lk today.

3/1/16 6:44am

kamtron

Nice running into you up there. Snow was surprisingly good! Left at noon after it warmed up.

3/1/16 4:47am

Chamois

Forgot to ask - what was your time?

3/1/16 4:22am

Good2Go

Well done! It takes a surprising amount of effort to get that line. Seems so close when viewed from the campground.

3/1/16 1:25am

Jake the Brit

Fabulous photographs & a stout effort.

2/29/16 1:48pm

Jake the Brit

Nice pic:

2/29/16 1:15pm

Chamois