TR Replies
Shocked just shocked how many tracks were on the main down route at 9am. Skinned up first third in the rain. Snowing lightly but heavy (I'm trying to make this sound better than it was ) At the top. Skied 2 runs and ended up wet at silver fir lodge for clam chowder. After lunch one more skin up to top of Rampart chair for a scientific 3rd opinion to confirm the lack of quality.
Mt rainier was closed again and Stevens was too far for us today.
EricT ,liked that first pi...
Mt rainier was closed again and Stevens was too far for us today.
EricT ,liked that first pi...
Blackdog you can say in two sentences more then I can say in two paragraphs.
If you practice elitism on the skin track this is what you are going to sound like to me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yclC6TzhMms
Dont be the backcountry Alpha! If you want change a little respect goes a long way.
If you practice elitism on the skin track this is what you are going to sound like to me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yclC6TzhMms
Dont be the backcountry Alpha! If you want change a little respect goes a long way.
We are clearly past the days where areas like Newton, Whiteriver and Pocket are going to be uncrowded on a sunny weekend day in mid winter with fresh snow. We have hit a turning point. There is no return. Once you accept this, your whole experience will change. You won't care who posts what and you'll just have to decide if your willing to travel to these places and accept the aggravations and dangers that come with it.
author=Winter link=topic=35571.msg145966#msg145966 date=1454632274]
I think the "cool kids vs Meadows crowd" frame - "two distinct user groups" - isn't too helpful. If folks are out in the backcountry mentally categorizing everyone they meet as either cool or lame (or maybe competent or gumbies - whatever), the whole experience will suck much worse for everyone.
I'm with you in spirit because we all begi...
Just speaking for myself here, but I think the "cool kids vs Meadows crowd" frame - "two distinct user groups" - isn't too helpful. If folks are out in the backcountry mentally categorizing everyone they meet as either cool or lame (or maybe competent or gumbies - whatever), the whole experience will suck much worse for everyone. I've had a lot of great days out with inexperienced people who ended up as good friends and good partners. And I think a...
Seems discussion comes up more and more both here and on nwhikers (which has "fragile alpine lakes routes" variant of this looping discussion) with increasing frequency, presumably thanks to the ever-growing firehose of skiers and hikers who might be directed by TRs, Instagram photos, Facebook trophy selfies, etc. As blackdog suggests, it's up to each of us to decide how we want to participate. In any case, I hope we won't see a trend toward hammering on folks in their trip...
author=arb link=topic=35648.msg145931#msg145931 date=1454539083]
Joecat2, those photos certainly get my stoke up! When/where/how were they taken.
Mark Kroese took the photo from an airline flight and posted it on his Facebook page.
Another source for aerial photos of the cascades
http://www.pbase.com/nolock
http://www.pbase.com/nolock
The authors of the Tumalo incident report demonstrate poise, personal reflection, and constructive analysis beyond compare. It is completely justifiable to not tolerate an individual's utter lack of participation in accountability and responsibility for one's actions. We all make mistakes. But there's a reason why leaving the scene of an accident is a crime.
There are a few things guaranteed for a revisit every season on TAY:1) snowshoeing in the skin track 2) an epic 30 page thread on whether someone has a high risk tolerance or is just ignorant, and 3) the ground covered in this thread.
People are going to share. It's what we do as a society electronically these days. The reasons for this are varied and evolving. The answer for me is simple: go farther, go further. Often times the objective just needs to be a ridge or clearing...
People are going to share. It's what we do as a society electronically these days. The reasons for this are varied and evolving. The answer for me is simple: go farther, go further. Often times the objective just needs to be a ridge or clearing...
This discussion really took off while I was away.
I wasn't saying that we should be greedy and hide our ski spots. I was suggesting that posting a road map to them on the internet is not how that information should be shared. I have the guidebook in question next to me, and I think you'd be hard pressed to use the information in it to find your way to the main clearing. To those who have, bravo, but you'd probably have gotten there without the book.
Point is,...
I wasn't saying that we should be greedy and hide our ski spots. I was suggesting that posting a road map to them on the internet is not how that information should be shared. I have the guidebook in question next to me, and I think you'd be hard pressed to use the information in it to find your way to the main clearing. To those who have, bravo, but you'd probably have gotten there without the book.
Point is,...
I was up on Newton Saturday too. Saw a group that was digging a pit, recognized the wind loading and instability along the ridgeline, and the proceeded to ski right over the skin track with people skinning on it...twice. Oh yeah, and this group of 6 or so was skiing simultaneously, and most of them were pretty bad skiers. I was on the skin track both times they skied by. I believe @cascadekid was skinning a few hundred vertical feet above me both times.
Equipment is not necessarily p...
Equipment is not necessarily p...
Joecat2, those photos certainly get my stoke up! When/where/how were they taken.
IMO it's a better discussion to have in random tracks, separate from trip reports. I like the "no spray in TRs" policy of nwhikers.net - people who have a bone to pick that might be sparked by a given TR nonetheless take it to their equivalent of Random Tracks to start a new thread. Keeps a better vibe going in the TRs forum while still allowing robust discussion of things like the good questions raised in this thread.
author=Jim Oker link=topic=35644.msg145874#msg145874 date=1454441744]
Actually Skip, on the bottom ~.5-1K, where your path diverged from ours, I was finding that the saturated snow beneath the fresh stuff was still somewhat soft under a crunchy crust - it made for much softer landings on bumps etc. than we found above which was nice for the challenge of the maze.
Ah yes thanks Jim. I was mentioning the "bottom to top" w...
author=water link=topic=35571.msg145913#msg145913 date=1454477759]
Are you suggesting 15-20 years ago people googled "MT HOOD BACKCOUNTRY SKIING" and that is how they learned about cool spots to hit? Because I strongly disagree that people are going to find out about this places JUST LIKE YOU DID. Couldn't be more wrong about that. Many people found places by their own exploration and ingenuity, and of course, socializing and making friends and...
author=Skier of the Hood link=topic=35571.msg145908#msg145908 date=1454469567]
You just described yourself as a lurker...
no, I participate at times, like now. You cut/pasted my reply out of context of my comments....
[quote="Koda"]I enjoy sharing information with like minded individuals and would otherwise be happy to with someone here who already knows where they are going.....
...
author=Skier of the Hood]
Honestly what is the point of this site if not to post TRs and share the stoke?
There is plenty of talk about snowpack analysis, access issues/land management, gear, and partners. And TRs don't also have to spell out every last detail or even say where it is other than the state to share plentiful stoke, as someone who doesn't post any, I'll do so from my next trip to prove this.
author=Koda link=topic=35571.msg145802#msg145802 date=1454346992]
...I stopped posting trip reports...
...I’m not giving up info to the masses who lurk here and there for an easy in...
You just described yourself as a lurker...
author=rong link=topic=35571.msg145859#msg145859 date=1454423673]
A good fisherman doesn't reveal his/her favorite fishing holes. Same has t...
I'm a little slow on the pics - windows 10 kindly installed itself on my computer w/o the drivers for my card reader....
Well, I've definitely learned my lesson. I've been cherry picking beta from these forums for a long time, but trying to give back has clearly gone over like a lead balloon. I guess my secrets are safe with me ;D
I was just talking to a coworker about doing this between the 14-16th. I'm convinced. Thanks for the report!
Good beta, glad things are filling in up there.
The solitude would have been ruined by the occasional joyous vocal outburst had I joined you on this trip.
The solitude would have been ruined by the occasional joyous vocal outburst had I joined you on this trip.
I think most all of us will agree that one of the main reasons to get into backcountry skiing is to get away from the crowds, that in itself is an expectation of some level of solitude. Otherwise, there is no reason to spend 3x the money on specialized gear and training and even risk of life to leave the resort.
I agree this isn’t a new debate but I side with those that feel trip reports do add to the crowds in the backcountry. The mere fact that this debate resurfaces annually...
I agree this isn’t a new debate but I side with those that feel trip reports do add to the crowds in the backcountry. The mere fact that this debate resurfaces annually...
I don't think it is difficult to grasp the differences between climbing Mt Hood and backcountry skiing the few areas around the mountain. Even climbing a route other than the standard south route will reward you with solitude.
no, Mt. Fuji has that crown.
Nobody is lamenting hordes at the hogsback, to my knowledge that's expected on a nice weekend day.
few of the TR's here that people wish to shhh about are in any proximity to where there would be climber traffic.
Nobody is lamenting hordes at the hogsback, to my knowledge that's expected on a nice weekend day.
few of the TR's here that people wish to shhh about are in any proximity to where there would be climber traffic.
Isn't Mt. Hood THE most climbed mountain in the world? It doesn't jive with expecting nor finding solitude.
It does make me sad to see these Mt Hood TR's pop up. The area is definitely experiencing some growing pains and with the increased popularity of the sport and the relatively small area that we have at our disposal, I don't think it's going to get much better. The irony of it is, all of us most likely started ski touring to experience the solitude that the backcountry has to offer, but then we announce on these forums and social media of our experiences.
One of my favor...
One of my favor...
author=dfhkvs link=topic=35571.msg145868#msg145868 date=1454432645]
Cut out 'skiing' and insert 'rock climbing' and this entire discussion (guidebooks, posting beta, etc.) happened 15 years ago.
15 years ago?! Uh, I don't think so. The crags get busier with each passing year.
Actually Skip, on the bottom ~.5-1K, where your path diverged from ours, I was finding that the saturated snow beneath the fresh stuff was still somewhat soft under a crunchy crust - it made for much softer landings on bumps etc. than we found above which was nice for the challenge of the maze.
author=dfhkvs link=topic=35571.msg145868#msg145868 date=1454432645]
Cut out 'skiing' and insert 'rock climbing' and this entire discussion (guidebooks, posting beta, etc.) happened 15 years ago.
well it is groundhog day after all...
The base under the fresh snow was "glacier-like" pretty much bottom to top. Rain saturated but now a frozen brick.
Cut out 'skiing' and insert 'rock climbing' and this entire discussion (guidebooks, posting beta, etc.) happened 15 years ago.
One of the main reasons this forum is useful / interesting is the sharing of conditions, routes, etc.
Please carry on.
One of the main reasons this forum is useful / interesting is the sharing of conditions, routes, etc.
Please carry on.
Where did you find that picture of me! ;D
I remember looking up at you ;D We traversed out of our first lap to avoid the gully and make haste getting back up. I was expecting to have to hustle to stay ahead of everyone on such a beautiful Sunday, but by the second lap it was obvious there was no one else there and so we continued to bottom each time. Not every run works out perfectly... here's a better one from the same day https://youtu.be/xsLkpRV6H8I Approve?
The response to this trip report has been staggeringly disappointing. You guys sound like so much fun to ski with.
Newton does require additional caution with all the traffic, much like a resort minus the AVY control work. Nice work Nexus digging the pit on a marginal day. Not being there my comments are only questions. The CT13 on the Q3 older wind slab at 30cm might give me a little concern. I have seen variable bed surfaces similar to your Q3 only to find a few feet away a much lower value. The wind up there has a tendency to create pockets of instability that can trigger and...
A good fisherman doesn't reveal his/her favorite fishing holes. Same has to apply to BC skiing now days as the population growth, and growth in general of the BC crowd are congesting many of our older favorite areas.
The Mt Hood area has very limited terrain within an hours tour from the trailhead. Longer tours out are not as populated, but if the goal is a short tour and solitude the chances are slim. I can remember when a weekend day on the newton face...
The Mt Hood area has very limited terrain within an hours tour from the trailhead. Longer tours out are not as populated, but if the goal is a short tour and solitude the chances are slim. I can remember when a weekend day on the newton face...