TR Replies
I like those 2 photos in the 1st post; quintessential Snotqualime Pass.
The next batch are quintessential too, just the murk featuring!
The next batch are quintessential too, just the murk featuring!
That thar is a useful report, many thanks.
Definitely not the place to go if you want to avoid Bozos.
Overheard there on Saturday: "Yeah man, the best thing about this place is that it's pretty much always safe".
Not 20 minutes later a solo skier center-punched the wind loaded side of the main bowl.
The best part is that everyone starts to watch you if it looks like you know what you're doing, and they copy you. God forbid that you dig a pit. If you dig and then ski, it's like...
Overheard there on Saturday: "Yeah man, the best thing about this place is that it's pretty much always safe".
Not 20 minutes later a solo skier center-punched the wind loaded side of the main bowl.
The best part is that everyone starts to watch you if it looks like you know what you're doing, and they copy you. God forbid that you dig a pit. If you dig and then ski, it's like...
I tend to avoid Newton creek on the weekends due to the amount of people touring in that area. It seems to always be a circus up there on the weekends. I had a group of guys attempt to drop cornice bombs on top my partner and I as we were skinning up. We gave them the courtesy of skinning up to the top before dropping into our line. Newton isn't too bad during the midweek when you're sharing the entire ridge with less than 10 people
I was in one of the other groups that skied White River yesterday. I assume you were in the group of two snowboarders?
I'm asking this out of curiosity. Why were you only going a short distance down then traversing across the slope? At one point one person in the group made a few turns then cut across the slope directly below me. I don't think I saw either snowboarder make a complete fall line descent.
And please don't take this as an attack. I'm truly...
I'm asking this out of curiosity. Why were you only going a short distance down then traversing across the slope? At one point one person in the group made a few turns then cut across the slope directly below me. I don't think I saw either snowboarder make a complete fall line descent.
And please don't take this as an attack. I'm truly...
Me about to take the leap during our exit. As predicted, my boot sunk in an extra foot as I planted for takeoff which sent me thudding against the snow and rocks of the opposite bank. I stayed dry, but a standing leap would have been much wiser.
author=Koda link=topic=35632.msg145825#msg145825 date=1454363707]
I think most people don’t want to ski down out of the runout zone to skin back up, but then if you do your still exposed to skiers coming down in the trees. There really isn’t a good way back to the top.
Agreed, there's no 100% safe skin track route in Newton which makes safe(r) travel protocol even more important. Spacing out your party by 150 ft. or so will...
I think most people don’t want to ski down out of the runout zone to skin back up, but then if you do your still exposed to skiers coming down in the trees. There really isn’t a good way back to the top.
author=butteredstuffs link=topic=35632.msg145817#msg145817 date=1454360542]
Nice picture!
I'll never understand why Newton is SO popular. The turns are good, but IMHO it's a terrible slog to get there only the find the place carved up. I've also witnessed some shady avy protocol there... maybe it's because it's so busy that people don't take the risks seriously.
I think the proximity t...
yeah, it’s just my observations as a weekend warrior... Im not fortunate enough to get out midweek. I can’t say the crowding is because of trip reports or simply an increase in popularity of the sport, probably the latter as all outdoor activities are getting crowded but then I suspect the newbies find it easier to use Google than go out and buy an actual book. These forums are fun and a great way to make new friends but then it puts a lot of information out there for all.
It's all good. I totally share your frustration with how crowded the whole mountain has gotten in the past few years. I tour up at Stevens Pass and Mt Baker a lot too, and it's CRAZY how many people are out in the backcountry now. Really though, it's just a weekend problem... when I'm lucky enough to get up for midweek powder I'm almost always breaking trail all day.
Still good snow in the area today. Some thin crust was present in one or two small spots, but mostly we just found stable powder.
author=butteredstuffs link=topic=35571.msg145816#msg145816 date=1454360152]
How do you think I found out about it?
interesting, I missed that entry your correct.
Nice picture!
I'll never understand why Newton is SO popular. The turns are good, but IMHO it's a terrible slog to get there only the find the place carved up. I've also witnessed some shady avy protocol there... maybe it's because it's so busy that people don't take the risks seriously.
I'll never understand why Newton is SO popular. The turns are good, but IMHO it's a terrible slog to get there only the find the place carved up. I've also witnessed some shady avy protocol there... maybe it's because it's so busy that people don't take the risks seriously.
How do you think I found out about it?
author=butteredstuffs link=topic=35571.msg145809#msg145809 date=1454353982]
All of these zones can be easily found in a well-known, well-read guidebook available for $20. What secrets are you keeping exactly?
http://www.amazon.com/Backcountry-Ski-Snowboard-Routes-Oregon/dp/1594855161/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1454351280&sr=8-1&keywords=ski+snowboard+oregon
although I wouldn't exactly call a secret, the ti...
author=Charlie Hagedorn link=topic=35621.msg145767#msg145767 date=1454293431]
A fun adventure day.
Agreed! That pretty much sums up our day too.
When we started around 8am temps seemed quite a bit warmer than what was forecast. A foggy and damp start, but beautiful in its own right (early bir...
All of these zones can be easily found in a well-known, well-read guidebook available for $20. What secrets are you keeping exactly?
http://www.amazon.com/Backcountry-Ski-Snowboard-Routes-Oregon/dp/1594855161/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1454351280&sr=8-1&keywords=ski+snowboard+oregon
http://www.amazon.com/Backcountry-Ski-Snowboard-Routes-Oregon/dp/1594855161/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1454351280&sr=8-1&keywords=ski+snowboard+oregon
author=aaron_wright link=topic=35622.msg145796#msg145796 date=1454342733]
Do we know the folks in the party of snowmobilers?
A quick look at Snowest doesn't turn anything up, either.
author=Skier of the Hood link=topic=35571.msg145705#msg145705 date=1454045170]
Personally I would love to see more reports from the backcountry of Mt. Hood as I frequent the area. "Locals" fear of the "secret" spots becoming over run are quite overblown.
Not in my experience…
been touring on Hood for years and used to do trip reports here but have seen places I’d frequent where I would otherwise mos...
author=mikerolfs link=topic=35622.msg145797#msg145797 date=1454342938]I looked on the NWAC site, no mention of this as of yesterday in the forecast, observations or accidents.
I don't. I hope they report the snowmo burial to NWAC. I'm curious about what happened.
I'm gonna ask around see if anyone knows who this was.
author=aaron_wright link=topic=35622.msg145796#msg145796 date=1454342733]
Do we know the folks in the party of snowmobilers?
I don't. I hope they report the snowmo burial to NWAC. I'm curious about what happened.
Do we know the folks in the party of snowmobilers?
author=aaron_wright link=topic=35622.msg145792#msg145792 date=1454341615]
Has that area been officially classified as non-motorized now? That's great if so but bad if the sleds are still getting in there.
I don't think so. It was identified in the 2015 DNR winter recreation plan as non-motorized. But the plan also identified a mountain bike trail from Mission to Ellensburg. Just like the trail doesn't yet exist, I t...
author=kamtron link=topic=35612.msg145784#msg145784 date=1454307609]
Quite a few people out
That might be an understatement, I tallied over 100 on Sun going out the trail while lapping the High T access side country. Some bizarre behaviors too- Saturday we encountered a snowershoer climbing up Gunbarrel, saw shoe tracks skiers right of trashcan, and observed shoers climbing up wall street while skiers were descending.
Has that area been officially classified as non-motorized now? That's great if so but bad if the sleds are still getting in there.
Around Mission we don't have the crowds, more like AleCapone's experience here, but we do get snowmobiles.
Yes. The crust is currently supportive to skis. I think it would not support boots.
Thanks for answering the question Mike as to whether the rain was substantial enough to destroy the buried surface hoar...I guess not. I heard the crust was supportive near Blewett, though, effectively bridging the weak layers from skiers weights. If only temporarily. Is it similarly supportive at Clara?
author=alecapone link=topic=35611.msg145782#msg145782 date=1454305664]
John,
Yes, parking is almost always available just across the tracks. I think I heard BNSF has an access agreement or something?
Trail is in about as good/fast shape as it gets..I think for someone like you, the approach/ deproach would be trivial.
Thanks...and bulls eye on the location beta. We bypassed noodle since below 5000 feet there...
Really nice snow near Snow Lake today. Quite a few people out but still lots of stashes to be harvested.
John,
Yes, parking is almost always available just across the tracks. I think I heard BNSF has an access agreement or something?
Trail is in about as good/fast shape as it gets..I think for someone like you, the approach/ deproach would be trivial.
Yes, parking is almost always available just across the tracks. I think I heard BNSF has an access agreement or something?
Trail is in about as good/fast shape as it gets..I think for someone like you, the approach/ deproach would be trivial.
Beat up old canon s95 point and shoot. It doesn't have much resolution or sharpness to get any bigger. Thanks though! Some of my favorite pictures ever taken have been with this camera, mostly because I bring it much more often than the DSLR and often times it's just about having a reasonably decent tool at the right time.
My guess based on the conversation.
Both groups met at the Nordic center. Group up skied north facing trees on Jim hill ridge. Group further back went back to noodle trees at the lake, and then climbed north facing slopes ..
Nice to meet you Nick! I considered going down that way, but I thought I was going to be one and done. Your idea worked though. Slowed down and let it snow a little. :) .
Both groups met at the Nordic center. Group up skied north facing trees on Jim hill ridge. Group further back went back to noodle trees at the lake, and then climbed north facing slopes ..
Nice to meet you Nick! I considered going down that way, but I thought I was going to be one and done. Your idea worked though. Slowed down and let it snow a little. :) .
"So where you headed today?", one of us asks.
"Up"
Ha ha! That is a great conversation. So, if you happened to meet them at the top, and asked them what line they were going to ski, we can assume their answer would be, "down."
This conversation reminds me of the interactions that seem to be a common part of the popular outdoor crags like Vantage. Inevitably I'll be approached and asked, "So, what climb you thinking of doi...
"Up"
Ha ha! That is a great conversation. So, if you happened to meet them at the top, and asked them what line they were going to ski, we can assume their answer would be, "down."
This conversation reminds me of the interactions that seem to be a common part of the popular outdoor crags like Vantage. Inevitably I'll be approached and asked, "So, what climb you thinking of doi...
that does sound weak. but maybe he didn't know where he was going?
Hi Scott.
I was the Friday fellow following you and poochie up Skyline and our brief meet at the cell tower. I was hoping you would follow me to the northwest runs but breaking a new solo skin track can be character building. Quite stormy but lots of nice fresh in trees that day. Yeah, somewhat surprised others did not show up.
I was the Friday fellow following you and poochie up Skyline and our brief meet at the cell tower. I was hoping you would follow me to the northwest runs but breaking a new solo skin track can be character building. Quite stormy but lots of nice fresh in trees that day. Yeah, somewhat surprised others did not show up.
I've been touring on Hood for years and this was the first time the stars aligned to hit this zone. Terrain is epic but I wouldn't worry about Meadows riders climbing 2000' to ride the mostly dust on crust.
Hi Scott, I am glad you stopped by. I was thinking of you and Surprise and wondered if the deeper low elev snowpack has had any bearing on parking down there or is it still available typically? Would love to get back to the 'Plugs.
Sure, "up's' perfectly legit I guess, Stefan. It's just that the whole exchange really cracked me up. Everyone who ends up parked there has to know where "up" is! If not, come back the next day and follow the skin tra...
Sure, "up's' perfectly legit I guess, Stefan. It's just that the whole exchange really cracked me up. Everyone who ends up parked there has to know where "up" is! If not, come back the next day and follow the skin tra...
Great observations. Scary crazy electronic disturbance in the video.
ha! funny Scott, nice reply.
as for
where's all your TRs Myikat? The leap to judge it as "hoarding mentality" seems bizarre.
as for
author=myikat link=topic=35611.msg145761#msg145761 date=1454287705]
I agree that the hoarding mentality has gotten dramatically more noticeable recently. Note the paucity of reports on this board- it's really ridiculous in the PNW where the bounty of terrain is so abundant.
where's all your TRs Myikat? The leap to judge it as "hoarding mentality" seems bizarre.
John,
I'm still surprised we haven't had that convo at a trail head somewhere... ;)..
I'm not really that guy though. I usually ask, because I want to know for the sake of safety, ,knowing who is above or below, recent observations, crowd dispersion, or even combining groups. Met some good people, and partners like this. Lots of good info has flowed both ways. I can understand people wanting to hold their secrets, doesn't bother me, but doesn't...
I'm still surprised we haven't had that convo at a trail head somewhere... ;)..
I'm not really that guy though. I usually ask, because I want to know for the sake of safety, ,knowing who is above or below, recent observations, crowd dispersion, or even combining groups. Met some good people, and partners like this. Lots of good info has flowed both ways. I can understand people wanting to hold their secrets, doesn't bother me, but doesn't...
Great beta on the condition. I agree that the hoarding mentality has gotten dramatically more noticeable recently. Note the paucity of reports on this board- it's really ridiculous in the PNW where the bounty of terrain is so abundant.
Thanks guys. cascademystic I share your opinion of the Crystal Southback being the best lift accessed terrain in the PNW! A run later that day in Silver Basin made my week.
This was taken in the Snoqualmie area yesterday and was much more than 3-6 inches, and well bonded to the crust too. But then we hit another mountain on the way back (<2 miles away, similar aspect and elevation) and found the conditions you described. So it seems to be quite variable.
Hard to say what the difference was. Overall conditons were similar to your Stevens report except where I was at tree line there had been just enough wind consolidate the snow so that it cracked and broke off in ski length chunks. Made me quite nervous of the potential for larger wind slabs.
Glad you're OK! Thanks for sharing.
author=ski_photomatt link=topic=35612.msg145743#msg145743 date=1454211993]
Scratchy in the trees with 3-6" of new snow on the hard rain crust, better in the open with good, fast turns. New snow has a really poor bond to the rain crust and was quite reactive at tree line. Sluffs were running fast. I stayed off anything steep but still easily triggered small slabs in the new snow and on the crust on small rollovers.
We experien...