TR Replies
Wow! Glad you're ok. We were probably there right after you guys and skied more to skiers left of the main gut. An airbag and a helmet are increasingly seeming like a good call inbounds on pow days. I lost a ski and narrowly avoided a 200 foot ride in storm sluff under the gondola a few weeks ago.
Yeah I was skeptical because the top of the snot is often not in condition to ski when descending. Most people opt to rappel. I was figuring you went up the standard "exit notch" from Thunder Creek.
author=AlwaysAscending link=topic=35418.msg145733#msg145733 date=1454201311]
Kamtron, yeah we booted up the snot. Much better than skinning around to snow lake basin.
...a boot track up the snot? most people exit due south back out to the phantom circa 5200'. Snot would be a 50°+ boot pack back up to 5800'...that may be a first...
author=cascadekid link=topic=35571.msg145714#msg145714 date=1454093154]
Astute obs, but you'll notice there's not location identification going on there :-). Also, I think most people don't look in my instagram for ski touring info. At least, I hope they don't.
sure is, someone said the name and you confirmed. I dig your stuff but its incredibly naive to say people aren't looking in your instagram for ski...
Caption for one last picture: Don't believe everything you read in the outfitters brochure and always bring your own corkscrew. A screw driver and butter knife can open a bottle of port but it's easier if you come prepared.
author=Skier of the Hood link=topic=35571.msg145705#msg145705 date=1454045170]
The area could certainly benefit from a stronger community to tackle issues such as Mt. Hood Meadows archaic backcountry policy.
What's archaic about it? They permit uphill travel at the boundary provided that it doesn't overlap with avalanche control activity. Given the size of the slides that their howitzer brings down that canyon I appreci...
Astute obs, but you'll notice there's not location identification going on there :-). Also, I think most people don't look in my instagram for ski touring info. At least, I hope they don't.
Your're right, Jim, we probably should have worked a little harder at getting the sauna up and running. Rookie mistake. We had a porter carry in food (and maybe a little wine) so we ate like kings.
Aaron, we skied a number of laps on "Cow's Face" on days 2 and 3 because the snow was excellent (and stable). I'm sure you're correct about "Hot Beverage Glades." The guide waved his hand in that general direction and mentioned the "Golf C...
Aaron, we skied a number of laps on "Cow's Face" on days 2 and 3 because the snow was excellent (and stable). I'm sure you're correct about "Hot Beverage Glades." The guide waved his hand in that general direction and mentioned the "Golf C...
The fully catered/hosted trip is really a bargain.
That moraine in the background of the first pic is called "Cow's Face". The last few pics are just above and in what they call "Hot Beverage Glades".
I really like McCully because of the varied terrain. Been twice where stability was bad and had great glade and meadow skiing off the moraines. Another time in March and with good stability we were able to ski from a lot of the high points along the r...
That moraine in the background of the first pic is called "Cow's Face". The last few pics are just above and in what they call "Hot Beverage Glades".
I really like McCully because of the varied terrain. Been twice where stability was bad and had great glade and meadow skiing off the moraines. Another time in March and with good stability we were able to ski from a lot of the high points along the r...
Bummer, the sauna yurt is good clean fun (we'll maybe the yurt isn't that clean, but you will be after using it)!
Another recommendation for doing those yurt trips is sledding up a pony keg of some good TG suds! Or go catered and let them do it as part of the package ;D.
Another recommendation for doing those yurt trips is sledding up a pony keg of some good TG suds! Or go catered and let them do it as part of the package ;D.
Yes, there was a sauna yurt but there was stuff being stored in it so we didn't fire it up.
It's a beautiful spot. You do have to go back and get up on the ridges and peaks above the basin if you weren't able to get up there on this trip. I found it especially cool when we were in the sun above the ice fog down below. It doesn't suck to have a guide with you for the whole time either! Their Norway Basin camp is a great location too - somewhat different feel and some gnarlier lines too (potentially even more of an argument to have them there with you to maximize options)....
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. Given the nature of the climate it is rare for the snow quality to even last long enough for the generally lower elevation (not on Mt. Hood proper) "secret" spots to even become tracked out. The area could certainly benefit from a stronger community to tackle issues such as Mt. Hood Meadows ar...
Last 2 pics from McCully Basin
Pic 6: Cascadian Kim doing a little recon
Pic 7: Tree harvesting
Pic 6: Cascadian Kim doing a little recon
Pic 7: Tree harvesting
More pics from McCully Basin
Pic 3: Finally a sun break
Pic 4: 18th fairway
Pic 3: Finally a sun break
Pic 4: 18th fairway
Ha ha... Busted....Timing and the right conditions are everything for this zone though.
That's really the last "open" shot on the north end of the rim of Stemilt. It's above the "grassy knoll". I've skid it but it's kinda sketchy because if it did go you'd get strained through trees. I've never seen it slide though. It catches the first sun even this time of year and maybe that killed the surface hoar.
Little bit of the pot calling the kettle black? ;)
I would assume that for the most part the people who peruse this sight don't ski Meadows all that much, and even if they do, they're probably familiar with this area already from the many times they've glanced east.
I would assume that for the most part the people who peruse this sight don't ski Meadows all that much, and even if they do, they're probably familiar with this area already from the many times they've glanced east.
Every year when Stevens Pass has me do a survey, I say they should reinstate the ski train from Seattle to Stevens. Get on downtown, get off at the Iron Goat, and bus shuttle to the resort.
Let's bring this back:
http://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/cdm/ref/collection/imlsmohai/id/6832
Let's bring this back:
http://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/cdm/ref/collection/imlsmohai/id/6832
author=dromond link=topic=35514.msg145541#msg145541 date=1453676756]
Did you ski at all near the Furano ski area or mostly Tokachidake?
Just skied around Tokachidake and Furanodake.
Yuji, our lead guide, got a shot of me in deep powder:
Now I'm back in wet NW. As much as I miss soaking in hot springs, also miss those bul...
Too many posts like this and the Meadows area crowds will be here too.
We were there Sunday too, came up the summer trail early and did laps on the north side of the ridge above Snow lake. We waited until the shadow moved across the bowl before descending back to source lake as the loose slides were frequent during the peak heat of the day. The awesome cold days of December are behind us; from here on out getting early starts and timing are everything!
Aaron, not exactally sure from the picture, but it was the northern most east faceing part of the basin (closest part of the basin to Wenatchee Mt.)
Jaime,is this the slope that didn't slide and had tracks?
entire east facing slope slides naturally. I'm not sure we're all taking this seriously enough. Thanks for the report, Jamie. I'm curious who those tracks belong to.
That reminds me of a photo I saw recently...
Welcome to the TAY, Cody, quite an adventure.
Went all the way to Muir; from a bit above Pan Point to higher Pebble Creek area there was almost bulletproof raincrust which was hard to skin on when sloped; it was also a bit breezy and foggy. 1 K above that it was all gravy, all sunshine with hardly any wind. Snow was wind-affected but not too bad. Skiing down was pretty decent although icy spots required attention; this improved about 1K feet above Pebble Creek.
At the bo...
Went all the way to Muir; from a bit above Pan Point to higher Pebble Creek area there was almost bulletproof raincrust which was hard to skin on when sloped; it was also a bit breezy and foggy. 1 K above that it was all gravy, all sunshine with hardly any wind. Snow was wind-affected but not too bad. Skiing down was pretty decent although icy spots required attention; this improved about 1K feet above Pebble Creek.
At the bo...
i think they would have told us if there was poop in the skin track.
Probably ran into you at some point - we were out with the dogs for the big pup's 11th birthday. It was a one and done for us, but better snow than expected up high.
Glad to hear you got some nice turns!
There was a ton of solar activity with the new snow on the rain crust. Yesterday around 10:30/11 we observed a shedding cycle on S and SE slopes going up to the divide. Most of the steeper stuff slid. Three slides ended up entraining snow. Two, r1 d 2, went over the skin track that roughly followed the summer trail and the third, r2 d2, narrowly missed some snowshoers on the apron. It split just above those little trees lookers left of the bench (...
There was a ton of solar activity with the new snow on the rain crust. Yesterday around 10:30/11 we observed a shedding cycle on S and SE slopes going up to the divide. Most of the steeper stuff slid. Three slides ended up entraining snow. Two, r1 d 2, went over the skin track that roughly followed the summer trail and the third, r2 d2, narrowly missed some snowshoers on the apron. It split just above those little trees lookers left of the bench (...
Long drive but a fun race! Thanks Free Range!
We were hiking the same valley on the 16th. Pretty cool hiking, right from the valley floor of Gunn Ranch Road. Too much snow for my collies though :O
Wonderful photos! I love that area. Did you ski at all near the Furano ski area or mostly Tokachidake?
Way to go Trevor and gang, that place looks deeeeeeluxe! We stayed in the yurts as well, way back, right after they opened - came in after yet more stupendous tree laps to find the chimney in the yurt stove glowing orange. Sorry to hear but not shocked in burned down. Awesome folks and terrain! Back then, we were as haphazardly freeform as the operation was. Bet Ymir is also more "grownup" now.
author=GregLange link=topic=35407.msg145420#msg145420 date=1453261773]
the runs were fog-free.
And dog-free, apparently!
Great report. I skied the slot in prime conditions a few years ago. One of the best lines in the Cascades.
author=AlwaysAscending link=topic=35418.msg145025#msg145025 date=1452401843]
Finally knocked this one off the bucket list!
Incredible day out in the Alpental/Snowqualmi backcountry! Started off with a low cloud/fog layer but rose above it at about 4,700'. Snow was very stable and we did not see any slides or tree bombs all day l...
Awesome - that's come a LONG way since we stayed in the yurt (as Zap describes), which had inadequate heat , garbage everywhere and a bunch of bear damage - the yurts had a pretty rough summer/fall that season. The new lodge looks awesome!
Great trip report and photos. It is nice that you had the lodge for the end of the day and the sauna. In the past, we did a self guided. The week before we arrived the other yurt burned down. BUT we slept in the yurt which had a smoking stove that had the stovepipe close to the yurt. Not good. Terrain was great. ;)
We saw a yellow plane on the 10th as well - circled Baker twice, then took off... beautiful day to be flying in the mountains...
Found the same on East Peak yesterday. Solar aspects held creamy safe stuff, minor sluff from cross/wind loading down low, nearer to the nose. Got it before the rains!
Great name, btw. Thanks for the post, and welcome!
Great name, btw. Thanks for the post, and welcome!
I'm curious if you did any hand shears what the results were like. Was thinking today that I need to get out into safe terrain on high avy days to dig around and see what my the results of my hasty hand sheers look like in high avalanche conditions.
You guys must not have got the memo about being early to work! The best laps to be had at West were between 5:45 & 7:30 AM. After that, the fog rolled in. Whilst on the lapping assignment, the sunrise was superb, and the runs were fog-free. Breakfast was a welcome repast...
Let's see some video of the ski flying!