TR Replies
I was with Kamtron. Around 4,500 on sheltered NE slopes we observed around 250cm of settled total snow. Shovel shear test showed some planar interfaces between storm snow layers in top 100cm, but in all we found good stability.
At our location we had calm winds and didn't note many cornices or wind slabs, but "loose-dry" snow slides combined with serious tree wells, trees shedding their snow load, deep open creek holes, and bergschrund-like hollows below cliff bands all...
At our location we had calm winds and didn't note many cornices or wind slabs, but "loose-dry" snow slides combined with serious tree wells, trees shedding their snow load, deep open creek holes, and bergschrund-like hollows below cliff bands all...
Our lap and a half in Kendall trees was quite nice. Quit early due to another holiday party.
We were in the Commonwealth vicinity, up to ~5000' and found settled stable pow on all aspects traveled.
Mt Catherine trees skied really nice yesterday, too. We observed similar conditions with what's described above.
Thanks to the good elf who put in the skintrack and whom we met on his way down. All in all, saw some 10 people on the mountain, including our group of two.
Thanks to the good elf who put in the skintrack and whom we met on his way down. All in all, saw some 10 people on the mountain, including our group of two.
nice report, silas. you get a nice parking spot?
Later in the season many of those cliff bands in there disappear. It's a moderately steep gladed area. Lots of room for things to move around and lots of propagation points for slides.
I wonder if they were actually going down big trees and not more on the no-fog side of things.
I wonder if they were actually going down big trees and not more on the no-fog side of things.
author=danpeck link=topic=35132.msg144228#msg144228 date=1450808324]
2. "Considerable" avalanche danger. All of us have different risk tolerances. But sometimes we are all blinded to the amount of risk we are taking. My personal observation is that many backcountry skiers forget that "considerable" means that human triggered slides are likely.
Also slides very likely given certain terrain features su...
What a tour, the light is spectacular, thanks!
Old trail. I have yet to take the new one for that exact reason.
Nice! Did you do the new route or the old route?
Looks like the distance has almost doubled with the new route, with the same elevation gain though.
Looks like the distance has almost doubled with the new route, with the same elevation gain though.
Way to go. I was pondering the epicness of a full moon (pow!) tour. Glad you got out and thanks for sharing the aweinspiring experience.
A turn on the steepest roll of the day got the top ~4" in a sheltered spot at ~4.5k to run loose-dry. No amount of kicking, stomping, trailbreaking, or wide-open skiing got anything else to move in sheltered spots/windward aspects. Snowladen trees (there are many) no longer reliably explode with a pole-tap. Cornices are big. At pass level, there's a thin (warming?) crust on S/W slopes.
Consolidation is such that I'm switching back from fattest skis to default winter sk...
Consolidation is such that I'm switching back from fattest skis to default winter sk...
Where you go? Kendall? Safe solo mission?
AwesomE!!!
Same out here in the Methow. Hopped out the backdoor in the moonlight and skied the burn. The only thing missing is the hot tub.
Same out here in the Methow. Hopped out the backdoor in the moonlight and skied the burn. The only thing missing is the hot tub.
At meadows with my touring gear in the car if anyone gets tired of the shit show let me know and we can go east to glorious burnt tree powder salvation.
Looks amazing over there right now! Thanks for the report! Wish I was heading that way right now...
Looks like a wonderful ski in the moonlight! Thanks for sharing!
I've only done that once, on a short tour above a hut up in the Selkirks, but it was indeed a memorable experience. Good job hopping on it!
"... You take the kids, the car, and the keys, just leave me my wax and my skis..."
We learned lots of those songs from the Cowan boys when we worked at Trapp Lodge in Stowe. When the season ended we would head north. Lots of singing around smokey campfires in the Gaspe while the rain soaked wool dried, wiskey was sipped, and tales told. We even did some skiing!
We learned lots of those songs from the Cowan boys when we worked at Trapp Lodge in Stowe. When the season ended we would head north. Lots of singing around smokey campfires in the Gaspe while the rain soaked wool dried, wiskey was sipped, and tales told. We even did some skiing!
Someone save me from having to ski at the resort tomorrow!! I desire the pow not the chop.
Thanks for the link Lowell.
Bud Halley was a family friend who belonged to L company in the 86th. He used to sing that song to my mom while teaching her to ski at Big Bear in California. She in turn would sing it to me years later when I learned to ski at Mission Ridge.
A cool piece of history, and a silly song that brings back fun memories.
Bud Halley was a family friend who belonged to L company in the 86th. He used to sing that song to my mom while teaching her to ski at Big Bear in California. She in turn would sing it to me years later when I learned to ski at Mission Ridge.
A cool piece of history, and a silly song that brings back fun memories.
author=jtack link=topic=35176.msg144346#msg144346 date=1451058407]
Lowell, I'm not a Facebook guy, but Polly is so I was able to watch your video, it's great! Mike told me about your repertoire of 10th Mountain Div. Songs!
Jamie, I don't think you have to be on Facebook to view the link I posted. That was my intent anyway.
For those interested in more 10th Mountain songs, check out the following page, whi...
Lowell, I'm not a Facebook guy, but Polly is so I was able to watch your video, it's great! Mike told me about your repertoire of 10th Mountain Div. Songs!
Mack, my new ski friend is Dans hard charging ski partner Chris.
Mack, my new ski friend is Dans hard charging ski partner Chris.
author=Charlie Hagedorn link=topic=35187.msg144311#msg144311 date=1450973715]
We heard plenty of control work; how much was on the hill at Alpy, and how much from DOT?
Heard half dozen from Central that had to be WSDOT because they seemed pretty close. Sitting in the alpy lodge we saw and felt another 3-4. Nothing propagated on the face under chair one (that we could see).
author=cumulus link=topic=35187.msg144317#msg144317 date=1450975793]
Last year we couldn't ski because there was no snow and this year we can't ski 'cause there's too much snow...
Next year might be just right!
author=AlpineRose link=topic=35187.msg144318#msg144318 date=1450976199]
Recent snow situation is a fine example of "being careful what you wish for, b...
author=AlpineRose link=topic=35187.msg144318#msg144318 date=1450976199]
Recent snow situation is a fine example of "being careful what you wish for, because you might get it".
yeah, but I'm still grinning. Totally willing to take a days hit for many good days to come.
Recent snow situation is a fine example of "being careful what you wish for, because you might get it".
We were going to head up today but -
Snoqualmie Pass is closed today (Dec. 24) both E and W all day... overhanging snow laden trees and avi danger...
http://www.wsdot.com/traffic/passes/snoqualmie/
Last year we couldn't ski because there was no snow and this year we can't ski 'cause there's too much snow...
Snoqualmie Pass is closed today (Dec. 24) both E and W all day... overhanging snow laden trees and avi danger...
http://www.wsdot.com/traffic/passes/snoqualmie/
Last year we couldn't ski because there was no snow and this year we can't ski 'cause there's too much snow...
We heard plenty of control work; how much was on the hill at Alpy, and how much from DOT?
You definitely didn't miss anything inbounds Charlie ... in the Alpy parking lot Tuesday at 0730 (before the pass closed) and no power. PSE said maybe noon so we went over to Central, did get some amazing laps in --- until the pass opened and the flood gates of Lexus and Audi AWD's pulled in. Called er' quits for lift accessed terrain at 1100 and went to Alpental for beers to wait. Never opened, and hasn't seen tracks since the initial dumping Monday morning. With the pass cl...
Now, that's the ticket! Wonderful, thanks for the post!
Is your "new ski friend" that knee-dropping Dan Peck? ;D
thanks for the report and the phat xmas poem!
And, if you're feeling starved for telemetry, here's today's trip. The earliest points, above freezing, are almost due to residual heat in the backpack.
We hit snow below Exit 45 driving up, and dropped out of the snow driving down at milepost ~37. An epic traffic backup stretched from Exit 47 down to milepost 36 just before 5 pm.
We hit snow below Exit 45 driving up, and dropped out of the snow driving down at milepost ~37. An epic traffic backup stretched from Exit 47 down to milepost 36 just before 5 pm.
Great to meet everyone forging upward on the skintrack. The still-missing skier and hazardous/unfamiliar conditions made the whole endeavor seem far more serious than usual. There's a lot of snow at the pass, and things are extremely unconsolidated.
As someone who likes to ski alone, now's not the time to ski alone. Breaking trail, we crossed over plenty of totally-buried trees. Tree wells are hungry. We shared the trail with friends and family of the missing skier --...
As someone who likes to ski alone, now's not the time to ski alone. Breaking trail, we crossed over plenty of totally-buried trees. Tree wells are hungry. We shared the trail with friends and family of the missing skier --...
Care to be a little more specific about where ya'll are skiing? I've got an idea but there's really no reason to be coy about it.
author=jtack link=topic=35176.msg144269#msg144269 date=1450898488">
So I figured I better add a small drop in the bucket, and maybe get some of you to come loose with a few good pictures to feed the stoke.
Last weekend I videoed some friends enjoying "Two boards upon cold powder snow, Yo-ho!" I combined the video with an old 10th Mountain Division song from World War II.
You can find the result on Facebook
I'm not sure there is such a thing as "poor pictures" when it comes to powder and feeding stoke.
Thanks for the Pictures. Yes, the powder has been great and I have been posting pictures on Facebook. I's so much easier to do it there without having to worry about getting it off my phone or camera, and then converting it to the right file size....I have a new computer as well and don't have Photoshop on it yet so I can't re-size everything. "Friend" me!
Brian Izdepski
Edmonds, WA
Brian Izdepski
Edmonds, WA
welcome to the summit at snoqualimie where if the poop gets slung were all good.
No wind down valley until 2:00. Yesterday was still as well. Sure is nice to have that much snow up there..