TR Replies
I noticed a lot of people hiking in and skiing their regular downhill setup over the last 10 days. Hopefuly the ski area's Thursday opening will take care of their needs, but either way the backcountry will get crowded and some places will get the Yogi Berra status: No one goes there nowadays, it’s too crowded.
Thanks for the report! Three cheers for optimism (and safety).
Setting a skin track was like re-uniting with a long lost friend Beautifully said! There is a beginning of poem hiding in there.
Setting a skin track was like re-uniting with a long lost friend Beautifully said! There is a beginning of poem hiding in there.
CCW makes sense for cooling during a climb & descent or warming during a descent then climb. CW for warming during the climb & descent, or warming during an ascent then descent.
author=bwalt822 link=topic=34792.msg143080#msg143080 date=1447691741]
I like the plot, its easy to read once you figure out to go counter clockwise.
Yes, that's it! I think the plot is excellent, most informative counterclockwise colour coding, bingo.
Nice landscape pic of the pass too.
I like the plot, its easy to read once you figure out to go counter clockwise.
I'm experimenting with adding air temperature measurements as a function of time and elevation to some of my TRs. Is this format comprehensible/useful?
Nice work! We're thinking of heading to Winthrop next weekend - are there any relatively easy to access areas for backcountry turns if the 20 stays closed?
Every big cat has to get out of the limelight and wreck som p-tex now and then!!
I think it would be pointless to start another thread about the same area on the same day. I hope you don't mind me posting what the conditions were from my point of view. The snow was heavier than I expected, but coverage made up for it. I think there were more people up here today than there would be on an opening day at Baker back in the 80s!!
https://youtu.be/cdPUrJBkzFA
https://youtu.be/cdPUrJBkzFA
Nice work. Hope you didn't hit any landmines! You must do recon when the slope is bare.
Nice photos, and Marky mark took time off from Hollywood to get a core shot?!
I use the same logic/caution displayed here about that place early season; this is a site many folks reference and the "public service announcement" factor of this thread cannot be overstated.
Moral of the story is... Don't be a dope, use a rope!
^^^
Upside is Ben and Jason got a nifty snow profile...
Upside is Ben and Jason got a nifty snow profile...
Whenever I think about glacier travel immediately after new snowfall, particularly in early season, I think of this January 8-9, 2002 trip report from JasonH and Ben Manfredi:
http://www.cascadeclassics.org/MountRainier/IngrahamDirect/Winter02/IngrahamDirect,Winter02.htm
In particular, I think about this photograph:
Caption: "Jason sitting next to the cre...
http://www.cascadeclassics.org/MountRainier/IngrahamDirect/Winter02/IngrahamDirect,Winter02.htm
In particular, I think about this photograph:
Caption: "Jason sitting next to the cre...
That is certainly the process by which bridges form, but I would still consider any bridges that new to be suspect even with a good refreeze, wouldn't you?
Wow! Legitimate Powder! That looked like a good day for any part of the season. Spectacular for early November.
Fun video. Thanks for posting.
Fun video. Thanks for posting.
author=Bronco link=topic=34737.msg142963#msg142963 date=1447262647]
In the case of Hyalite Canyon Road, there was an organization or entity established to raise funds and pay the contractor. Friends of Hyalite or something like that.
Thanks for the info Bronco.
http://www.hyalite.org
Pictures from Wednesday:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/runningclouds/albums/72157658857905533
https://www.flickr.com/photos/runningclouds/albums/72157658857905533
I talked to my buddy that was up there both on the 4th and 11th; he said more snow bridges now and great conditions. Dosn't that area usually get closed up by the combo of snow/rain/refreeze/windchill repeat?
Some Canadian friends we made had brought crevasse gear, actually. I don't think it was necessary, but you did have to pay attention to where you were skiing, and some of the more "sidecountry" crowd certainly was not. I saw ski tracks that aired a ~10' crevasse (totally flat!) and I'm not sure it was on purpose.
Stellar day, however.
Stellar day, however.
Who's the ripper in the white helmet?:) Looks like it was fun a fun day!
Excellent work. Hopefully they reopen early next week.
We recieved the closure news @830 in Newhalem, hung our heads and turned around, thinking worst case scenario was we'd have the DOT drive by while booting up at the car and tell us to leave anyway, like you guys. Also wanted to stay directed to the west and not get funneled towards Winthrop. We called the WSDOT and the guy actually said "well, you could probably still get out the gate if you did try to go ski, but I don't recommend it...."
Later start, a bit...
Later start, a bit...
We went back on Wednesday, a lot more folks showed up which was nice to see but meant more competition for fresh tracks, still everyone found them.
There is maybe an inch or two more on the road. Drivable to the trailhead, 4WD were fine, 2WD showed up with chains. Driving can be challenging, there is a truck that slid off the road about a mile from the parking lot.
Hiked for about 15 minutes before switching to skins. At Skyline proper the base increased by 2-3 inches with...
There is maybe an inch or two more on the road. Drivable to the trailhead, 4WD were fine, 2WD showed up with chains. Driving can be challenging, there is a truck that slid off the road about a mile from the parking lot.
Hiked for about 15 minutes before switching to skins. At Skyline proper the base increased by 2-3 inches with...
Yet again a nice vid. Looked like fun! Thanks for sharing.
I think last year it snowed then rained then refroze then the powder came down last year. I was on it 10.27.14 and 11.4.15. Before we went up last year I watched videos posted that people where riding mainly ice refreeze that was closed up before the snow came down. It is way more opened up right now than in the past. I thought the weather and wind direction had to do with it being more closed up? I guess we will see where it's in the next non el nino cycle. I passed on riding yesterday - o...
More Sunshine Powder & Friends 8)
https://vimeo.com/145542761
https://vimeo.com/145542761
Those holes are always there or at least will be from now on with what feels like several years of rapid climate change. It's shocking how increasingly broken up the entire permanent icefield above the hogsback has become. Last fall I made some turns up there in mid-october after 6" of snow had fallen. That 6" had fully bridged 2' wide crevasses. Extrapolate that to the typical 12"-18" of snow that seems to launch the season and...
Well earned turns! Those pics make me think "sometimes it's the journey - not the destination". I bet it was a peaceful day out there.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE leave your skis and poles outside the lookout next time. The window panes are incredibly fragile and I've had to patch up several over the past several years to avoid winter damage to the lookout. This lookout gets way more use and abuse these days than it was ever designed for, so extra care and TLC is really needed.
I know some Montana Ice Climbers were successful in setting up the Hyalite Canyon Road plowing with the USFS a few years ago. I think this guy was largely responsible for it's success, you might try to contact him.
https://www.facebook.com/ConradAnkerOfficial/
In the case of Hyalite Canyon Road, there was an organization or entity established to raise funds and pay the contractor. Friends of Hyalite or something like that.
https://www.facebook.com/ConradAnkerOfficial/
In the case of Hyalite Canyon Road, there was an organization or entity established to raise funds and pay the contractor. Friends of Hyalite or something like that.
RunningClouds - I sent you a PM, I didn't want to take away from your TR.
Hidden Lakes is great -- how many core shots?
author=Jason4 link=topic=34737.msg142938#msg142938 date=1447180934]
Advocacy came up at NSAW on Sunday and this would be the perfect example of what it's good for. It wouldn't be hard to form a group that pays a private contractor out of pocket to plow/groom the road for ski access. Perhaps someone could get money from the state for "special grooming/non motorized" snowparks to go towards this. It would really help if we could disperse s...
Wow, way to push through. Those photos look great.
author=KW link=topic=34737.msg142933#msg142933 date=1447161073]Kurt, my Forest Service map shows the entire road is outside Mt. Baker Wilderness area, so it should be possible but I am not sure what the rules for snowmobiling are.
Can you tow in with snowmobiles on that side? But plowing would be a great idea.
FYI: http://www.revelstokereview.com/news/344865522.html
Be safe out there!
Be safe out there!
This is what a community up north did to help promote ski touring.
http://www.bbss.ca/hankin
Nuts and bolts are a dedicated touring area with runs cut it was a unemployement program initialy if I remember right. Then plowed access in the season. No motorized assist on site.
This would be an amazing thing to have in lots of places in BC and Washington.
http://www.bbss.ca/hankin
Nuts and bolts are a dedicated touring area with runs cut it was a unemployement program initialy if I remember right. Then plowed access in the season. No motorized assist on site.
This would be an amazing thing to have in lots of places in BC and Washington.
author=runningclouds link=topic=34737.msg142930#msg142930 date=1447132871]
Thanks! It would be nice if the road was plowed, at least few times at the beginning of the season.
Advocacy came up at NSAW on Sunday and this would be the perfect example of what it's good for. It wouldn't be hard to form a group that pays a private contractor out of pocket to plow/groom the road for ski access. Perhaps someone coul...