TR Replies
Kam you are right. I should go back to the ski area with appropriate gear and see if it is more fun. I was on my biggest skis and they are not the right skis for hard groom.
I found similar conditions on similar aspects in the 5 Mile Rd environs on Wednesday. Felt like May out there--I'll go back for more if I can find the time.
Thanks for sharing trip photos and cranking a few runs with me yesterday.
Railing turns on icy groomers is its own kind of fun... just not usually as fun on my touring gear! Still, you got out on a nice day, so you're winning I guess!
Dang, what a variability in weather and conditions. You get the crown for "going after it", Mike and Jtack, as usual : ) Looks like you squeezed every ounce of juice out of this trip.
"Almost corn", "buttery enough"... Sounds like you might have found the best snow in the state right now!
Wow, what a positive thinking tour! Ja-wreck even more so jeez!
Thanks Mike!
Ja-wreck strong work on the traverse in those conditions. I think I saw some photos on Instagram and it looked spectacular!
Great write-up, thank you! I traversed Crystal to White Pass Fri-Sun and found the same gunk at and below treeline. It was a long haul that took a bit more time and energy then expected. Good call climbing back up to Crystal.
Rad! And nice work on the pack weight! Thanks for the report. This is inspiring!
Wow! Not much more to say. Those pictures are unreal. Do you have a GPS track you can share?
A few more from the Nooksak
Great trip, huge day, wonderful pictures, the hart of winter makes a trip like that all the more challenging. Thanks for the trip report.
I had skied Chikamin a few years back and approached via Gold Creek and it was pretty slow and annoying travel. Breaking trail 3+ miles up that valley sounded worse than mindlessly following a skinner. The extra skiing was a perk and ensured we would get some good turns. In the right conditions access via Gold Creek would definitely be more efficient considering the extra 4.5k vert going back and forth over Kendall adds.
Ohly moley! way to hit the outback, nice entry point, there's so many places to go a little farther that ya gets the goods. Thanks for posting that trip.
Incredible work! Same question as Tim. Any reason you guys didn't go straight up Gold Creek?
I plotted what I think to be very close to what you describe on Caltopo and was wondering about snowmobile traffic on the road. Curious as to what other tours around the valley are as I'll be over there sometime the end of the month and wouldn't mind getting out!
Stunning images and hats off to a major one-day commitment to the backcountry.
Like timgibson11, I've backpacked the PCT through that area and looked longingly at those peaks. The 20 miles and 11K will keep the riff raff out, that's for sure. Thanks for sharing.
@RudyGarmisch
"I don't always go skiing, but when I do I get walled in on the backside of Hyak"
- The Most Interesting Man at the Pass
Nice work Nick & co. I remember passing underneath Four Brothers while hiking a section of the PCT a couple summers ago and thinking about how much fun it would be to ski back there. Just curious, do you think your approach route was more efficient than going straight up Gold Creek from I90? Or less efficient but more fun?
Way to friggin go, yall! Lots of inspiration, stoked to see people get after it!
Sweet! I remember reading Erin's report on this line. Well done
I booted up the walk-off and skied from the ridge, not the true summit.
Nice MIke! looking like a good week for some low land shredding!!
That area will often get more snow than the pass as it is closer to the Enchantments and where the big storms sometimes stall. Doesn't always happen, but when it does it’s special!
So glad you called and I got to answer. What a great day to get to ski the whole run! That skin track should be kept open for the next week with the forecast we have! Beautiful pictures and fun meadow skiing!
What!? Awesome!!! I haven't visited this area for a long time (like 30 years) maybe it's time for a revisit! Thanks for the stoke. Awesome!
Thanks for the report, and keeping the website up and running Pavel. It’s a different perspective on the snow lake zone
Looks like you had amazing conditions - what a way to start the year! I've done the Chair circumnav, but never via Bryant Col ... def on the bucket list.
Sweet looking tour! Incredible pics. 👍
Yeah, we call it Thunder or Avalanche, as well ... when searching the net, I discovered this so thought I'd use the new-to-me name in the title for kicks 😎
I've heard Thunder and Avalanche but Rock Thunder is a new name for me. Someone should ski the E face of that thing down those sick avalanche paths to the clearing some time!