TR Replies

author=Chamois link=topic=34040.msg140580#msg140580 date=1428349192]
an odd up track was put in right up the gut of the north side line when there was a perfectly good one climbers left - never get that.

We followed that uptrack on our first line as it took us directly where we wanted to go with minimal exposure (but much effort). A group of tennis shoe-clad tourons found it appealing, too, and postholed it to smithereens behind...

4/6/15 11:02am

brainbrian

April 4, 2015, Maple Pass to Frisco to Rainy lake

author=Chamois link=topic=34040.msg140580#msg140580 date=1428349192]
We were skiing by 9:00 and I was expecting a bit of cluster on Naches but was pleasantly surprised -- it seemed odd that about half the crowd seemed to take one, maybe two runs and then head home! There was plenty of fluff to go around and we left at what I thought was an early 2:30 after 5 loops.

A couple notes: an odd up track was put in right up the gut of the north side line...

4/6/15 10:56am

kamtron

There was good 2-6" of light powder above the smooth crust in the upper bowls above Rainy and Ann. It skied great!

4/6/15 10:53am

Chamois

We were skiing by 9:00 and I was expecting a bit of cluster on Naches but was pleasantly surprised -- it seemed odd that about half the crowd seemed to take one, maybe two runs and then head home! There was plenty of fluff to go around and we left at what I thought was an early 2:30 after 5 loops.

A couple notes: an odd up track was put in right up the gut of the north side line when there was a perfectly good one climbers left - never get that.

And the...

4/6/15 10:35am

kciari

Alpental Still Going Barely

Seriously awesome video! Really, really well done. I'm sorry it was so sunny - having to wear sun protection is the WORST! ;-)

4/6/15 10:07am

snakeman

Looks very good. Would have headed there if I though it would be that good. Were you able to drive to Windy Pass?

How was the snow to Lake Annette if you went that direction.

Thanks for the report.

4/6/15 10:06am

pMahoney

Alpental Still Going Barely

Looks like fun. Not sure about later in the Spring but Silver was killer this past Saturday...

4/6/15 9:30am

kamtron

April 4, 2015, Pineapple Pass

Excellent video and adventure! I especially enjoyed the shots of the climb and music you chose

4/6/15 9:23am

Jake the Brit

April 4, 2015, Eldorado

Gritty summit ridge pic!
We went out to the Cascade Pass yesterday (sunday) & found similar deep light powder improving with altitude in both quality & depth!

4/6/15 7:13am

Ted

We saw you guys on the way down while we were skinning up - you got a pretty early start. Skiing at the pass was excellent; skiing out through the trees not so much but still fun.

4/6/15 5:48am

Jake the Brit

Superb, all of it: The effort, the vid is 100% quality, 110% effort. I love the shot with the sundog as you ski past the blue ice.
...and the icing on the cake: you were robbed by the gate-guy!
Rock on.

4/6/15 5:44am

Marcus

Thanks for the TR - awesome outfit. Glad nothing serious happened with the breakage, yikes!

4/6/15 5:26am

Mofro

author=the_flying_v link=topic=34040.msg140531#msg140531 date=1428216741]

I was one of the lone ones up there Friday and lost my grey neck gaiter somewhere on the ridge of the N bowl. Anyone grab it?

Shoot- I grabbed it off the top of the ridge, but then left it by the Stop sign in the parking lot.

4/6/15 5:01am

brownc9

https://youtu.be/6z9Cg46Nktw?t=3m51s

Should have sent it full throttle anyways. One of my favorite "ski movies"

4/6/15 4:39am

ryanl

Nice tele turn

4/6/15 4:17am

Norseman

[img width=1000 height=664]https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7667/16430403183_54b6b0bf39_h.jpg" />

[img width=1000 height=664]https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8772/16843147297_f3e12dd38d_h.jpg" />

[img width=1000 height=664]https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7608/16862769558_816f8c941e_h.jpg" />

[img width=1000 height=664]https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7598/17050559975_47e30747aa_h.jpg" />

[img width=1000 height=605]https://farm8.staticf...

4/6/15 3:45am

skykilo

It was a 1st generation Plum Guide and one wing of one toe made a clean break, no way to salvage it, had to ski 2,000 vf with some steep bits on one ski. I remember seeing a report of something like this on TGR years ago when the bindings were first released and perhaps newer versions have been modified. Will likely post a picture of the binding later. Glad not to have lost the ski; it still has plenty of life remaining!

4/6/15 3:23am

Boot

I figured the sarcasm Brian; was just checking ;). Pretty sure Kyle did too, but never misses a chance to expound the virtues of an appropriate set skin track. ;D Wished the runs had been longer, but twas a fun day!
Boot

4/6/15 3:04am

Floater

April 4, 2015, Pineapple Pass

Fun Day we were able to somehow avoid the areas where everyone was set on skiing and still get decent pow and nice long runs. However the goods will not be there for long. Great Chinook Pass opening.

4/6/15 2:12am

PS44

Excellent - thank you for the update. Not sure Source Lake/Pineapple Pass environs will fill in more this spring but this sounds promising.

In any case it looks like you had a nice start of the Easter weekend.

4/6/15 2:12am

AndyMartin

April 1-2, 2015, Rainier, Mazama and Cowlitz POWDER!

Keep the reports coming Amar - they are always first rate and educational as well.
Thanks!

4/6/15 2:07am

Amar Andalkar

author=skykilo link=topic=34045.msg140538#msg140538 date=1428251028]
I had a scary binding failure after the little chute. Glad it didn't happen in a more importune place!

Glad to see that you're still ski mountaineering down there, Sky. What kind of binding and what failed? Any pics?

4/6/15 1:42am

lrudholm

Cool trip.

4/6/15 12:59am

brainbrian

Thanks Dustin Kingman for the pic!

4/5/15 11:37pm

brainbrian

A hint of sarcasm? Our group was 4 splitboarders and 1 skier. If I was actually to place blame on the skin trail... which is lame to do anyway, it was because of beginners and the melting/freezing. It made it quite slick for how many were traveling on it. I saw splitboarders and skiers alike falling on the skin trail at all different points... blowout, sliding backwards.. can't side step. I do have ski crampons too ;), but thanks for the advice.

Overall yesterday was an amazing d...

4/5/15 3:51pm

Andrew Carey

April 4, 2015, paradise

Gary, I agree we all should be careful about the names up there. If there is an accident, response effectiveness would be increased if there are common, universally used names. Unfortunately there do not appear to be many names on topo maps and Mt. Rainier NP officials use names that I can not even begin to imagine where they are talking about; it seems almost everyone that is lost is lost on Stevens Ridge but I doubt that. I encounter many, many people in the bc in Paradise en...

4/5/15 2:24pm

Charlie Hagedorn

Indeed, t'was a great day in the sunshine. South slopes are really cooked. A southward sojurn for solitude got us away from the crowds, but snow was thin indeed, and perhaps not recommended. The PCT was skinnable on the way back, but it'll go real quick. Keep it shady.

Greatest instability observed took the form of sluffing on steeper slopes; it's 5" of dust on crust. Didn't find any meaningful windslab, and despite the sunshine, the loose-wet cycle neve...

4/5/15 12:59pm

Gary Vogt

April 4, 2015, paradise

author=androolus link=topic=34042.msg140527#msg140527 date=1428207735]
Plenty of fresh lines left....but yo it is a long slog up the paradise valley to get there.

'Paradise Valley' is the historic name of the ice age lakebed below and just east of the hotel, that is traversed by the summer Valley Road past Fourth Crossing. It seems to me that name should be restricted to the Paradise River drainage. I've also heard ot...

4/5/15 12:58pm

the_flying_v

Thanks for the report, Silas. Glad the goods kept/improved for everyone Saturday.

I was one of the lone ones up there Friday and lost my grey neck gaiter somewhere on the ridge of the N bowl. Anyone grab it?

ps brianbrian get some ski crampons

4/5/15 12:17pm

Kyle Miller

"There were a lot of blowouts on the skin trail, damn splitboarders."

Damn people who don't know how to make an efficient skin track and other people who aren't willing to set a new one. Wait......lets blame the Splitboarders.

Miss you Boot!!!

Shepard Lake Couloir had great coverage when I rode it in December.

4/5/15 9:37am

Amar Andalkar

April 4, 2015, paradise

author=androolus link=topic=34042.msg140527#msg140527 date=1428207735]
After Amar's report from 4/2, I expected a TAY herd munching on the powder on the NE facing slope above the cowlitz.
....but yo it is a long slog up the paradise valley to get there.

That's the main reason I felt OK about posting a glowing TR about skiing powder there. It has a significant barrier to entry that will keep the herds away, especiall...

4/5/15 2:49am

Boot

"There were a lot of blowouts on the skin trail, damn splitboarders."

???

4/5/15 2:46am

brainbrian

Our touring group got up to Chinook Pass around 9 am. We scrapped our original plan to try and attack the Sheep Lake Couloir due to very minimal coverage on southern facing slopes (not sure why we thought that might work). We had no idea how you would even begin the approach from Chinook Pass let alone even if we could expect snow after what would have likely been 1,000+ feet of hiking dirt and rocks.

We instead decided to lap the northern facing slopes off Naches Peak. Starting out f...

4/5/15 2:27am

SilverFoxIV

author=silaswild link=topic=34040.msg140519#msg140519 date=1428192025]
Blue skies, light breeze, and 4-8" fresh soft powder was found today on north and east slopes of Naches Peak. South slopes had very little coverage. Plenty of untracked lines for the 50-100 visitors today.

4/5/15 2:15am

andyrew

On the other side of the highway (PCT north parking below Yakima Peak) I found the same. East aspects had supportable suncrust on them by the time we made it back over the ridge at 4PM. North aspects still cold and fluffy.

I also found a dynafit tongue for a TLT Mountain. Let me know if you're missing one!

4/5/15 1:59am

rlsg

FANTASTIC!!!!

4/5/15 12:56am

cumulus