Shasta, patches
8/15/09
US elsewhere
3493
8
- to start, I was lookin at the # of rpts. for July, '08, and there were 106. This July there were 68. So a lot less reports.
Well, I'm glad to put in a report. I hiked about 1,500 vert. on the Mtn's east-side, to get to a couple patches! Above me, the Hotlum snowfield looked pretty good next to the ridge-line. But there wasn't anything skiable between that and me. Looking at the summit area, the Summit Couloir and the Hotlum Couloir, both had a case of "ski-sickness".
Conditions were pretty good on the patches, so I'll head back next wk. as it's an easy 4 hour cruise from Reno.
* a sidenote - there was a Toyota truck in the parking area with WA ski plates, and an Alpental sticker ! Other than that, there was no signs of other hikers/ mountaineers on this side of the mtn.
Well, I'm glad to put in a report. I hiked about 1,500 vert. on the Mtn's east-side, to get to a couple patches! Above me, the Hotlum snowfield looked pretty good next to the ridge-line. But there wasn't anything skiable between that and me. Looking at the summit area, the Summit Couloir and the Hotlum Couloir, both had a case of "ski-sickness".
Conditions were pretty good on the patches, so I'll head back next wk. as it's an easy 4 hour cruise from Reno.
* a sidenote - there was a Toyota truck in the parking area with WA ski plates, and an Alpental sticker ! Other than that, there was no signs of other hikers/ mountaineers on this side of the mtn.
author=skimtner link=topic=13948.msg58389#msg58389 date=1250453386]
- to start, I was lookin at the # of rpts. for July, '08, and there were 106. This July there were 68. So a lot less reports.
A LOT less snow, too. :'( Even worse in August; the month is half over and there are only half a dozen trip reports so far.
Glad to see you had some fun down on Shasta. Thanks for the report. Any pics of the patches?
if you'd like I can send you an 8X10, of the week before with a cool cloud cap, and this wk. of clear sky. I first need a digital, (next season) and I think I can send to the website, from the Library.
Rob Miller
3300 Kauai Ct. M2
Reno, NV 89509
Rob Miller
3300 Kauai Ct. M2
Reno, NV 89509
re - Telemon ! I emailed Timberline (Mt Hood) and inquired how they keep their snow ?? on the Palmer snowfield. Hopefully they'll reply, probably not. It's on their webcam !
Timberline farms snow intensively; they collect it all winter, accumulating huge stockpiles, pushing it here and there to drag out the season as long as possible. Usually, they'll make it last just long enough to run their camps, including the terrain parks and halfpipes, through the summer. In a poor snow year it's touch and go by this point in the season.
Given the regularity of the terrain and the winds, hardly any snow accumulates naturally anywhere in the alpine except where sheltered by gullies, groves of trees, or slight variations in contour. With those consistent storm winds, anytime they dig some snow out of a ravine or other terrain feature it fills in during the next storm and they can dig it out again and again. By this time of year you ought to see bare, dusty pumice just about everywhere except where they've deliberately placed snow. Plus the White River Glacier, of course, which, having dug itself into a deep trough, accumulates cross-loaded snow whenever it storms.
It's quite a scene up there when the ski area's open. Happily, there are better places to ski on Mt. Hood.
Mark
Given the regularity of the terrain and the winds, hardly any snow accumulates naturally anywhere in the alpine except where sheltered by gullies, groves of trees, or slight variations in contour. With those consistent storm winds, anytime they dig some snow out of a ravine or other terrain feature it fills in during the next storm and they can dig it out again and again. By this time of year you ought to see bare, dusty pumice just about everywhere except where they've deliberately placed snow. Plus the White River Glacier, of course, which, having dug itself into a deep trough, accumulates cross-loaded snow whenever it storms.
It's quite a scene up there when the ski area's open. Happily, there are better places to ski on Mt. Hood.
Mark
I was just up at Hood a week or so ago, and suprisingly the White River Glacier and Zigzag snowfield were in decent shape. Usually the best lift served skiing is around Labor Day in September, or in early October, both of which are after the camps close. There's no one around and you can have the mountain mostly to yourself...
- thanks, Mark. Timberline emailed me saying they usually have enough snow to make it to August. He didn't give any specifics about stockpiling. It is called the Palmer Snowfield -- and not the Palmer Glacier ! I said,
due to grooming and salting, & he said grooming keeps it cleaner. In '05 it melted out. The top of the snowfield is 8,500 so that must help. I've been on the Snowdome and that's a great spot.
due to grooming and salting, & he said grooming keeps it cleaner. In '05 it melted out. The top of the snowfield is 8,500 so that must help. I've been on the Snowdome and that's a great spot.
- test, Thanks
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