Thread: Snow in the PNW

Originally Posted by Freedle

http://vimeo.com/7846583

Sweet POV, I like all the trees

Stevens yesterday was not awesome. It was raining for most of the morning. Everything off the groomers was super wet heavy mashed potatoes. The backside made turning more than a challenge.
Hopefully it will cool off and snow a bit more. The snow has compressed/melted substantially

Originally Posted by skiingsamurai

Stevens yesterday was not awesome. It was raining for most of the morning. Everything off the groomers was super wet heavy mashed potatoes. The backside made turning more than a challenge.
Hopefully it will cool off and snow a bit more. The snow has compressed/melted substantially

Im thinking about heading that way for the next few days. Do you think good conditions can be found in the Backcountry above 6000 feet?

possibly. ive never been ob at stevens. Ive only been there 4 times so far. Up high (around 7th heaven alt) things were betterish. Still warm and heavy, but it wasnt raining.

I leave that determination to more experienced stevens mags

anyone been to baker the last few days? guessing it's an ice rink?

Originally Posted by Cheesestoff

anyone been to baker the last few days? guessing it's an ice rink?

As of yesterday: Inbounds is beat. Steep lines ob are dust on crust. Anything down low is dust on crust. That being said, soft enough fast smooth velvety turns are available if you know where to go.

Of course this was yesterday, when the temps were freeeeezing. Now that it's warm who knows?

after the freeze thaw freeze cycles that's been going on here the past few weeks, anyone been up to baker care to chime in on how it is? can't imagine its too good for anything but groomers

same dealio with stevens. anyone care to report how icey it is? I didnt go up this weekend because I honestly dont enjoy ice anymore

It snowed a whopping 2" Saturday night and super cold, so there were pockets of windblown if you knew where to go. There were also pockets of what looked like windblown, but were in fact breakable crust/windscoured heinousness. There was still fun to be had, for a given definition of fun.

How could it be anything but crap at this point? A week+ of freeze thaw followed by a deep freeze has always been = to CRAP in my book...

Note: A few inches is not enough to overcome...Need at least 6 to resemble half way decent, and prefer 24+ before you are out of the ice below...

Second Note: I am just bitter, MRI examination is scheduled for Wed...the news will not be good.

Current Baker conditions = east coast ice inbounds. Starting to turn blue. Some blow in in the less gullies OB. Good week for Christmas shopping, if that's your gig.

anyone been up to baker care to chime in on how it is?

Did a quick tour to Table mountain and it was between breakable crust and ice. Nice and sunny but nothing softened up. Inbounds looked bullet proof.

Toured just East of Stevens yesterday up to about 5800 ft.: Bitterly cold and bulletproof with occasional pockets of windblown. At least I didn't find any breakable crust, I hate that crap.

Forecast calls for *one* inch between now and Sunday.

Me and the groms'll be at xtal both weekend days.

so is it ever planning on actually snowing again?

Originally Posted by skiingsamurai

so whose going this weekend?
Ill be at stevens tomorrow, possibly sunday, and monday if we get snow work skipping work

* Hand wringing *

I have new skis, so it kills me not to go tomorrow. But it's gonna suck.

I'll be going up tomorrow and sunday just for the sake of going. I don't really expect conditions to be all that great but it's skiing at least. Hoping the midweek forecast gets better.

hope it starts up again... last two winter breaks ive been back have been amazing so i hope that trend keeps up (cross fingers). also hope to ski some real shit, im tired of early season conditions in summit

Cliff Mass is calling for "LOTS of snow in the mountains on Tuesday" Woot!

Won't be much by the weekend, but the trend looks good for the next 10-14.

Is it worth going to Stevens Saturday just to cruise around on groomers? I haven't been in years, so I don't even know what they have for groomers. All I care about is if the snow will be machined enough to not be death ice. I can have fun on carveable groomers.

Originally Posted by bossass

Is it worth going to Stevens Saturday just to cruise around on groomers? I haven't been in years, so I don't even know what they have for groomers. All I care about is if the snow will be machined enough to not be death ice. I can have fun on carveable groomers.

call the snow phone 206-634-1645. they should be pretty honest.

Looks like I'll be touring again Sunday just to keep in shape. Not worth the $$ to ski groomers, I'd rather hike a lot and make a few turns for free. Hoping things shape up by next weekend.

Stevens groomers skied OK today. Nothing exciting - but it was decent enough for messing about. Basic carving fun - on EPs .

Definitely hardpack - but in pretty decent condition. Nothing we saw (the usual frontside on-piste suspects) resembled death ice. Been pretty consistent all week. So I'd expect the Sat. to be similar - except for more self-moving obstacles cutting things up...

Off-piste conditions looked reasonably heinous for the most part.