Thread: SNOW IN THE PNW 2011/2012!

Went to Harts Pass over memorial day weekend to do a 3 day ski trip . The goal was to set up a high camp and ski a variety of lines on whichever aspects had the best snow. The Forest Service gave us bad info and it ended up being a 10 mile skin-walk-skin to our campsite at 7,000 feet ( a high perch by Cascade standards).There was a 55-60 degree line that you can see behind the campsite that I really wanted to ski. We skied the backside of the mountain which faced south and was a 40 degree slope of nice corn all the way to the bottom(2,200 feet). The snow was too rotten to skin so we ended up booting most of it. I got up to the top and we had lunch while we pondered wether to ski it. At the bottom is a 200 foot cliff. It faced north so we were not sure what the snow was like. I got out on it on my skis to check the snow and cut it. It was breakable crust on top of mush. It felt too dangerous to ski in the far backcountry and no helmet. I was pretty bummed but perhaps another time when the snow is better. On a side note I had new Power Wrap liners in my Cochise and due to the fact that they don't breath and the long slog in I developed terrible blisters which limited the amount of skiing I could do to only a few runs a day. A few pics but no action shots




FYI the mountain I am referring to is the one that you hike on 2 sides on the PCT between Harts & Grasshopper pass in the summer

nice job getting to the zone, break in those liners and join us on the solstice at alpental for an early evening social at the top of chair 2. bring some of that nice weather from your pics.
bobbyF

Will certainly try to. Hopefully the weather will improve by then

Just decided to post here as I need some schooling on possible turns options which was triggered by an email last night.

Looking at the possibility of heading for the Northwest for June/July turns.

- I've been to T-line in late August/early Sept back in 2006.
- Heard that Bachelor MIGHT consider reopening.

How good or bad is that place if it opens for July like it did last season?

Should I even consider getting a plane ticket (on points) for it in order to increase the odds on continuing my ski streak?

Opinions, comments, suggestions?



-

Crystal is still open and is planning on running weekends all month, and possibly in to July. Of course if you like to tour the options are endless. There is a LOT of snow above 4-5,000 ft still.

Sorry for my ignorance (as the PNW wasn't even on radar for this season until last night).

I've been to Timberline in summer back in 2006.

What are the odds that Crystal might still be open?
What would the terrain Crystal be like at that time?
Same questions for Bachelor. It would seem that Bachelor might be thinking about it.
What is the terrain like versus : summer Timberline or July Mammoth (2006 and 2010)?

If I would be limited to Timberline, I wouldn't be considering it, but if I could make turns elsewhere too?

Strongly thinking about using points to flyout. Any extra deals out there?

PS. I know where Crystal is; I've driven past it in 2006.

Skied powder in the teanaway with mofro today. More dust on crust like, but definitely June powder

Thinking of luxury Adams tour (ie heavy packs full of beer wine and grub) in a couple weeks. 2 or 3 nights on the mountain. Camp below round the mountain trail = campfire and gootimes.

SW Chutes and Avalanche headwall are looking prime from the most recent pictures I've seen.

Road needs to melt out and a good freeze thaw cycle and this could very well be on.... Any interest???

skied powder at alpental yesterday and crushed elks chutes at 9:00 today in boot deep new followed by another of the same. crystal did not suck today especially the green valley shit. the boot out at the bottom of tinkerbelle has gotten to be bout six football fields long.
alpental has snow right to the lodge

dont forget summer sostice atop chair 2 kids.
bobbyF

I Heart Stevens Pass. Getting Rad for Rudolph, Jim Jack, Johnny B, and Danny Z. 2-27-12

South Sister was unfuckingreal today. Packed pow from the crater rim down to 8500ish.

Quick Sunday tour of Fortune, ascending over Ingalls Pass/Headlight Basin then skied down SE bowl. Schmoo, funky in places up high but fun. A few days of sun will take care of the funkiness. No sluffing. Good corn in the trees down low. Skied down to Esmeralda trail <1 mile from TH. Still lots of coverage.

We (Anita, Randy, me) saw a wolverine on the E side of Fortune S ridge. 100% positive ID. No shit. Up close and personal. My second wolverine in 30 years in the mountains. Randy's first in 20 years in the mountains. I'm still stunned.

You didn't happen to find a garmin 60scx on the Esmeralda trail did you? Lost it somewhere on that last mile of trail on Saturday.

We skied Headlight and then Fortune in a snowstorm on Saturday that put down 1-2" on the very smooth SE slopes. Very pow like where the wind deposit was.There were a couple of brief lulls in the weather but no dice while we were up top. We waited about an hour until we were frozen but it never dissipated.

great pics.

very jealous, even the top of Abasin looks like summer now in CO.

Nope, didn't see your GPS unit. You might want to post in the NWHikers lost & found. Good luck getting it back.

Yup, we got the good weather.

Does anyone want to tour with me this weekend? I am getting less and less jong-like by the day... and I can probably almost keep up... please?

I will bring you beer, and maybe even make you a sammich.

i will be doing harm to alpental on sunday and the other
schmucks i know won't mind company on the hill.
it's mostly a long dog walk with 5 minutes of down if opal obeys.
bf

I might show up, Alpy.. unless someone offers to take me somewhere cooler.. Will Grace be there?

Or I might just go eat worms.

you ever gone UP Alpental before?

noooo. but I went up 4500ft in the Teanaway... I am pretty sure I can go up Alpental

Yeah, come on mtngirl, Alpy is WAY GNARLIER on the down once your legs are fried from skinning 2k instead of plunking your ass on those super-cushy Chair 2 seats, ya know...

but I am going up Alpy on Wednesday! I want to go up something with no chairlifts this weekend. Maybe I can go up something with no chair lifts Saturday and up alpy Sunday..

this might have to get moved to the padded seats when mtn. g visits the reality of skinning to the top of denny mt.
determination and a sure grip are required.

Originally Posted by flowing alpy

this might have to get moved to the padded seats when mtn. g visits the reality of skinning to the top of denny mt.
determination and a sure grip are required.

I am not really worried... Funny, a couple months ago any suggestion that I couldn't do it would have me not even trying.

I can skin up Alpy. Get over it.

Squeezed in Middle Sister today (har har). Good corn from the summit to the bottom of the glacier. Long-ass hike.