Thread: SNOW IN THE PNW 2011/2012!

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 watched a 10 year old girl do it on Sunday

mofro's little snow machines climb like the wind

I want to go up something with no chairlifts this weekend.

48.5233° N, 120.6550° W

Originally Posted by plugboots

48.5233° N, 120.6550° W

is that an invite?

Not really, but it's a pretty obvious place to ski when you live in Bellingham. Seriously, it's not brain surgery, park at Blue Lake, skin up, ski down. Park at hairpin, skin up, ski down, I'd suggest more, but most South facers kinda suck this late in this season, but not if you like jungle skiing, (I don't), or don't mind scrambling on rock for a bit. Saturday was winter:

It'll be warm this weekend, so go early.

nice bootpack plug, looks like that wolf is about to pounce!

If that healer is anything like my aussies' it's bitching at plug because he isn't moving fast enough.

That's about right. He's half Kelpie, so he's even lankier and faster. He's saying: "Master my ass."
He's a great ski dog. Here he is at the changeover digging a snow cave:

CASCADIA!!!!! num num num

that does look good.

Day 100 for me, Crystal killed it yesterday with one of those must-b-present-2-win sneaker days the defied web cams, telemetry and forecasts. The day started out skiing in a cloud/low vis and light rain, but with excellent corn skiing. Then, a huge sucker hole opened up above the area and stayed that way till the end of the day, while storm clouds passed on either side. Possible the best lift served Spring conditions I've had this (late) season.

Some shots of the grrl.

I can't believe that I failed to mention that JTGoat started the day out in keeping-it-real steaze by rolling on his 223 DH long boards...





Top2bottom laps are officially over for the season

Fun NE aspect turns on Iron Peak and even a few good W aspect turns on the exit. Still plenty of corn to harvest up the Teanaway

Olympics are hangin in there...

My pictures came out shitty from this morning, but there is more snow at WA pass than last year at this time, and less people for some reason. There were even snow flurries. I win.

Landing in Portland next Wednesday for some June and July turns. Not enough snow in the East this year for July turns. I'll be mostly lift served skiing.

I got a question for all of you PNW maggots.

Crystal and Bachelor seems committed to open on the June 30/July 1 weekend (Bachelor is even talking Friday, but I've already committed to be at Timberline that day.

So what should i go for liftserved on that weekend (I won't be there on July 4th):

a) ski Crystal
b) ski Bachelor
c) ski both

PS. If I'm skinning something, it will not be on that weekend.

I can't comment on Bachy but the situation at Crystal is that the lift serviced skiing will be limited to the Green valley chair as they just closed REX( Rainier Express). You upload on the Gondola and ski the Green Valley area and then download on the gondola. It's got good coverage( about 1000VF) and probably enough fun for a couple of hours but I couldn't imagine spending a whole day riding it( Depends how turn starved you are). There is still some decent sidecountry runs in the Mount Rainier National Park that you can access from the top boundary but all of it will involve some skinning, 30- 50 min skinning for those laps but views are spectacular.
You can ski to within about 100 yards of the REX chair but it involves about an hour skin back up to the top, however snow is receding fast and that probably won't be possible by that weekend.
The Southback ( Crystal sidecountry area)still looks good but that will require about 1.5 hours of skinning/booting to reach the top from the base but there are still some good lines back to be had back there.

Chinook pass is about a 20 min drive and still has good bc skiing available straight from the car but it is starting to get a wee bit suncupped.

The higher elevation BC on Mount Rainier is still superb and the Sunrise area will open this Friday and the skiing available from Sunrise is some of the best in WA but again involves skins or booting.

vibes to Rainier NP Ranger community

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-w...imbers-rescue/

Originally Posted by SchralphMacchio

vibes to Rainier NP Ranger community

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-w...imbers-rescue/

Bummer.
Condolences to his family and friends, that's really sad.

my friend began the climbing program years ago on Rainier, Ranger Hall must have been a good man and accomplished climber in order to occupy such an important position on the mountain.
RIP Nick Hall

Tragic.

Also disturbing how quick his name was released ~12 hours.

It really worries me that perhaps proper consideration isn't given to families being notified - same with the Steven's Avy this year.

Originally Posted by PNWbrit

Tragic.

Also disturbing how quick his name was released ~12 hours.

It really worries me that perhaps proper consideration isn't given to families being notified - same with the Steven's Avy this year.

One article I read, I believe it was the Seattle times, said something to the effect of "his name was initially withheld until the family could be notified"... I'd imagine with a job like that, they ask for an emergency contact.

I recently put up a Coleman Headwall TR on my own site. The skiing took place about a month ago, initially i procrastinated, then I was busy, then the recent accident happened, so i've been putting it off for some time. Here were a few of the choice photos of one of the best days I've ever had in the mountains.











The accident was pretty shocking to Allen and I. It really brought home the risks we take on recreating in the mountains the way we do. Have fun, but stay safe out there; there is always tomorrow.

Full TR for those interested: http://www.famousinternetskiers.com/...dwall-success/

Close lightning strikes on Silver today. Good cover. Road open 200m below Windy Pass. Skinned from car.

Got 4 of my photos published in a 2 page spread in a Timberline based free-pub called Shred-NW. Not gettin paid yet but its a step in the right direction, and a fuckin killer way to cap off the season.

Originally Posted by samthaman

I recently put up a Coleman Headwall TR on my own site. The skiing took place about a month ago, initially i procrastinated, then I was busy, then the recent accident happened, so i've been putting it off for some time.

Thanks for putting that up, Sam. That's serious business.

I really liked this one, from a photographic perspective


Did you guys know Kieth Hardy or what route he was on? Or know anyone on the SAR callout? I couldn't find much info about the incident. Thoughts to f&f.