Thread: 2011/2012 Central Oregon Volcano Stoke!

Ok TODAY was the day to poach!
June pow, gotta luv that
1st tracks on Skyliner, well only tracks @ 830
Even got skyliner cornice to crack as I was 'bout to hop it, to small to be a huck
heck the sun cups weren't even that bad

so are there no employees anywhere? where do you park? super jealous. i can see andes volcanoes a few minutes from my window but can't do anything about it.

oh there's the parkin lot security nazi's
can't even park near Pine marten gate, so no PMX or cone laps
that is unless you really want some skinning
been parking @ dutchman
peeps are parking on hwy near SLX exit & Sunrise.
Summit lift line looked awesome this morn, wind was blowin outta N
CLH still no shoulder

I made the trek over to the cone, then reds. Ended up at the treeline above Pine Lodge, great day!! Wish i would have taken east route and saved my legs. It as a loong way from thier gate to the cone!! These are from near Tippy Toe.








LouPenya

The gimpy ski couple got out on Ball Butte last weekend! Damn that felt good -- first time I skied in the BC in over four months! And Erik has totally mastered three-track skinning...

Now that's dedication and damn cool. Where did you get the Outriggers from?

OAS hooked him up, good people

Originally Posted by linds-o-rama

OAS hooked him up, good people

Yes they are. Been with them for 18 years. One of OAS volunteers died from a Heart attack during a marathon this week in Bend at 40 y.o. We will miss his smile and enthusiasm. We could use your kind of dedication and skills @ OAS,no pressure. Did I mention OAS has killer parties. Been terrorizing Palmer @ Tline every Monday half baked,so good.

Damn, where's my Corona?!?!

Looking for a partner to ski South Sister on Friday! Summit oriented. Leaving town at 6 AM. Unclear about my ankle's ability to haul my ass up there, but will gimp my way up if necessary. Weather looks great. Corn should be ripe. Miss the mountains!!! PM me -- tell your friends!

L: check you PMs. Have familial obligations unfortunately.

Skied Middle Sister yesterday. Good corn from the SE ridge down to the glacier. The old dirty snow skied better than the new stuff once on the flats. Put a ski through a pretty huge glide crack getting on the ridge, and there is a gnarly-looking slab avy on the Southern part of the East face that looks like the new snow peeled off the old. LONG hike on dirt, but you already knew that.

Solo S. Sister mission was a success! My whole body hurts... maybe this wasn't the best outing to start with, fresh off the injury train...

No pain = no pain
Freakin A, the OG poster LC finally posts!
Sickbird spread your gimpy wings & fly!

Nice morn to spend time w/ gate bashers, racers don't seem to like AT dudes

Oregon skiing noob here. I want to sniff around the south state area next week after Shasta. Will there be anything left by the last week in June?

From the map I'm thinking from S->N: McLoughlin, Aspen Butte, Pelican Butte, Crater Lake area. Less confident about Thielsen and Diamond Peak, but...? I'd even be convinced to head up to Bend for Sisters/Bachelor excursion, if that's the best option.

Any thoughts, recommendations, directions?
(Yousuckattucking)

Diamond pk, a week ago
could do either summit lake (E) or pioneer gulch (W) approach
just need some freezing or it's gonna be crappy mank

Originally Posted by revloren

Oregon skiing noob here. I want to sniff around the south state area next week after Shasta. Will there be anything left by the last week in June?

From the map I'm thinking from S->N: McLoughlin, Aspen Butte, Pelican Butte, Crater Lake area. Less confident about Thielsen and Diamond Peak, but...? I'd even be convinced to head up to Bend for Sisters/Bachelor excursion, if that's the best option.

Any thoughts, recommendations, directions?
(Yousuckattucking)

I'd recommend McLoughlin and Bailey (a ski buddy drove past today and said they both look great), and then you should come up a little farther and hit up the three sisters (middle probably being my top choice right now). I can give you more info on preferred routes, etc if you need it. I heard there is still snow around Crater too.

Let me know your dates! I may be able to come down and join you.

Middle sister from the summit of South a week ago... yeah, we've got some snow sticking around!

SumrSki teh Nuclear Cone

The final day to terrorize Bachelor for me. Trenching sun cupped glop till the leg burn was unbearable. One of todays ski crew.

Originally Posted by jonesy

The final day to terrorize Bachelor for me. Trenching sun cupped glop till the leg burn was unbearable. One of todays ski crew.

it's admirable that you do this work, jonesy.

nice vid on Ravi. been fun seeing him progress over the years.

Maybe a little late... and maybe a little girly for this audience... but here's some gimp stoke from a few weeks ago!

Solo South Sister Summit Mission!
June 15th, 2012



Every recovery from a major injury has its ups and downs, and the last six months have been one hell of a roller coaster ride. I suffered a pretty bad ankle injury on New Year's Day that just kept lingering. From February through April I was on and off crutches, completely incapable of any real physical activity. Throughout the month of May, I kept dabbling in mellow activities, trying to step it up a little bit at a time. Somehow I kept screwing up: I even managed to injure myself on a stationary bike!

In mid-June, I decided it was time to try commuting to work on my bike. I was a little nervous, but gave it a go... and it went really well! So I did it again the next day, and it went really well again! In my excitement, my (totally rational) brain jumped to the next logical step: I'd climb and ski South Sister later that week.

South Sister is the tallest mountain in central Oregon, and skiing the South route in late spring / early summer (after the road is plowed) is a definite annual pastime among backcountry skiers in our area. Once I got the idea in my head, I couldn't get it out!



Since I couldn't find anyone to join me for the mid-week weather window, I figured I'd just go by myself. My rationale: I'd done it before. I had no idea if I could make it. I had no idea how long it would take me in my condition. I didn't want to ruin anyone's day. I really like doing things by myself sometimes! So it was decided: I'd attempt to climb and ski South Sister with no real expectations other than enjoying myself.

I left Devil's Lake around 7 AM and made it through the trees and onto the plateau with no problem. Crossing the plateau was SO NICE!!! It felt so great to be back in the mountains -- in the wilderness -- all by myself! So peaceful, so beautiful.



My ascent was up the standard climber's route, which is usually super crowded on a beautiful June day, but on this day it was completely desolate. What a gift! I would come to realize that the day was full of little gifts from the mountain, almost like she was going out of her way to welcome me back.

As I was working my way up one of the steeper slopes, I heard some giggling in the distance. Soon thereafter, a group of five female climbers descended past me! What a perfect group of people to encounter on the mountain!

Of course I had to take a photo of these adorable ladies...



...then they took a photo of me...



...then they glissaded away!



With my girly mojo fully replenished, I continued to march up the mountain, ignoring my argumentative legs and lungs. The views were superb!







Crossing over a scree patch on my way onto the last push up the "racing slope", I stopped one last time to catch my breath, enjoy the view, and love on the mountain a little bit. Over the last few months, I kept telling myself I'd hug South Sister when I was back there again. I was standing right next to a giant rock, so I wrapped my arms around it and gave her a giant hug! I could feel the energy of the mountain. She is an active volcano, after all... and it was amazing.



She sent a very dramatic sluff waterfall over a giant cliff in response...



Unbelievable.

At this point, it was just a total sufferfest. My lower extremities were in pain and I was beyond exhausted. I was slightly concerned about my ability to ski down, but pushed those thoughts to the back of my mind. In a classic case of mind over body, I hauled my ass up to the summit! I was SO EXCITED when I finally arrived!

The last few feet to the summit...



Give you incredible views!





My descent worked out reasonably well. It had taken me hours longer to climb than I'd planned, so the snow was quite a bit softer than I would have liked. The good news is that the racing slope off the top is steep enough to ski in pretty much any crappy conditions. So I laid down some trenches with some serious hoots!



The shadow bowl was pretty exciting to navigate: quite steep off the top, with lots of lava directly below. Pretty much no-fall terrain, unless you want to get cheese gratered! I pretty much willed my legs down it. It hurt, but what other choice did I have?



After some fancy footwork getting through the choke at the bottom of shadow bowl, I skied up and over some treed ridges to get lined up with my ascent route again. My brain was so busy strategizing that I didn't even realize where I'd stopped...

BOOM!



Right in front of the most amazing tree ever! I mean, really. This day was totally full of the most overwhelming sights!

Crossing the plateau, I stopped to take a photo of where I'd come from...



...then I gingerly skied back down through the trees to the trailhead.



My knees were aching, my ankles were totally non-functional, my feet were soaked with sweat, my entire physical being was exhausted, but my spirit was off the charts! I had just climbed and skied South Sister for the second time!

Last time I was with my best ski buddy and at the peak of my physical ability. This time I was all alone, and in the worst physical condition that I'd been in in years. But once I got that goal in my head, I couldn't get it out. This single day erased the months of yearning for the mountains. I felt so welcomed back! What a feeling!



"Without risk there is no adventure." - Bill Briggs

YEEEAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

way to go! sometimes you just have to bust your ass out of injured state of mind.

Great TR. What a gal.