Bandit Peak, WA - March 2, 2008

[philfort]

Inspirational photos from John Scurlock:
http://www.pbase.com/nolock/image/57354354
http://www.pbase.com/nolock/image/57354354




"It's not supposed to be like this!" That's what Ryan and I kept saying as we dropped down 3000ft of steep, deep powder yesterday on Bandit Peak. I've never skied a big line so fast.

We started from Tall Timbers bible camp in the dark, and followed the Twin Lakes trail for a mile and half. Then we crossed the river and skied 5 miles up the trailless lower Napeequa valley. I thought this approach would work better than an "up and over" attempted by someone a year or two ago. Trailless doesn't mean anything with a phat snowpack anyway.

The sun rose:


There was nice scenery:


A pretty river:


Some mean avalanches came down and killed some trees:


A nice mountain further up the valley. I bet that one takes a while to get to now.


After a splendid three and a half hour journey up the wonderful valley, I was pretty exhausted. We grabbed some water from the river, and then it was time to climb up the northwest side of Bandit. A mere 4500ft above the river. Up we go:


We crossed a bergshrund thing on avy debris, and proceded up the first 800ft
or so of the couloir in chunky avy debris covered by a few inches of powder. Then it turned to the right, and we could see this:


Oh my god, it just went on forever. Up to this point, my stoke was a little low due to no sleep the night before, and the crappy snow and big scary peak (frequent avalanches coming off the peaks across the valley as the sun hit them). But now... now we could see this thing. Even better, we were suddenly trudging up through a foot of powder.

Lots to ski here. Looking across the valley (about 4000ft vert from top to bottom):


After a few hours, we were on the part halfway up the face where the couloir widens into a broad slope for several hundred feet. The snow started getting deep in spots, an occasional wallowfest. Several times we switched back to skinning because it was faster despite the incessant switchbacks it required.



I got a little concerned about stability too... we saw this recent slab and started climbing up into similar terrain:


We actually took the time to dig a little pit to look at the layers. Nothing really bad. So on we continued... time to get "up in there". This was like the Slot Couloir on Snoqualmie, except ~3 times longer.


Ryan likes being up in there:


Near the top, my conservative nature won a battle in my mind, and I let Ryan climb the final 50ft or so by himself. I was a little wigged out by the whole "big line in a remote location" thing, and not really feeling like I wanted to ski the final steep pitch of firm snow. To add extra drama, the clouds were now beginning to encircle the peak. This actually worked to our advantage though, as the sun had been letting stuff loose on the walls of the mountain to our left.

A happy place to be:


After a few minutes, Ryan made his way down to me with a little side slipping a several well-placed jump turns. Then it was time to get it on.


Can you say "I like skiing fast in deep powder down 45 degree couloirs":


Here he is


There he goes


Ryan looking small:


Ryan is a photo slut and cut over to the sunshine:




Nearly 3000ft lower, the snow is still good.


But then it abruptly changes to crap right about here, where 3000ft of slope poops into it:


But we didn't care at this point. The long deproach sucked, but we weren't really present since our minds were on cloud 9. Thanks to Ryan for being a great trip partner! Cascades represent!

[TyeStick]

Grumble grumble, why am I in school grumble, grumble.

[summit]

siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiik

[FOX3R]

All I have to say is nice.

[PulverSchwein]

what a line, nice fricking work!!

PS: everyone should definitely click on the photo links above for perspective, holy crap

[LightRanger]

Really cool line. Thanks for sharing.

[R. Ski Ermey]

JONGs pay heed to philfort! This is how it is fucking done RIGHT!

[powdork]

Inspirational photos from John Scurlock:
http://www.pbase.com/nolock/image/57354354
http://www.pbase.com/nolock/image/57354354

definitely click these
nice work

[straight outta sultan]

Ridiculous. Such an awesome TR. I have looked at hundreds of Scurlock photos and have always stopped on Bandit and thought "does that go?" and "do people ski it?" Looks like you just answered my questions Señor Fort. strong work.

[AKPogue]

FKNA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[crstlextrm]

absofuckinglutely AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[klar]

ooooh niiiiice! very cool mountain and line.

[Loon]

That was badass. I can't imagine doing that no sleep. Nice stoke!

[xyz]

that's what i'm talking about....$$$$

[Sluff]

Nice line in deep snow. Sofa king money!

[renoenvy]

dude, I'm all, FKNA!

[chaka]

amazing line, you are burl! thanks for the great tr.

[adimmen]

It doesn't get any better than that.

[Tap]

yeah, super effort mang. ULLR rewarded you!

[Squirrel99]

Nice stuff Phil! go Team Cascades!

[Mathematics]

awesome TR

[Northway]

Dang! I've eyed those pics of Scurlock's more than a few times. Way to get it done, and in great conditions!!

[Scotsman50]

Excellent stuff. You have big balls!

[BFD]

Another beautiful line in the PNW. Great bonus to have the excellent snow.

[gonzo]

wow

12345