TR: 8/28 North Peak - Kook Chute

[tarkman1]

This should help Arty figure out who called.

I was out exploring around Conness on 8/27 with a friend and wound up skiing a mellow snow field. Knowing the Kook Chute was holding snow, I decided I had to go back and ski it.

The beta from the guy running the boat shuttle was hit it between 2:00 and 2:30 pm. Working backwards from that, I took the boat shuttle (at Saddlebag) at 12:30. That would get me there at about 2:00 if I moved quickly. I'll put up a picture of the area later with the approach. Basically, I beelined to the waterfall and ignored the normal use trails (they didn't go as straight as I would like - thus would take longer). After the waterfall, I headed up to Greenstone and looked for a way to get to the little ridge. the Kook Chute is on the other side of the ridge at the base of North Peak summit block. I chose roughly the second line of trees from Greenstone that headed up to the ridge. I made quick ground and didn't have to do too much rock hopping. When the boulders got large, I started to traverse until where the vertical going was easier. Then came the ridge. It's really straight forward: walk to where the cliffs impede your progress, then start going right. You can't see the chute from the top of the ridge. You'll actually be going for a minute or two until you see the chute entrance. You literally don't see the entrance until you are standing right on it.

From there, there's a good stop to be able to click into the skis/board easily. Though, after about two turns from the start of the chute, it rolls over to the 48-50 degree range. I dropped in at almost 2pm precisely. The snow was good, not crusty, not mush. There was a little texture but managable. Not quite suncups, but something like ridges in the snow. Decent snow, but not rippable. The rollover section was only about 3 turns. Then it settled into a fun 40 degrees or so. Falling wouldn't be a big deal anywhere in there. The run out and apron were mellow but tended towards suncups, but not bad. Estimated vertical 700 feet or so. All in all, it was good chute.

Only a portion of the chute was in a shadow when I check the clock at 2:08. I wouldn't want to drop in any later than 2:30. By then, I'm sure the whole thing would be in shadows and start to firm up. FYI, there was frost at Saddlebag on Saturday morning.

The hike out (didn't take the shuttle) took about 1 hour 15 minutes. All told, the roundtrip was 3 hours. Hiking the whole way in and out, give yourself about 4 hours.

Approach picture later.

[boarderline]

Nice TR. Post pics! I wanna see that chute.

[Walter Sobchak]

Originally Posted by tarkman1

Though, after about two turns from the start of the chute, it rolls over to the 48-50 degree range.

Well how about that! Kook Chute's apparently the steepest run I've ever skied. Funny how I always find out about these things on the Internets ....

But seriously, thanks for the beta, and I suppose summer skiers have earned the right to inflate slope angles by a few degrees.

[tarkman1]

Inflation? 48-50 was my best guess. Granted it wasn't the 60+ that I ran into at one particular chute this spring, but this was enough to grab your attention when you hadn't seen the chute from any other angle.

Dropping into anything where you can't see more than about 15 feet past where you are entering is saying something, especially when you are seeing it for the first time, solo to boot. The top section was steeper than anything in the Y-Chute on Bloody. Still, the steep section wasn't sustained.

What is anyone's guess on the Kook Chute steepness?

[msnowmn]

Nice TR my friend..... Now we need some pictures. Send me one so I can post it as a daily picture this week.

[Walter Sobchak]

I'm just talking shit on the internet 'cause I hate my job as a dental hygienist and wish I had skied The Kook too. I'm guessing it's 45 degrees tops, maybe a shade under. I've only booted up The Kook first too, which sure 'nuff feels different than dropping in blind and solo to ski a run named after a mental patient. And who knows how much a chute can change year-to-year with different amounts of snow loaded in there ...

I plan to ski The Kook on Sept. 17th or 18th. I fully expect it to completely suck. I'll bring the slopemeter to quantify the radness.

[Arty50]

I had a feeling that was you. Thankfully, Squirrel ratted you out later that day to confirm my suspicions. Glad to hear you got some nice turns in.

I'll never forget my first trip to Kook Chute, which was also my first BC trip, and my first time using crampons. Half way up, Walter turns around and says the following:

"Don't fall. It would be very bad if you fell."

Me:

[boarderline]

Still no pictures.

[Vets]

Great to hear that Kook Chute is not only doable, but also enjoyable.
I approached it by boot packing up w/o crampons (end of July with most likely softer snow.) It was an interesting experience. I imagine that hiking up from the opposite side would also be interesting. Looking forward to seeing your pictures.

[tarkman1]

Here's a few different shots of the Kook Chute that I pulled from various trip reports. I'll get a digital camera before next season.

What else?
I wish I had a picture of a couloir that I saw coming off the SE side of the Dana plateau (probably the southern most tip of the plateau). No lie, that thing had to have a 1,000 vertical feet of snow. It looks like it would best access from the Powerhouse region from down low. Probably about 2 hours to reach the apron then about 1 hour of hiking straight up the gut. I have no idea what the snow is like in there, but it looks like the longest shot around right now.

What other visual observations do I have from the weekend. You can start to see a bergshrund on Dana Couloir. Still, the couloir goes from the top. I couldn't tell where it burned out.

[gimpy]

thanx for the update. based on my trips there, i'll throw my guess in at pushing 45 degrees, but more likely around 40 degrees. was gonna head down there for sept turns, but i still haven't skied in august and i think i'm officially over skiing year round in cali. sooo, 10 months a year will just have to suffice .

[Z]

[Gebster]

Sounds like a great weekend. Good job Tarkman on the August turns

[Walter Sobchak]

Originally Posted by tarkman1

What else?
I wish I had a picture of a couloir that I saw coming off the SE side of the Dana plateau (probably the southern most tip of the plateau). No lie, that thing had to have a 1,000 vertical feet of snow. It looks like it would best access from the Powerhouse region from down low. Probably about 2 hours to reach the apron then about 1 hour of hiking straight up the gut. I have no idea what the snow is like in there, but it looks like the longest shot around right now.

Did it look a bit like this big mackin' gulley to the right of TriUngulate (the dude in the picture)?



If so, that's Kidney Chute (drops off the plateu to Kidney Lake) and I think the best approach would be from the Gibbs Lake trailhead (395 to Horse Meadow Road) -- 3 miles on a trail to Gibbs Lake, then a mile of scree to Kidney Lake. If that's filled in it has a much better chance of softening in September than the Kook ... Hmmmm ....

[tarkman1]

I did hear someone mention Kidney Chute. The picture does look like what I saw. The chute is painfully obvious when you are driving north on 395 as you approach Lee Vining. I also took a look at the topo on the thread where I saw the same picture.

I'm pretty sure it was Kidney that I saw. It looks worthy of a mission. I'd be down for getting it.

[chill winston]

just to quibble a bit more

Originally Posted by tarkman1

After the waterfall, I headed up to Greenstone

fyi, Greenstone is below the waterfall. I think you are confusing Greenstone with the lower Conness Lake, which feeds the waterfall and is at the bottom of the kook ridge.

it rolls over to the 48-50 degree range.

duuude, c'mon...

Estimated vertical 700 feet or so

six hundy max, more like five

I dropped in at almost 2pm precisely

based on your other statements, the veracity of this assertion must also be disputed

just kidding dude. way to get after it in almost September

[tarkman1]

The 2pm thing was accurate. I actually looked at a watch. Everything else was just a guess.

Arty did mention to me that the chute was in the upper 40s. Then again, I woke him up when I called. He needed to put up a post and have someone tell him who called because thought it was all a dream.

Walter Sobchak did promise to take a slopemeter out there. I'll be curious to see a sanctioned, measured, official, Maggot-endorsed reading. Chances are we'll get the Hawaiian measurement. That's divide by two then subtract five.

[bcrider]

Looks like a great day out there.

anyone take a look at the North Peak couloirs?

[boarderline]

Very nice, impressive how much snow is left in the Sierras.

[chill winston]

Mr Sobchack, extra gnar points if you dump into a baggie and weigh the output to determine future weight savings on daytrips if a pre-start BM is taken.