Losing My Marbles

[Lani]

There's this cool place in North Cascades National Park called Marble Creek Cirque. It's had this funny enchantment on me for the last two years, since I got Hannahilated while accidentally climbing a new 2,000' alpine rock route on Early Morning Spire. Recently, I had this stupid idea to approach the cirque via Marble Creek - six miles of maritime mountain valley with no trail. My two poor victimfriends and I managed to go all of a mile in three hours before we surrendered, then sat by the creek in a shiver-bivy until dawn. Something about this place makes me lose my marbles.

After our night of cuddling in the woods, I knew I had to find a better way. I've been around Eldorado Peak and it's just too damn far. I spent several hours the next weekend staring at maps. Finally, I notice this crease in my topo. No wait, that's not a crease! I wonder what the hell it's like in there? This calls for investigation.

Lost Marbles Couloir


I found two suckers who wanted to "ski" yesterday, Eric and Pete, and we went on our merry way to Cascade River Road. Knowing how much road we'd need to ski, I urged Eric to go for it when the snow started to get deep. We made it another quarter mile before getting stuck. Perfect. Starting at 3 am, we had to ski two miles just to take a picture of this lousy sign:



Five more miles to 3,600', the end of the road, and the trail promised by the lousy sign. Shortly after beginning the trail, it seemed like a good time to make some coffee while first light faded into being.


Melting water, drinking whisky, and getting stoked

I knew my plans for the day were big, perhaps too big, so I went into overdrive to get to our high point before skiing the mystery access gash. The snow had a nice crust that made skinning very fast.


Eric skins toward our high point, with Hidden Lake Peaks behind him, so early in the morning.

We were ecstatic at the high point, given the incredible views.



Now, where the hell's that gash? That great gash leading to such beautiful cuntry. The topo says it should be dead ahead in the direction of Early Morning Spire. Let's go see.



When we got there, the couloir was obvious. Its walls were huge. But we couldn't see over the roll where it took a turn. Does it go? Let's go have a look. I made several turns on killer crust - the good kind that we love to ski with climbing gear on our backs - and around corner was a roll and a couloir that just went for days.

The whole damn couloir was filled with avy debris from Tuesday's rain, but I still loved it for the outrageous position and views. I was far ahead of the others, so no skiing shots, but here are a couple pictures just to tease you.





All other objectives were cancelled due to shitty conditions. Honestly, we would have been reclimbing the great gash after dark if we had tried any antics in the cirque. But there will be a next time.

Now let's go!

[dk_alaskan]

nice pics, can't wait for losing my marbles II-sloppy seconds

[Northway]

nice find! great adventure.

[PNWbrit]

Proof that Lani knows the North Cascades.

[powstash]

SICK. That cooler looks sweet. This thread <-----

[Schmear]

Warrrrrshington sux.

[prestonf]

Well, I guess that answers my question about the road. On to plan B. Thanks for the awesome pictures

[NorCascader]

proof lani is a north cascade know it all!

Nice work! Get over to Twisp and we'll rally east side!

[Greydon Clark]

Dude, how do you find partners for your lunatic adventures?

[iskibc]

Awesome! Beautiful shots, but this one is my favorite:




Looks like a great adventure. Thanks.

[Zeedashbo]

Dude, how do you find partners for your lunatic adventures?

he tried to recruit me for the first one. good thing i'm a sissy.

[Lani]

I know (and actively seek) many adventurous souls. Everyone's good for a beatdown now and then, because when the payoff comes it's huge.

Also, when applicable, I bribe them with drugs. It's easier to skin seven miles of road when you're only half-conscious. Or buzzing off a gallon of wicked coffee.

[Squirrel99]

he tried to recruit me for the first one. good thing i'm a sissy.

yeah me too. i'm kind of glad i'm a sissy, though I did get to skin for a couple minutes at snoqualmie with the mountaineering radster in december


Lani- sickness- lot of great photos and lines in there! Another reason why the Cascades continue to amaze...

[springsproject]

looks like a great trip. awesome pics too

[beaterdit]

Nice pics, and way to be. I love exploring.

[Lani]

Here's a shot Eric took, looking down the couloir while Pete waits. You can see my head way down there; I'm checking to see if "it goes."

[skiitsbetter]

Fun in the Cascades. Nice TR that couloir looks like a lot of fun. Sounds like less than ideal conditions and you still shredded 'er!!

[Mofro261]

I never get tired of looking at the N. Cascades scenery.

looks like you have at least 2 large marbles left.

[powstash]

looks like you have at least 2 large marbles left.

POTD....

[Bionic Man]

Is it just me or does those toothy spires resemble the Chamonix

[CascadeFreeheeler]

Brings back memories.

[Lani]

Dropped the Marbles in "good" conditions yesterday....

[iskibc]

There ya go!

[marshalolson]

way to tag 'er!

[G]

What a great shot!

Makes me feel weightless and I want to yell out "I'm flying, look at meeeee!"