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05-02-2009, 04:28 PM #1
TR: Corn to the West Pow to the East, From Kaleetan to Dragontail
After looking at the weather forecast it seemed we had a two day break in between unstable weather patterns so John (Jcocci on splitboard.com) and I decided to take advantage of blue skies and corn in the Snoqualmie pass area. We passed a few ideas back and forth “I have always wanted to do Kaleetan but I have never done Granite either” then we came up with the idea of doing them both. We were inspired by a trip Monika and Dave Perkins did last year in which you started off at the Alpental parking lot then do a long traverse to the Granite mountain parking lot while hitting Chair peak col, Kaleetan and Granite along the way. It was over 12 miles but well worth the effort.
Thursday April 30th
Hiking the Alpy B.C. to source lake, Chair Peak in the background.
(Photo by John)
Traversing into the Pineapple basin
(Photo by John)
John Skinning with Bryant peak in the background
To access the Bryant/ Chair peak col requires climbing a steep semi exposed face so we switched over to Ice axes and Crampons for our ascent
Climbing up to the col in the early morning Mank conditions
(Photo by John)
Climbing up the final pitch with Snoqualmie Mountain in the Background
(Photo by John)
After accessing the Col we rode down to Melakwa Lake in Pre corn conditions
(Photo by John)
John riding down onto Melakwa Lake
Our first view of Kaleetan looking up the Melakwa lake basin
From here we decided to head up to Melakwa pass so we could see what would be the best approach to Kaleetan
John skinning up the Valley
John standing at the pass looking at the East face of Kaleetan
Glacier Peak came into view
After finding the least sketch approach to the Summit of Kaleetan we switch over to crampons and Ice axes again and started climbing
(Photo by John)
John climbing up with Snow Lake in the valley bellow and Big Snow Mountain in the Distance
Summiting the col to access Kaleetans summit chair peak in the background
(Photo by John)
Hiking the final pitch to access the summit of Kaleetan
Hiking up with our ski line and slogging path up to Granite below
(Photo by John)
Some views from the summit (6259 feet)
(Photo by John)
The ride down Kaleetan was not quite corn, but not quite Mank
(Photo by John)
(Photo by John)
(Photo by John)
(Photo by John)
We rode almost 3’000 vert all the way down through old growth timber to around 3’400 feet at the start of the Pratt River
(Photo by John)
From here we traversed a small ridge then followed the main drainage up numerous lakes to access the summit of Granite.
Checking the Map and resting in the sunshine at upper Tuscohatchie Lake
(Photo by John)
John skinning across the lake
John skinning up the Eastern ridge to gain access to the summit of Granite
After miles and miles of skinning we finally made it to the Summit of Granite
(Photo by John)
Skinning off the summit with Kaleetan to the left and Chair peak to the right
(Photo by John)
John on the summit with the west bowl begging for some tracks
Last edited by Kyle Miller; 05-03-2009 at 09:53 AM.
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05-02-2009, 04:30 PM #2
Looking back at Snoqualmie Mountain to the left and Over Coat peak in the distance
(Photo by John)
One last look before descending, Kaleetan to the left chair peak to the right
We were exhausted from the long trip so we decided to rip down the southern face of granite non stop. The corn for the first 1’500 feet was perfect, stable, steep corn by far the best run off the day. After that it was 500 feet of Avy debris riding then bushwhacking through dense forest until we reached the trail and hiked out the last 500 vert.
Luckily while we were riding down Brad (Moscawulff on turns-all-year) was hiking up the ridge and got a few shots of us. Thanks Brad
It’s a brutal tour but well worth it
Originally my plans for Friday was to go climb Mt Stuart but a few days earlier a storm came from East to West brining over a foot of fresh snow to the area. While I love powder I don’t love hiking up a 4’000 foot SE facing avalanche path so I changed plans. Instead of hitting a south facing slope I decided to head to some North Facing slopes in the same area and take advantage of some late season pow conditions.
Dragon Tail Peak is the second highest in the Stuart range summiting at 8840 with a skiable line off the SW face.
http://www.pbase.com/nolock/image/57356997
I met up with Dan (crstlxtrm) in Bellevue and we made the long drive to Icicle Creek just outside of Leavenworth were we camped at 8 mile campground. Early the next morning we drove up to around 1 mile before the trailhead before being stopped by a patch of snow. We packed our gear and were on the trail by 7:00 AM. The hike was rather straight forward with no post holing for the first few miles before switching over to skins. After 2 hours of hiking through the Alpine Lakes wilderness we finally made it to the base of Colchuck lake. The original plan was to meet up with Jeff (Spicoli11 on splitboard.com) and Scott (Ale Capone on splitboard.com) at there base camp at the lake but we were late so it was going to be a game of catch up.
Friday May 1st
Dragontail Peak to the Left and Colchuck peak to the right with our Ascent up Colchuck glacier in the middle
Skinning up Colchuck Glacier with Jeff and Scott in the distance.
Looking down at Colchuck Lake
Jeff breaking trail with the Summit of Dragon Tail above him
Once we hit the Col we traversed around to the SW face of Dragontail to access the summit couloir
Jeff and Scott skinning up to the Summit of Dragontail
After accessing the summit col Jeff and I did some rock scrambling to make it to the summit proper
(photo by Scott)
Climbing the rock with Scott getting ready to drop in.
(photo by Jeff)
Jeff sitting on the Summit proper with Cashmere in the background
Looking west at Colchuck Peak
Argonaut to the left Mt Stuart in the Middle and Colchuck to the right
Mt Rainier showing herself in the distance
Scott drops in
(photo by Jeff)
(photo by Jeff)
Then Jeff
I drop in last
(photo by Jeff)
(photo by Jeff)Last edited by Kyle Miller; 05-03-2009 at 10:29 AM.
Shameless spam: Trip reports and Gear reviews and if you want to support what I do follow me on Instagram @KyleMiller411
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05-02-2009, 04:31 PM #3
The conditions on the SW side of Dragontail were soft Cascadian Mank, not yet sticky but heavy. After dropping about 700 vert we hiked back up to the Col and dropped almost 3’000 vert of perfect may powder delivering face shots with almost every turn.
Jeff dropping in with Colchuck lake in the distance
Scott tearing it up (yes it was that good)
(photo by Jeff)
(photo by Jeff)
(photo by Jeff)
(photo by Jeff)
Enjoying the bluebird Pow
(photo by Jeff)
Scott getting some air time
(photo by Jeff)
With the occasional Ice spot
(photo by Jeff)
Scott, Dan and myself ripping down the lower apron
(photo by Jeff)
Looking back up at our lines
Jeff, Scott and Dan skinning back to there base camp to pack up and head out
Skinning across the Lake before our mini epic
Our route out was brutal we were able to find a 50 degree chute down a cliff band that had fallen down trees and devils club everywhere ( I hate devils club). After bushwhack for a few hours and crossing a few creeks we made it back to the trail and back to the car less then a hour before it was dark.
The mini epic bushwhack
Our ascent to Dragon tail
Enjoy.Last edited by Kyle Miller; 05-03-2009 at 10:34 AM.
Shameless spam: Trip reports and Gear reviews and if you want to support what I do follow me on Instagram @KyleMiller411
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05-02-2009, 07:21 PM #4Registered User
- Join Date
- Apr 2009
- Location
- Oregon and Eden, UT
- Posts
- 29
Great work!
Way to get the most out of the two days of good weather.
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05-02-2009, 07:42 PM #5
way to hit the pow. i knew it was good over there.
god created man. winchester and baseball bats made them equal - evel kenievel
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05-02-2009, 08:18 PM #6
you sir are a grade A badass. I love your TRs
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05-02-2009, 11:31 PM #7
FKNA! Looks like an epic time. Please keep bringing the North Cascade stoke!
"The skis just popped me up out of the snow and I went screaming down the hill on a high better than any heroin junkie." She Ra
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05-03-2009, 11:08 AM #8
Nice! I've been wanting to get to Colchuck for a long time, Friday was the day to do it for sure. That's some mighty sweet snow you guys found up there, looks like the storm that brought it tracked to the South as I was up in the N. Cascades Friday and didn't find any fresh stuff.
...Some will fall in love with life and drink it from a fountain that is pouring like an avalanche coming down the mountain...
"I enjoy skinny skiing, bullfights on acid..." - Lacy Underalls
The problems we face will not be solved by the minds that created them.
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05-03-2009, 11:29 AM #9fond of graupel
- Join Date
- Dec 2006
- Location
- Boston
- Posts
- 266
Beautiful photos. It looks like you had a serious workout on the way up.
I like the raven photo.
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05-07-2009, 10:34 PM #10
I grew up in Leavenworth and know that area very well, you picked the right day for sure, it can get really nasty up there. I agree 100% with fish you are a Badass Mo Fo! and a very fit one at that. Well done!
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05-08-2009, 11:47 AM #11
Very impressive.
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05-08-2009, 02:12 PM #12Registered User
- Join Date
- Oct 2007
- Location
- Seattle
- Posts
- 52
You hit it right, way to get after it!
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