Snow in the PNW 17-18: Dropping!

[glademaster]

Not really ski related, but I don't know the terrain around here all that well, and I'm wondering if anyone here would have reservations about wandering up toward Barclay Lake near Stevens Pass tomorrow? From looking at CalTopo, it seems like it may not be the most prudent call given the precip we're getting. I know it's a low elevation trail, but it's surrounded by steep terrain, and from a Coloradoan perspective, seems exposed to long running slides.

I would appreciate any info before I suggest a plan B, as getting smoked by a slide as I'm schlepping up a muddy hiking trail sounds solidly shitty.

[Ale_capone]

There is one path that definitely crosses the summer trail. It's about a mile in? One of the south facing chutes off of merchant. It may have already done it's business.

Very short crossing where the debris may or may not be. I would have some concern.. less is there is a big hot mess in that spot. Natural paths or running full length, and heavy right now.

No clue how close you can drive to the trail head atm.

[Toddball]

Every time I try to edit on mobile the post is deleted....

Anyway, given that the highway is closed due to an avalanche (below/west of where they did control work this morning [edit: not sure about this]), I'd say staying far away from slide paths tomorrow would be a good plan. That said, I'm not familiar with Barclay Lake.

[cascadianwarrior]

With Mission closing for the season tomorrow I went up today looking for some spring pow. They had gotten some new snow throughout the week and things were looking good until the temp spiked yesterday. Some areas were smooth and deep, others scoured with frozen bumps. I had other things to do this afternoon and it was starting to get sticky so I ended the day with a trip out to Microwave around 11.

[wickstad]

With Mission closing for the season tomorrow I went up today looking for some spring pow. They had gotten some new snow throughout the week and things were looking good until the temp spiked yesterday. Some areas were smooth and deep, others scoured with frozen bumps. I had other things to do this afternoon and it was starting to get sticky so I ended the day with a trip out to Microwave around 11.

Nice.

[jackattack]

Closing day at the Windy Hill. Mags getting... mediocre.





Except Neil. Neil got rad.

[SeatownSlackey]

Well done.

See you bitches at LBD?

[californiagrown]

I suppose ill ask again, as my original question is buried quite a ways back-


I want to tour out into the Teanaways in the coming weeks, specifically the Stafford Creek drainage and up to Navajo peak for some site seeing and skiing on the way down. Where is the best place to find out how far the road to the trailhead is melted out? Just start calling ranger stations? Any gate closures i should know/ask about? Any info or suggestions that folks in the know can pass along would be much appreciated

[PNWbrit]

Start here... https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/okawe...telprdb5376262

[Djongo Unchained]

Are those tip deflectors on rad Neil's skis?

That's some funny shit there...

[greenmachine]

Can someone please comment on the xtal conditions right now ?

[Norseman]

Can someone please comment on the xtal conditions right now ?

high shade was still dry powder at 3pm. Sunny slopes varied from just-starting-to-refreeze proto corn up high, to sticky ass schmoo mid-mountain and lower... except for the human-groomed corridors where travel was faster on the truer corn.

[greenmachine]

Thx Norse!

[XavierD]

high shade was still dry powder at 3pm. Sunny slopes varied from just-starting-to-refreeze proto corn up high, to sticky ass schmoo mid-mountain and lower... except for the human-groomed corridors where travel was faster on the truer corn.

darn. missed ya up there.

[Norseman]

Ah, sorry X.

- - - - - -


A couple Olympic shots from Brem...

The Brothers:




Constance:







Inbounds Dweebus:












Buster:






Check out this huDge avalanche:





Other nearby scenes:

[Buster Highmen]

Surprise pow April 19 pegged the fun meter - great ripping around with you Norse.

[Norseman]

Likewise. Fun day.

[PNWbrit]

Check out this huDge avalanche:

Damn.....

[John_B]

Hop posted a photo of a big on off of Shuksan on Instagram as well. I believe it was the NW Couloir but I'm not certain.

[TAFKALVS]

Hop posted a photo of a big on off of Shuksan on Instagram as well. I believe it was the NW Couloir but I'm not certain.

Any word on the Highway 20 effort?

[PNWbrit]

Any word on the Highway 20 effort?

they posted this yesterday

Our avalanche control crew helping with clearing the SR 20 North Cascades Highway caught this view of a natural avalanche at Spire Gulch.

and..

No estimate, hoping to get an update tomorrow. As of Monday they still had about 20 miles to go, including the most active avalanche chute areas.

[Patarero]

Psa: Approach to Helens is still good to the parking lot as of 4/21.

Sent from my SM-G920V using TGR Forums mobile app

[Buster Highmen]

The Crustal closer featured sweet choice corn ripping turns a little late. Morning was gruesome frozen coral reef but that segued into carvable crunch by 10:30. By noon, the corn phase crept across the sunny exposures. South exposures off 6, the frontside and FQ all skiing fantastic. The sun really brought out the devout.


No spring skiing @ Crustal, where did the love go? Such a great snowpack this spring and such a shame not to run lift access.
Despite the thin start and ratty January, March and April really came through with rack upon rack of great pow storms. Oh well, touring season.

See you k00ks up there and @ Alpy for the last few dayz.

[carlh]

Muir skied nicely yesterday, so calm it was a hot skin up. Some sastrugi up high buy nice and creamy most of the way, it didn't get slushy until pan face. This week should go a long way toward consolidating everything and I expect some reports of big ass slides with all this heat.

[cstefanic]

The few people I spoke to this weekend all reiterated the same thing: it's apparently really difficult to find people willing to work their "winter job" well past the traditional winter season. I'm sure there are plenty of skiers/riders who would shell out $99 or something for a 4-6 week Spring Pass to keep riding Stevens/Xtal, but if there's no one there to bump the chairs it just can't happen.

But yes, I agree. This is too soon considering what they've given us in years past with May/June skiing, sometimes with half the snowpack.