TR: Washington Pass - 4/20-21

[SkiLyft]

@Leavenworthskier and I headed north this past weekend for a some camping and poking around off Washington Pass. Great times were had but the snowpack is quite strange this year. In places it looks to be quite thin and honestly I’m curious how late these lines will be able to be skied. That coupled with the fact that we are not getting good isothermal freezing is making for some “touchy” conditions.

I’ll attach some photos for reference but LVS remotely triggered a R1D1 which was spooky especially in April.

We left Casa De LVS at the crack of 7 after getting up at 5 because coffee, breakfast, and morning duties are essential prior to hitting the road.

Stopped to stretch the legs at Wells Dam while heading north on 97. Feels like spring down low.


We had originally planned to ski then set up camp but opening weekend on US20 was a gong show — so after driving up the pass we decided to head down, grab a campsite, eat some lunch then head back up.


As per usual blue lake trailhead was full to the brim. Wanting no part in that we continued west and picked the basin between Cutthroat and Whistler peaks.


Snow bridges are thin already


Heading up.


This section maybe has 1 week at the longest before it’s too bony to ski.


Gaining views


Whistler peak and Cutthroat


1500’ of pure corn goodness, looking back towards Cutthroat Peak.


LVS


Heading back out.


The evening consisted of quadruple stuffed Oreos, a stroll down the old early winters trail, miso soup, charcuterie, and a freeze dried meal of choice. To both of our surprise it was 10pm by the time we ran out of firewood so we climbed in our bags and passed out.

Is it quadruple stuffed or double double stuffed, these are the questions we pondered.


Once again we had planned to get an alpine start but the bags were too warm and sipping coffee in the morning sun was far too inviting so we opted for a breakfast of biscuits and gravy, over-medium eggs, and thick cut bacon.

As a side note of all the things LVS is known for cooking eggs over a butane stove on a cake pan should be highest on his list of accolades.






We arrived to the rainy past TH and headed up a little “whacking with woody” coined by @jackattack lead us to the summer trail.



Up up up


We spotted something that looked fun to ski while skinning above Ann lake.


Black peak in the distance.


Absolutely stunning views while climbing up to maple pass.


We arrived at the top of maple and noticed several pretty blatant signs of instability, there were tracks of two other skiers that had triggered 2 recent wind slab events both above and beside maple. This was concerning to us. Also the day was getting quite warm and without a solid overnight freeze the potential for wet slides was ever growing. We we made a decision to ski down near Ann and call it a day. We picked a rather mellow route and kept it around 30*. LVS dropped in and on his second turn he triggered this wet slide. Nothing consequential but this just pointed to the energy that is still in our pack right now.



We skied a slide path that went earlier in the day down to Ann and proceeded to bush wack through the coral reef out. A classssic end to any north cascade adventure.


We made it back to the trailhead, turned the truck east and meandered back home. What a weekend.

[thefortrees]

Good way to spend a weekend, I'd say!

[doebedoe]

#ExtremeLeisure at its finest.

[plugboots]

Nice.

This section maybe has 1 week at the longest before it’s too bony to ski.

Thats why I always ski the S. facing lines that are near the road first.

[SkiLyft]

#ExtremeLeisure at its finest.

You have no idea how accurate this statement is!


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[doebedoe]

You have no idea how accurate this statement is!


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

I do, but only cause LWS & his better half expanded on the concept at length at Vendul's place.

[TAFKALVS]

If you want to eat & drink well, sleep-in past your alarm, have good conversations, nap in the sunshine, bushwack with skis, and not ever ski or climb a major objective but have a blast doing it, go on a trip with me. #extremeleisure

[Buster Highmen]

If you want to eat & drink well, sleep-in past your alarm, have good conversations, nap in the sunshine, bushwack with skis, and not ever ski or climb a major objective but have a blast doing it, go on a trip with me. #extremeleisure

You had better take out a franchise from me or risk legal action.

[TAFKALVS]

You had better take out a franchise from me or risk legal action.

Perhaps we can broker a discussion and mediate while touring, Chinook pass is a central location and should be open soon?

[Buster Highmen]

Perhaps we can broker a discussion and mediate while touring, Chinook pass is a central location and should be open soon?

Hopefully. Crustal has closed uphill access until May 4.

Maybe some people will bother to share their thoughts:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/contactus/mb...rest/contactus

Public Affairs Staff
Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
Supervisor's Office
Tracy O'Toole - Public Affairs Officer - 425-783-6015
Colton Whitworth - Public Affairs Specialist - 425-783-6050
Aleta Eng - Partnership Specialist - 425-783-6017

[greenmachine]

Why is that buster ?

[PNWbrit]

See the PNW 18/19 thread.

[doebedoe]

Why is that buster ?

Once you meet Buster you understand. He's better at eating well, drinking well, smelling well, laughing well and skiing well than most of us will ever be. His knowledge of doing such has inspired many.

[::: :::]

Thx for the pics & TR skilyft & lvs

[John_B]

Nice TR. I was up in the Lake Anne area Saturday and felt pretty similar about the snowpack. Thanks for the pics.

[danmelon]

Nice TR, that fuckin breaky tho! dayum! nice one.

[m37418]

Looks like a great time!