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  1. #1
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    Nov 2016
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    TR: Washington Pass - 4/20-21

    @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.
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    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.
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    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.
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    Snow bridges are thin already
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    Heading up.
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    This section maybe has 1 week at the longest before it’s too bony to ski.
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    Gaining views
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    Whistler peak and Cutthroat
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    1500’ of pure corn goodness, looking back towards Cutthroat Peak.
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    LVS
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    Heading back out.
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    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.
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    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.

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

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    Up up up
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    We spotted something that looked fun to ski while skinning above Ann lake.
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    Black peak in the distance.
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    Absolutely stunning views while climbing up to maple pass.
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    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.

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    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.
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    We made it back to the trailhead, turned the truck east and meandered back home. What a weekend.
    Last edited by SkiLyft; 04-24-2019 at 09:39 AM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
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    No longer Alexandria, VA
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    Good way to spend a weekend, I'd say!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
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    Gaperville, CO
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    #ExtremeLeisure at its finest.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
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    Bottom feeding
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    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.
    Well maybe I'm the faggot America
    I'm not a part of a redneck agenda

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
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    Quote Originally Posted by doebedoe View Post
    #ExtremeLeisure at its finest.
    You have no idea how accurate this statement is!


    Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
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    Gaperville, CO
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    Quote Originally Posted by SkiLyft View Post
    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.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
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    panhandle locdog
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    7,836
    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

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
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    Quote Originally Posted by Leavenworth Skier View Post
    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.
    Merde De Glace On the Freak When Ski
    >>>200 cm Black Bamboo Sidewalled DPS Lotus 120 : Best Skis Ever <<<

  9. #9
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    Aug 2011
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    panhandle locdog
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    Quote Originally Posted by Buster Highmen View Post
    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?

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
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    Quote Originally Posted by Leavenworth Skier View Post
    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
    Merde De Glace On the Freak When Ski
    >>>200 cm Black Bamboo Sidewalled DPS Lotus 120 : Best Skis Ever <<<

  11. #11
    Join Date
    May 2002
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    687
    Why is that buster ?

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Seattle
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    33,546
    See the PNW 18/19 thread.
    Quote Originally Posted by Downbound Train View Post
    And there will come a day when our ancestors look back...........

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
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    Gaperville, CO
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    Quote Originally Posted by greenmachine View Post
    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.

  14. #14
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    May 2009
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    inpdx
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    Thx for the pics & TR skilyft & lvs

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Posts
    2,620
    Nice TR. I was up in the Lake Anne area Saturday and felt pretty similar about the snowpack. Thanks for the pics.

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    Montreal, Canada
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    Nice TR, that fuckin breaky tho! dayum! nice one.
    27° 18°

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    Fairbanks
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    8
    Looks like a great time!

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