Blackcomb slackcountry - Phalanx glacier today

[LeeLau]

North slopes skiing rather well. Stability pretty darn good. Toured with Jon, Jimmy, Frank, Wendel and George



Access is via Stairmaster couloir to Phalanx - Phalanx Glacier - Poop Ridge - then off N spines. Bootpack to Foon Alley couloir rather thin so we skipped that

[LeeLau]

Here are some pretty pictures and mindless banter

Normal standard fare view shot from Spearhead Col. An assload of groups going up here towards Don't Swill and towards the Spearhead Traverse



I can't stand crowds and don't like skiing scraped out glacier entries - alternate entry to the Spearhead Glacier via short little bootpack



While two groups schralped Don't Swill chutes' icy gnar we pillaged low-angle powder on the Spearhead

[LeeLau]

Then off to bootpack up the Stairmaster couloir to Phalanx Peak and the Phalanx Glacier



Just about the easiest bootpack in the world - awesome steps and a mindless trudge - George first



then Lee

[LeeLau]

Frank just had to bag Phalanx Peak



Then we skied down the glacier till the snow got a bit crusty and went looking for more N facing powder. Here we are at the top of the heli stick on top of the Poop Chutes. Decided not to ski PChutes as it was almost certainly wind and sun-affected



and it was good - oh so good

[LeeLau]

Google Earth now has this area in detail - here's our route

[Spark]

Looks like a killer day!

The Google Earth rocks....I can hardly wait till I get all my touring gear and head up that way. Unfortunately, I might be one of those in the "assload of groups".

[PulverSchwein]

very nice Lee. Hoping to break free next week and get out there. looks like nice conditions

[shirk]

That Foon Alley just behind Franks head?

[LeeLau]

yah it is. It was going to be a rocky scramble to get there so left it for another day

[Lostinthetrees]

Here ...

While two groups schralped Don't Swill chutes' icy gnar we pillaged low-angle powder on the Spearhead

agree, nice choice! (and, nice TR)

good idea 4 my new motto: "always pillage the low-angle pow"

[Cheesestoff]

Lee, whats the "lift station" you've marked on the map? clearly there is no way a lift would be built up there?

[grapedrink]

i need to get google earth, thats really cool

[trouble]

I'm guessing thats the heli station that he is referring to

[powder11]

Lee, whats the "lift station" you've marked on the map? clearly there is no way a lift would be built up there?

part of the peak to peak gangala extending over to give the masses a new backcountry experience

[LeeLau]

Its just frank dreaming about where you could put a lift station to expand boundaries. We agree to disagree on that.

[Buster Highmen]

Someday I really want to ski with Lee....if he'll wait for my desk flattened ass