Forum Index > Trip Reports > Earl Peak Ski - 3/23/08
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Randy
Cube Rat



Joined: 18 Dec 2001
Posts: 2910 | TRs | Pics
Location: Near the Siamangs
Randy
Cube Rat
PostMon Mar 24, 2008 12:17 pm 
It was 8:30 AM and I was back at 29 pines for the second day in a row! It wasn't raining and that was good, I had skis too and that was really good. Four of us (don b, Pat, Roald, and myself) started from the end of pavement about 8:50 and made quick work up to the turnoff for Standup Creek which we'd use to access the south slopes of Earl.
Skinning Through Low-Angle Trees
Skinning Through Low-Angle Trees
The weather got increasingly worse as we headed north, but the snow was looking pretty decent, so I was happy. We followed the creek more a or less, then worked up a natural half pipe then out onto the slopes bordering the basin just south of Earl.
One of 100 Creek Crossings
One of 100 Creek Crossings
Around 5800' the snow began to deepen and by the time we topped out on the east ridge of Earl at 6600' there was about a foot of fresh on top of a mildly firm base. Once on the ridge, the weather went a bit psycho on us, so we hid in the trees and added layers. I think the majority of us had summited Earl before, so the motivation to continue the last 400' was pretty low. Time to ski!
Almost Ready to Descend
Almost Ready to Descend
Great trip down. Deep powder for the first 500' or so then we worked down through various half pipes and open slopes to our skin track along the creek. Overall, is was a great 3500' ski descent - even once we were back down in the trees.
Don Works the Reverends
Don Works the Reverends
Working the Pipe
Working the Pipe
Cruisin'
Cruisin'
Smooth Terrain
Smooth Terrain
Basket
Basket

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wildernessed
viewbagger



Joined: 31 Oct 2004
Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics
Location: Wenatchee
wildernessed
viewbagger
PostMon Mar 24, 2008 12:30 pm 
up.gif How far from the drivable road end to Stand Up Creek TH ?, I have been all around Earl, but never to Earl itself. It's on the near future "to do list".

Living in the Anthropocene
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Randy
Cube Rat



Joined: 18 Dec 2001
Posts: 2910 | TRs | Pics
Location: Near the Siamangs
Randy
Cube Rat
PostMon Mar 24, 2008 12:36 pm 
Earl would be a fairly quick snowshoe trip right now. One could probably summit in 4-5.5 hours depending on conditions. You could run the distance numbers on Topo, but basically you're parking at 29 Pines for the next few weeks.

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wildernessed
viewbagger



Joined: 31 Oct 2004
Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics
Location: Wenatchee
wildernessed
viewbagger
PostMon Mar 24, 2008 12:39 pm 
Randy wrote:
Earl would be a fairly quick snowshoe trip right now. One could probably summit in 4-5.5 hours depending on conditions. You could run the distance numbers on Topo, but basically you're parking at 29 Pines for the next few weeks.
up.gif Thanks.

Living in the Anthropocene
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ActionBetty
Im a dirty hippie!



Joined: 06 Jul 2003
Posts: 4807 | TRs | Pics
Location: kennewick, wa
ActionBetty
Im a dirty hippie!
PostMon Mar 24, 2008 3:08 pm 
pretty sweet biggrin.gif

"If you're not living good, you gotta travel wide"...Bob Marley
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Mtn Man
Snow addict



Joined: 13 Jan 2008
Posts: 552 | TRs | Pics
Location: Shoreline, WA
Mtn Man
Snow addict
PostMon Mar 24, 2008 4:56 pm 
Way to git Earl done! God I hate that saying..... I may need to do this in later spring, sounds like a blast. B)

Mmmmm, backcountry...
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Randy
Cube Rat



Joined: 18 Dec 2001
Posts: 2910 | TRs | Pics
Location: Near the Siamangs
Randy
Cube Rat
PostMon Mar 24, 2008 5:11 pm 
Yup. There's going to be a lot of good skiing in there over the next 6-8 weeks.

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don b
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Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Posts: 369 | TRs | Pics
don b
Member
PostMon Mar 24, 2008 6:04 pm 
praise be the Reverends.

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Magellan
Brutally Handsome



Joined: 26 Jul 2006
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Location: Inexorable descent
Magellan
Brutally Handsome
PostMon Mar 24, 2008 9:28 pm 
Nice TR. What are 'Reverends'? confused.gif

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Tazz
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Joined: 27 Apr 2005
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Tazz
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PostMon Mar 24, 2008 9:31 pm 
damn i wish I had gone!!! doof.gif rolleyes.gif

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don b
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Joined: 22 Feb 2006
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don b
Member
PostTue Mar 25, 2008 8:48 am 
Mag, The Reverends are the name of the model of ski.

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Yet
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Joined: 23 Apr 2005
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Location: Happily Ever After
Yet
Member
PostTue Mar 25, 2008 8:52 am 
Dang, I was about to run to church.

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Roald
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Joined: 06 Aug 2007
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Location: Seattle
Roald
Member
PostTue Mar 25, 2008 10:00 am 
Don had the Reverends. I had the Ethics. The diff is that Don knows how to handle the Church of Skiing, while I am still in skiing Sunday school. doof.gif It was great to get out with you guys! Thanks for a great trip. I came home and immediately looked up Pat's TR on cc.com on his trip with Don up Argonaut. Incredible. That orange basket in Randy's picture is on my ski pole. Randy fashioned the basket from a Gatorade top after my tip broke off in an unfortunate encounter with a tree. The craftmanship is impeccable. up.gif I'm keeping the orange basket.

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dicey
custom title



Joined: 11 May 2004
Posts: 2870 | TRs | Pics
Location: giving cornices a wider berth
dicey
custom title
PostTue Mar 25, 2008 8:16 pm 
The gatoraide cap/ski basket is a stroke of genius up.gif

I'm not always sure I like being older but being less stupid has advantages. http://www.flickr.com/photos/32121172@N00/sets/
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