Forum Index > Trip Reports > Iron Horse (xc) - 12/15/03
 Reply to topic
Previous :: Next Topic
Author Message
JimK
Member



Joined: 07 Feb 2002
Posts: 5606 | TRs | Pics
Location: Ballard
JimK
Member
PostMon Dec 15, 2003 9:25 pm 
Due to the lousy conditions in the mountains I spent the weekend in town. Monday is supposed to be the only day this week without rain. With that in mind I took off from work at 12:00 and headed to the pass. My goal was to go from the Hyak sno-park to the far end of Lake Keechelus. The limiting factor was daylight. I was on the trail at 1:15 and sunset was at 4:15. Snow conditions are as good or better than anything I saw last year. The Summit has 70 inches and I would guess that there is about 50 inches on the Iron Horse. It looked like the route was groomed within a day or so and another 3 or 4 inches had falled since then. There was one set of tracks and many snowshoe prints in the middle. It was about 34 degrees when I started so I had great grip but so so glide. The recent snow has really flocked all the trees. That alone was worth the drive. I passed two women half a mile along. The single track now had only one set of pole prints. It was almost untouched snow. Within a mile all but one set of snowshoe prints ended. My only concern was the site of the old snow sheds. Avalanche danger was listed as high above 6000-7000 feet and I was at 2450'. The snow shed site had a good layer of snow with no traces of slides. There is still not very much snow on the hillside above. At 4 1/2 miles the lone skier had had enough and the track ended. From here on I had to make my own. The snow was well compacted so it only slowed me down a little. At 5 miles I reached the bridge over Roaring Creek. It took me 67 minutes and I still had 30 minutes until my turn around time. I continued to slog along and reached the Lost Lake Road at 2:40 with 5 minutes to spare. I used them to wolf down a sandwich and get a drink. 1:28 for 6 1/2 miles was not bad for me under those conditions. The trip back was just as enjoyable. I saw many animal tracks and just the one ski track. Not a trace of ice on the whole route. My return time was nearly identical to the time going out. I reached the car at 4:21 just as darkness set in. My headlamp stayed in my pack. I saw the two women near the start and one snowshoer who was coming back as I skied out. That was it. 13 miles and near solitude at one of the most crowded cross country ski sites. What a great way to start the week.

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
   All times are GMT - 8 Hours
 Reply to topic
Forum Index > Trip Reports > Iron Horse (xc) - 12/15/03
  Happy Birthday speyguy, Bandanabraids!
Jump to:   
Search this topic:

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum