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John Morrow Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 1526 | TRs | Pics Location: Roslyn |
For the skiers:
No partner again today so I went to some moderate angle stuff. I hit some west facing slopes between 5500 feet and 3500 feet. Began to snow lightly a bit before noon. Skiing was great as long as I found tree shade by hugging skier left edges of glades. 6" to 10" of cold, but dense, powder on top of the firm and textured crust made for very fun skiing. So fun that I stopped at 4200 feet on the first run and returned to my skin track for a climb back to the top for a 2nd run. Wind blown snow had partially covered my skin track, and my first run, between runs. Won't take too much new snow to wipe the slate clean. Open west facing and SW facing slopes had a sun affected trap crust but it was easy to avoid in this area. If it saw sun just avoid it and there's decent snow out there.
For everyone:
Left Gold Creek snowpark and headed along I-90 to Rocky Run. In the past I'd head up the south slopes from here to the ridgeline. Today I went into Rocky Run basin on the road and climbed up the west slopes, piecing together the glades I wished to later ski. This way I'd have my skin track visible to guide me between them. Snow was great for uphill traction, probably enough on the crust for pleasant snowshoeing.
For later Great tree skiing Nice glade Storm coming The blaze Pretty scene up high Rampart Ridge Box Ridge
My first ski run was a piecing together of glades with short traverses.
1st run 1st turns Hug the shady side Great run on a solo day
Then I returned to my skin track for a second climb to the summit.
Umm, next time Nother cool glade S. Rampart disappearing Back in my track Reusing my uptrack Summit glade
My second run I went fall line off the summit more or less with a minor trend northwest off the summit, followed by a southwest trend. Great skiing in areas that had been shaded from the sun of the afternoon before.
2nd run, 1st turns Looks great This is cool! Allrighty! Fun! More fun! Over there looks good It is good! Spoonin my 1st run Almost done
The trip out included some exciting regenerating clearcut skiing and an angry grouse that was out for blood of the back of my head. This fellow seemed friendly, then absolutely psycho flying after me and hitting me in the back of my head several times!
Tough 2nd growth! Attack grouse
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”-Mary Oliver
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”
― MLK Jr.
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”-Mary Oliver
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”
― MLK Jr.
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olymountainman Member
Joined: 18 Feb 2013 Posts: 106 | TRs | Pics Location: Tumwater, WA |
Glad to see you found some good stuff!
The mountains will always be there, the trick is to make sure you are too.
-Hervey Voge
The mountains will always be there, the trick is to make sure you are too.
-Hervey Voge
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iron Member
Joined: 10 Aug 2008 Posts: 6392 | TRs | Pics Location: southeast kootenays |
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iron
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Tue Mar 05, 2013 9:55 pm
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how'd that grouse get on your ski?!?
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DIYSteve seeking hygge
Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 12655 | TRs | Pics Location: here now |
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DIYSteve
seeking hygge
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Wed Mar 06, 2013 10:29 am
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Luv the Sooty Grouse pic
I've been doing that tour for 20+ years. Love to see it get some ink. When my rehab allows, I gotta get up there with the new fat waxless skis.
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John Morrow Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 1526 | TRs | Pics Location: Roslyn |
How's the healing going Steve???? Miss you out there.
All because I never get a snowpark permit I never do this one like I'd like to. Don and I hit it last year and this year I found a neat fall line run with minimal traversing that you probably know. Has a couple 50 foot wide shallow forest edged draws that were too cool.
Now I badly want to do a carry over and ski the north slope of 5606' and circle back to yesterday's run as an exit to the car. Summit to car yesterday was 1.25 hours!!!!
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”-Mary Oliver
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”
― MLK Jr.
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”-Mary Oliver
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”
― MLK Jr.
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AlpineRose Member
Joined: 08 May 2012 Posts: 1953 | TRs | Pics
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Yet another great trip report, John. Glad you survived the grouse attack. The grouse-on-ski photo is unique - it should go somewhere really visible, like a magazine.
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AdventureStrong Member
Joined: 26 Jan 2013 Posts: 28 | TRs | Pics
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I never took grouse for being so aggressive. Anyway, looks like it was a lot of fun up there.
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smokey 1703 Member
Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Posts: 4 | TRs | Pics
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Nice trip report as always.
Hahaha on the grouse. A couple of years ago we were driving out of the Elwha and a grouse was sitting in the road; darn thing wouldn't move. We stopped and I got out to chase it out of the road and it attacked me. As we drove away it flew down the road behind us hitting the tail light over and over.
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Magellan Brutally Handsome
Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 13117 | TRs | Pics Location: Inexorable descent |
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Magellan
Brutally Handsome
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Wed Mar 06, 2013 5:04 pm
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Sounds like a great tour! Crazy ass grouse!
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Sadie's Driver Sadie's Driver
Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 1763 | TRs | Pics Location: Welcome Pass |
Four-paw buddy lets me tag along!
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olymountainman Member
Joined: 18 Feb 2013 Posts: 106 | TRs | Pics Location: Tumwater, WA |
Hey John, do you think this mountain would be suitable for a snowboard?
The mountains will always be there, the trick is to make sure you are too.
-Hervey Voge
The mountains will always be there, the trick is to make sure you are too.
-Hervey Voge
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John Morrow Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 1526 | TRs | Pics Location: Roslyn |
olymountainman wrote: | Hey John, do you think this mountain would be suitable for a snowboard? |
Hi omm, I think if you were OK with some lateral touring to get in there i.e. splitting back out or snowshoeing then the west slope is long and sustained enough to warrant going. Skiing fall line for the first time may mean hitting ramdom glades in between nicely spaced forests. Just a longish road walk out.
Speaking for Ragman and Rodman, Something like Red Mountain up the Cle Elum valley would have more fall line riding than Baldy with less lateral going. I can get you some maps if you like. My computer filing system sucks so I just have to dig them out of cyberland.
John
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”-Mary Oliver
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”
― MLK Jr.
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”-Mary Oliver
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”
― MLK Jr.
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John Morrow Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 1526 | TRs | Pics Location: Roslyn |
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”-Mary Oliver
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”
― MLK Jr.
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olymountainman Member
Joined: 18 Feb 2013 Posts: 106 | TRs | Pics Location: Tumwater, WA |
Thanks for the responses John!
I myself don't really mind having to traverse or unstrap and hike a lot, I just like to hit as much new territory as possible I haven't ridden anything in the Snoqualmie Pass or Cle Elum area, I'd love to get out there though. I would very much appreciate some maps if its convenient for ya.
Thanks a bunch man.
The mountains will always be there, the trick is to make sure you are too.
-Hervey Voge
The mountains will always be there, the trick is to make sure you are too.
-Hervey Voge
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