Joined: 18 Dec 2001 Posts: 2803 | TRs | Pics Location: Near the Siamangs
Mon Mar 24, 2008 12:17 pm
Earl Peak Ski - 3/23/08
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.
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.
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!
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.
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".
-------------- I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent_Gandhi
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.
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. I'm keeping the orange basket.
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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".
