Forum Index > Trip Reports > Falling for High Hut 03.12.09
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Ingunn
Hiking Viking



Joined: 01 Feb 2008
Posts: 1751 | TRs | Pics
Location: Redmond
Ingunn
Hiking Viking
PostSat Mar 14, 2009 3:13 pm 
Inspired by Layback’s trip reports and annoyed by the fact that the weather refuses to cooperate on weekends, JK took Thursday off work and we drove down to Ashford to ski up to High Hut. We've been wanting to do it as a two-night trip, but with a new puppy and a broken dog at home, we didn't want to leave them with anyone overnight. After a quick stop to put on chains halfway up the forest road, we parked at Sno Park C and put on our cross-country skis. I strapped snowshoes to my pack as I have absolutely no reason to trust my XC ability. hmmm.gif
There's some sort of mountain back there
There's some sort of mountain back there
First look at the hut
First look at the hut
Big Tahoma, little marmot
Big Tahoma, little marmot
Almost there!
Almost there!
The first half of the trail was in the shade and my skis kept slipping backwards, so I ascended most of it herringbone-style – I would probably have been much faster on the snowshoes. doh.gif Past the Snowbowl trail junction we had sun all the way, and I could glide the remaining 1000 vertical feet to the hut. The views and the hut itself were fantastic; volcanoes everywhere and a very inviting outhouse. We had lunch outside, staring at Mount Rainier, then explored the hut and played a couple of hands of Uno. We met two other dayhikers (dayskiers?) at the hut, and two lucky bastards skinning up with pulk sleds to spend the night as we were going down.
High Hut
High Hut
JK digging a bench
JK digging a bench
Between a hut and a high place
Between a hut and a high place
He sees the world through Tahoma-tinted glasses
He sees the world through Tahoma-tinted glasses
High Rock Lookout & Sawtooths
High Rock Lookout & Sawtooths
Outhouse with a view
Outhouse with a view
High on High Hut
High on High Hut
Cold bum
Cold bum
Our skis and Mount St Helens
Our skis and Mount St Helens
My extraordinary lack of self-confidence combined with a total absence of skill led to some mildly traumatic experiences on the way down. At the risk of having my Norwegian passport revoked, I have to say that cross-country skis are not meant to go downhill. I spent the entire way down trying to gain as little speed as possible and, I am ashamed to say, even took my skis off a couple of times at those magical junctions of icy crust and sharp turns. shakehead.gif
I don't want to leave
I don't want to leave
Follow the snow cone
Follow the snow cone
I am proud to say I only fell twice (plus once on the way up - an impressive feat on its own – but surely that doesn’t count). Next time we’re spending the night – there can’t be a better place to watch the alpenglow on Tahoma… Miles: 8ish Elevation gain: 2400 feet Method: Evil cross-country skis Fuel: Lentil soup and too many mini Twix bars Information: Mount Tahoma Trails Association

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Layback
Cascades Expatriate



Joined: 16 Mar 2007
Posts: 5712 | TRs | Pics
Location: Back East
Layback
Cascades Expatriate
PostSat Mar 14, 2009 3:17 pm 
Awesome!!! It looks like you had a fantastic day up there. Yahoo!!! up.gif

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Go Jo
of the lykkens



Joined: 08 Jun 2003
Posts: 2248 | TRs | Pics
Location: Around The Bend
Go Jo
of the lykkens
PostSat Mar 14, 2009 3:37 pm 
Re: Falling for High Hut  03.12.09
Ingunn wrote:
He sees the world through Tahoma-tinted glasses
He sees the world through Tahoma-tinted glasses
Imagine the marketing potential of sunglasses that always provided a fantastic mountain view regardless of the weather... Thanks for the fabulous mental ski into the mountains ~Jo

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Magellan
Brutally Handsome



Joined: 26 Jul 2006
Posts: 13116 | TRs | Pics
Location: Inexorable descent
Magellan
Brutally Handsome
PostSat Mar 14, 2009 3:40 pm 
Love it! up.gif I may have to fall my way up and down that trail sometime.

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WildCelticRose
Oooh ! Shiny !



Joined: 06 Apr 2007
Posts: 242 | TRs | Pics
Location: Tacoma
WildCelticRose
Oooh ! Shiny !
PostSat Mar 14, 2009 4:46 pm 
Great pictures. is that the South Unit? I thought it was still inaccessible to the general public after the floods? Isn't Snowbowl the one that burned down? ~L

In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. John Muir
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GaliWalker
Have camera will use



Joined: 10 Dec 2007
Posts: 4916 | TRs | Pics
Location: Pittsburgh
GaliWalker
Have camera will use
PostSat Mar 14, 2009 5:30 pm 
Nice entertaining report, and beautiful photos. up.gif

'Gali'Walker => 'Mountain-pass' walker bobbi: "...don't you ever forget your camera!" Photography: flickr.com/photos/shahiddurrani
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ree
Member
Member


Joined: 29 Jun 2004
Posts: 4399 | TRs | Pics
ree
Member
PostSun Mar 15, 2009 1:46 pm 
Wow! Nice trip!

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Dayhike Mike
Bad MFKer



Joined: 02 Mar 2003
Posts: 10958 | TRs | Pics
Location: Going to Tukwila
Dayhike Mike
Bad MFKer
PostSun Mar 15, 2009 1:50 pm 
Very nice! Totally jealous...

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke "Ignorance is natural. Stupidity takes commitment." -Solomon Short
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Gabigabs
Trail Breaker



Joined: 07 Nov 2007
Posts: 841 | TRs | Pics
Location: Seattle
Gabigabs
Trail Breaker
PostSun Mar 15, 2009 1:53 pm 
You got such a beautiful day to get up there. Great report and pics.

Life is simple... Eat, Sleep, Hike!
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Ingunn
Hiking Viking



Joined: 01 Feb 2008
Posts: 1751 | TRs | Pics
Location: Redmond
Ingunn
Hiking Viking
PostSun Mar 15, 2009 11:05 pm 
WildCelticRose wrote:
is that the South Unit? I thought it was still inaccessible to the general public after the floods? Isn't Snowbowl the one that burned down?
The backcountry skiers we met were lamenting the loss of the Snowbowl hut... frown.gif The website says: "Our South District has re-opened, but you must now use Kernahan Road and FS 85 to access it"

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