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Ingunn Hiking Viking
Joined: 01 Feb 2008 Posts: 1751 | TRs | Pics Location: Redmond |
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Ingunn
Hiking Viking
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Sat Mar 14, 2009 3:13 pm
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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.
There's some sort of mountain back there First look at the hut Big Tahoma, little marmot 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. 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 JK digging a bench Between a hut and a high place He sees the world through Tahoma-tinted glasses High Rock Lookout & Sawtooths Outhouse with a view High on High Hut Cold bum 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.
I don't want to leave 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 |
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Layback
Cascades Expatriate
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Sat Mar 14, 2009 3:17 pm
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Awesome!!! It looks like you had a fantastic day up there. Yahoo!!!
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Go Jo of the lykkens
Joined: 08 Jun 2003 Posts: 2248 | TRs | Pics Location: Around The Bend |
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Go Jo
of the lykkens
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Sat Mar 14, 2009 3:37 pm
Re: Falling for High Hut 03.12.09
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Ingunn wrote: | 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 |
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Magellan
Brutally Handsome
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Sat Mar 14, 2009 3:40 pm
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Love it! 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 |
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
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 |
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GaliWalker
Have camera will use
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Sat Mar 14, 2009 5:30 pm
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Nice entertaining report, and beautiful photos.
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ree Member
Joined: 29 Jun 2004 Posts: 4399 | TRs | Pics
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ree
Member
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Sun Mar 15, 2009 1:46 pm
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Dayhike Mike Bad MFKer
Joined: 02 Mar 2003 Posts: 10958 | TRs | Pics Location: Going to Tukwila |
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
"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 |
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Gabigabs
Trail Breaker
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Sun Mar 15, 2009 1:53 pm
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You got such a beautiful day to get up there. Great report and pics.
Life is simple... Eat, Sleep, Hike!
Life is simple... Eat, Sleep, Hike!
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Ingunn Hiking Viking
Joined: 01 Feb 2008 Posts: 1751 | TRs | Pics Location: Redmond |
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Ingunn
Hiking Viking
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Sun Mar 15, 2009 11:05 pm
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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...
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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