Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 2411 | TRs | Pics Location: Between a rock and a hard place.
Mon Apr 06, 2009 9:10 am Unwelcoming conditions at Welcome Pass, 4.5.2009
This sun is just too tempting. I had to get out for a second trip this weekend so off we went to the north Cascades! At first the trip was just myself and Beth but we were later joined by Suzanne, Jim, and Barry. Little did anyone, including myself, know what we were in for. We'd considered trying the ridge run between Welcome and Excelsior but with all the new snow and warm temperatures we quickly abandoned that idea. We also found the road to Welcome trailhead completely snowed in and had to park across the highway in a pull out.
Already the snow was soft at 9:45 as we started up. Slow going just on the road walk but thankfully it wasn't too steep. Before long we found our first obstacle: the creek / avalanche chute. We spaced ourselves out and crossed it quickly without incident. The next obstacle? Just finding the route after the road ended! Nobody had been up here for awhile so we had no tracks to follow. The trailhead log was snow covered and the last visitor was back in early February. My GPS aided a little but I only had spotty satellite coverage in the trees. We pushed upwards in the hopes of finding some sign of trail. As luck would have it we popped out right on a large switchback at the Wilderness marker sign. You'd think we knew what were doing!
Now on trail, and aided by some pink ribbons, we felt we were on track. The biggest obstacle now? Absolutely horrible snow conditions! Several feet of heavy, wet, unconsolidated goop. Each step we'd go knee deep and many times just slide backwards. Just lifting snowshoes out of each step, covered with this muck, was the most tiring part. We couldn't even make enough speed to run out of breath, just burn out of muscle energy. Even with the five of us trading trailbreak duty often progress was agonizingly slow. Poor Gusto was just floundering outside our packed trail. Absolutely the worst trailbreaking snow I've ever been through. We kept at it though pushing onwards and upwards before finally arriving at the pass 4 hours 15 minutes later!
We were pretty much at our turn around time now so all we could do was climb up onto the eastern ridge for a lunch spot with a view. And the views did not disappoint! Baker, Shuksan, Sefrit, Tomyhoi - everything. Temperatures were very pleasant with only a light wind. It was very tempting to continue on the ridge but we were out of time and had a slog of a descent to consider. Heartbreakingly short stay considering the effort we put in to get here. Everyone pushed to the limit but nobody gave up, especially Beth who showed me up by bringing her full digital SLR while I wimped out and brought my tiny pocket camera. On only her second snowshoe trip no less!
The descent was slippery but much more pleasant. We could sort of float down in the very soft goopy snow. We made it down to the road in about an hour. But we had one last big surprise waiting ahead! As we approached the chute things looked different. The whole thing had avalanched while we were on top! Giant balls of snow had scoured it down to bare dirt and scraped the sides clean. It's amazing we didn't hear it. This wasn't a dig-me-out-after-burial avalanche, it was the kind that would pummel one to bits. Thankfully we missed it but we still had to cross to get home. The slopes high above were not in the sun so we felt reasonably sure it wouldn't slide again. Still we crossed in groups and didn't hang around long.
Now we just had a road slog in soft snow back to the cars. Slow walking but thankfully easier than the steep ascent earlier. Never were we so happy to see comfortable chairs! Sore muscles and knees gave no protest as we finally sat down. We bid goodbye to Jim, Barry, and Suzanne before having a nice dinner at Grahams and arriving back in Seattle after sunset. A full exploitation of the daylight!
Stats for the day:
Time: 7 hours 11 min
Miles: 5.76 miles
Elevation: 3800 ft gain
Miles/hour: 0.8
Gain/hour (ascent): 894 ft/hr
From my GPS tracks it looks like the steepest continuous stretch was from the end of the old road to the summit, gaining 2600 ft in just over a mile.
David - you weren't kidding when you said this was a real slog! The last time I did Welcome - we made it to the Pass in 1 1/2 hours! A little different yesterday. A few pics to add - but the main addition is the commentary on the avalanche scene - it was humbling! There were boulder-sized chunks that came down that chute. Still - it was a lovely day to be out - in short-sleeves, no less! If anyone does decide to head up that way, at least they have a nice trench in place.
And then - the shocker for the day . . .
No April Fool's joke on this one!
Eneventful return to the cars.
Sure hope we didn't scare Beth away with our crazy adventure!
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 7818 | TRs | Pics Location: as far away from you as i can be...
Mon Apr 06, 2009 9:58 am
Wow glad you guys are ok! It reminds me of the trip up morning star. similar conditions and same thing happened to us. Avi took our our tracks up through the bowl. then we had some glassade/avi isusse too. wheew!
So glad you guys made in and out of the mountains. Spooky stuff to see the recent avi slide area that you know you have to recross to get back out.
It sure was wet gunky slop this past weekend. Didn't matter where you went - deep into the North Cascades or up by Stevens Pass. Thick wet slop to work with.
Joined: 10 Feb 2008 Posts: 205 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle, WA
Mon Apr 06, 2009 11:20 am
I have to agree with the prior observations:
1) most difficult trail-breaking conditions I've ever encountered on snowshoes, at least for the poor sucker in front.
Not so bad for anyone behind!
2) the views from the top were fantastic
3) the up close and too personal view of the avalanche was awesome and sobering
Joined: 08 Jun 2003 Posts: 1882 | TRs | Pics Location: Round the Bend
Mon Apr 06, 2009 11:27 am
It's true that Welcome doesn't mess around in the elevation gain department,
I can't imagine adding gloppy glue snow to the ascent. Well done!
It is an awfully pretty payoff view & the sunshine at the top must have been an added bonus.
Thanks for the post avi pictures, nature is really moving things around this Spring.
First, it’s a good reminder of how heavy and destructive wet snow can be. With rapidly warming temperatures right now (or any time), any slide can be very dangerous.
Second, just so no one will think the group was being unduly careless, this particular spot is a relatively controllable risk. It’s the runout gully that channels snow from slopes high above. Thus, one must be aware that the snow up above may be much deeper and looser than down low where the trail crosses. However, because the channel is only about 150 feet wide and one can see a fair distance above, one can cross it with due caution to move quickly and keep your eyes and ears open for any sight or sound of a slide. I’m not saying it’s risk free; just saying it’s possible to deal with it in a properly cautious way.
-------------- "Matt, you are truly full of it. But you take great --- pics, in spite of that." Scrooge
Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 2411 | TRs | Pics Location: Between a rock and a hard place.
Mon Apr 06, 2009 11:47 am
Ditto to what Matt wrote. The gully was quick to cross and we made the trip in pairs just in case. Even so looking at the scale of that slide was very intimidating.
The slide stopped maybe a hundred feet below where the trail crosses. Does anyone know if it's possible to bushwhack straight up/down along the west side of this gully from a lower point on the road?
wow that is what I call mother nature sending a shot across the bows, great shots of the avy debris and chute, what elevation and orientation was the trigger point?
wow that is what I call mother nature sending a shot across the bows, great shots of the avy debris and chute, what elevation and orientation was the trigger point?
South facing - probably around 3700' at the starting point. s.d.
Joined: 25 May 2004 Posts: 3127 | TRs | Pics Location: El. 162'
Mon Apr 06, 2009 9:10 pm Re: Welcome Pass slog
Sadie's Driver wrote:
Just a guess.
You guys were less than 5 miles from Canada. The border patrol has vibration sensors placed along the border to detect anything moving across from one side to the other. That looks like a satellite uplink antenna, probably connected to a buried sensor nearby.
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There were boulder-sized chunks that came down that chute. Still - it was a lovely day to be out - in short-sleeves, no less! If anyone does decide to head up that way, at least they have a nice trench in place. 
wheew!
although, for only being my second snow shoeing trip, i'm glad i made it to the hardest one you guys have climbed! geez, what luck!
