[Jim Dockery]

Shred and I headed up Mt. Pilchuck for my traditional last day of school ski.

We rushed to gear up when the hideous little red gnat buggers instantly attacked when we opened the doors. We each had our personal swarm that followed us to the summit ridge where some wind finally dispersed them. If we kept moving they couldn't land and bite much, so that kept our pace going steady, even when we hit a wall of brush at the first steep bit on the skier's route we normally take (not a very good route now). We're both a bit masochistic, so we found a perverse pleasure in making our way through with our skis - I think of it like rock climbing - just go slow and think through each move - and most of the time you can finesse your way.

A couple hundred feet below the trail we hit continuous snow and cruised from there. We just booted it up and didn't bother bringing the skins. Clouds blew in and out, but socked in at the summit, so we were happy to have the lookout to shelter us as we savored our beers.

The Gunsight was challenging - very steep hard snow with no runout or room for error. Jeff skied it to the bitter end making jump turns down the last finger of snow while I side slipped to the rocks.

We skied the gully next to Larrison Ridge because it had better continuous snow.

Going down the brush was easier, we followed snow further down to the east, then had a steep bit of brush to back down. I don't think I've ever gotten my boots off so fast to escape the bugs when we got back to the car.

It was a great evening, but we do have our limits, so it will most likely be our last ski on Pilchuck this season.

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jimdockery.com
Panoramio

[BigSteve]

Looks like Jeff has some spring in his legs. 

[SlowWalker]

Jim, I truly envy many of the trips you manage to do.

But not this one.

[Jimbo]

Not sure if that takes............ Guts......... Nuts.............. or what but that last turn in ( Gunsight ) looks Crazy.. Judge's give you a 10 

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Guns only have two enemies; rust and politicians

[Shred]

You forgot to add Blood, Bruises and a Brick, to the title.
Yes, I too dare say that was the last Pilchuck foray for the year. Unless... maybe we could wear some protective padding and... ahh better quit while were ahead

[JPH]

Way to get the last of it. 

Gunsight looks bonier now than it did in early July last year!  Bummer, guess I'll scrap my plans for that one this year. 

[bgs8379]

Jumpin Jeff ,  Nice !

[puzzlr]

Good to see some bushwhacking shots. I'm always so absorbed in trying to get through I forget about the camera.

[bgs8379]

Cut the brush and trees out, you guys just want all glory !