[John Morrow]

I met up with donb, Randy, and Andy for a fine daytrip in the hills with much less rainy weather than expected. The important stuff: The Stafford Creek Road is open to the Stafford Creek Trailhead at 3100 feet. We hiked with the skis on our backs for about 3.5 miles to the creek that drains the saddle between Navaho Peak and Little Navaho at 4800 ft. After crossing the creek we headed directly north uphill toward the top of Navaho Peak, putting the skis on at 5500 feet. Snow on the south side was pleasantly firm on the ascent.

Skis on

Little Navaho behind

SW ridge

Randy at top

Mad Men

Rain started pretty good at the summit where we were met with BigSteve and company. They headed back SW on the descent, we wanted to ski the NE Slope. From 7200 feet down to about 6000 feet on the north side the new snow from the past few weeks had settled into 6 inches or more of coarse grained wet snow. Though a bit heavy it was consistent and turnable. Below 6000 feet ski penetration was reduced to 3 or 4 inches or less, improving as we went.

Randy gets us going

Top third

Randy cruising to the bottom

Andy moving fast

Andy dropping low old school

Andy with Three Brothers

Randy 4

Don

The boys

At the bottom of the NE slope we turned SE and climbed to the Falls Creek/Negro Creek divide. From there it was a slight descent before we could turn a corner, traverse some rocks, and climb up to the Little Navaho Saddle at 6000 feet.

Returning up Falls Creek

Little Navaho sorth slope

Don with Three Brothers behind

Running out of snow

Little Navaho Saddle

Don, Last Run

One last final west facing run opened up below us skiing to 5100 feet before running out of snow. A quick boot descent brought us back to the trail at the creek crossing of the morning. Stafford Creeek Trail is a pleasant low gradient frolick out to the TH. It had been far too long since Randy Don and I had done a trip together. It was great to be out with "the boys" again!

[chiwakum]

Thx for the report! I'll try to ski that next year. Any guess as to how much longer there will be decent coverage assuming continuing cool weather? 1 week? 2 weeks?

[EastKing]

It doesn't look like too much snow has melted from last week. Freedom Peak (Little Navaho) is a rewarding little climb up. I actually found it more fun that the big summit of Navaho. Awesome trip and it looks like you had some great runs.

[John Morrow]

[DIYSteve]

Groovy! Fun hangin' out with you guys for a few stormy minutes on the summit. You guys did a great loop tour. FTR, we skied down the SW ridge then across the flattish terrain in upper SC basin then down a rib (the N flank of which was holding snow) to the trail stream crossing at c. 5000'. We booted from there. It was melting out fast, and that descent will not go this weekend.

[Mtn Man]

Nice TR! I'll have to get out there next time with you guys. Two weeks off from touring is too long! The knee is feeling good and ready to rock! B)

[ONELUV1]

Did you happen to find a black pair of Smith sunglasses at the TH? I was up there w/ EK and crew, the week before....fingers crossed.

[John Morrow]