Otherwise known as: Der Skyline Haute Route!
Not my name (I just heard it named that once)! Perhaps this traverse-tour insults the name "Haute" but it is a great tour north of Stevens Pass. Jake and I met Don up at the top. We stashed a car at Smithbrook and started back up at the Pass. From the Pass it has many variations. Our day went up to the saddle above Skyline Lake.
Climbing round two
Sky Peak behind
Mc Causland-Lichtenberg
Up and over Tye Pk. 5476'.
Jake Cruizin'
Don on steeps
Nice!
Ending the run
Then we embarked on a pleasant forest traverse over to and up the south slope of Lichtenberg Mtn 5844'.
Peak at Lichtenberg
Beautiful forest traverse
Skis over bear
Back at Skyline
Toward Lichtenberg
Serious winds on Lichtenberg
Ending with a ski off summit north slopes and out Smithbrook (finding an entrance was a challenge in 30 mile per hour sustained winds).
Handling wind crust
Union, Jove, Labyrinth
Jake cranking
Quick and dirty:
Sheltered north and NW aspects had great settled powder of 14 inch pole depth to the solid underlying crust. We floated high on the dense settled powder with only 4 to 6 inch ski penetration while skinning. South slope skinning of Lichtenberg sucked as usual with the effect of heavy west winds having created minor loaded rolls and loaded gullies. Otherwise, the winds created the occasional pucker factor of scoured ice/crust (at least for me) on steep slopes. OK, if you see our skin track you may find yourself channeling your inner Dr. Phil with a mumble something like, "What the f#@$ were they thinking??!" The top of north slope of Lichtenberg really wind slabbed/crusted, with the bottom 2/3 better, until once again great in the shelter of forest. I love the point to point tour options in this area when you have two cars! Thanks, gents!
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”-Mary Oliver
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”
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“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”-Mary Oliver
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”
― MLK Jr.
Cooler than a moose & twice as hairy! Thanks for the TR, looks like you guys got some good turns in addition to a nice tour around
We thought about doing something like that a few weeks ago, but opted for another run on Tye. Gotta do your trip one day.
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