Month: January 2009

The goal for the day was to actually get skis on snow.  The day was not starting out promising.  We hit the snooze alarm for nearly an hour.  I thought that I had forgotten to pack my beacon.  But we got up.  And fortunately beacon/shovel/probe lives in my pack so it was there even if I couldn't find it for a while.

The avalanche report seemed promising but it was snowing and the wind blowing so we opted for a treed route for shelter.  The route we chose was on the lee side of a ridgeline, which is usually more sketchy as far as avalanche conditions go but we'd be in trees and on fairly level terrain.

Despite our non-alpine start we were still the second party to start up the road with another party behind us.  The party ahead was a group of snowshoers.  We were able to use their track until we parted ways at the second switchback up Smith Brook Rd.  They were headed to Union and Jove Peaks.  We started up a creek, tried to stay to the right of it as the guidebook suggested but that route was too bouldery.

We crossed the creek and followed some level terrain up the drainage.  We found ourselves kind of crowded against a very steep slope.  Most of the snow that was going to fall off it had already fallen but then the whumpfing (snow layers collapsing, making a distinctive "whumpf" sound) began under our feet.  Even though logically we were safe because we were in the trees, on fairly level terrain, the whumpfing rattled us.  We crossed back toward the creek toward more open and level terrain, which changed as we started to climb toward the saddle.  Whenever we crossed an open patch with any steepness, a crack would start.  Back to the trees, which would be sketchy trying to ski back down.  Finally we came to an open spot that had to be crossed.  Randy went first while I stayed in the trees and watched.  About halfway he stopped and looked back with very wide eyes.  The wind was blowing so I didn't hear it but he had caused a whumpf that went all the way down to the bottom, which was approximately 30m.

At that point we decided to call it a day.  Our terrain choices were becoming even more limited and we had experienced the warning signs of a potential avalanche for the last several hours.  No need to push it.  We hadn't started out with much of a goal except to get some exercise and explore a new area.  That part had been accomplished.  The rest of our mission was to get home in one piece.

As anticipated getting down was tricky.  It wasn't really skiing per se, lots of backtracking, sidestepping down steep parts.  The snow alternated between soft and skiable to hard and crusty.  The soft parts would've been fun but there wasn't a run long enough nor safe enough.  Toward the bottom we noticed that some snowshoers had used our track.  Hope they stopped where we did or proved us wrong about the potential sketchiness of the situation.  Here are a few pictures.

The forecast promised, practically guaranteed spring snow conditions so we made plans to ski Mt. Catherine near Hyak on the east side of Snoqualmie Pass.  Then we would spend the night in Seattle with friends Brooks and Gwen, then the four of us would ski inbounds at Crystal Mountain.

Yes, that was the plan.

We left early enough Saturday morning but were starving almost as soon as we left the driveway.  Ordinarily an Egg McMuffin will do but not that morning.  We stopped at the Buzz Inn in Marysville and had an enormous sit-down breakfast.  The drive to Snoqualmie seemed promising.  The sun popped out of the fog at around Sammammish (enough m's?  too many m's?).  Unfortunately the fog closed in when we got up to the pass.  We would be skiing in fog.  Then Randy's boot fell apart.  Another delay but the problem was easily fixed once he borrowed the right tool from Ski Patrol.

We didn't take the most direct route to Mt. Catherine.  In fact we sort of meandered around the groomed cross country runs then found a frozen, lumpy cat track where our trail should've been.  Not long after "skiing" the frozen crud I gave up and just took off my skis.  Much easier traveling.  Finally we reached Nordic Pass, undoubtedly the longest way possible while still remaining in the area.  Part of the problem was not being able to see our objective, which was lost in the fog.  The other was hasty map reading the night before and mislabeling Nordic Pass in the GPS.  And the other might've been not inputting all the waypoints to the peak.

Bergdorfer describes the route up to the peak pretty much as a basic cross country route.  Seemed easy enough.  Except that we seemed intent on making it difficult.

Just above Nordic Pass we ditched our skis because the ridge was too steep to ski, even though the snow was finally getting softer.  We boot-packed up to about 500' below the summit, where the sun was shining.  Made the decision to go back down because we weren't sure we'd have enough daylight to make the summit and get down in the light.

Our way out was more direct than the way in.  We took the ridge directly down to the groomed 'Round the Mountain track, put skis back on and expected to whoosh right down to Hyak.

Ha.  It was about 6 km from where we popped out of the woods back to the parking lot.  At least 3 of those km's were either level or slightly uphill.  I stubbornly refused to believe that we had to ski uphill so stubbornly fought waxed skis uphill until I finally gave in and put climbing skins back in.  By the time I got out, Randy had been waiting about 15 minutes.  I admitted that I probably should've put the skins back on a very long time ago.

We went to Seattle and had a lovely evening with friends Brooks and Gwen.  Then got up at 6:00 the next morning, out of the house before 7:00 and off to Crystal Mountain despite knowing that the snow would be crunchy.  We were up there by about 9:00 and got on the first run up the mountain.  Unfortunately I had way overdressed thinking that it was going to be cold and awful.  It was sunny and warm so I was hot and sweaty under all my layers. Fortunately I have enough sense to dress in layers so was able to deglove, shed a jacket, unzip, unzip, and unzip.

The snow was predictably crunchy so we skied slowly and sensibly for the most part.  After skiing in the backcountry most of the time, Randy and I found the crowds on the slopes unnerving.  Still, the weather was beautiful, the sun lifted our spirits and the snow softened for a little while in some places.

By 2:00 we'd had enough.  The snow was pretty much scraped off, a few dirt spots showing through, we'd witnessed a young snowboarder flying down the hill too fast and bashing into an unsuspecting young skier, who was knocked off his feet.  Our legs were tired enough.

We drove into Enumclaw to have a beverage and snack together when I got the voicemail that my naughty dog escaped her fencing and was MIA.  I was way too far away to do anything.  My neighbors, dog sitter, and police department were on alert.  Nothing for me to do but fret.  Which I do very well.

I'm afraid I wasn't very good company at The Mint in Enumclaw but I was with good friends who offered as many comforting words as possible.

The good news is that my dog was picked up, rather quickly I imagine as loose dogs are not well tolerated in Anacortes, and remains in doggie jail until I can release her tomorrow.  I'm still wondering how much that will cost.  Jodee will enjoy a week or two of Auntie Corrina's Special Doggie BootCamp until she earns her freedom again.

Anyway, here are the pictures.

We decided to ski up in the Mount Baker area on Saturday, January 10, 2009 for no better reason than we couldn't think of a better place to ski.  Actually that's a pretty good reason.  Snoqualmie Pass had just opened after a huge landslide shook some houses off foundations, ran over a ski lift tower and caused a mudflow over a road.  It had been raining up there quite heavily so we reasoned that the skiing wouldn't be any good.  Later trip reports confirmed our assumptions.  We didn't think that Stevens Pass would be any better.  Mt. Baker might not be much better but there were more options.

The avy danger was decreasing from the week's earlier high predictions but it was predicted to increase somewhat after snowing al day on Saturday.  We needed to ski at 4000' or above because the storm was fairly warm and we didn't want to ski in the rain.  HIgher than 5000' might have sketchy avalanche conditions.

By the time we arrived at the Mt. Baker upper parking lot snow was falling steadily.  And the wind was blowing.  Visibility would be a factor at higher elevations.  We decided to stick to the trees.  To our surprise not many cars were in the parking lot yet.  We parked next to a familiar white Subaru with an orange box on top decorated with lots of stickers, ranging from insults to SUV drivers to praises of Norway.

We skied up the courdoroy ski run to the backcountry gate, scooted under the rope (it's allowed if you're prepared) and followed a familiar track to the Swift Creek drainage.  We briefly debated skiing up to Herman Saddle but with the wind and the snow, the visibility would be flat and the snow blowing in our faces the entire trip.  To our surprise and delight we were the first skiers to arrive at Swift Creek.  Surprised because lots of people ski Swift Creek.  It's a safe area because of the trees and low angle slopes.  Delighted because the snow was quite good despite the warm temperatures.

We skied down then found a skin track (up track) that had been set the day before.  That made our, I mean Randy's job, of setting the track back up the hill easier since he wouldn't have to break brand new trail through deep snow.  He had just bought a new ski pack that was about 3 lbs lighter than his previous pack so he was feeling fresh and speedy.  Anyway, we skinned up and skied down fresh powder a total of 6 times.  By about our third lap we started seeing other skiers.  By the 5th lap we saw lots of pairs of skiers.  At that point our legs were getting tired, mine especially since skiing down is still very much a challenge for me.   We agreed on one more down trip and quitting while we were still ahead.

Skiing down means one more climb back out of the drainage then a short ski back into the ski area and a kind of flat slog out to the parking lot.  We were back at 2:30.  The owner of the white Subaru had not returned so Randy built a little snowman to put on the hood to let him know that we'd been there.

It was a fun day for both of us.  The snow was quite skiable and I learned a few more things about making turns.  At one point Randy was waiting for me to ski down the hill; I remarked that I ski like I drive: often 5 miles below the speed limit, in the slow lane.  He smiled and agreed.  Here are the pictures.

We wanted to ski New Year's Day through the weekend.  However, high avalanche danger, which included closed passes made planning difficult.  Sort of at the last minute we decided to base ourselves out of a motel in Cle Elum to ski out of Salmon Le Sac and Blewett Pass.

Since the avy danger was high on the west side of the Cascades we reasoned that a shallower snow pack on the east side coupled with skiing low angle terrain in the trees would keep us safe.

Randy had mountain biked across the drainage from Jolly Mountain the previous summer and thought that it would make a good ski tour.  Plus Blewett Pass is nearby — we've always enjoyed skiing there.

After consulting guidebooks and maps, plugging info into the GPS, packing, we checked the pass conditions early on New Year's Day.  Stevens was open… until we got all the way to Monroe.  Pout!

Plans were delayed by one day.  We didn't get an early start on Friday because we weren't entirely confident that the passes would stay open.  We moseyed to Seattle, goofed around.  Snoqualmie was still open so off we went.

The next morning we drove the road up to Salmon Le Sac.  It hadn't been plowed recently and snow was accumulating as we drove.  We were in my Toyota 4-wheel drive, which turned out to be necessary for the clearance.  As we got closer to the parking area, the snow was actually shallower.  Huh.  In the parking lot there were lots of big trucks with trailers pulling snowmobiles.

We started up the road to Jolly Mountain.  No snowmobiles so I broke trail through a breakable crust to the second switchback.  We left the road there; Randy lead the way up the ridge.  The going was very slow because the tight trees forced our route, plus the snow wasn't particularly easy to travel through.  We switched off breaking trail about every 30 minutes.  We finally reached the end of the road.  After a couple false starts we decided the best way to get to the top of the clearcut was to cut a track through the clearcut.  Randy made kickturns about every 10m until we finally got to the top.  It was time to turn around.  We had reached approximately 5050' in elevation — about 1000' below our goal.  Daylight is in short supply so we thought we might come back the next day since most of the track was set.

We found a low angle slope down the clearcut.  Randy went first and found a windcrust.  Turning was difficult but the clearcut was fun.  Then we got to the trees.  The wider trees were kinda fun to ski through.  Then came the tight trees.  And an exercise in frustration for me.  For the next hour I skied and fell, skied and fell because places to stop were limited and stopping was difficult in the crust.  By the time we got down to our road track I was both furious and relieved.  Randy suggested that we might not ski there tomorrow.  Good man!  We got out just as light was failing for real.

The next morning we got an earlier start to tour Diamond Head at Blewett Pass.  I was dragging a little because of all the falling the day before.  Fortunately the snow was easier and we were able to follow a snowshoe track much of the way.  We made it to a lovely slope below the summit.  Near the summit was a little corniced, wind-loaded.  So we stayed at the elevation we popped out at and dug a pit: 91cm snow, ENE aspect, 32 degrees, CT 23, crust at 15cm then deeper crust, which apparently I didn't record.  Oops.

We decided to ski close to the trees, one at a time, taking turns to keep an eye on each other.  After the first few turns it felt like the snow was going to stay put so Randy skied the entire slope then I did too.  The snow was much more skiable than what we experienced on the way up to Jolly.  We slogged out; round trip was around 4 hours.  Returned to a ticket for failing to have a snowpark pass.  Let that be a lesson to all of you!  Here are the pictures.