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.