Trip: Shuksan - Variation to Hanging Glacier & North Face

Date: 5/9-10/2011

Trip Report:
The other day Drew Tabke and I skied a variation of the Hanging Glacier on the Shukhorn off the north shoulder. Weather was mostly cloudy but provided a few key windows which we patiently waited for, the snow conditions had been breakable crust for most of the morning, but softened up just enough for the crust to dissolve when we skied. The upper face was steep and very fun. We quickly skied the lookers left exit, which was a little scary because of the ice cliff above.
The next day I skied the North Face solo. I hadn't intended to ski that day, but the allure of cold temps and blue morning skies proved irresistible. I found firm windpack on the steep entrance option (skiers right), and weak breakable crust for the mid portion, soft snow on the lower. The lower face is the most filled in that I've seen it, and I skied hugging skiers left, which is usually seracs.

Our route (picture taken from my hg descent 5/4/11)


tracks


Drew


Drew slayin


Entering the knar exit


The North Face, my tracks should be visible on upper portion.

dude, you own that mountain.

Own? Oh ya! Dan, curious, what skis are you riding? They look to be dbl rockered fatties?

The second shot is killer.

very nice work boys. well done, i'm very very impressed you skied that line in that nasty fog. How steep was the top 50-55?

Thanks Adam! we got a couple minute of a window of fog free weather that we waited a while for! I think that the slope angle was somewhere around 50, I haven't carried an inclinometer around with me for several years and have lost my ability to judge angle accuratly.

That's a kick ass photo of your turns! Did you ditch the Manaslu's for some different planks?

Nice!

Thanks!

John, I'm still useing the Mansalus, they're getting a little floppy. Adam from LMS hooked me up with some H2Os for Maude, they were sick!

Just looking at this makes my heart pound a little. Man I so want to get back into alpinism!