Chiwaukum Range - South to North Ski Traverse 1/27/2010
Trip: Chiwaukum Range - South to North Ski Traverse
Date: 1/27/2010
Trip Report:January 25 and 26, Hoodie and I skied from Icicle Creek to Highway 2 over the Chiwaukum range.
I don't have any photos to post yet, as Hoodie took them all with his camera. We found excellent snow and good stability.
Highlights included a steep north facing shot off the top of Snowgrass and the magnificent NW couloir on Big Chiwaukum. A random stranger gave us a snowmobile tow up to Chatter Creek, saving us 7 miles of skinning and making it possible to do the traverse in two days. Even then, we had to work hard to make it to the highway by dark. The 5000' descent at the end of a long day was a great finale, with Glacier, Sloan, and whole host of other peaks rising out of the clouds in the stormy dusk. A not-so-random friend from Leavenworth picked us up--thanks O!
If you've ever considered doing this traverse or visiting the Chiwaukum range, now is a great time.
Approach Notes:Two-strokes of luck helped a lot.
