snodger

lightD, By any chance did you try out the Manaslu also? There's been many good reports of it's "quiver of one" status but I kinda get the drift that it's got more of a soft snow bias. Don't know why I'm asking, can't afford new skis anyway...

I just wanted to bump this thread and let it be known that thanks to Corvalis Mtn Resue the Mazama beacon basin is now operational. Jerry buried the beacons in about 2 feet of snow and we had about 6-8 inches fall over the weekend so until we get more snow watch out for wires in the snow! Remember to bring 6 C cell batteries and please don't leave them in the control box. Oh yeah, this year Jerry positioned the beacons as they are listed on the powerpoint slides. (i.e. skewed, verticle, horizontal) So get out there and practice

Wow, those pix bring back a few memories as i worked for the USFS there for about four years. Our crew used to carry gear to the lookout and do a bit of trail maintencance so I know at least the upper part from Cone peak road. You ever check out the "Albino" redwood in Lion Canyon? It's not that spectacular, just kinda a curiosity. Thanks for posting

Don't know about that; my toyota alltrac has pretty low clearance and made it fine, so did a suby forrester that was there...

Really, it's on USGS maps? I know from experience that its all a big ravine there as you say and figured that perhaps what they were showing was the dotted line snowfields that show on older quad maps, I could easily imagine that ravine being full of snow 40-50 years ago. Not sure though why they'd add a name to it. Interesting theory about the dam, I was just joking when I mentioned it. Seems like a irrigation diversion dam would be a lot smaller than what they show? Another theory of mine is perhaps that it was a joke put in by whoever made the maps for google. I could imagine them laughing as they waited for someone to notice...

Made the drive up yesterday. There was about 6-8 inches of snow at Cloud Cap campground. The car tracks were melted out on the way down and from what I saw the road seemed good. Theres a lot of little signs along the road showing where the FS either has or intends to add more gravel (signs said "4 loads 3/4 rock etc) and a bunch of new water bars accross the road but all in all the same old drive. A lot of trees along the road have been cut but there are still many that could close down the road after a storm... Couldn't see much above the first ice fall because of clouds, so can't comment on ice formation. On another subject; anyone ever notice that on google maps there are a few lakes shown up around cloud cap. One even is named: "Pollalie Pond" What the fuck?? We noticed it this w/e, Check it out for yourself: googlemaps Strange the way they're just pasted over the terrain, someone been building dams up there?

from the FS web site: CLOUD CAP ROAD RD #3512 : WILL OPEN AT DAYBREAK TOMORROW - 09/29/2009. No woodcutting permitted. Please stay on road or Tilly Jane trail #643. Absolutely no off-trail or off-road use allowed in the burn area.

Anyone in Portland interested in a box of Back issues of both Backcountry mag and Off piste? I'm moving and if no one wants em they're in the trash. Off Piste's go way back to 2002 or so, up till present, Backcountry are mostly newer...

Just heard from Hoodie after a session at the basin. He reports: Burials are all about 1.4 meters which is even better practice. It seemed like #6 wasn't working. I switched it on alone and never could pick up a signal. I could pick up all the others from the box when switched on one at a time. Just an FYI. The other 10 are plenty to play with. Stop in when you're in the 'hood

We're heading to Vancouver Island in a few weeks and want a place to crash for the night. Last time we stayed in Surrey at the Quality Inn but the price has gone up to $80; we're hoping to find a place more in the $60 range. Other Ideas? probably not lookin to camp that night

As of yesterday the basin is installed. please wait until we get some snow to bury everything before tromping around up there. Hopefully the forecasts are correct and next week will take care of that. I can't seem to edit the original post so here's some updated info: and for those of you who were asking for GPS coordinates here's a new list of the beacons and their UTM coords (which I believe are GPS coords??) I DID'NT USE A GPS TO PUT OUT THE BEACONS SO USE THESE UTM'S AS A GENERAL LOCATION ONLY!!!!! Also, the orientation of the beacons is not as per the above chart. They are all set flat on the snow which I believe is a horizontal orientation. Sitting here writing I realize varying the orientation would be useful to some users and maybe I'll try and get that changed (any Mazama ski mountaineer instructors going up this w/e?), stay tuned for an update on that... I had some questions from people who couldn't find the basin and in review of the pix in the original post I can't see how to give you better directions... check out the maps that show the lodge and environs, then go up there and walk up the hill and find it!!

Four buckle randonee boots in excellent condition. They have only been skied once or twice by a little old lady on her way to church. No really, They are a couple years old but have little use, they've sat in the closet and now must go. You can't beat the price - roughly 1/3 the cost of new. As you can see in these pics there is no wear on the soles Boots are in Portland, PM me

yup, without rope or pro it'd be a bit dicey for mortal climbers. The time I was there that brown section was one of a couple ice steps we had to negotiate. the ice was about 1-2" thick and spotty but made for a fun bit of climbing. what I remember most was the surreal sculpted ice and rime along the sides of the route and the posted pix of ice in all the Hood TR's is what me think about the conditions in the gully. be careful out there!! I'm skiing in bounds this W/E.

Not that I want to encourage anyone to head up that way right now, but I'm curious if you saw and/or have pics of the other gully over to the left of your line: I think that's the one (or it's just out of the pic to the left) I've climbed and has a bit more ice and is longer. It should be in fine form right now, though you'd have no where to hide from the icefall...

David, I just listened to your phone message and then promptly deleted it, so since I don't have your number to call you I'm hoping you'll check back here. It sounds like you went looking for the basin but the reason you coudln't find it is because it isn't there yet. I usually wait until theres a few feet of snow before placing the beacons and the plywood targets so that there will be something above ground level for users to hit with the probe. When I was last there a week ago (I'm in tahoe right now) there wasn't enough snow... I'll be back in govy next week and will try to get things in place asap and will post here and on TAY once it's in. As far as best access I think it's best to go through Mazama Lodge but you could also access from west leg road either the bottom or if you're coming down from T-Line. Once in the Mazama "meadow" look for a red pipe sticking out of the snow to skiers left near the top and thats where you'll find the control box. Roger

The basin was originally obtained by the Mazama ski mountaineering committee and for the last few years I've been the volunteer who put it out and semi-successfully maintained it. I never got around to publicizing it because we were experiencing intermittent technical difficulties which I think I got ironed out this year. *side note* if anyone has problems with beacons not operating please post here or send a PM I'm not sure what to tell you about donations, I'll have to check on that. If you're down near the Mazama offices (the old Mason lodge on stark - around 46th or so...) you could stop in and ask if theres a way to donate $ to the ski mountaineering committee. For now just get up there and use it and give me feedback on improvements or whatever. I'd like to know what people think of access, usability etc... Roger

Update: The basin was in use yesterday by a Mazama class. from what I heard everything is working great, but because of the depth of the pack it's difficult to hit the targets even with the longest of probes. the targets ate about 1.5 to 2 feet off the ground and believe it or not theres 10-11 feet of snow in Govy right now!

I was just down there and managed to find a pretty good $39 hotel in Bend. It's the sugarloaf mountain hotel, on the north end of town on hwy97. Keep your eyes peeled on the east side of the hwy just after you start getting into town. If you're dirt baggin, you can camp all over the place up near the mountain.

Frika, you got to stop thinking so loud! Naw, really I've been meaning to get out this info just never made the time. hope you get a chance to go use the basin; and how about letting us know what you think after? Rog

Just wanted to let everyone know that the Avalanche training facility, called Beacon Basin and provided by BCA and The Mazamas, is fully operational and available for use. Following is more info: The basin has been installed for a number of years but never really promoted so I'd love to see some use! Please remember not to dig! Just probe for the targets. Also remember to bring 6 C batteries and to take them with you when you leave- we don't want batteries left in the control box. Comments or questions, please PM me. Enjoy Roger

I was just checking avy sites and looks like we're getting a classic "upside down" snow pack with the recent very light snow over surface frost and icy layers all being covered by more snow. If the forecasted warmer weather (Mon-tues)comes in with rain it'll really load everything up! There are reports (from meadows patrol I think) of 2-3 foot crowns on slides running to the ground. The avy reports recommend staying off NE to SE slope where wind loading is greatest. Don't want to scare you off, just be cautious out there. Your plan of hitting the Palmer should be fine as you'll probably find wind affected snow; the fluff has probably all blown over into White River. That said, in my opinion and experience, the Palmer is a fairly safe place to go solo if you're aware of the main south side dangers: incoming weather and the dreaded 'triangle'. If you can't find a partner ahead of time you might find someone to tag along with in the parking lot. And if not you'll soon find that it's hard to find 'alone time' on the south side. Have fun out there.

Expect A LOT of new snow. Last night it was absolutely pukin down after snowing all day. The pack in govy went from 0 to about a foot in one day. The good thing is that there was no wind, so should be beautiful conditions.... fer skiing!

Check your boots for size; it's usually printed on the side 0f one of the soles near the heel. Theres sometimes a few other numbers but there should be a three digit number, I think my size 10's are 320?? Not sure and can't check as my boots are up at the mtn right now...

Don't believe what you hear about silvretta's not releasing. They just have a non traditional system for lateral release. Both the forward and lateral release functions are in the heel piece, and so the toe piece is just a bail. I think this makes people think they won't release but like any other binding they will if set right. I think I remember reading in the instructions for my old 500's that the engineers at silvretta believed that having the release at the back was actually safer, something about being closer to the axis of the leg bones and so less leverage before a release... then again that could be a one of my imaginary factoids with no basis in reality. I do know that I had many a spectacular fall with my 500's and still have my knees intact.

here's some pix from last sunday, I was thinking of getting in some turns on the snow dome but a combination of a late start and the trashed condition of the elliot crossing turned it into a jaunt with skis on my back... This one is from near where the temp. bridge used to be - there's now a huge gully there where you can practice your batmanning skills on the fixed ropes then here's one from a bit farther up the Elliot: It was sure beautiful up there on sunday. I was hiking in my polypro shirt and sweating while all around it was cloudy and drizzling. At the time there was a dusting at the TH and along the way up it got deeper with drifts up to my knees. the dome looked like it had ample freshies, with the upper crevasses still open, but I'm sure all that has changed with the warmer temps...