ilookeddown

We just went up to the saddle between cave ridge and guye from commonwealth. We actually started from the hair pin of Oberstrasse Rd and toured up from there. It saved us a few hunderd feet. As for the gully, it's the one used to get from the middle summit to the north summit when climbing any of the west or south routes.

Trip: Guye Peak - East Couloir Date: 2/12/2007 Trip Report: Aaron and I skiied the east coulior of Guye Peak today. The coulior begins near the north summit of the peak about 5 vertical meters down. We saw it last spring while skiing Kendall Peak and decided to give it a try today. We did it late in the day and the snow was a little too soft but the ski was enjoyable. It took us a little over 2 hours car to car. Aaron at the north summit looking down getting in time to ski

Shit, I was one ridge over and it was breakable crust and socked in all day. It sucked!

Yea, it's impressive. I have been out there a few times. Never seem to run into anyone. Guess it's the 4+ mile mostly flat approach.

Trip: Chikamin Ridge - Date: 2/6/2007 Trip Report: Went up to Chikaman Ridge with Adam and Aaron yesterday. We were originally going to ski something else but after booting up 800ft we decided to abandoned those plans and head over to Chikaman. We left the car at Gold creek at 5:15am and made it to the base of our first planned objective at first light. Screwed around for 1 and 1/2 hours boot packing, making a decision, and skiing back down. Ended up on a saddle of Chikaman ridge just after 2pm. Got back to the car at dusk. Snow was good due to the warm temperatures and the weather was a mix of partly sunny to overcast high clouds and visibility was great. It started to rain when we got to the car. Booting up before turning around One of the creek crossing Chikamin Ridge Mt Thomson and Huckleberry Aaron Skiing Aaron and Adam

It was in the Alpental Valley, aspect was west, 30 degree slope. Here is a picture after it was all over.

Trip: Avalanche - Date: 1/20/2007 Trip Report: Yesterday I was caught in an avalanche. It crowned about 40ft above me and was 8” to 10” deep slab about 30’ across. It ran about 200’ and completely buried me. There were many things I could have done to avoid being caught but ignored the signs. Here is a quick run down. I was touring alone in an area that I have been dozens of times before. I was traversing across an open slope and noticed some recent avalanche activity. I toured across a slope that had recently slid into an area that had not slid yet. As I entered the area I heard a “whoomp” sound. I stopped, looked around then took one more stride so I could do a kick turn and go back the other way. As I was in the middle of turn I looked up and the slope released. I had one ski going one way and the other going the other and I was facing the slope. There was nothing I could do as I was hit by the snow. I fell backwards facing up with my skis uphill as I slid down the hill and quickly covered by the snow. Once I stopped, I was able to get my right hand to the surface and make a hole so I could breathe. From there I was able to dig my self out. I lost a pole. Here is a list of my mistakes. I was alone, I did check stability along to way but not on that slope, I was in a terrain trap that could have been avoided but was too lazy to go down to a safe area b/c I didn’t want to go back up, I knew there was a very good chance the slope could slide b/c of recent activity but took the chance, I felt it’s not going to happen to me. In addition, one of my regular touring partners was caught in one today near Stevens today. He was with someone and wasn’t completely covered. I know I’ll get some shit but I feel I should post this as a reminder as we get more and more comfortable out there to be safe.

I don’t normally watch KOMO for many reasons but Ken Schram just reminds me why I don’t watch. Today, the TV was left on the channel as background noise and his voice came through the speakers. I didn’t necessarily disagree with his opinion, but it was his “I am the lord of the NW” delivery. Over many years, I have been disturbed by his opinions (TV and in print). I feel a little conflicted by posting this since it may raise interest in this shit head, but I would like to hear your opinion.

Why don't you post a report of your trip last Sunday?????? I haven't posted anything b/c I got a new camera and the picture files are too larger. I just don't have the time to figure out how the make them smaller to download to the site.

Dawn Patrol…..Summit Tubing Center….Lapped it three times….It was the best day all year!

Yellow is the best.

The best way to get there and not piss off the assholes at the ski lodge (who think they own the pass and the road to Alpental), is to just follow the snowshoe trail @ the PCT trail head up into commonwealth basin to the east of the creek. Be sure you take the first trail that looks like a logging road (it will be on to the north). It will get steep after 1/4 a mile and be just a steep trail. It then flattens out and enters the woods until it meets up with the creek. Follow the creek side on the east (up and down) for about 2/3 a mile. You will then go up drainage to a flat area and a log crossing. In most years this is the only easy crossing. From there head NW and cross another small creek and follow it north on the west side of the creek until you find the party. Its also a good approach to Red Mt.

Go into Pro Ski a Aurora.

Trip: - Peak 5606 Date: 12/9/2006 Trip Report: Adam, Steve and I toured up to Peak 5606 Saturday. Our original plan was to ski a coulior off the west side of Rampart Ridge but it became quickly apparent that it would be much too icy. Once we go to the top of Rampart Ridge we saw Peak 5606 to the east and decided to give that a try. We skied the open slopes down the east side of Rampart to Laura Lake, and then had to boot pack 400 ft up a steep drainage to Lillian Lake. We put our skis on toured across the lake and up the north shoulder to the summit of Peak 5606. We ended up skiing the open west face and down the drainage. We crossed the creek, put our skins back on, and toured back up Rampart Ridge then skied down to the car parked at Gold Creek Sno Park. In all it was 7 1/2 miles, 5,100 ft of elevation gain and 6 transitions. Here are some poor quality pictures of the trip and one I stole off NWhikers dot net after doing a search that shows the peak in the summer. The pic I didn't take of the peak in summer 1/2 way down Rampart looking down at Laura Lake the bottom of the ski line is in the upper right Booting up to Lake Lillian Crossing Lake Lillian Skiing about 1/2 down Peak 5606 with 1/2 of Adam

I took L1 and L2 with pro guiding a few years ago. The course was great, instructors were very knowledgeable, and I learned things about snow assessment that I use every time I go out. They really emphasize terrain assessment as well as snow conditions as you tour. Its geared towards the ski touring which I liked. The price was very reasonable as well.

Well we took the flat, long FR 9070 from the water treatment plant to trail head 1303. I think it might be worth touring up Hayak, ski down to Mill Creek, back up to the groomed trail that wraps around Mt Catherine to the east and ski down to FR 9070 then tour west to trail head 1303. I guess you could take the Lake Annette trail but at that point you might as well ski the very appealing east face of Silver down to twin lakes then skin up 1800ft from the lake to the couloir. When you ski down you end up east of the lakes which puts you further from the car.

Stick clips are a result of poor bolting. Smith being the exception due to the erosion at the base of the walls. My first trip down there I climbed Relelations and even though 5.9, that first bolt is sure a long way up. If a route is bolted, it should always protect a possible injury. If you want to stick clip a route good for you, but you may be missing out on the true rush of climbing. (sport)

Trip: Couloir above twin lakes - Date: 12/7/2006 Trip Report: Adam and I skied a couloir above twin lakes near Silver Peak today. If you have ever driven to Silver in the spring you know the one I'm talking about. Conditions were very icy but manageable. The couloir is about 1600ft of vert. and I guess about half as narrow as the Slot. The entrance is around 50 degrees and mellows to around 40 toward the bottom. I would like to go back when there is some fresh and check it out again. Its north facing but you have to wrap around the mountain and approach it from the south side to reach the couloir. Anyway, here are some pic. I didn't get too many b/c my camera got hit with a chunk of ice while trying to take a picture. Gear Notes: Standard touring including ski crampons.

No they have snow plowed to block traffic. I am sure it will be open on Saturday since they are opening. I don't think they will groom the trail until they get a little more coverage. From what I hear they don't plan to open the bc until things consolidate a bit so they can blast. Did a couple of laps to the top of Snoqualmie Mt today with 4 friends. We followed a skin track up just over 1/2 way. It looked like the group dug a pit and didn't like what they found and skied down. We dug 2 pits a bit higher up and found conditions favorable. The second lap was a little softer since is was sunny but the temps were still in the teens. It was some of the best skiing so far this season.

Climb: Source Lake - Date of Climb: 11/24/2006 Trip Report: A few of us skied the slopes about 600ft above Source Lake today. We found no skin track so it was slow breaking trail to the lake. A couple of groups followed the track so I hope it lasts through the snow over night so it can be used in the morning. We did 3 laps before cutting over to the snow lake trail for the ride out. It makes for a fun short tour. We found the slope very stable and nothing released. We had to take out skis off 3 times to cross water on the way out.

Whoever skied that line today you have some balls. From the tracks it looked like a great line. Well done.

This is one of the web sites I use to check conditions. Don’t know about email updates. http://www.skitiger.com/

I shit on you in the bedroom and he likes it

I rarely participate in spray and find little entertainment in it. But I had to add my opinion. Who the fuck cares and why do you?

Yea, they told me they ran into someone. I was told that you were very solid skier. If you want to get out let us know.