Asfahl

Looks like good fun! Nice pics, too.

@OlympicMtnBoy Frozen fun was the order! Been waiting on winter all summer.

Trip: Kaleetan Peak - South Route Trip Date: 10/25/2020 Trip Report: As Kaleetan Peak is a pretty simple scramble in summer, I thought I'd put up a quick TR to update conditions as the Cascades move into winter. I used the Denny Creek approach and the South Route to access and solo Kaleetan on the October 25. Snows from the 22/23rd and cold temps have brought the Snoqualmie region into Winter, although accumulations are modest thus far with plenty of exposed brush and rocks on the climbers trail to access Kaleetan's South ridge. From there, I found consistent ankle to calf-deep snow to the summit. The final 4th-class scramble pitch is in that awkward stage where details are nearly filled in, including most holds, but not enough to turn it into a straightforward snow climb. There was a decent crust for step kicking in the gully, but I had to excavate holds with a basket-less trekking pole as I left the axe in the car. Unless it all melts out again (quite possible), axe/crampons will be welcome additions for the final pitch to the summit for the rest of the season. What views! Chair, Bryant, and the Tooth were all looking downright beautiful, and distant views of Glacier, Kulshan, and Tahoma warmed my spirits in the 25F, 20 kt winds. Gear Notes: Brought micro spikes. Pons/Axe would have been better for final scramble/snow pitch to summit. Approach Notes: Denny Creek Looking West from summit Conditions pic from summit of final snow pitch/scramble from Kaleetan Ridge: Early views of the Tooth (?): Upper Falls Chair, what a babe: From Kaleetan Ridge: Another from the ridge on the way up: Tahoma welcoming winter: I have a huge crush on Chair, now:

What views! Really great trip report. Not sure what you two had planned for the N. Cascades, but this looks like a rather satisfying outing. Prost!

...of course I would spy and drool over an ice climb called “Death Picnic”! Hahahaaa

Fantastic images! Looks like conditions were x5000000. You all are really making that couloir dance lately...

Beautiful images... sounds like a rad outing!

Trip: Mt. Baker backcountry - Table Mountain circumnavigation Trip Date: 03/08/2020 Trip Report: Made it into the Mt. Baker zone for the first time yesterday with my buddy John. The lure of 50 cm of fresh on Thursday and a surprise 20 cm Saturday night from that sneaker storm was enough to pull us all the way up there... and we were rewarded! Not sure the setting and views get much better. Had a great ski clockwise around Table Mountain in a brilliant theater of wet loose avalanche activity - the was certainly more sun than originally forecasted. Great snow conditions, even if a little baked by the mid-afternoon. A great outing, and even made it back to Seattle for sunset! This is a fools spring - winter ain’t done with us yet! Also saw a rather handsome 2ish pitch ice line directly east of Iceberg Lake... wondering if anyone has climbed it recently as it certainly looks pretty tasty at the moment. See pics below... Gear Notes: AT gear Approach Notes: Don’t forget the fresh cookies!

Agreed on that avy apron above Source. Simply not a sunny day uproute for me... Goods that are not shared are not goods, you know!?!

Trip: Alpental Backcountry - Pineapple Basin via Source Lake Trip Date: 03/01/2020 Trip Report: Spent the final day of my AIARE 1 course with a clutch of stoked and smart folks, along with Trevor and Joe from PGS. Reached our decision point at Source Lake around 10:00am, just in time to see some sun-induced loose wet slide activity on the main Chair Peak apron, which didn’t seem to bother the hoards of folks underneath them... decided to reject our option to Snow Lake slopes. Toured up into Pineapple Basin in a group of 12 total (!); found rather fantastic north-facing snow up there, with the Friday/Saturday storm snow generally well bonded to the 2/22 interface. Two runs on Pineapple Express, with pretty flat light in the afternoon (2nd) run. A fine place to cement a few days of avalanche training! Gear Notes: AT gear, about 30 homemade cookies for the crew Approach Notes: Plenty of folks in the basin that day, watch out for yellow snow

Nice! Looks like you found the goods!

Conditions look amazing in your photos. Nice one!

Shootdang! Looks like a fantastic day to be out with some great conditions. Thanks for sharing the pictures, too, I’ve not swooned for Shuksan quite like this before.

Right on! There was such good snow! I bet we did run into each other. Fun vibe out there. Fingers crossed for more after this weekend’s storm. Feels like the season still has plenty of legs!

Trip: Stevens Pass - Yodelin Trip Date: 02/17/2020 Trip Report: Just trying to get the *freshie zone* awake again... had a great time out on Yodelin Monday morning and afternoon. 7-12 inches fresh snow over a crust, deeper up high, deep right-side-up drifts of snow in the trees. Excellent skiing. Wishing I could go out and enjoy more before the sun gets to it this week. Let’s hear some more reports! What are you all finding out there? Gear Notes: AT skis Approach Notes: Parking lot was surprisingly only host to a dozen or so vehicles on a holiday? Follow the road cuts up to rolling tree and glade skiing. Steeper terrain but denser trees available to the NE.

Wow! Looks like a great trip - I look forward to the captions for more context, but dang the routes really do like fun. And it's so nice that you were able to enlist a NatGeo photographer to tie in with you guys

Awesome TR! Really dig the video component, too - nice work. Looks like you all had a great outing!

Sicko! Great TR and images... it looks like you two had *perfect* conditions up there. Such a beautiful climb on the ridge, with plenty of airy feelings and spectacular views. Well done!!

Sicko!

Amazing images!!!

Sweet! Nice work and great images.

Not really worthy of a TR as it is climbed so very often, but I went up the Old Chute route on March 30th with a buddy. I figured I should return the beta favor above and put up some pics, with the goal of at least stoking the fire for others. We took advantage of a clearing weather window that opened just before midnight the 29th, was supposed to last around 12 hours, and ended up lasting 2 days. Typical Hood day of leaving the parking lot bivy around 1:45 am, climbing under a sea of stars, 3-10 degrees F until the sun came up, summiting in the morning hours, returning in the early afternoon under sun and 50s-60s. Made a half-dozen new friends breaking trail through the Old Chute... the really fun side of a "social route". Snow conditions were *perfect* for climbing/glissading/sliding/shenanigans, with all of the upper mountain wiped clean by the hash of light storms earlier that week. Plenty of skiers and snowboarders making it look reallllll good on the way down. People appeared on the summit from seemingly every aspect while we hung out on the summit. A+ day. Some pics: Climbing under starlight/headlights: Just before sunrise near Devil's Kitchen: Sunrise mountain shadow from the Hogsback: Looking down from our lookout/ski hide-away just under the Old Chute finish: Summit views to the North: My buddy Max down-climbing the steepest bit of the Old Chute: So many routes were re-opened that day! Tracks leading to/from many of the more technical South Side routes:

Nice. Thanks for the info. Looks like we'll get a little break in this salty but not severe weather late Friday and early Saturday. We'll see!

Is there a way to see/revive these images? The links seem to be broken..

Planning a visit to the summit early the morning of the 30th. Looking for beta on snow/ice conditions for the South side routes - anyone been up since the warm temps started last week? Snow conditions on the Old Chute looking consolidated? If anyone is heading up this weekend, could you please take some pics/notes and post back here? Pints of gratitude for your efforts...