philfort

We skied down from the pass last Sunday... it was still possible (though not very good skiing) with about 20 feet of bushwhacking and 20 minutes of talus walking. Sahale Arm didn't really look worth it for a day trip, it was patchy. Boston Basin looked better. Cache Glacier has good skiing for 2000ft and Mixup Arm was still continuous snow. Road is closed at the Eldorado lot. Consider taking a bike!

I was in the area Sat/Sun Bikes would be a good idea, since the road is now gated at the Eldo lot due to construction, leaving 3.5 miles to the summer trailhead. They are finally doing something with the washouts - they've got a bunch of machinery up there, and it looks like they've been able to move some dirt around with it. They have made one washout worse. Sahale Arm is patchy... it looked skiable if you stayed on the lee side, with 2 or 3 long walking sections. Didn't look too appealing, and there are 5 more days of hot weather before next wknd :-) The final slope down to the pass was melted out. We actually managed to "ski" down to the road from Cascade Pass - I wouldn't be suprised if we got the "last descent" of this season It took just over an hour, with most of that time spent walking on talus.

Indeed, we found a pair crampons on the Goodell Creek approach 2 years ago, somewhere just below treeline. However... we were heading in and didn't want to carry them, so we placed them on an "obvious" stump to pick up on the way down. Turns out the stump wasn't obvious enough and the crampons are still up there somewhere

Just got some better ones... (going to ruin the thread width now) TROGDOR!

A few pics: I missed all the motherlode-snoqualmiepass-to-glacier-peak-multi-prong bolts

It keeps getting better and better... tried some pics, but I always miss the big ones. I think I'll have a few in a minute or two...

There's been a huge thundercloud over the Cascades for the past half hour or so, with lightning bolts flashing through it every few seconds... nice view from downtown.

A split was the best purchase I made in the past year Boarding in untracked pow I use a Voile 173 and I think its great, but I've never owned another snowboard, so I'm not too picky about performance - since I don't know what good performance is. But I like the simplicity of the design - it seems reliable. And with the mtn plate bindings and light boots, it doesn't weigh much more than my tele setup. Also, the Voile is the cheapest, and they come with skins.

... and back when the glaciers were thicker and the upper section was smooth snow instead of rocks

...if the weather's looking good, I could probably be convinced to take a week day off to go check it out.

Hmm, that face looks like a fun ski. The 'shrund looks easy to get around, just the rocks on top that look sketchball! Is it easy to pop back over the col between the N & S sisters?

Road is gated just past MP21 - only adds a mile and a half to the approach, and the washouts are trivial to cross.

We were wondering whose car that was parked between the Eldo lot and the gate (at what seemed to be the Torment Basin approach)...

Probably several more weeks I would think... the direct approach up to Cascade Pass is melting out quickly though. I give it another week and a half before the trail is the better option.

Climb: Magic Mtn-Magic Mtn couloir Date of Climb: 6/4/2004 Trip Report: On Friday Matt Peters and I skied the couloir that drops NE from the Magic Mtn ridgeline into Pelton Basin. This is the curvy one one easily seen from Sahale or Buckner. It turned out to be a really sweet run, highly recommended! The snow conditions were a little on the soft side - about a foot of wet snow from the previous weekend. No large objects coming down though, unlike when I attempted it with Bill F 3 weeks ago. We climbed up the couloir, reaching the top around 9am. Awesome views of Formidable and Spider from the top! It looks like it would be accessible from the KoolAid lake side too. We didn't waste much time since things were warming up. The descent went smoothly, and we continued down the Yawning Glacier snout into Pelton Basin, for a run of about 2800ft. Full TR here: http://www.mtnphil.com/Magic/Magic.html Photo of the route from late June of last year: Matt skiing down: Gear Notes: skis, helmet, axe, crampons (didn't need them). Approach Notes: Road closed at MP21. Route still ok straight up to the pass, with a few bare sections.

Hmm, anyone interested in a steep run in the North Cascades tomorrow? My potential partners either aren't getting back to me or are off to other adventures. Planning to bivy at the trailhead tonight for an alpine start, since it's supposed to be kind of warm tomorrow. Email me if so...

Here's one you can use, taken in Boston Basin... Don't think I have a bigger one... Maybe you can explain what exactly these clouds are doing? They were kind of forming a tunnel...

I don't see those snow totals anywhere on that site... last update was a week ago? Am I blind?

I dunno if I'd go there strictly for the photography. It's got nice views, but you're kind of on the side of the mountain. I don't think you can see a whole lot above you , but the views of Willis Wall and the other wall are good. If you stay there long enough you'll probably get an avalanche on film: Getting there is somewhere in between straightforward and extreme technical climbing. The Carbon glacier can be pretty tricky to navigate, especially by summer, and there could be a short bit of low 4th class or low 5th class getting on to the base of the ridge. Then its sustained 40+ degree snow or ice (or scree?) getting up to Thumb Rock, with pretty significant rockfall danger.

I need to move it down a bit so more of the Carbon is visible. Next clear spell I'll work on getting that Thumb Rock Shag-Cam working too

Get to your favourite ice and snow stashes! -Yamaha Exciter 570 (1987 or 1988 I forget) -runs great, with lots of smoke when it starts. Never had any breakdowns. -comes with "Got Rope?", "Snowmobilers for Nader", and trendy "Free Tibet" bumper stickers -has been to exotic locales such as Rainy Pass and Chiwawa river valley. Look at those stylish lines! -trailer not included -yes, the chassis is strengthened with duct tape Asking $900 I'm selling because I'm getting a 4-stroke for next season. email if interested!

thx.... If I go I hope I don't falafel Tomyhoi

What's the approach to this thing like? Pretty much as described in Beckey: drive to end of Tahini road, cross creek on log, go up? Is the road driveable to the boundary?

Corteo.

nice!