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philfort

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Posts posted by philfort

    Which mountains do I see?!

    in Climber's Board

    Posted · Edited by philfort

    The big ones to the right of Baker are Whitehorse and 3 Fingers.

    Big 4 and Vesper are the other prominent ones, between 3 Fingers and Glacier Peak's obvious cone.

     

    So, I think it goes:

    Baker, Whitehorse, Three Fingers, Big 4, Vesper, Glacier Peak.

    wanna ski this

    in the *freshiezone*

    Posted

    I wonder what this couloir looks like from the air in the winter:

     

    Here's a photo of the top of it, from the ground, in December a few years back when there was (nearly) no snow yet:

     

    Azure.jpg

     

    Looks like a wicked convex roll there (and actually if you look closely, you can see a fracture line in this photo)

    Snowpack: This year vs. last year.

    in Climber's Board

    Posted · Edited by philfort

    Wow, this is crazy. Timberline is up to 138 inches. Neck and neck with Paradise, and more than Baker...

     

    But Chinook Pass is the undisputed king, with 172 inches.

     

    Still just a relatively "normal" year so far though, nothing special... (or it soon will be, as the extended forecast is trending towards drier weather again)

    New to Alpine Touring, location advice?

    in the *freshiezone*

    Posted · Edited by philfort

    Sounds like you're asking for easy backcountry slopes... unfortunately, there isn't too much of that that is easy-access in washington, since things tend to be densely treed near the bottom.

     

    Paradise would have the best "green/blue" bc terrain I can think of around here. There are plenty of gentle open slopes in Paradise valley.

     

    You might find some easy terrain in the bowls across from Crystal Mtn, but getting to and from there would be a chore if all you can handle are resort blues.

     

    Skyline Ridge across from Stevens would be another choice, but it's steeper and more treed than stuff you'd find at Paradise.

     

    Or go to Hyak on one of the days it's closed (but after it's had a dump) and skin up the runs.

     

    A few years ago I made the transition from skiing to boarding. I tried going full on in the backcountry right away - it was fun, but I flailed a little too much and felt bad about slowing down my partners. So I imposed upon myself a "backcountry boarding moratorium" for a couple of months, until I'd honed my skills at the resorts. It was a good idea.

     

    ps: Yodelin is just east of Stevens Pass, on the south side of the highway. Pick up one of the backcountry skiing guidebooks, it should be in there.

    Icicle Ridge

    in Alpine Lakes

    Posted

    Is there no way to get from those large flats and ridgeland onto the gentle south slops of Big Jim without significant avalanche slope exposure?

     

    I've haven't been that far, I was just guessing. blush.gif

    Just made it to Pt.6296 during a high-avy-danger day last season, then turned around due to a friend with tired dogs. It was just nice unusual-for-the-Cascades terrain up there. Open woods and glades.

    Thought maybe you could follow the ridgeline itself to Big Jim, but I didn't get a good look at it.

    Icicle Ridge

    in Alpine Lakes

    Posted

    I haven't, but in that same area, Hatchery Creek makes a nice "ridge" tour with lots of elev. gain. Nice open forest up high, and safe from avies until you get close to Big Jim mtn.

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