David_Parker

I had pretty good luck digging a spot to park my butt for lunch. I haven't dug out a body yet though....

Dan, speaking for the skiers and climbers from our annual group, we were wondering why you don't carve out more parking in the obvious popular spots such as Rainy Pass (both sides), Blue Lake and close to the hairpin. Obviuosly you can't do it where there is guardrail but in spots where there isn't it doesn't seem to be that much extra work while the equipment is there. It seems it would improve the safety (keep cars off the white line) which I assume is a priority for the DOT. There's a whole megatroplis of outdoor enthusiasts that you know are coming as soon as the pass opens, right?

Yes...SKIING!!

It was a great weekend and Sunday exceeded our expectations. Here are some more pics....

DIRECTIONS TO THE SPRING SKI FEST CAMPOUT LOCATION: Traveling east over WA Pass: The property/cabin is approx 4.5 miles past the turn off to Mazama on the North side of the road. It is also approx .8 miles before you cross the Wyman bridge over the Methow river where the Goat Creek rd. merges. (so traveling w. on Hwy 20 look for it on the right about .8 miles after crossing it) There is a metal gate which is now locked. The fencing is zig-zag style stacked railing. If you intend to arrive before Friday evening sometime, please call me at 206-714-4300 for the combo. You do not need a SUV to get in. Any regular car is fine. The driveway meanders back into the woods. The tent camping area is accessed via the left at the fork when you see the cabin. Bring drinking water or expect to hike 1/4 mile to the river to get it. There is a hand pump well, but the water has some iron in it. Also, bring fire wood if you can. All I ask is that you leave the property in better condition than we found it!

The 6th annual Lloyd Keith Memorial Spring Ski fest is officially scheduled for May 1-3 at the same spot as usual. All skiers, boarders and climbers are welcome, although boarders will have an extra entrance fee to be determined at the time...probably must perform some trick or bring a special treat (alcholol!) This should be a stellar year and some awesome skiing! More information to come.....mark your calenders!

The 6th annual Lloyd Keith Memorial Spring Ski fest is officially scheduled for May 1-3 at the same spot as usual. All skiers, boarders and climbers are welcome, although boarders will have an extra entrance fee to be determined at the time...probably must perform some trick or bring a special treat (alcholol!) This should be a stellar year and some awesome skiing! More information to come.....mark you calenders!

I also propose this event be given a new name: The Lloyd Keith memorial spring ski-fest. Lloyd died this winter after a long battle with cancer. Some of you may have met Lloyd a few years ago when he came to our event and partied with us around the campfire. He has always been very generous with our use of his property for this event and commented to me more than once that he was very happy that he was contributing in a small way for all of us gathering together to ski the North Cascades each spring.

This seems to be the endless winter...however we really should do this asap after they open the pass. Unless they can tell us a specific date far enuff in advance, we should shoot for 2nd weekend immediately following. Last year was memorial day and it was a little hot and slushy. So as of now, hoping they can meet the May 1 opening date, does playing it conservative and opting for the weekend of May 9-10 sound good? Or should we be optimistic go for May 2-3?

Keep me posted....I think I might show up this year! BTW, anyone know the best place to buy new skins for my new fat skis?

For sale, practically brand new 07/08 Garmont Venus (women/kids), mondo 25 g-fit liner. Asking $225, obo. Have photos on request. email dpparker60 at hotmail (better than a pm)

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For sale, practically new 07/08 Garmont Venus (women/kids), mondo 25 g-fit liner. Asking $300, obo. WTB- Garmont Syner-g or Scarpa t-2 in 26.5 mondo Also For Sale...older school leather tele boots: Merrill Super comps, size 9-9.5. Leather bottom with plastic upper cuff. $40 obo Asolo Extreme Racer: size 7.5. Sort of like a beefed up Extreme with high back and buckles. This is a great boot to buy to try telemark skiing. My son used thes his first year and now he's hooked! $40 obo I can send photos. Boots in Seattle area or I can bring to Portland over Thanksgiving weekend. Also, one snowboard used exclusively for sideslipping. priceless!

I have a pair of practically new Garmont Venus, size 25 G-fit liner in a 25-26.5 shell. They were skied lightly one season by my son. I am looking to buy a pair of tele boots in the 26.5 range, synerG, t-2 or like...

The author of this thread....

I'm calling it. Ski in 2008 is Memorial Day weekend. Come friday, May 23 and stay through Monday May 26. Heck, that gives us an extra day so all you people from Canada, Oregon, Idaho and beyond can justify the drive! Directions will be posted soon. All ability back-country skiiers/riders are welcome. Climbers too, but there will be plenty of snow this year! Do we get two kegs this year?

Anyone been up to the road to the high parking lot for Mt. Ellinor yet? How far can you get?

OK, here's the scoop. The cabin is being used by the owner the weekend of MAY 17/18 and 31/1 so we only have 3/4, 10/11 or 24-26 which is memeorial day weekend and gives one extra day. Keep in mind that May 11 is mother's day. It appears the pass is going to open on schedule on Thursday May 1. It also appears I can't please every one. I can do any of them but since a lot were saying 17/18 and that is not available, I'm going to keep this open for a few more days before I decide. Bribes will be considered! I've been thinking of getting a splitboard........

UPDATE: The last two weekends in May are NOT available. So IF the pass open on May 1 we have 3 to choose from....May 3/4...May 10/11 or May 17/18. I am leaning towards May 2/3 or 16th/17th/18th so my son can come, but am open to feedback. Lets get it figured out soon so we can order the KEG!

Yep, The highlight for Jordan a few years back was opening everyone's beer for them! Depending on the weekend, I will probably bring my son too. He is on his second year with tele gear! So I am ok with anyone else coming with kids as long as they don't snowboard. I don't think the Ski In crowd has been too rowdy, but if any snowboarders come there could be a . Just don't say "shit" or "fuck" in front of the K-I-D-S! At least I can't run him over with Billy-goat's dirt bike!

Oh Yeah, I still plan to host the 5th annual Washington Pass Ski party at the cabin in Mazama. We will just have to keep an eye on how the WADOT is doing on getting the road open. I will expect asap the weekend after. At least there is way more snow this year and we will be skiing well into May if it takes that long! You can rock climb if you want, just leave your snowboard at home!

I was doing a solo, late winter ascent of Inner Constance. To save weight I did not bring a tent, but a shovel and dug a snowcave in a scooped out area where the wind swirls around a big boulder in Avalanche Canyon. Back then I wore contact lenses (yeah for lasik!) and as I was trying to remove them to store for the night I dropped one. I could not find it after a long frustrating search and so I spent a restless night lamenting the fact I was going to have wierd vision for the ascent and descent the next day. Since I was in a bivy sack with no tent floor, I essentially gave up all hope of finding it in snow. The next morning I woke up and decided a short cursory search couldn't hurt. Low and behold, there in the large crystals of spring snow that look a lot like a contact lenses, I spotted it. It felt incredulous to me, but I just figured it must have been a carma thing. I was extremely grateful to have normal vision a a stress free climb!

This is pretty cool! It seems like the descent of IC is one constant roll over and it keeps getting steeper...obviously camera warp. Great job Phil, lets see some more! PS> I suppose if I did this on my tele skis it would be even more nauseous to watch!

Here's my TR: I skinned up through the woods way too high. The lake was sketchy. I was attacked by terrorists, but survived. Skied some avy debris while it was moving, avoided a monster death cookie and then skiied under a waterfall. Drank lots of fine beer. Killed some trees and burned them. Smoked some salmon.