meganerd Posted June 7, 2003 Share Posted June 7, 2003 Yeah, I'm hardcore... Naw, it's actually a bit of a challenge to do it solo, in a day this time of year. Well, maybe not, whatever. It was super purdy though. -Road gated at MP 21. -Road almost snowfree to trailhead. -Take the trail, not the direct route to the pass. Trail is mostly snowfree first 2.25 miles, then followable to snowy talus fields leading to the pass. -Snow is consolidated but freezing level has been high, so it gets slushy quickly. -The sun is hot. -Moderately steep slope leading to summit pyramid is somewhat unconsolidated. Use caution. -Go up the W Ridge, not the S Face, stupid. -Dern good view from top -Big cornices on Boston/Sahale Col, but not as big as normal. -4th class scrambling solo is nerve racking. -E Ridge of Forbidden looks mostly snowfree. -N Face Buckner looks good, but it's been warm. -Looks like snow starts for Eldorado approach, somewhere near where the talus fields end, but not sure. -Lots o' avalanche action off of Johannesburg-Pelton Ridge, but normal slopes, snowpack is stable. -Made worst time ever today: 14 hours car to car. Good god I'm lazy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scot'teryx Posted June 7, 2003 Share Posted June 7, 2003 Im gonna head up on Tuesday, where can we start skinning? At mile 2.25? The direct approach wont work? Would bikes be a good idea for the 2 mile approach? Is the summit pyramid snowfree? Does the Sahale Arm look like a good ski? Anyone wanna go with us on Tuesday? Will I win the lotto? What's my ss#'s? I know I know, way too many questions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meganerd Posted June 7, 2003 Author Share Posted June 7, 2003 I guess I wouldn't say the direct approach absolutely will not work. There just isn't as much snow as usual below Cascade Peak and the Triplets. I think there are still snow fingers that reach all the way from the basin to the pass. If you want to start skiing as soon as possible and don't mind a little brush, this may be a better option, but the trail really is pretty simple. If you take the trail, you wouldn't want to start skinning until the switchbacks stop and you break out of the trees onto the snow covered talus fields. Actually I think there was a short stretch of bare trail between the two fields, so keep that in mind. You should be able to skin from there to the summit. Yeah, it would be a good ski down. I don't know how well you know the layout of Sahale Arm but it's kindof upsy downsy in its lower part. I wouldn't go out of my way to bring mountain bikes up for the two miles of road, but if it's convenient, I guess it couldn't hurt. The only obstacles are a slide across the road before the BB TH which has a creek running over the road (!) and a snowpatch just before the parking lot. The summit pyramid is snowfree anywhere you'd ever want to climb it. Have fun and bring your sunscreen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scot'teryx Posted June 8, 2003 Share Posted June 8, 2003 thanks for the info, I think I am gonna wait for later in the season to do this one, might go do sharkfin tower instead. So how is the SE Corner or whatever really 10a? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enem Posted June 9, 2003 Share Posted June 9, 2003 skied it yesterday, do yourself a favor and don't follow the trail, go directly to the pass, will save you a lot of time. if following the trail, you cannot put the skis on until the final traverse below the pass. we had to take the skis off a couple times on the arm to cross patches of dirt. the snow was excellent though and the views unbeatable. so i'd say go soon... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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