Vesper Peak

[Jim]

Good times were had by all on a ski trip to Vesper Peak on Saturday May Day. A tree that had blocked the Sunrise Mine road is clear and you get to the trailhead now. As other places in the northern drainages bridges have be demolished from last autumn's flood. The nice bridge over the first creek has been stripped to the two main, creaky beams, which makes for an interesting double tightrope in tele boots. The big creek crossing, which was always interesting, is gone. But due to some great engineering by a party ahead of us its better than the orginal, but unlikely to last storm flows. Thanks guys!

 

While snow still fills the valley below Hadlee Pass there's a bunch of old avy debris that one should avoid for more pleasant skiing. It's the softest snow I've seen up there this early in the year, and going fast. The cornice atop the col is easily avoided via rock on the right.

 

We were joined by 9 other skiers, one very energetic dog, and one hiker (why bother?). The malamute made friends with us as soon as we opened our lunch. Being ignored he managed to find someone's discarded enchalida by sticking half his body into a rock crevice.

 

The ski down was ok, as long as you avoided the minor slides you set off. One alpine touring type was having a hard time of it and got carried, slowly, about 50 yards in a small slide of his own making. No danger, just embarassing. The col was skiable as it was so soft. Another fun day in the sun.