[TR] Ruth Mtn- Ruth Arm 5/31/2004

[Fairweather]

Climb: Ruth Mtn-Ruth Arm

 

Date of Climb: 5/31/2004

 

Trip Report:

Carried skis up to Ruth Arm today with friend. The trail is mostly snow free to Hannegan Camp. Just the usual snow gullies to cross. About 3 to 5 inches of new heavy, wet slop on the slope above Hannegan Pass, and about one foot or more on the back side of peak 5830. Some good sized (and recent) point-release slides in evidence. No slab activity seen, but nerves were on edge here. The weather was rain, hail, and sun, and Ruth was visible only periodically.

 

Many slides were in evidence up on Ruth Glacier...none very big, but we were deterred none-the-less. We skied down from Ruth Arm in the wet, heavy mire, and on the slope above Hannegan Pass I unzipped the top three inches of loose crud as I traversed the slope - sending some minor waves of slush careening down into the trees below.

 

Only saw one other person in the pass area all day.

 

Approach Notes:

Need moderate-clearance vehicle one mile from trailhead to cross small rock slide.

[markharf]

I was the tele skier skinning uphill as you and your partner skied the slopes above Hannegan Pass. The spot where you turned around was definitely the nervous crux, with recent wet naturals and a cliffband below; the 1400 foot climb to the summit is a more moderate pitch. Above 6000 feet the fresh snow was not so slushy (though still damp), much more stable, deepening to about two feet by the summit. Trailbreaking was arduous but not unreasonably so.

 

Can't say the skiing or views were very good, but it was a good day out in the mountains as always. Met a few dayhikers on the trail, but saw no sign of other skiers or climbers.

 

Gear notes: Running shoes. Fig Newtons.

[Fairweather]

Nice job. My partner was on skinny tele-gear w/leather boots and was in turn-crash mode until we got down below the pass where it firmed up a little. I fared only a little better with my (Heavy!) A/T setup. That slush-a-lanche I set off actually made it a little easier to ski!

 

See you out there again some time!

 

Brian

[JoshK]

That's actually a little trick I've used a few times lately...when it's so slushy that you know it'll slide easily, go ski cut a side swath...wide enough that it gives you a nice enough piece of slope to make turns. Wait and watch the slush slowly plow to the bottom and voila...not so heavy snow!