Enchantment Area / Stuart Range Conditions

[Marko]

Craig, how bad do you think the slopes getting up to the East Ridge of Prussik would be?

[gyselinck]

Depends on what way you go, but probably not dangerous, just one huge ass slog. We did the S. Face of Prusik last March and broke trail from well below Nada Lake. I guess it depends on what your goals are, but it really sucked getting there. Point is, now its probably even worse of a slog. Once there the slopes on the North and East side could be pretty bad.

[John Frieh]

Anybody headed in this weekend/early next week?

[gyselinck]

This weekened I'm going to make some cash, but I hope next weekend!

[Weekend_Climberz]

Thinking about heading into the area on 11-12 to see what's happening. Been itching for a few swings of the tools, so it'll have to be pretty high up for that.

[pup_on_the_mountain]

Heading in tomorrow to Colchuck lake. Will see what

the conditions are like, and what route looks good,

and take it from there. Original idea is to try NE

Couloir on Colchuck.

[Alasdair]

I know Im not your dad, but can you say wind loaded?

[DirtyHarry]

Can you say snow wallow in whiteout conditions with crazy avy hazard?

[pup_on_the_mountain]

Thanks for your concern guys. I've been watching the

avy conditions. We are most probably going to wallow

up just to spend the night somewhere safe up there

and not climb anything. Just want to get out of the

couch.

[John Frieh]

 

I hear the Stuart Moraine is very scenic this time of year

 

Have a safe trip Bala!

[pup_on_the_mountain]

We're bailing. Tomorrow doesn't look anywhere near

decent. Will be in the couch tomorrow .

[DirtyHarry]

It was bluebird Sunday. How was the game?

[gyselinck]

Got our asses handed to us trying to hike up to Temple Ridge (Friday (2/10/06)). Hiked for 2 hours and 40 min up the Snow Creek trail until post holing up to the waste began. Turned around and came home. Hope some of you got some cool shit done, we got nothin'.

[marylou]

Post deleted by marylou

[pbelitz]

We spent the weekend wondering where the climbers were. As skiers, the approach to the Stuart area was cake.

 

Conditions varied from awesome to complete ass. Well, conditions for skiing, I mean.

 

Gorgeous weekend, reasonable approach up Mtneer Creek, beautiful bivy, and a fun little couloir.

 

[philfort]

Paul apologizes for the destruction of the snow ramp on top of the Mountaineer Creek bridge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As exuberantly elitist as he appears to be about skis, for some reason he decided to remove them to cross the bridge

[marylou]

Looks like a nice little ski before Phil's ass conditions pics.

[Tony_Bentley]

We spent the weekend wondering where the climbers were.

Ahem...a stones throw from you guys!

[Chad_A]

I'm assuming the road is still gated at Bridge Creek. How much time on skis or snowshoes to get up to Colchuck Lake? I know it's 4.5 miles to the lake from the TH, but I can't remember how long the road is.

[DPS]

Ryanl and I shoveled the bridge so it is reasonable to cross now.

 

ww4ever: The road is about 4 miles. It is indeed gated at Bridge creek.

[Chad_A]

Thanks

[Chad_A]

I was hoping that the high freezing levels and sunny weather we'd had a week or two ago would've created some ice; alas, as some predicted, it had not, or not much.

 

Stewart and I planned to go in and check out the TCs on Dragontail, and see if anything was climbable. I'd had the foresight to bring a small set of binoculars; I couldn't tell if the runnels were really thin ice fingers, or simply "snice". Either way, we instantly elected to come back another time, when it would be more fun, and in condition.

 

So, we camped on the edge of Colchuck Lake with little or no wind (contrary to the forecast) and soaked up the views.

 

One thing I learned from this trip was that the NF of Dragontail gets absolutely NO sun this time of year. I thought that maybe it might get a bit, but was surprised to see that it didn't get ANY. Furthermore, we took a walk up to Colchuck to look at the NBC and the NEBC, and on the way there, heard a tremendous "WHUMP" underneath what felt like a rock hard, icy slope. We traversed off of it, and realized that there's probably still some slabs existing on North facing slopes. (Even with the long dry spell, I guess the cold weather has kept things from consolidating a bit). Part of the learning curve, I guess. Here's some pics.

 

 

 

 

The NW face ice/mixed routes on Dragontail:

 

 

 

Stewart keeping himself warm:

 

That shot of Glenlivet helped; the wind was lacking, but it felt much below zero farenheit at night

[goatboy]

Very helpful shots, Chad -- thanks!

 

Still too early for Triple C, it sounds like.....

 

Did you ski up to the lake? Snowshoe? Grovel?

 

Thanks for info....

[OlympicMtnBoy]

Yeah Chad, thanks for driving up this way so we could at least get out and camp! It was freakin cold up there but still a great time.

 

Goatboy: We were in boots all the way up and down. It wasn't bad as long as you stayed on the 12 inch wide packed part. We only postholed a few times, not enough to justify the floatation for most of it. When we go back though I'm taking my kiddie sled and skis just for the road section, be a lot more fun (and I'm too poor of a skier for going all the way from the lake). :-)

Edited February 21, 2006 by OlympicMtnBoy