[TR] Two days around Leavenworth- Eightmile Lake and summit above White Pine Creek 4/14/2006

[AlpineK]

Climb: Two days around Leavenworth-Eightmile Lake and summit above White Pine Creek

 

Date of Climb: 4/14/2006

 

Trip Report:

Kellie M and I got in a couple days of bc skiing on Friday and Saturday. There were avy warnings posted, but we managed to find some skiing and stay away mostly from avalanches though not completely.

 

Friday morning there was heavy rain and snow as we drove over Stevens Pass, but it was only a light mist in Leavenworth. Originally we were going into Colchuck Lake, but the forecast put an end to that. The next plan was skiing on Cannon Mountain glades, but as it turned out the lower part of Cannon Mtn was melted out. We then decided to ski up to Eightmile Lake and look for some turns up towards Windy Pass.

 

The ski up to the lake was much less than inspiring. All the south facing slopes were melted out and covered with blowdowns, but we kept on going. Also to add insult the snowpack was warm and rotten. We got up near Little Eightmile Lake and then started skiing the slopes up towards Lake Caroline. There were still a lot of things poking up out of the snow, but conditions looked slightly better. Up higher there was even a little new snow, but the base was still pure rot. Eventually we got up to the Saddle above the lake, but it was getting on in the day and we were starting to ski into the storm clouds, so we decided to ski down.

 

Skiing was interesting in the deep mush; I found that the best technique was leaning way back. All in all the conditions were pretty darn crappy, but it never rained and it sure beat work.

 

On Saturday we got Rat to come skiing with us. He suggested a peak above White Pine Creek; I'd never skied there, but I'd looked at it a bunch of times from the highway. We got up early and drove as far as we could up White Pine Creek.

 

We skinned up the road for a ways and then cut up through a clearcut doing a little brushwhacking on skis. This brought up to a logging road which we followed for a ways to a partial cut. From here on the slope went steeply up the cut we climbed up and up, rejoined the road briefly then continued up through glades. Beyond the upper end of the road we got into some new snow. At first it was only half an inch, but as we got to the ridge crest the depth was 10" in places. The upper ridge was wind blown. We had an interesting time navigating up through the steps in the ridge. At one point Rat was cutting his way through one steep bit when the slab he was on gave way. He came down with the snow and ended up right at my feet. He got back up and pulled and cut his way up the newly scoured step. Anyway we got up to the summit, but we'd been warned that all the cool avy slopes below us were bad news this day.

 

We were in the clouds at the summit, so we quickly took our skins off and started skiing back down the ridge crest. Eventually we got to a point where we were just above the glades where we were confident in safe skiing. It was at this point that I let my guard down and did something dumb.

 

I thought I saw a line where I could make a couple turns then do a short traverse on a steep slope just under the ridge crest and then end up in the glades. Things went fine for the first few turns, but on my cut under a small cornice I heard a crack and then the shit hit the fan. As it turned out I set off a slab with about a 6 to 10" crown. I fell and came out of one ski and then things went into slow motion (at least from my perspective). I was falling with the slab, but I remembered a previous experience in the same conditions where I had jammed my hands and feet through the moving slab and arrested on the solid layer underneath. I did just that. I dove under the slab and stuck my arms and one free foot into the stable snowpack. I was able to resist the push of the small section of slab above me, and I came to a stop. I watched the slab roar downslope and crash through some small trees below.

 

After that I spent a little time collecting myself. Rat was directly above me on the ridge and Kelly had stopped in some trees above him. I still use safety straps on my skis, so thanks to that I didn't loose the ski I released from; in fact I hadn't lost any thing. Rat yelled something about getting off that slope; which I couldn't have agreed more with. I dusted myself off then took my skis off and booted straight up the slope. After handing my skis to Rat I cut a wedge out of the cornice and pulled myself up onto the ridgecrest. Kelly skied a safe traverse over to us then the excitement was over.

 

From here on out it was all about fun skiing. We had a nice run down through the glades. Below the first intersection with the road there was a breakable crust, but it wasn't too bad. We ended up back at the car around 2:30 and celebrated an exciting experience that was short of physical trauma with doughnuts and Sparks.

 

As I said before I've had the same thing happen to me 8 years previously. Both times I managed to arrest on the solid layer under the moving slab and fall no more that 30' total. Never the less I don't recommend this kind of behavior. It's better to not get involved in the first place. Both times there had been a spring snowpack with a late winter snowfall on top of it. I guess it easy to let your guard down when you think the winter slab avalanches are over for the season. Anyway be careful.

 

Approach Notes:

The snow down low is melting fast around HWY 2. Skiing is going to require a lot of gear packing within 2 weeks with good weather.

[G-spotter]

dude

its good you didnt die, dude

[rat]

dude, i said stay on the ridge until it broadened out, dude. dying is poor style....choose life, choose sparks.

[Figger_Eight]

Jeezus...no kidding. Glad you're okay.

[AlpineK]

Thanks, Like I said I don't recommend seeking stuff like that out, but close doesn't count, and I've come a lot closer in the past.

[dmarch]

Holy Crap!! Glad you're ok

[tanstaafl]

The ski up to the lake was much less than inspiring. All the south facing slopes were melted out and covered with blowdowns, but we kept on going.

 

AlpineK, halfway up the slope, after some time of skinning along in peaceful silence: “This is BULLSHIT!” hehe.

 

 

On Saturday we got Rat to come skiing with us.

 

Rat also makes the best breakfast in Leavenworth, btw. Yum.

 

From here on out it was all about fun skiing.

 

Super fun. I made up for being the only person not to get buried in snow by falling down three times as much as Rolf and Kurt combined. Thanks guys for a great day with no death or dismemberment.

[TeleRoss]

woa dude...sometimes avie warnings are worth heeding. glad you all made it out ok.

[jhamaker]

I thought this was a TR. I would have mentioned that the 8 Mi Cr rd is melted out _____________ way to the tr hd. I wonder when the FS will open the gate?

 

A wk ago we had good skiing down from Cashmere's ridge and from Lk Caroline down to 8 Mi Cr. Lots of bear tracks.

[Doug_Hutchinson]

I thought this was a TR. I would have mentioned that the 8 Mi Cr rd is melted out _____________ way to the tr hd. I wonder when the FS will open the gate?

 

Good point and question. On 4/7 there was still visible snow on the road at the gate at Icicle Creek. I am hoping to ski Cashmere this weekend and assume it will be mostly a hike to the TH.

 

Anyone want to provide more recent snowpack info and speculate about the gate opening?

[AlpineK]

I would have mentioned

 

Well you weren't doing the TR now were you. You can always ask.

 

The road was mostly snow free up to about the half way point. I can't imagine the road melting out all the way till early May.

[MarkMcJizzy]

Sound like you spent time with a couple of dumbshits. Only thing better than spending time with those two dumbshits, is when they invite the all-important third dumbshit along.

[tanstaafl]

Is that like the Washington version of the Trailer Park Boys?

[MarkMcJizzy]

Yes, although in this version, the roles are fluid. But I always get to be Julian.