New Year's Eve camping in Commonwealth Basin

[Beck]

Plans are set for ski camping in Commonwealth Basin over the New Year's eve weekend, with a little festivities on Sunday night to ring in the New Year.

 

Anyone is welcome to come on up. You know the place. Party's in the head of the basin, setting up well clear of the avalanche runouts at the base of Snoqualmie, but pretty close thereabouts. Look for signs.

 

Plans are for shredding during the day, general feats of derring do, and some nightime skiing, particularily if the stability and conditions are good.

 

Come on out Saturday or Sunday, BYOBeacon, festivities and a bonfire on Sunday night, look for the party nestled in the big trees and the slopes near the base of Snoq in Commonwealth Basin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 19, 2006 by Beck

[snoboy]

Come on out Saturday or Sunday, BYOBacon, festivities and a bonfire on Sunday night, look for the party nestled in the big trees and the slopes near the base of Snoq in Commonwealth Basin.

 

Fixed for you.

 

Sounds good.

[lI1|1!]

isn't that how the whole bacon thing got started on TGR? or was it teletips. it was years ago.

[mattp]

Damn, Beck. That sounds like a good time.

[spicoli11]

Bonfire Gaps!!!!!!!!!!

[Toast]

Cool

[gapertimmy]

Never been to commonwealth basin... how long is the approach?

[robert]

The drive from Bend is five hours, but the skin from the parking lot is an hour or a little more. Typically there is a well packed superhighway most of the way. The gain is about 1000 vf.

[OrganDonor]

How many people are gonna show? Plus could I get some directions to the trailhead? I have never toured over in the snoqualmie area.

Edited December 19, 2006 by OrganDonor

[catbirdseat]

Second post since 2004. Welcome back Beck!

[lI1|1!]

i might be there.

[Dave_Schuldt]

This is what I know about the area. Parking along the road to Alpintal will get your car towed. We've always parked on the south side of the highway at Summit West. To get to the camp spot you will need to walk under the highway and head up along the south side of Comonwelth Creek amd cross it or walk the road till you get to a rope tow ski area and head up there. Can someone post a map? I've never had a problem going through the ski area, however, I think it's on private land. Don't worry one look at a map and you wont get lost. Count me in unless it rains.

[ilookeddown]

The best way to get there and not piss off the assholes at the ski lodge (who think they own the pass and the road to Alpental), is to just follow the snowshoe trail @ the PCT trail head up into commonwealth basin to the east of the creek. Be sure you take the first trail that looks like a logging road (it will be on to the north). It will get steep after 1/4 a mile and be just a steep trail. It then flattens out and enters the woods until it meets up with the creek. Follow the creek side on the east (up and down) for about 2/3 a mile. You will then go up drainage to a flat area and a log crossing. In most years this is the only easy crossing. From there head NW and cross another small creek and follow it north on the west side of the creek until you find the party.

 

Its also a good approach to Red Mt.

 

[Beck]

There's a nice flat spot just past the big trees....

 

 

I'm going up over the Xmas weekend to lay in a woodyard for the bonfire but ilookeddown has the directions pretty well dialed.

 

 

[Dave_Schuldt]

Interested in doing 1 day / night, looking for a ride from Seattle.

[Beck]

those bastards at work! I am so not going to be able to make it to the basin until New Year's Eve day Sunday morning... if anyone goes up Sat, look for good camping to the North, just past the flats up in the basin...

[Bug]

Hey Beck!

I think I have your MSR pot grabber from the ropeup.

PM me if you are missing one.

bug

[OrganDonor]

Anyone make it out there? If so how was it?