TR: May 9, 2007, Whitehorse Mountain

[Plinko]

For the uninitiated, Whitehorse is on the Mountain Loop Hwy near Darrington, about an hour north of Seattle. The tour is only 7 miles, but has approx 7000 ft gain and that much loss on the way back. Downed trees and alder patches made for a sporty ski carry from the trailhead at 918’ to the edge of the snow at 3200’. Up and around to the southeast to Lone Tree Pass at 4800’ was on pretty good snow, some ice at the top. Skis stayed on the pack all the way to High Pass at 6000’. I pulled them for the glacier/summit sections. The glacier was in good shape; well consolodated and no big gaps yet, and the summit section was hard but not bulletproof. Running belay with pickets put us to the top and back.

This ended up being more of a climbing trip than a ski trip, but still I managed to get a few turns in, despite generally poor snow conditions (for skiing) It was thick mush on the west aspects, not so soft on the east side, but turned to breakable crust later in the evening on the way down. Incredible views to Three Fingers and beyond, extending to the Puget Sound.

 

 

A few pics (if you click 'em they get bigger):

 

 

 

 

Three Fingers

 

 

 

 

Approaching Lone Tree Pass

 

 

 

 

Ascending to High Pass

 

 

 

 

So-Bahli-Ali Glacier

 

 

 

 

Summit Section, up up and away.

 

 

 

 

Oww, I got a kink in my neck.

 

 

 

 

Bergschrund Lovin'

 

 

 

 

Don't fall here! Our tracks in the distance.

 

 

 

 

To the west

 

 

 

 

I think I can see our car from here.

Edited May 14, 2007 by Plinko