[TR] Whitehoarse Mtn. - NW face 4/16/2009

[danhelmstadter]

Trip: Whitehoarse Mtn. - NW face

 

Date: 4/16/2009

 

Trip Report:

 

I had scoped out the route a week before but I wasent satisfied with conditions, today was not much better, and I figured if I was going to ski it this season, then it better be soon cause the low elevation snow is already quickly melting.

 

I owe a big thanks to Hannah and Kyle who skiied it the day before and stomped out a bomber skin track, thanks guys!

 

The approach was a breeze and I quickly was at the ginormous avalanche debris pile wich covered the entire lower face in massives piles, some reaching perhaps 100' off the ground. Navigateing this terrain was tedious because of the variable nature of softness, and hidden holes.

 

 

I lost Hannah and Kyles tracks and made my way up climbers right through steep woods and gullys till I reached skinable snow. The snow was soft, very soft, but the I was confident that slab danger was low even though I was triggering wet sluffs, they were predictable and manageable.

 

 

Snow started to glop to my skins and top sheets, turning my ordinarly reasonably light volkl mantras into slow heavy burdens.

I busted out the sunscreen and wet up the skins, which to my surprise worked well. The snow changed characer as I gained elevation and went from isothermal mank to crust to wet pow to full on deep light pow as I crossed the summit feild to the summit bump. Needless to say views were eyepoping and I skiied off the summit with more ski plans than I had before.

 

 

 

I predictably cut out a thin wet slab which exposed a slightly crusty bed surface. Below that, I found a shmorgesbourg of conditions, includeing the deep slop which readily and predictably avalanched at every turn steep enough for it to run.

 

 

Then down through a differant shwack route to the base. Very fun day on a very cool and unique hill.

 

 

Maybe this is where the derranged romanian lived?

 

 

He was said to emerge from the woods on occasion of necessity and steal chickens and odds and ends from the locals who boarded the wild woods.

Edited April 23, 2009 by danhelmstadter

[trumpetsailor]

Snow started to glop to my skins and top sheets, turning my ordinarly reasonably light volkl mantras into slow heavy burdens.

I busted out the sunscreen and wet up the skins, which to my surprise worked well.

 

Clever man. Surprised to hear that it works.

 

CJ and Whitehorse ... what TR will pop up next?

[EastKing]

Sweet pics and great TR. Looks like you hit Whitehorse just right. That might be on the 2010 destination list.