danhelmstadter Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Trip: Shuksan - Curtis Blow Date: 12/27/2009 Trip Report: I left the White Salmon parking area around 7:30, and skinned up through the resort enjoying views of distant sun kissed peaks, reflecting golden early moring sun. I reached hemispheres, then traveled the arm's crest east to where I dropped into the lake Anne area, then traversed crusty snow to the Curtis Glacier cirque. Curtis Blow is a gully that is just behind diagonal rock in thte picture I had my eye on a hanging west faceing line (though it is west faceing, it is entierly shadowed by the cirques north wall this time of year). I found highly variable snow as I climbed, and traversed under scary seracs to the fall line route, here I found sketchy windslab of about 23cm thickness that failed during compression tests at the second tap from my elbow (ct12), on a relitively clean shear plane (q2). Sketchy enough to give me pause as wether to continue, I climbed around and up on ice crust which was quite steep at times, once at the top, wandered around to Curtis Blow which was basking attractively in warm sunshine. I had skiied Curtis Blow last year, so I knew what to expect from the route, which is pretty steep, and has some exposed spots. Conditons were highly variable, stable, and softening -- though there was quite a bit of ice crust lurking just under a thin coat of windboard. Not bad conditions though. This video is not all that exciteing since I was skiing very cautiously since I had not climbed the route, there were also seections of survival skiing because of conditions. Also, by spirit 4s lost another shin buckle, makeing both boots 3 buckelers. [video:youtube] Halfway down the Blow I made it back to the parking lot before darkness, and enjoyed some excellant north faceing poweder off the arm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilchuck71 Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Nice Dan! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlpineK Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Right on. Things look a bit sketchy just as the music cuts out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-rock Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 You skied that nicely, given the conditions your report. Fun as hell to watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skykilo Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Right on, Dan. When are you going to get your passport? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshK Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 Cool video Dan, as always. I'm curious what type of camera setup you use? My GF got me a small HD video recording for the holidays, but I'm considering exchanging it for something that can be head mounted. Ideally it would be better than just duct taping it to my head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t_rutl Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 Dan...kickass TR as always! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Chute Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 Sick Curtis Blow sounds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eternalX Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 Im trying to understand exactly where this is. Looking at the picture at the top, is the Chimney routes hugging the left side and you're skiing down the middle of the gully, which would just be the glacier coming down off Shuksan? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danhelmstadter Posted January 16, 2010 Author Share Posted January 16, 2010 eternalX - here is a better picture of the route (taken last year when there was way more snow) http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2146569780103935217pmmeps Thanks Josh, it's a gopro hero cam, i hear the hd one is a little cheaper and better e.g. - no fisheye. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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