Triple Couloirs

[bonathanjarrett]

Hey folks,

 

Does anybody know what conditions are like right now for TC? Would I be so lucky as to even get a photo from last weekend when someone was up at Colchuck Lake?

 

I am planning on driving up from PDX, and so if things are most certainly, definitely not in, I will know to make other plans.

 

Thanks.

[Val Zephyr]

Hey,

 

Here are a few photos that I took last weekend. I'm also hoping to get up this route this season. I'll probably give it a try in a few weeks depending what the weather does. If you make it up there, let me know what shape it's in. Thanks!

 

http://students.washington.edu/climb/forum/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=5331

[bonathanjarrett]

Thanks a bunch. If we get up on it, I will be sure to post about conditions.

 

[keenwesh]

Yeah, I want to know conditions too.

[AlpineMonkey]

You guys are pushing it a little I would think...It's usually best in Spring conditions (March, April), thats not to say we aren't having spring conditions now though I guess.

[cbcbd]

I'm no route conditions forecaster, but based from what I saw on a similar aspect in the area from a couple weeks ago, and this skiing trip report from TAY...

http://www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboarding/trip_reports/index.php?topic=15433.0

...from this past weekend with similar pictures and conditions that we saw:

At around 7K' we saw 1.5' of unconsolidated powder followed by a firmer but still breakable 1" layer, more unconsolidated powder for a little over a foot and then a very hard ice layer that would probably hold a step. Temps have stayed pretty cold up high for the last weeks, no high pressure systems blowing through, no reported inversions, dudes skied "lightly breakable Styrofoam powder to blower faceshots" on Aasgard which is a pretty similar aspect in that area, although not as steep as the gullies on the face.

 

Again, I'm no conditions forecaster but I would think that all that snow you see on the gullies could be unconsolidated and deep, just like the similar aspects - at least that's what I have been telling myself. But I'm a wuss so maybe someone should just prove me wrong and blast a trough up that thing.

 

Although I think it would be in great skiing condition right now if anyone wants to take a shot.

[kevino]

Yeah what he said. Pretty much great snow for skiing as it was snowing even more on my way out Monday

[DPS]

My personal experience tells me that March-April are better months for TC. Just my 2 cents.

[OlympicMtnBoy]

Nothing to add other than I've been up there in Feb before because I could have sworn there was a freeze thaw cycle going on in the weather forecast. Wallowing in deep powder, great for skiing, not for climbing. It's north facing, so it really needs to actually get pretty warm up there during the day a bit for things to consolidate more.

[keenwesh]

okay, march-april is when I want to get on that, how's the road? is it a realistic goal to try and make it in and out in 2 days? also, avalanche conditions, I really don't want to get caught up in anything on that route.

[TrogdortheBurninator]

2 days is pretty standard. 1 day is not out of the question if you are fit/competent. 3 days will ease things, but probably isnt totally necessary. Dont go with sketchy avy danger. Aside from the obvious risk of being swept to your death, you will be wallowing more and having less fun.

[keenwesh]

thanks, I did prusik in 2 days last summer, it took like 4.30 to hike the 10 miles in. wondering if the hike is as easy in the snow.

[TrogdortheBurninator]

road adds a few easy miles. maybe 1.5 hrs extra. Snow might slow things a bit, but there is usually a cattle trail to the lake. I'd figure that dragontail approach in winter/spring is fairly close time/effort wise to prusik in summer.

[Choada_Boy]

I did it 28h Bellingham to Bellingham in the month of April. We ditched our bivy gear at the trailhead after hiking the road. Topped out at 11pm or some such, hit the TH at dawn or so. Saw a man wearing a suit and holding a briefcase in the woods on the hike out.