nordicpunk Posted November 21, 2013 Posted November 21, 2013 So I am new to Seattle and was wondering if some of you veterans out there could tell me where the ice usually forms up first. I have 2 days off coming this weekend and am really looking forward to scouting some ice with the recent cold temps (usually have 1-2 days off a month so you can imagine my excitement!). Am I jumping the gun or are there some possibilities? Quote
CaleHoopes Posted November 21, 2013 Posted November 21, 2013 So, 1st... get the Washington Ice book. Second, dial your expectations DOWN a bit. Much of what's in the book barely comes in. Usually, ice is in between mid Jan to end of Feb around the state. Alpental area varies a ton and is short season. Longest season is usually Banks Lank. Right in the middle? Strobach down by Yakima, White Pass. There's always Glacier Ice but that's really best in the late summer... it's starting to fill in right now so you'll lose a bunch. Many of the glaciers have a bit of ice, but the lower coleman seems to be the fun spot to go to. Good luck! Quote
calamityinsanity Posted November 21, 2013 Posted November 21, 2013 Drive. Lots. Update your passport. lillooet area will be in a month, coquihalla will be in but thin till saturday, the rockies are in, alpine should be good before and after this weekends/weeks thaw. Quote
Pete_H Posted November 21, 2013 Posted November 21, 2013 Probably good alpine ice in right now I would think. Quote
G-spotter Posted November 22, 2013 Posted November 22, 2013 you will be most likely to be successful if looking for somewhere near or below the present snowline because a big dump of freshiez insulates the underlying groundwater and there's a couple feet of fresh higher up Quote
jmace Posted November 22, 2013 Posted November 22, 2013 Ground water....hasnt rained since June... Alpine this weekend....tough around these parts, forecast for 1500m is into the double digits (celsius) Before G pipes in with his radiational cooling....thats about to be shut down as well To climb in November you need an arctic outbreak and all we got was a little breeze Quote
G-spotter Posted November 22, 2013 Posted November 22, 2013 it was -4 at hope slide an hour or two ago? Quote
nordicpunk Posted November 25, 2013 Author Posted November 25, 2013 Pretty good climbing around Alpental today. Many of the slabby WI2-3 look climbable.12cm screws were the ticket. Saw some guys headed for source lake climbs. Not sure how fat those routes were. From across the lake the conditions looked a little stiffer than my crew of beginners was ready for. Great time had by all. Quote
calamityinsanity Posted November 25, 2013 Posted November 25, 2013 camped in icicle this weekend, the inversion made things cold down low. Climbs above the campground, were in but thin. Driving back to the pass, lots of stuff on the other side of the river looked almost leadable. Skiing out of stevens you hit the inversion line aqbout half way up. Yo-yo'd through the day a bit. Quote
Alex Posted November 25, 2013 Posted November 25, 2013 Nice. Yes, it's quite early for a weather window like this. Without a base to build on, the new ice will be pretty fragile. I love exploring but the ticket in the early season to avoid getting hurt is be pretty conservative! Quote
CaleHoopes Posted November 25, 2013 Posted November 25, 2013 Alex speaks wisdom. Thin but fragile. Quote
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