Last Updated: May 20, 2013
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Monday, May 20, 2013

Watson's Traverse, May 2013

The NE side of Mount Baker as seen from high on Mount Shuksan. The latter potion of the traverse covers the high country visible just below the horizon at right.

(words by Tom S.) Sergio V. and I linked up for the Watson's Traverse this past weekend (05/04-06). We left late Saturday evening and approached to a camp at ~6400'. The next day we got a lazy start and were on the summit by 1:30. We wanted to ski the Park Headwall but it was covered in crusty mank so we dropped onto the upper Boulder and traversed around. We camped again in the flats before heading out to the Ski Area. The area between the Park Glacier and the Ski Area is incredibly scenic and a pleasure to explore. I had not been on that side of the mountain before and was glad to make this trip happen. It helped also that we were on a relaxed schedule and had plenty of time to savor the experience.

*Note that as of 05/14/13 the Glacier Creek Road has been closed due to a washout. See here for details.

The late afternoon sun casts the slopes above Grouse Creek in a fiery orange hue. Final moments of sunset before vanishing into the Pacific. Ascending the Coleman Glacier with Colfax Peak visible right-of-center.
Twin Sisters as seen trough a gap in the rocks on the edge of the Coleman. Approaching the Coleman-Demming Saddle with wind kicking-up on the summit plateau. It was a slow grind (for me) up from the saddle towards the Roman Wall.
Tom nears the top of the Roman Wall with a pair of climbers in hot pursuit. North Cascades panorama from summit of Grant Peak. Tom skis the upper portion of Park Glacier, just below the headwall.
Skiing high on Park Glacier. Taking in the scenery at about the halfway point on the Park. Enjoyable corn snow on the Park.
Nearing the end of a classic ski descent! Making camp on the Park Glacier flats. Evening views from camp looking NNE towards the border peaks and beyond.
The following morning, looking forward to adventures that await. Departing camp with The Portals South at left. Taking in the view from high on Sholes Glacier.
Tom traversing with Mount Shuksan towering overhead. No escape from the solar furnace near The Portals East. Back in familiar territory with Coleman Pinnacle at right.
Nearing the end of the traverse with south-side of Table Mountain visible in background.

Friday, May 17, 2013

"Urban" XC

After months of neglect, it was time to rediscover my fondness for the singletrack and revisit a couple Eastside XC favorites. As low-commitment conditioning rides, the new-and-improved Tiger Mountain and Grand Ridge trails are ideal. No early wake-ups or long drive required, and just enough of an “out there” feel to justify the load of muddy laundry!

A muddy bend through the forest roughly halfway between I-90 and Duthy Hills. Boardwalk over the marsh on Grand Ridge Trail. Mt. Rainier as seen from East Tiger Summit.
The new machine-built East Tiger Summit Trail. Typical view along the Preston Railroad and NW Timber trails. A mossy tunnel towards the end of the NW Timber Trail.

Monday, April 12, 2013

...and that's a wrap

Ringing-in the change of season as the last winter storms give way to the Seattle spring crapshoot. Not as many days out as hoped, but what was had was good. Quality, always. Here's to one last pow fix before the onset of corn season, and long live the glory days of March!

The impressive East Face of Mount Sedgwick as seen from Porteau Cove early one morning in March. First tracks down Whistler's Sun Bowl. A cruise down Symphony Bowl all to ourselves. Clocking-in at #4 on the final approach to Burnt Stew.
Flute Shoulder descent as seen from MY point of view... Even Flute Bowl gets tracked-out fast on days like these. It's not all fun and games in the Harmony lineup!
Enjoying a stash off the King on a warm, sunny day several days after the last snowfall. Very reactive snowpack in Campbell Basin after a day and night of heavy snow and high winds. Patience is rewarded with a break in the clouds and fresh tracks down Powder Bowl.
One last pow fix in mid-April at Alpental. Beer:30 on the second-to-last day of lift-served pow.

Friday, March 15, 2013

Kendall Peak touring, February 2013

Kendall Peak as seen from the South Ridge.

I’m not sure what took me so long, but considering it’s only about an hours drive from town and with an easy approach starting from the Summit West parking lot, Kendall Peak is obvious low hanging fruit for the greater Seattle backcountry ski touring community. Whether it’s the steeps, open bowls and faces or couloirs you’re after, Kendall has it all. Making the most of a 3-day weekend in February, Franklin and I toured the peak’s West Flank only to return a couple days later with Eli and Justin to shred the Left Twin Couloir which somehow eluded us the first time. Highlights include skiing off the summit via the summit gully and West Flank, and an exhilarating descent from Kendall Ridge down to Gold Creek.

Kendall Peak - West Flank/Gully

Failing to heed the warning in Volken's Snoqualmie Pass ski guide, we turned up and right either too soon or too late (depending) and had some annoying cliff issues to deal with. Enjoying the scenery from Kendall Stump. Skinning the forested ridge northwest of Kendall Peak Lakes. Traversing the wide West Flank of Kendall. Approaching Kendall's summit from the north.
View from just below summit of Kendall Ridge chutes (Left and Right Twin visible). Franklin skis off the summit. Skiing down the summit gully. Fast turns down the summit gully.
Franklin exits the gully. Enjoying the pow on West Flank. Skinning back up for seconds. Approaching the summit ridge this time south of the summit.
Dropping a steep and deep chute from the ridge. Franklin's turn down the chute. Out of the chute and onto the West Flank. Last run down the West Flank.
Final look back up, now joined by Karla and friend.

Kendall Ridge - Left Twin Couloir

Early morning low on Kendall Stump with Red Mountain peeking in background. View of Kendall's West Flank with our tracks (and avalanche) from two days earlier. Eli skinning the forested ridge northwest of Kendall Peak Lakes. View down Left Twin from Kendall Ridge. First tracks down Left Twin!
Shredding Left Twin Couloir. A well deserved break in Kendall's magnificent East Basin. Skinning back up with Left Twin at left. Skinning shortly below the coulior's exit.
Booting up the final bit of Left Twin. View south from Kendall Ridge. Skiing gloppy snow down to Kendall Peak Lakes.
Beneath the fog at Kendall Peak Lakes.

Friday, March 1, 2013

It's back ON!

Picking up where we left off in late December now that winter has finally returned. Don't get me wrong, the sunny days certainly made for some nice photo ops especially along the Sound and points north, but it does come at a price. Anyway, with long overdue kitchen renos to show for the January-mid February drought, we’re relieved to finally resume our snow-chasing routine…

A sunny January afternoon with Mt. Rainier floating in the sky above South Seattle. Paddleboarders near West Point at Discovery Park on a balmy mid-winter day. The fog lifts to reveal the Bainbridge ferry with Mount Constance in distance as seen from Alki Beach.
Girl in a wetsuit statue at Stanley Park. Panorama of downtown Vancouver from the Seawall. Looking across Burrard Inlet with the North Shore in distance.
Looking south across a sea of fog from top of Cypress Mountain in eary February. View of Second Narrows and the Lower Mainland from Cypress Mountain. Breaking the streak finally at Hyak w/ a pair of relieved shredders riding the Hidden Valley chair.
Fresh lines past Nash Gate during an un-crowded Vert Fest Sunday. Frame capture of Agata's first tracks down Sunnyside in late February. Bottomless late-February pow riding down Upper-Exterminator. Enjoying the requisite 'Fears' descent for Agata's first time this season.
And when everything else is tracked-out, a 410'er is in order. Hiking back to the hwy after running out of snow in White River Valley. ...and back to Alpy the following day for fresh tracks beyond Elevator Gate.

*Master list of trip reports and photos here: climbing or snowboarding.

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