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Hey Rod! (I skied coke chute w/ you and JimW eons ago).
We skinned up the gulch, past Helen to about 10,700 and then traversed back and up Casaval. No Icefall at all until around 11:30, when it just started pouring down, hence our traverse back up to Casaval. It shouldn't be a problem if you go earlier and pick your aspect (Sergents's side hadn't gotten sun an hence no icefall yet). I had my bro-in law w/me and he was out of gas, so it limited our options.
Enjoy
Thanks, I remember you, changed your handle?
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Yeah, i used to be Towelie on thebackcountry forum (RIP), TTips, Splitboard.com (pretty much RIP :(). I think i joined TGR when we did Red slate or somethng i the high sierras w/ the turtles. Been out of action with young kids and just got back into it last year.
Hey i might be heading back up. still unlikely, but if work and weather cooperate, maybe Thu or F thu sat. If i do i'll ping ya. Maybe do the Thumb rock gullies down to Shastarama. It's more easterly and higher than what we skiied before, but maybe now after a couple of more days it could be prime. Sergents face off of shastarama looked wind F*cked, but maybe the Southerly side of shastarama bowl would be good. Or just Casaval again...
Hey gents, how are the Trinity Chutes looking? Think they'll corn up by the weekend?
Not really sure, definitely not when we were there. those are pretty high (13.4k?). Even on nice spring day's with enough wind they seem to be 50/50 to corn, so I'd guess no. It looked like the rime level on Casaval went to about 12k on sunday, so i'd bet stuff above that hadn't softened before then but with our "springbruary" warm temps, maybe... Like i said the Thumbs down gullies are as steep and lower elevation (if they're not wind F'd and too Easterly to corn). And Casaval below the trinities, maybe a bit below the catwalk could corn...
Thanks, man. Long periods of poor coverage and high pressure tend to compromise one's idea of what might be fun/good.
^ big time. tahoe and eastside conditions have me thinking an early start and slog up misery hill just to ski quasi corn on the way down sounds delightful. very different february than last year.
I don't see it corning up, it has to be pretty warm or a nice high sun. The top rocks are covered with rime and may or may not be covered enough to "ski" into the chutes.
The thumbs down gullies, how do you get to them and hire do you get out?
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Just got back from Shasta
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Yeah, To Dhelihiker’s point, there’s lots of stuff like that, that can come into play. We’re really guessing here and ya gotta make your own call. BTW, checkout the ranger site for folks that don’t know http://shastaavalanche.org/.
Rod, see below for beta on the Thumbs down chutes. This is one of the ones I’d would look at if I go back, but it might not be for everyone, nor in condition.
The positive (if it’s in shape) is that it’s a brand new side of the mountain that most don’t see. And it’s one of the runs (like the Konwokiton gully) that you follow the sun as you descend, so you ski SE aspect in the chutes from 12.7k to 11k, then SW on sergent’s face to ski bowl from 11k to 9.5k, and if you’re willing you can even catch the W face of powder bowl or W.face of green butte into the gulch (9k to 8k). So each elevation matches the perfect corn baking time. Well that’s the theory, and it’s worked out for me many times...
The downside is that you most likely will ski it blind and won’t fully know the conditions, and ya gotta do a ~20 min skin from the bottom of the chutes on the flats to get back to the top of Sergents ridge by Shastarama. And at least last Sunday Sergents face looked wind f*d, so it might not be worth it if that hasn’t smoothened (Or you avoid the face and ski east into the bowls below shastarama and back through “the gate”, but that adds time/distance.)
Ya got 3 ways of doing it:
1) Climb the gulch: go the ridge of thumb rock, check conditions and ski it blind. This is what I do. it’s quick. Hopefully no new wind slabs and checking the top is enough to make sure the bottom won’t be a wet/loose slide.
2) Climb green butte, skin up ski bowl and climb sergents ridge up to shastarama (big rock on sergents ridge proper), and then climb the route. Bad idea – tons of rockfall and wind particles if the winds are from the west)
3) Climb greenbutte/sergents ridge (the merger of these two ridges is a really cool place, and you have the option to check conditions on the E face, and still exit to the gulch or ski bowl)
Pics from years past. No idea what it’s like there now…
Top of the ridge next to Thumb rock (Avy gulch is to the left):
Attachment 223283
Pick your line, many not shown and are further up or down the ridge:
Attachment 223284
Have fun in the gully/chutes:
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looking back at the face/chutes. the chutes we skied aren't visible here. Thumb rock not the one that looks the tallest, it's futher back to the right.
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Ski down to the flats (mud creek glacier), skin to shastarama point (top left)
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Ski down sergents to the ski bowl to the road and car, with the option of ski bowl to powderbowl/gulch with a tiny climb.
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again, these are pics from the past (mostly may/june). no idea what it's like there now
great pic Jibmaster. Yeah, stuff that is SE looks smooth, anything else looks wind textured. how was it?
Skied Sunbowl
got some video uploading
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Skied down around 11:30. Heard from others that went into Avalanche Gulch - super high winds above 9000'.
I was protected in Sun Bowl, but still had very firm conditions.
Anything east facing corned up with shady ice and firm conditions on slopes facing up.
Wasn't sure if things above me were going to corn up, so dropped in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-co7pREPVM&t=1s
Got gas in Williams on the drive back - could hardly stand up, the winds were so strong.
Skied today, pretty firm up high and a lot of ice chunks, scary
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I stubbornly skied on Shasta with high winds once and it ended poorly. As much as I’d like to ski Shasta during this high pressure cycle, the prospect of potentially driving five hours only to have unexpected winds will probably keep me away.
From ShastaAttachment 223579
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Head a little farther north and hit crater lake! It's been great season up there for touring. Attachment 226933Attachment 226934 just yesterday.
Fresh and Deep.
^^That looks so good! Maybe get out there this week...
How is coverage down to Bunny after this last storm? May make a trip back in a couple weeks to see a terminal grandparent in Mt Shasta, will likely bring skis. Castle Lake zone have enough coverage to be a go?
Bunny Flat was looking good as of the 1st. Check it out the reports here: http://shastaavalanche.org/observationsQuote:
Originally Posted by snapt
Fresh and Deep.
Looks like a foot of fresh at 8k feet around shasta by this weekend and fairly nice weather on Saturday.
Planning to head up Friday night and pound out some decent vert Saturday - hmu if you want a touring buddy. Probably starting early and skiing whatever looks good off the bunny flat trailhead - avy, sargents, or casaval.
Also, was out at crater lake of presidents day weekend for a pow trip and it was thin down low but has probably filled in considerably by now
Yup, the coverage is good now at crater lake. Though did get attacked by a couple sharks...Quote:
Originally Posted by sruffian
Fresh and Deep.
are you guys skiing Garfield Peak? Driving through and hope to get some turns there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pajamas
Yeah I was up in that whole garfield applegate area parking near park hq
Same. Lots on lines off that ridge. Watch that sun working on the snow on that West face...Quote:
Originally Posted by sruffian
Fresh and Deep.
Lower NE Lassen access coverage earlier this week.
Attachment 233952
Dropped from the top at 10:30, skied to the road using the furthest left drainage with just the creak crossing at the bottom.
Thin at the road, won't last long.
Anyone poke around Diller, Hidden Valley or Cascade Gulch lately? I wonder what the road situation is to Diller right now ...
pretty rare to get such epic pow above 12K on Mt. Shasta. Sunday was outstanding
Attachment 234449
Sick.
Even for someone who lives in the mountain??Quote:
Originally Posted by Lee Murian
Looks amazing
Bra-freaking-Vo!!!
I laughed, that screen name is amazing.Quote:
Originally Posted by abraham
Lee-murian slayage. ETA: schralphy beat me to it!Quote:
Originally Posted by abraham
Where did you skin up? Behind Casaval? I don't see a track going up right of red banks.
Saw this pic on the gram, and noticed my pants were especially tight. I guess it was my homing device pointed NW to the Shasta Vortex.
Jesus, that is a sexy photo.
Wow, nailed it.
Might be in the area around Memorial Day… Any predictions on Bunny Flat having snow or the north side roads being open?
This isn't the Trinities, it's off Sargent's ridge. Skinned up the gulch to Thumb rock.Quote:
Originally Posted by meter-man
Just skied primo corn, Shasta is firing
Well that explains why I didn't recognize it.... Nicely done and thanks for the reports!Quote:
Originally Posted by Lee Murian
Horrid cold winds up high today on Shasta. Went for Shastina thinking Diller would be protected from south winds, but winds were so strong they were running into the crater and shooting downslope. Didn’t get to top out, about 800’ of survival skiing below the crater, but once we got down to 10.5k or so the corn was money.
Snowline in Diller is almost at 8000’ (7700 maybe?) road is clear but definitely pinstriping your car is cost of admission.
Always a good time in the land of Lemurians!
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