TR: Cold Smoke - Three Days in the Talkeetnas

**Mike_Records** · 03-13-2014, 12:07 AM

On March 5th a jet of moisture pushed north into Southcentral Alaska. Snowfall would be the heaviest at the end of the jet, but, the devil would be in the details. As I sat at my desk avoiding work and checking the SNOTEL, it looked like many zones had ended up high and dry.

Except for Hatcher. Hatcher was reporting 15 inches of new snow, but only 0.6 inches of SWE. Had the Talkeetnas really received almost a foot and a half of cold smoke? Or was it wrong? As the day went on reports started trickling in...

At midnight on Friday morning I picked Lindsay up at the airport; it wasn't hard to convince her to drive north for dawn patrol. As we skinned into Eldorado, the sun greeted us with soft pink light.

Looks like a good place to start.

Foraker, Hunter, and Denali waking in the morning light:

As we climbed higher the skin-track got deeper, it was going to be good. Robert on his way to trench town on the first turn of the day:

15 inches of blower alpine powder and not even a slough. Incredible.

Rachel milking the apron:

Robert and I might be ski bums at heart, but it was quickly approaching time for us to get back to our desks. But, not of course, without squeezing in one more lap.

Just room for one more:

Time for work, Robert looking for the car.

On Saturday morning we couldn't wait to get back. This time the day started in the aptly named Bear Valley, where we found different, but equally beautiful evidence of life.

Rachel floating through her run...

...and flying through the apron.

From Bear Valley we skinned towards the tempting and complex face of Government Peak. Lindsay and Toni finishing off the ascent.

First to the top is first to the bottom. Ian:

Lindsay:

Toni:

With the shadows getting longer, we decided to call it a day. Again, already itching for the next day.

Sunday found us at Hatcher Pass. This time we headed north from the parking lot, planning on working our way towards towards less traveled zones. Three days after the storm and still blower - Robert warming up on Ray Wallace.

Skiing through the big kid playground.

After Ray Wallace we climbed north into Archangel Valley...

...and found ourselves alone in an untouched zone.

Rachel dropping in:

Robert working his way through the zone:

Lindsay dropped from a windloaded saddle, finding the deepest turns of the run:

After such a good lap, we headed around the corner to an area we knew harbored another set of protected chutes.

Rachel and Robert pounding out the bootpack to the top of the line.

When you put in the bootpack you get to go first.

The day was all too quickly coming to an end - Orion not wanting it to end:

Window shopping on the way back to the road. Can't wait for next time!

**STLHD** · 03-13-2014, 01:07 AM

It was a good couple of days at hatcher, indeed. Nice TR and pics.

**sqikunst** · 03-13-2014, 02:43 AM

Ah thats what I needed in the morning solid blower stoke!

**Mike Pow** · 03-13-2014, 02:50 AM

Beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

**miahw2828** · 03-13-2014, 08:53 AM

Awesome morning read, thanks!

**hutash** · 03-13-2014, 09:47 AM

WOW, that was sweet.

**anemic** · 03-13-2014, 10:34 AM

very tasty & super high quality. keep it up. I'm glad you guys got some great snow to play with!

**JTrue** · 03-13-2014, 11:03 AM

Great TR Mike!

Anyone have any firsthand knowledge of how the Alaska range is looking for snow? Specifically the Pika? Heading up in 10 days for a 2 week glacier camping trip, probably flying into the Tordrillos or Alaska Range out of Anchorage. Will have some days at the end of the trip just hanging out in Anchorage, if anyone wants to show us around the roadside attractions I'm sure we would be up for it.

**::: :::** · 03-13-2014, 12:07 PM

i'm blown away jealous -- lucky bastards to enjoy such a sweet trip!

**LightRanger** · 03-13-2014, 12:34 PM

Super rad.

Pow shots seem to have been few and far between around here this season.

**1thenaton1** · 03-13-2014, 12:46 PM

Awesome! AK turning on

**bigAK** · 03-13-2014, 02:08 PM

Nice work - looks like quite the refresh after the beginning of last week. didn't realize they got so much snow up north...

**HansJob** · 03-13-2014, 04:23 PM

That looks ral noice.

**cat in january** · 03-13-2014, 05:06 PM

Ummmmmm Alaska

**DeathVan** · 03-13-2014, 05:38 PM

Was all that white stuff snow?
...tropical island bound...

Great stuff!

**Mike_Records** · 03-14-2014, 01:01 AM

Glad you guys liked it. Thanks for the positive feedback

Originally Posted by Joebornstein

It was a good couple of days at hatcher, indeed. Nice TR and pics.

Wasn't it nice?

Originally Posted by JTrue

Great TR Mike!

Anyone have any firsthand knowledge of how the Alaska range is looking for snow? Specifically the Pika? Heading up in 10 days for a 2 week glacier camping trip, probably flying into the Tordrillos or Alaska Range out of Anchorage. Will have some days at the end of the trip just hanging out in Anchorage, if anyone wants to show us around the roadside attractions I'm sure we would be up for it.

Might be worth posting in the Alaska Backcountry Ski Addiction facebook page.

Originally Posted by bigAK

Nice work - looks like quite the refresh after the beginning of last week. didn't realize they got so much snow up north...

Figured you must have missed last week's refresher

**stuckathuntermtn** · 03-14-2014, 12:30 PM

Those must be some damn solid conditions up there 'cause those are amazing lines.
How far off the road are you? Or is that road even open in the winter?

**flyman683** · 03-14-2014, 02:04 PM

Originally Posted by stuckathuntermtn

Those must be some damn solid conditions up there 'cause those are amazing lines.
How far off the road are you? Or is that road even open in the winter?

This will help: Hatcher Map from the avy advisory guys up there

Basically, the road almost goes all the way up to the independence mine site, with a bunch of parking lots to stop at. Where the road goes hard left on the map and cuts through the pass/summit lake is closed in winter. Same with the archangel valley road, which is in the next drainage to the N/E where they crossed over in those Sunday shots...

**Mike_Records** · 03-14-2014, 03:36 PM

Originally Posted by stuckathuntermtn

Those must be some damn solid conditions up there 'cause those are amazing lines.
How far off the road are you? Or is that road even open in the winter?

Solid conditions indeed. Like flyman said, maybe 2 miles from the parking lot