TR: Triple Slayer Weekend in the Cascades

[Squirrel99]

Weekend Weather: Snow, Rain, Sleet, Clouds, Fog, splitting sun breaks, and wind

This week’s pLaYAz:
Day 1: Squirrel99, Graupel, Mofro261
Vertical – more than 5,000 feet (mostly 40+ degree bootpack mixed in with a horrid skin approach to Kangaroo)
Playground: North Cascades National Park & Okanagon National Forest

May is a time for projects. Stoke feeds the addiction. The addiction strives for satisfaction. With small windows of opportunity, project lines demand “the urge.”

Urge: to undertake the accomplishment of with energy, swiftness, or enthusiasm <urge the attack>
a force or impulse that urges; especially : a continuing impulse toward an activity or goal

Stoke: Etymology: Dutch stoken; akin to Middle Dutch stuken to push
transitive senses
1 : to poke or stir up (as a fire) : supply with fuel
2 : to feed abundantly
intransitive senses : to stir up or tend a fire (as in a furnace) : supply a furnace with fuel

Graupel and I have been drooling over various lines in the North Cascades for the past year. Last weekend, we infected Mofro261 with two potent visions:

Morning-


Afternoon-


We left Seattle Friday night, destined for the Colonial Creek Campground on Diablo Lake. From there, we would refuel and make the 4am start to meet up with Mofro261 at the improvised trailhead. Here our “morning project” would beckon


While many views are focused on the Liberty Bell and Early Winters Spires as cars wind their way up Hwy 20, Whistler Mountain makes a short, but bold appearance to the North. Two tempting couloirs can be seen – the looker’s left and looker’s right. A mixed ascent/descent would be necessary as the right ends abruptly into a waterfall. Our line penciled:


But as easy as access appeared, we would be challenged right from the start:
Mofro261


more here!
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=54413


After a short skin and another small stream crossing, the real fun began.


About 1/3 of the way up the West Couloir – views of Early Winters & Liberty Bell Peak in the distance


The Stairway to Heaven continues…


And another view from 1/2 way up looking down


Graupel approaching the Col


After a short breather, we shift across a small cornice to gain the East Couloir. And are greeted with another 45 degree uphill slog


Now this is a view I could get used to!


About 6” of fresh glop made pushing off the top cornice a bit of a challenge. Here Mofro261 demonstrates the “throw the cat out of the window” technique


The wet snow made the upper section both sticky and interesting. Runnels and small avy debris created a bit of a distraction






Graupel’s turn






Mofro261 finding the fresh




Graupel again




Shifting over to the West Couloir, there was still 1,400 feet left to go


Mofro261 stoke-ti-fied!




Graupel








Mofro261 at the speed of light





Momentary Satisfaction


More pics in Post #8 below from Mofro261

[Squirrel99]

Afternoon Project:
(pink lines were what we wanted; the black arrow was decided as the best conditions and would become our line...this time!)


Rain/Snow - uh, I don't know


Mofro261 – happy for snow?


Yes- Snow. Dumping and it's almost June


Some interesting mixed climbing after a very interesting mini-golf skin track puts us into our target- Finally!


Yielding downhill views of this


And uphill views of this. going up?


Back to our regularly scheduled program: The 3-Beer Chugger setting the pace


Graupel- are we there yet?


Mofro261 says Hell NO!


Okay, now you’re almost at the top!


Peaks are so comfortable in May! Where’s the blue? Oh wait, this is WAshington!


time to descend 3,000 vert! Graupel leading off






Mofro261






The Point!


Saturday’s destination!


Mofro261


DH steeze


Squirrel99





Satisfaction: fulfillment of a need or want b : the quality or state of being satisfied : CONTENTMENT c : a source or means of enjoyment : GRATIFICATION

[Squirrel99]

Day Two: Early Winters / Madison Avenue R3peaT
Playaz: Squirrel99, Greydon Clark, Cuz’in Nick, and PeeForward
Weather: , continued crap, partially crap and a dash of optimism

first destination - Blue Lake Trailhead from hwy 20. The skin track would lead us up to the top cornice in the center of the Early Winters summit col. (caution to anyone heading up here soon- there are now large cracks in the base of the summit cornice and it was making a bit of noise. might not be long before a potential release in the coming weeks)
Morning Ascent:


Afternoon Run


I thought we were heading to Pine Knob? Cuzin’ Nick fresh from Michigan


Should we try it?


Yep, that snow sucked! But that boot pack really rocked!


PeeForward forgets about Alaskan spines for a few minutes to clean up some slop




Cuzin’ Nick, I think!


Greydon “I should have been biking” Clark


Cuzin’ Nick enters the Early Winters (or late Springs?)


Peeforward Again


Cuzin’ Nick


Greydon- that’s not a tele turn!


Another alpine turn for Greydon


Though the weather was the bane of our existence today- and the snow becoming horridly dangerous (wet slides were popping up everywhere!) – we decided to have a drink instead


Didn’t know iskibc was also enjoying Hwy 20

[Squirrel99]

Day 3: Chinook Pass, Mount Rainier National Park & Wenatchee National Forest
Playaz: Squirrel99, Zeedashbo, Buster Highman, and PNWBrit with special guest appearance by the lovely Monique & her red car

Well, we had high hopes today. The forecasters did say this would be the ‘best’ day of the weekend. Little did we know that there idea of ‘best’ would mean 4pm

At least the snow is holding well


We wanted to start with these lines, but a Park Ranger had warned us that skiers set off multiple wet slides yesterday onto the road!


And with that information and our own snow assessment, the road shots planned for Chinook to Cayuse quickly fell through

Buster Highman & PNWBrit revving up


A lonely road


30 seconds of sucker holes provided brief visibility


But Buster wanted to get High(er)


Zeedashbo spys a superhero clinging to walls


Mystery Toque climber- no other than SpiderHighman


Zbo and I left the group to try another line off Yakima Peak. A small wet sluff releases, gains speed and tumbles over the cliffs. Not feeling great about the snow on that aspect, we work our way back to the original plan of descent.

Zbo drops in




My turn – Squirrel vision


PNWBrit


Buster getting high again


On life 


Squirrel99


We regroup and discuss the impending weather & snow. Monique greets us for Happy Hour with her famous red car After an hour break, the clouds temporarily lift above Naches Peak so we start a new


Evidence of activity is apparent


A Summit Break


Zbo the guinea pig again






Ridge Runner


A better plan today would have been to get Jib-Tastic! But we were lazy and opted to take in the show:







Buster blazing a trail to the cold beer while testing out parking lot control


Entertainment was provided by King of the Restroom Mountain


And what we wish it looked like earlier today!




Looking towards a cloaked Rainier, we’ll keep our fingers crossed that cold clear nights aren’t far off and a June/July corn cycle may still happen. But for now, we’ll leave the slush-a-lanches behind!

[Monique]

I was still on the sicklist yesterday, but it's always great to see the lads! I am planning a miraculous recovery in time for the sun to shine this week, and the above playground is just 1/2 hour from my house. I heart Greenwater.

Squirrel sets up to gap a tourist



Wow, look how much new snow fell while we were gone!



For anyone who wonders why Chinook Pass is closed all winter--no exposure here



A famous peak, peeking (I think this is the Matterhorn or something)



Last summer a couple of friends and I were nearly taken out by rock fall on the road near my house. The biggest boulder hit the road and split into smaller (yet still large) rocks, which came bouncing into our lane. On the way home yesterday I finally got the nerve to stop in that spot...here's what the biggest rock's impact did to the pavement.

[Schmear]

I think I just figured out who mofro is--the guy with the bottle opener in the Alpental parking lot?

Those lines don't suck, SQ.

[Jumbuck]

Speaking of Slayers....

[Mofro261]

More Pics from Saturday...

I had a ~1am wake up for the 3+hr drive from Seattle.
Thank you caffiene, though I was really buzzed from what Squirrel99 had planned for the day.

I met up with Sq99 and Graupel just after 5am, with enough light already to ditch the headlamps.
First up were the Whistler Couliors. A few hundred ft below below the road Squirrel entertained us while crossing the river.





Starting up the boot- only 2000 ft to go



Very surreal black rock surounded by clouds and a dusting of snow



Still climbing...




And a little bit of fresh as well




In a teaser thread http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=54413

I mentioned several lines pioneered by Squirrel99.

Okay, here were the real lines.

Dropping in the top





Graupel all the way down the Whistler Couliors













Squirrel starts with the classic "point"














Looking back up from the car



That was fun! Only 10:30 am? Now what?

Thank you Sir may I have another!

A short break and ~2 miles drive over Washington Pass to the next line on the list, Kangaroo Ridge.


But by the time we could pry Squirrel out of his Subaru coccoon, it was beer:30 er.. 12pm and a bit of fog and some wet stuff rolled in.

Fully recharged, I set what could fondly be referred to as an "interesting" skin track.

FINALLY we broke out of the trees to this tasty chute. Only 2000ft more to go!






The next line

Graupel prepares and hits it







Straightline tuck steeze







Squirrels and Kangaroos must be related SOME how






And plently more lines across the valley through the fog that had us drooling at 4PM to make one more...
(shut up legs)





Thanks again guys for a truely awesome day.
G.

Edit: Schmear: ding ding ding!

[johnnya]

SICK!!!!!Way get er done.

[mtnbikerskierchick]

Dang Squirrel. Your TR's continue to make me jealous! Nice job to you and all the players! Way to get it done! Oh, and yeah... eye candy looking at all the lines available in the pic with the black and pink arrows

[midget]

heh, seeing those pics, there's nothing you could have said to get me to go up with you on any of those days!

[Arty50]

OK, that shit was sooo seeeeck I have to go to bed now. And I thought I had a fun weekend skiing. Holy shit, Rodent!!!!

[SnowTigress]

Nice work gents!
I 'specially like the creek-crossing *intertainment* shots of Sq99. Looks like it was a hoot.

[Dug]

Dayum, nice work! Snowing and it's near june ... damn straight.

[Hicks]

Very nicely played.
5000 ft. of bootpacking shows you guys are good to go.

[lemon boy]

Wow! Nice weekend!

[Sutter]

Awesome weekend indeed.

[Kellie]

I love how squirrel has the ability to make us jealous of a skiing in some pretty foul looking weather - now that is stoke! Looks like a great weekend with some top notch players . . .

[CS]

Hot damn you were busy this weekend rodent-man. Very solid work. I feel lazy now for just riding lifts at the 'bird yesterday.

[shera]

(caution to anyone heading up here soon- there are now large cracks in the base of the summit cornice and it was making a bit of noise.

I saw big @ss cracks yesterday too.

Anyway, LARGE TR!!! Very kewl.

[greenmachine]

you guys rock keep up the good work

[skier666]

FKNA! That's what I call a stairmaster weekend!

[Greydon Clark]

I love how squirrel has the ability to make us jealous of a skiing in some pretty foul looking weather - now that is stoke! Looks like a great weekend with some top notch players . . .

No kidding. This weekend is the first time my California snobbery came out. To me, Memorial Day means it is time to harvest the corn. Sadly, a week of mixed rain an snow and no hard freezes created somewhat variable and foggy conditions—but at least it was deep. Monday we got some sun and planned on redoing Sunday’s tour, but without the car shuttle. Again, the lack of a clear night or a hard freeze lead to some uninspiring conditions (and some nice point releases from the rocks).

Still, it was a wonderful weekend with great peeps. Any time I get to drink PBR with ski bros around a fire, I’m happy.

P.S. to the JONGs that thought it was okay to ski cut the slope above us and send a friendly wet slide in Squirrels direction…
1. Learn some backcountry etiquette
2. Learn to ski the fall line
3. Extract your head from your ass

[shera]

P.S. to the JONGs that thought it was okay to ski cut the slope above us and send a friendly wet slide in Squirrels direction…
1. Learn some backcountry etiquette
2. Learn to ski the fall line
3. Extract your head from your ass

This would be funny if it wasn't so pathetic.

[powder11]

Squirrel gets after it like no other!

I like the "cul-de-sac" approach on this one