12-23-06 Trilogy in White Pine

[Trackhead]

All photos are down rezzed frame grabs from HDV footage.

Went up with Powstash, Xover, Tradygirl, and JoshP. Headed up White Pine to possibly ski Red Top, Red Baldy, and Lake Peak.


After summiting Red Top, we were undecided where to ski. I had recently skied the north aspect, and wanted to ski the long west facing gullies. So Powstash and I headed west, while Xover, Trady, and Josh headed north. West aspect is in sun in this photo.


Powstash happy with his decision to head west. One turn down, many to go. After this line, Powstash and I headed across the valley to Lake Peak. The stubby peak in the sun, across the way.


Powstash lower down on the west face of Red Top. Creamy pow.


Powstash breaking trail, while I skin and melt snow for more water.


Our next objective, the classic east couloir on Lake Peak.




Two pits, and a thousand kick turns later, we reached to top.


I got lucky enough to ski it first, and then filmed Powstash. The snow was quite nice here too.


When I got down, some fool asked me "Was it worth the hike?"


Ah, what do you think?

[Trackhead]

Our initial goal was to ski all three peaks in this drainage. We had skied Red Top, and just skied Lake Peak. And now it was time for Red Baldy. My stove crapped out and I was out of water and somewhat tired and dehydrated. Powstash needed to head home, and I had no idea where the others in our group were. Reguardless, I wanted to finish of the goal of skiing all three. Nice to shake out the cobwebs of a long summer.

One more climb to go. But this time there would be a pre-established skin track, making the slog a little less painful.


Everyone had left for the day up here, pretty quiet now. Just a nice skin track and plenty of untracked snow.


The sun was going behind White Baldy as I reached the ridgeline. A few more switchbacks and then another perfect pow run, all alone, in total silence.


Great little trilogy today. Always fun to link a bunch of fun lines up. Next goal is to do the same, but add in a descent of the Pfeifferhorn and White Baldy. Who's up?

Fun day in the mountains with a good group of folks. Maybe next time we will do more than just climb the first mountain together.

[altachic]

You know DTM is always up to go with you and anyone else, ya'll just need to pm or call him.

Nice pics as always

[Trackhead]

I'm looking forward to the only photo of me today. Snowplowing the GNAR!

[gimpy]

$$$$$$$$ quality all around. and mighty kind of postash to offer 1sts in the skintracked line

[Bodhi]

Niiiice, as usual.

peace,
D.

[byates1]

strong, as usual

happy holidays.

[soul_skier]

since mc_roon is down and out for the next 7 weeks, and with his demise I lost my usual backcountry partner, I'm up for anything, and I have a strange affinity for dawn patrols. Nice write up and sweet turns anywho.

[Tri-Ungulate]

Nice day out today, eh? Good fast untracked everywhere, though it was goin' fast. Nice work on the other side of the canyon - we were taking advantage of the no-fly in the Northern Powder Circuit to do some trackin' up. Going up tomorrow? Gimme a call if ya can.

[marshalolson]

TH - stoked to see your TR's again. NICE. looks great!

[KillingCokes]

TH - stoked to see your TR's again. NICE. looks great!

I second that. Good to see you putting some pics back up. Thanks

[rideit]

ahhh, slacker. I KNOW you could have gone for four.

[FartBag Commando]

Excellent job. Awaiting the snowplow pic that JoshP has in his possesion...

[twodogs]

Some nice lines.

Three peaks, way to get after it.

[Mulletizer]

Ah, White Pine, so many happy memories: trees, refrozens slop, blood, broken bones. If you see a tree where the lower drainage starts to open up that has a Mulletizer faceprint on it - CUT THE BASTARD DOWN, it should not have jumped into my path and must be punished.

Otherwise, great to see you guys getting after it in nice style, thanks for reporting. And, well, Holy Kickturn, Batman!

[raddam]

NICE!!!
looking forward to a great winter of TR's from you
we need another episode of Xover cresting a cornice
happy holidays Trackhead

[Trackhead]

Going up tomorrow? Gimme a call if ya can.

Rest day. Skied the last three days, now I'm going to drink coffee and sit on my ass.

[CommanderBaker]

rest day? WTF

I am jealous you guys nailed lake chute - i was up there last week taking a look at it, but the sun was setting and i was solo, so i saved it for you guys

Looks like a great shot. Thanks for the pixs.

[iskibc]

Damn!! Some work got done by the looks of it. Excellent.

Have you brought out the helicopter thingy yet?

Can't wait to see the footage.

[Trackhead]

Have you brought out the helicopter thingy yet?

Can't wait to see the footage.

No, it won't see skiing until next year, or at the earliest this spring. It's being slated for a desert climbing film as we speak. I'm currently strapping on the knee pads, looking for funding.

[tradygirl]

So, here is the account of "the other group" that couldn't keep up with those maniacs Trackhead and Powstash.

The five of us hoofed it up the ridge of Red Stack, encountering some sketchy icy skinning.

Xover and Tradygirl slogging the ridge


Since I'm the world's crappiest skinner, I opted to boot pack the last part of the ridge rather than go for the death slide down the west face.

Trady getting her gnar on.


As we got to the top of the north couloir we wanted to ski, we finally saw Trackhead coming down from the summit. Making his way down the icy ridge to meet up with us, JoshP managed to capture the piece d'resistance.

Trackhead picking his way down the ridge


Nice, TH...Nice.


Xover on Red Stack with Timp behind


So as TH and Powstash left us to rip up the other two peaks, we checked out the north couloir on Red Stack. Xover dug a snow pit with some frightening results - a two foot consolidated slab over a foot of sugar. He couldn't even get a column to isolate before the slab would fall into his lap. So, we skee-daddled out of there and hit the leftovers on the west-facing Tri-Chutes.

Xover finding some untracked. A group of meadowskippers had been lapping the bottom of the Tri-chutes to death.


So after a long lunch of Beef flavored Ramen with tuna and Beef Stronganoff (no cheese), we hung out in the sun and weighed our options. Xover pointed out the northern part of the west face of Red Stack and we decided to slog back up for another run in the fading sun.

Xover preparing to rip. Josh pulled off a pretty good lie to a group at the top so they wouldn't snag our line. He directed them to the torn up Tri-Chutes.


Xover gettin' some.


Tradygirl left with sloppy seconds.


Excellent call on Xover's part. The snow on the last run of the day was $$money$$ - sun-warmed powder over a thick buried crust.

Great day! Excellent weather and great company. Too bad those other two pansies couldn't keep up with us.

[Core Shot]

Nice, TH...Nice.

that is so avatar worthy

[Trackhead]

that is so avatar worthy

You only wish you had my snowplow steeze.

[bcrider]

Good stuff all around!

That area is a playground.

[Squirrel99]

choice line selection. me like.