Jan 24, 2009, Granite Mountain
1/24/09
WA Snoqualmie Pass
2661
2
Headed out to Snoqualmie Pass with the intention of skiing Commonwealth Basin, but heavy fog was seeping in from the East side. Instead, we drove back down to the sun for a jaunt up Granite Mountain. A bunch of snow shoers, a Moutaineers group, and a handful of other skiers joined us. The trees expectedly blew, but once out onto the avy path there was smooth corn all the way to the summit. No skinning; booted entire way (crampons helpful if climbing in the early morning). The fog stayed at the pass all day but was below the summits of all the adjacent peaks (including chair 2 at Alpental). High clouds moved in while we were on the top and after the first few turns, I was afraid things had iced up. But when the pitch rolled it turned to pure margarine.
Nice guys. You chose right. I toured Crystal BC over near JBAS into Morse Ceek and up to 3way and it was total survival skiing on breakable crust.
Yeah, hopefully there were others who managed to find the corn as we did. Great timing as we descended around 2ish, right when the sun became obscured by the clouds and provided for a fun ski down. Slight refreeze is better than slush in my book and allowed an aesthetic ski down amongst the sloughing marbles. Good pitch, smooth corn (slight refreeze), and good views managed to envoke feelings of satisfaction- despite my "itch" for more.
Ahh, until the snow falls again...
Chris
Ahh, until the snow falls again...
Chris
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