1/31/2008, Stevens Pass, Skyline Ridge
1/31/08
WA Stevens Pass
2555
3
Short day in the BC.
The Heather Ridge side was really wind scoured but surprisingly warm. Winds were typically out of the west,but not very strong. The top of Skyline Ridge was a different story. Winds changed direction often, but primarily came out of the east, and it was a lot colder. The snow varied from styrofoam to crusty ice to 12" of dense powder, and there were weird humps in the snow in a lot of places
Dug a small pit on a N - NE slope that was about a 25 degree angle. Dug down about 4 feet at which point the frozen snow was challenging my shovel. There was an icy layer about 18" down and then slightly softer snow below, which progressively got more firm until it was frozen. Column test failed after 5 shoulder taps,and was not a clean shear, but about half the column slid off the 18" icy layer. The rest of the column was easily popped out with the shovel.
Skied cautiously down into the valley in the trees, and the snow skied okay, but I had trouble predicting when it would be soft and when it would be styrofoam. Got about halfway down the valley when we heard two "whoomphs" and decided the lackluster snow was not worth skiing any longer (we had planned to ski down the valley and to return along the highway). Lots more "whoomphs" on the way back up, and a lot of cracks in the snow, but nothing very long, mainly 4' circles around your skis.
The Heather Ridge side was really wind scoured but surprisingly warm. Winds were typically out of the west,but not very strong. The top of Skyline Ridge was a different story. Winds changed direction often, but primarily came out of the east, and it was a lot colder. The snow varied from styrofoam to crusty ice to 12" of dense powder, and there were weird humps in the snow in a lot of places
Dug a small pit on a N - NE slope that was about a 25 degree angle. Dug down about 4 feet at which point the frozen snow was challenging my shovel. There was an icy layer about 18" down and then slightly softer snow below, which progressively got more firm until it was frozen. Column test failed after 5 shoulder taps,and was not a clean shear, but about half the column slid off the 18" icy layer. The rest of the column was easily popped out with the shovel.
Skied cautiously down into the valley in the trees, and the snow skied okay, but I had trouble predicting when it would be soft and when it would be styrofoam. Got about halfway down the valley when we heard two "whoomphs" and decided the lackluster snow was not worth skiing any longer (we had planned to ski down the valley and to return along the highway). Lots more "whoomphs" on the way back up, and a lot of cracks in the snow, but nothing very long, mainly 4' circles around your skis.
Two of us skinned to Skyline Lk and the ridge above to NW at 5200 ft, then skied down the NE trending valley beyond, down to the PCT at ~3800 ft el, and traversed around on the PCT route for a long slog back to the ski area. Snowed all day, not too hard. Lots of variety in snow. Similar findings. Seemed to be about 2" of fresh moderately dense powder on light crust or on 5-6 inch denser older powder on the S-SW faces and sometimes pretty hollow below the crust but we had no areas cracking or whoomping . The NE and N faces had average of 6 inch wind deposited loose powder and more up high or in places, and fun to ski at higher elevations, becoming crustier or styrofoam surfaces below maybe 4300 ft, and variable in the trees. We stayed in narrow glades and trees out of concern for possible wind slab or low bond, E slopes had a light styrofoam with maybe 2 inch wind slab forming on some areas. Did not see anything sliding or slid. Met Holly and ___ at the Lake, who rejoined us for the traverse out. Lots of snow to play in, not nearly as lumpy and icy as last few weeks!
Hey Don B.
It was nice to meet some more fellow TAYrs, I presume that you guys did not head up for another run, as on our 2nd trip down did not show any evidence of an up track out. We followed your tracks out to the PCT, and jumped ship at Yodelin for the easy sleeze hitch hike back. Joe and Holly showed up just as we were pulling out ( covered in sweat ), so we were compelled to offer up some of our beer bounty for their efforts.
It was nice to meet some more fellow TAYrs, I presume that you guys did not head up for another run, as on our 2nd trip down did not show any evidence of an up track out. We followed your tracks out to the PCT, and jumped ship at Yodelin for the easy sleeze hitch hike back. Joe and Holly showed up just as we were pulling out ( covered in sweat ), so we were compelled to offer up some of our beer bounty for their efforts.
Shred, it was good to meet you in there, too.
We didn't go back up. Looked like too much work with no track set yet. We did debate dropping down to Yodelin for hitchhiking and decided nobody would pick us up ;) so kept on the trail and met a couple others who came down from above on that side.
We didn't go back up. Looked like too much work with no track set yet. We did debate dropping down to Yodelin for hitchhiking and decided nobody would pick us up ;) so kept on the trail and met a couple others who came down from above on that side.
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