Cordova AK May 2- Day 2
5/15/09
3326
13
Day 2 we met up with Leo at 9.00 am and where at the trailhead of the main road and skinning by 9.30 am. We started at an elevation of 50' above sea level!
The mountains of the Heney Range ( a sub range of the Chugach) are not high ( 3-4000 ft) but rise straight out of the sea.
After about an hour of climbing through lightly treed meadows we reached timberline at about 1,000 ft. The skinning was up an avalanche path that I didn't want to be under later in the day.
Our initial destination was Baldy, a peak with fairly steep undulating terrain. Leo lived up to his reputation and forged a path that involved some steep skinning.
As we climbed the views of Prince William sound and the Chugach mountains to the north opened up.
After 2-1/2 hrs we reached the summit to be greeted with an incredible view of the Gulf of Alaska that today looked calm and benign.
The ski down was fantastic on nice steep corny slush that allowed you to open up and the open slopes meant you could choose any line.
After reaching the bench, we re- skinned and headed on a rising traverse across to the west face of Bobcorn peak our next destination, the second highest peak in the range. The traverse was steep and led to a boot pack that Leo had set up the face a few days prior. When reaching the boot pack and seeing about 1500 ft of steep 40-50 degrees slopes leading to a pointy summit , I knew I had reached my comfort level and after discussing it with Leo and Joe, I skied down to the bench on great snow while they spotted me.
I found a nice knoll out of any avy path and settled down to watch Leo and Joe bootpack up the face. Content with my decision to bail I watched with pride as Joe followed Leo up the bootpack. My photos do not do it justice and it was a really big steep face.
By the time I saw them reach the summit they where just tiny dots and I waited in apprehension for them to drop as the summit triangle looked very steep and runnelled from below.
I watched Leo drop in first and make fluid turns down the slope and stop about 500' above me. Joe dropped in next and made confident turns taking a line looker's left of Leo's getting fresh turns.
As they both came down to my knoll I was so proud of them both at getting such a great line and the look on Joe's face said it all. " Best line of the season for me."
Time to go home as the lower elevation snow was turning to isothermal mush.
We went back by a different route to avoid the avy path we had climbed and the route out involved a stream crossing over a tenuous snow bridge and some bushwhacking nearly as bad as Cascade standards.
I was beat but Leo kindly invited us back to his home for a salmon BBQ and came into town with us to get some groceries with his ski boots on.
According to Leo, him walking around town in ski boots was fairly normal.
We had some great fish he had caught and listened as he told us abut some of his mountaineering and skiing expoits in AK. ( the man is the real deal with a winter ascent of the West face of Huntington in the Ruth Gorge to his credit).
Fantastic day.
Joe has some great pictures of the face from the top which I hope he'll add to this post.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/38017998@N03/
The mountains of the Heney Range ( a sub range of the Chugach) are not high ( 3-4000 ft) but rise straight out of the sea.
After about an hour of climbing through lightly treed meadows we reached timberline at about 1,000 ft. The skinning was up an avalanche path that I didn't want to be under later in the day.
Our initial destination was Baldy, a peak with fairly steep undulating terrain. Leo lived up to his reputation and forged a path that involved some steep skinning.
As we climbed the views of Prince William sound and the Chugach mountains to the north opened up.
After 2-1/2 hrs we reached the summit to be greeted with an incredible view of the Gulf of Alaska that today looked calm and benign.
The ski down was fantastic on nice steep corny slush that allowed you to open up and the open slopes meant you could choose any line.
After reaching the bench, we re- skinned and headed on a rising traverse across to the west face of Bobcorn peak our next destination, the second highest peak in the range. The traverse was steep and led to a boot pack that Leo had set up the face a few days prior. When reaching the boot pack and seeing about 1500 ft of steep 40-50 degrees slopes leading to a pointy summit , I knew I had reached my comfort level and after discussing it with Leo and Joe, I skied down to the bench on great snow while they spotted me.
I found a nice knoll out of any avy path and settled down to watch Leo and Joe bootpack up the face. Content with my decision to bail I watched with pride as Joe followed Leo up the bootpack. My photos do not do it justice and it was a really big steep face.
By the time I saw them reach the summit they where just tiny dots and I waited in apprehension for them to drop as the summit triangle looked very steep and runnelled from below.
I watched Leo drop in first and make fluid turns down the slope and stop about 500' above me. Joe dropped in next and made confident turns taking a line looker's left of Leo's getting fresh turns.
As they both came down to my knoll I was so proud of them both at getting such a great line and the look on Joe's face said it all. " Best line of the season for me."
Time to go home as the lower elevation snow was turning to isothermal mush.
We went back by a different route to avoid the avy path we had climbed and the route out involved a stream crossing over a tenuous snow bridge and some bushwhacking nearly as bad as Cascade standards.
I was beat but Leo kindly invited us back to his home for a salmon BBQ and came into town with us to get some groceries with his ski boots on.
According to Leo, him walking around town in ski boots was fairly normal.
We had some great fish he had caught and listened as he told us abut some of his mountaineering and skiing expoits in AK. ( the man is the real deal with a winter ascent of the West face of Huntington in the Ruth Gorge to his credit).
Fantastic day.
Joe has some great pictures of the face from the top which I hope he'll add to this post.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/38017998@N03/
I think I may have left some of my thumb on your camera lens?
Nice work. Lucky b_st_rd.
Nice work. Lucky b_st_rd.
Nice pix of the turns with the ocean in the background.
What about that four-letter word you said you'd engage in while you are in AK---I think it's called
"WORK"? ???
What about that four-letter word you said you'd engage in while you are in AK---I think it's called
"WORK"? ???
Sweet, Scott! I think you need me as secretary on your next "work" trip though, right? Cause typing up TRs and (other official documents) is a lotta of work best left to professional typists like myself. ;)
Missed you at CrystalFest, but I certainly wouldn't miss your outing for the world. Can't wait to see/read more.
Missed you at CrystalFest, but I certainly wouldn't miss your outing for the world. Can't wait to see/read more.
Chris and Joe- nice work getting some out there, we are all jealous and looking forward to more pics and tr's.
Another great adventure. I'm glad that you have Joe with you to share the wonderful trip. I'm pleased that you also included your decision about reaching your "comfort level" for that day on that part of the mountain. Life is precious and you want to be around to share many more great adventures.
YEAH!
So, thats where the sun is. Nice work trip. Is there a company helicopter on the schedule?
Nice work! the west face of Bob Corn is a great falline. When conditions allow the couloirs off bob corn and Heny pk and the wsw face of heney are fantastic skis as well. PNH has been closed for the season for a little over a week now and all the other heli operations in ak to last week to the best of my knowledge.
I skied the last week on thompson and turnagain passes and found variable conditions from corn to hard to chalk. it is definatly inbetween winter and spring conditions and the mountains needed a good freeze cycle which was lacking over the blue bird strech. lower (2400'ish) isothermal northerly slopes were reactive as slabs earlier in the day than anticipated.
last week was the best spell of clear weather in months around pws.
check out http://utahbackcountryskiing.blogspot.com/2008_05_01_archive.html for some shots of skiing spring conditions in the heneys a year ago.
I skied the last week on thompson and turnagain passes and found variable conditions from corn to hard to chalk. it is definatly inbetween winter and spring conditions and the mountains needed a good freeze cycle which was lacking over the blue bird strech. lower (2400'ish) isothermal northerly slopes were reactive as slabs earlier in the day than anticipated.
last week was the best spell of clear weather in months around pws.
check out http://utahbackcountryskiing.blogspot.com/2008_05_01_archive.html for some shots of skiing spring conditions in the heneys a year ago.
The Scottish one beginning the day a mile or two from Leo's place. It was probably about 10 AM and 65 degrees out.
The alpine presents itself readily to the Cordovian climber. This is at about 1500' with Mt. Heney behind Chris. Leo and Chris discuss the route to the top of Baldy with the N side of Mt. Robert Korn beyond. A quick look around and up we went chasing Leo to the top of Baldy.
Scotsman approaching and atop Mt. Baldy. Views of the sea were a nearly ever present bonus. It would have been nearly 70 degrees by now.
After a short break we skied about 2K' of wonderful corn on beautiful slopes. I could hardly believe how good it was. I had expected that the warm temps would have rendered the snow sloppy but it had not. We briefly discussed hitting it again but we were already in position to begin the climb to our second destination; Mt Robert Korn (Bob Korn).
We transition to skins and begin to ascend.
It did not take long before we were directly under our line. Just under 2K' of 40-50 degree booting was all that separated us from skiing one of the most dramatic faces in the area. I was a bit intimidated as I stood gazing up at the line with eyes that must have been the size of grapefruits but mostly I was stoked. Chris had mixed feeling about the run and opted to wait for Leo and I at a bench several hundred feet lower.
Apparently Bob Korn is not often hit. Leo had climbed and skied this face three times previously, most recently just a week prior. His boot tracks were still visible but of no benefit to us. We would put in boot top deep steeps for the next hour or so. We alternated the lead for awhile stopping to dig a quick pit near the middle of our climb. No weak layers presented themselves in the top two feet of isothermal snow. If it went at all it would go huge. We decided to push on and minimize our time on the face.
Looking up: Leo is getting away from me.
Looking down: Chris is down there somewhere.
I was happy to be done booting by the time I crested the climb. Leo had transitioned and was waiting for me on the small summit mound. The views were striking and the moment was perfect. The aesthetics and perception of exposure intoxicated me and were it not for our concerns about the deteriorating stability, I'd have lingered for an hour or more. As it were I made a hasty transition and clicked in as Leo dropped off the top and out of sight. I slid over to the top of the face, scooting slowly, expecting to see him as I peered over the roll over. Leo had diminished to a black dot by the time I stretched my neck enough to see down. Adrenaline flooded my neurons and my synapse's pickled in dopamine. This was why I came to Alaska.
I will not try to capture the feeling other than to say that the years of fantasizing about AK, the travel, the company, and the conditions had all come together for me culminating in this fine line. I made a turn for all of my ski buddies and had more than a few left for myself.
It was time to flee the hills for the seaside. Leo led us home and fed us dinner.
What a guy.
The alpine presents itself readily to the Cordovian climber. This is at about 1500' with Mt. Heney behind Chris. Leo and Chris discuss the route to the top of Baldy with the N side of Mt. Robert Korn beyond. A quick look around and up we went chasing Leo to the top of Baldy.
Scotsman approaching and atop Mt. Baldy. Views of the sea were a nearly ever present bonus. It would have been nearly 70 degrees by now.
After a short break we skied about 2K' of wonderful corn on beautiful slopes. I could hardly believe how good it was. I had expected that the warm temps would have rendered the snow sloppy but it had not. We briefly discussed hitting it again but we were already in position to begin the climb to our second destination; Mt Robert Korn (Bob Korn).
We transition to skins and begin to ascend.
It did not take long before we were directly under our line. Just under 2K' of 40-50 degree booting was all that separated us from skiing one of the most dramatic faces in the area. I was a bit intimidated as I stood gazing up at the line with eyes that must have been the size of grapefruits but mostly I was stoked. Chris had mixed feeling about the run and opted to wait for Leo and I at a bench several hundred feet lower.
Apparently Bob Korn is not often hit. Leo had climbed and skied this face three times previously, most recently just a week prior. His boot tracks were still visible but of no benefit to us. We would put in boot top deep steeps for the next hour or so. We alternated the lead for awhile stopping to dig a quick pit near the middle of our climb. No weak layers presented themselves in the top two feet of isothermal snow. If it went at all it would go huge. We decided to push on and minimize our time on the face.
Looking up: Leo is getting away from me.
Looking down: Chris is down there somewhere.
I was happy to be done booting by the time I crested the climb. Leo had transitioned and was waiting for me on the small summit mound. The views were striking and the moment was perfect. The aesthetics and perception of exposure intoxicated me and were it not for our concerns about the deteriorating stability, I'd have lingered for an hour or more. As it were I made a hasty transition and clicked in as Leo dropped off the top and out of sight. I slid over to the top of the face, scooting slowly, expecting to see him as I peered over the roll over. Leo had diminished to a black dot by the time I stretched my neck enough to see down. Adrenaline flooded my neurons and my synapse's pickled in dopamine. This was why I came to Alaska.
I will not try to capture the feeling other than to say that the years of fantasizing about AK, the travel, the company, and the conditions had all come together for me culminating in this fine line. I made a turn for all of my ski buddies and had more than a few left for myself.
It was time to flee the hills for the seaside. Leo led us home and fed us dinner.
What a guy.
Wow, Joe. What a great read and great pics. Thank you, thank you, for the ski porn and literature--I only subscribe to TAY for the articles ;)... I'm lusting and drooling, looking forward to more.
Nicely wrote.
Hugely jealous of your trip.
Hugely jealous of your trip.
author=johnnyutah link=topic=13223.msg55178#msg55178 date=1241595468]
Nice work! the west face of Bob Corn is a great falline. When conditions allow the couloirs off bob corn and Heny pk and the wsw face of heney are fantastic skis as well. PNH has been closed for the season for a little over a week now and all the other heli operations in ak to last week to the best of my knowledge.
I skied the last week on thompson and turnagain passes and found variable conditions from corn to hard to chalk. it is definatly inbetween winter and spring conditions and the mountains needed a good freeze cycle which was lacking over the blue bird strech. lower (2400'ish) isothermal northerly slopes were reactive as slabs earlier in the day than anticipated.
last week was the best spell of clear weather in months around pws.
check out http://utahbackcountryskiing.blogspot.com/2008_05_01_archive.html for some shots of skiing spring conditions in the heneys a year ago.
Looks like your trip a year ago was similar to ours,skiing and enjoying the bounty of the seas as well. That guy in the bar with the cowboy hat is still there!
Cordova and the Heney range are very special. Thanks for sharing your photos. Where are you based, UTAH??
author=Scotsman link=topic=13223.msg55200#msg55200 date=1241632229]
Looks like your trip a year ago was similar to ours,skiing and enjoying the bounty of the seas as well. That guy in the bar with the cowboy hat is still there!
Cordova and the Heney range are very special. Thanks for sharing your photos. Where are you based, UTAH??
Utah is home though i work for phn for part of the year. It seems that i left Cordova on the ferry to Valdez a few days before you arrived. Send me a message or email if you need any other info. Cheers.
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