June 3 and 4, 2009; Kangaroo Ridge / Frisco Mtn
6/15/09
1169
1
Enjoyed a fun double-header hwy 20 ski trip, during the sweltering heat wave.
Snow coverage is quite thin east of WA pass (Kangaroo Ridge is mostly melted-off), though still about 2-to-3 feet+ of snow on the ground near WA Pass and Rainy Pass. Good coverage on Frisco Mtn above about 5,800-ft (south aspects near Lake Ann are mostly melted off).
Found a nice morning-shaded line on Kangaroo Ridge for a short ski outing and good corn snow on Wednesday (a bit boney, but snow coverage was just barely continuous). Car camped a bit east of Washington Pass.
Headed up to Frisco Mtn early Thursday morning, starting off a bit before 6 am. Our third party member (Cory) met up with Drew and I at Rainy Pass after departing on the drive to join us from Seattle at 2 am!
Good freeze overnight at Rainy Pass, though snow up above about 5,500-ft was noticeably softer in the early morning (apparent temperature inversion). Approached Frisco via a couloir complex above the south side of Lake Ann and crossing the divide into the basin above Rainy Lake. Arrived at our destination "knob" at ~7,400-ft just north of Frisco Mtn at about 10 am. Snow was already heavily cooked and getting mushy. Skied down at ~10:15 with fun corn turns (soft enough to blast through the sun-cups, but not too mushy). Good turns on the north aspects back to Lake Ann, arriving back at the car about 1 pm.
More photos posted here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/chriscass1/NorthCascadesHwyKangarooRidge632009FriscoMtn642009?authkey=Gv1sRgCN7_l46z98mPZw#
Snow coverage is quite thin east of WA pass (Kangaroo Ridge is mostly melted-off), though still about 2-to-3 feet+ of snow on the ground near WA Pass and Rainy Pass. Good coverage on Frisco Mtn above about 5,800-ft (south aspects near Lake Ann are mostly melted off).
Found a nice morning-shaded line on Kangaroo Ridge for a short ski outing and good corn snow on Wednesday (a bit boney, but snow coverage was just barely continuous). Car camped a bit east of Washington Pass.
Headed up to Frisco Mtn early Thursday morning, starting off a bit before 6 am. Our third party member (Cory) met up with Drew and I at Rainy Pass after departing on the drive to join us from Seattle at 2 am!
Good freeze overnight at Rainy Pass, though snow up above about 5,500-ft was noticeably softer in the early morning (apparent temperature inversion). Approached Frisco via a couloir complex above the south side of Lake Ann and crossing the divide into the basin above Rainy Lake. Arrived at our destination "knob" at ~7,400-ft just north of Frisco Mtn at about 10 am. Snow was already heavily cooked and getting mushy. Skied down at ~10:15 with fun corn turns (soft enough to blast through the sun-cups, but not too mushy). Good turns on the north aspects back to Lake Ann, arriving back at the car about 1 pm.
More photos posted here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/chriscass1/NorthCascadesHwyKangarooRidge632009FriscoMtn642009?authkey=Gv1sRgCN7_l46z98mPZw#
