4/05/10 Southback Circumfence, Crystal Mountain
4/5/10
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
4826
4
This is mainly a conditions report to let people know how the snow is reacting
Wanting to get away from the crowds of the past week and take advantage of deep snow conditions Jim, Stefan and I went on a circumference tour of the Crystal Mountain southback terrain. After talking with Ski patroler Lynn Baugher about how the snow was reacting we were on our way.
Our decent into Crystal lake basin was via a west facing aspect which would produce the occasional crack but nothing more. With that in mind we chose a mellow route through densly anchored slopes. Sluffs were minimal but present as we rode down one at a time in wind buffed deep powder conditions.
Breaking trail up Crystal lakes basin was relatively easy on firm wind crusted snow with two inches of fresh deposited on top until arriving at the 3 way peak junction.
From the junction we decided to head out to Morse creek area via point 6573's East aspect. We felt that there was potential for slabs so we stuck on the ridge as we climbed breaking the occasional cornice along the way. Cornices provided small slabs of the top 6 inches that ran for around 1000 feet, while not much they could be a concern on exposed terrain.
Once on top of the chute Stefan ski cut the slope with no results but wanting to be on the safe side he made a few turns into a safe zone before dropping lower. Half way down the chute he caused a foot deep slab below him which ran for about 500 feet to the flats below. Both Jim and I rode cautiously down with no results.
Once at Morse Creek Basin we skinned up and around Sourdough gap carefully minimizing exposure to possible slabs once again in knee deep snow. Once on South facing slopes the snow got Deep and heavy with the occasional whoomp on open slopes mainly SW aspects. We stuck to flats and away from deposit zones as we climbed up to a our destination.
Quickly the weather deteriorated and we were stuck with flat light as we prepared to drop into a North facing slope. The wind was quickly loading the terrain especially NW slopes before we dropped as we put our gear together. I followed the ridge breaking off every cornice which easily produced 4 to 8 inch slabs with each stomp.
It was unanimous that we should ride down in the debris field one at a time and to stay in vision of each other at all times. It was a little bit hair raising but fun none the less as we rode down to Plate lake in knee deep blower pow.
By now the clouds had rolled in and visibility was minimal as we started skinning towards gunn barrel gap on South facing slopes. After navigating through dense knee deepsnow conditions in the forest we made it up to a prominent ridge which was both mellow angled and anchored. Our skin track stayed close to the trees at all times and never got into open slopes as the occasional whoomp would make us nervious. Soon enough we were on the ridge climbing up to Dog Leg Peak.
As we climbed up Dog Legg we would break each and every cornice along th way which would cause up to 8 inch slabs that ran all the way down to Upper hen skin lake. The cornices broke with ease and the slabs with the deepest running on N aspects. Every cornice would produce results.
We decided to exit via Dog Legged chute instead of the steep trees around Dog Legged peak or the open alpine of Dog legged bowl. We carefully navigated down to the chute proper one at a time and ski cut a nice sluff which ran to the crux. Jim rode in first and took two turns into a safe zone which caused a small sluff to run. Once we felt that conditions were somewhat stable we dropped in one at a time all the way down to lower Hen skin lake before exiting via quick Silver.
Long story short be safe out there and sadly the skin track we worked so hard on is buried under a foot of new snow.
Wanting to get away from the crowds of the past week and take advantage of deep snow conditions Jim, Stefan and I went on a circumference tour of the Crystal Mountain southback terrain. After talking with Ski patroler Lynn Baugher about how the snow was reacting we were on our way.
Our decent into Crystal lake basin was via a west facing aspect which would produce the occasional crack but nothing more. With that in mind we chose a mellow route through densly anchored slopes. Sluffs were minimal but present as we rode down one at a time in wind buffed deep powder conditions.
Breaking trail up Crystal lakes basin was relatively easy on firm wind crusted snow with two inches of fresh deposited on top until arriving at the 3 way peak junction.
From the junction we decided to head out to Morse creek area via point 6573's East aspect. We felt that there was potential for slabs so we stuck on the ridge as we climbed breaking the occasional cornice along the way. Cornices provided small slabs of the top 6 inches that ran for around 1000 feet, while not much they could be a concern on exposed terrain.
Once on top of the chute Stefan ski cut the slope with no results but wanting to be on the safe side he made a few turns into a safe zone before dropping lower. Half way down the chute he caused a foot deep slab below him which ran for about 500 feet to the flats below. Both Jim and I rode cautiously down with no results.
Once at Morse Creek Basin we skinned up and around Sourdough gap carefully minimizing exposure to possible slabs once again in knee deep snow. Once on South facing slopes the snow got Deep and heavy with the occasional whoomp on open slopes mainly SW aspects. We stuck to flats and away from deposit zones as we climbed up to a our destination.
Quickly the weather deteriorated and we were stuck with flat light as we prepared to drop into a North facing slope. The wind was quickly loading the terrain especially NW slopes before we dropped as we put our gear together. I followed the ridge breaking off every cornice which easily produced 4 to 8 inch slabs with each stomp.
It was unanimous that we should ride down in the debris field one at a time and to stay in vision of each other at all times. It was a little bit hair raising but fun none the less as we rode down to Plate lake in knee deep blower pow.
By now the clouds had rolled in and visibility was minimal as we started skinning towards gunn barrel gap on South facing slopes. After navigating through dense knee deepsnow conditions in the forest we made it up to a prominent ridge which was both mellow angled and anchored. Our skin track stayed close to the trees at all times and never got into open slopes as the occasional whoomp would make us nervious. Soon enough we were on the ridge climbing up to Dog Leg Peak.
As we climbed up Dog Legg we would break each and every cornice along th way which would cause up to 8 inch slabs that ran all the way down to Upper hen skin lake. The cornices broke with ease and the slabs with the deepest running on N aspects. Every cornice would produce results.
We decided to exit via Dog Legged chute instead of the steep trees around Dog Legged peak or the open alpine of Dog legged bowl. We carefully navigated down to the chute proper one at a time and ski cut a nice sluff which ran to the crux. Jim rode in first and took two turns into a safe zone which caused a small sluff to run. Once we felt that conditions were somewhat stable we dropped in one at a time all the way down to lower Hen skin lake before exiting via quick Silver.
Long story short be safe out there and sadly the skin track we worked so hard on is buried under a foot of new snow.
Great report Kyle, thanks -- good job getting a tour and some turns in during some sensitive conditions.
Great report Kyle. It was an amazing day.
Awesome contribution to the knowledge base around here.
Much appreciated.
Much appreciated.
We toured near there on sunday. We did some laps around gunbarrel and eventually toured way over Pickhandle ridge. The wind was ripping one the ridges and it pretty evident good size slabs were developing. We also saw a few naturals 4-6" deep in the very wind transported snow zones. But anything protected from the wind skied just fine and we didn't note any instability.
We were surprised to find how variable (windy vs non windy) the conditions were in the area - and very happy to find steep, deep and stable snow.
We were surprised to find how variable (windy vs non windy) the conditions were in the area - and very happy to find steep, deep and stable snow.
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