April 25, 2010, Big Jim Hill
4/25/10
2497
0
A long slog but worth the snow.
Parked the car at the Forest Road entrance and was able to skin up the road and started the bushwack east of the Henry Creek Crossing.
Our fearless leader took us up the steep northeast side of the drainage basin but the snow in the woods was bulletproof from the below freezing temps the night before. Skinning was difficult to say the least. An excutive descision was made to abandon the up hill bushwack and instead traverese across the slope and drop down into the basin. We met a group of snowshoers and skiiers who were camping in the basin and training for cravasse rescue.
The skin up the north slope of Big Jim was delightfull because the snow had softened from the sun. Snowpack felt consolodated under foot and the new 2-3" of fresh appeared to be setting up well.
The turns down the north face were a great reward for the hard bushwack up. It would be nice to camp up there and make multiple runs.
We chose to descend closer to the river (keeping the river on our left maintaining a 100 yard buffer between the top of bank and our route). We were able to ski down to the car and only had to take the skiis of twice to step over fallen logs or where the snow had already melted away. This might not be possible for long since the snow is getting thin between the trees.
All in all a great day.
Parked the car at the Forest Road entrance and was able to skin up the road and started the bushwack east of the Henry Creek Crossing.
Our fearless leader took us up the steep northeast side of the drainage basin but the snow in the woods was bulletproof from the below freezing temps the night before. Skinning was difficult to say the least. An excutive descision was made to abandon the up hill bushwack and instead traverese across the slope and drop down into the basin. We met a group of snowshoers and skiiers who were camping in the basin and training for cravasse rescue.
The skin up the north slope of Big Jim was delightfull because the snow had softened from the sun. Snowpack felt consolodated under foot and the new 2-3" of fresh appeared to be setting up well.
The turns down the north face were a great reward for the hard bushwack up. It would be nice to camp up there and make multiple runs.
We chose to descend closer to the river (keeping the river on our left maintaining a 100 yard buffer between the top of bank and our route). We were able to ski down to the car and only had to take the skiis of twice to step over fallen logs or where the snow had already melted away. This might not be possible for long since the snow is getting thin between the trees.
All in all a great day.
Reply to this TR
Please login first: