February 12-13 - Burn Crk/Fisher Lake/Tonga Ridge
2/15/11
2209
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With an unencumbered weekend and an expected storm, Susan and I tried to find a route that would keep us out of the wind but still provide for an Alpine Lakes ramble.
Tried to gently rally the non-Outback Subie partway up the Tonga Ridge road - alas, a rock and hard snow stopped us and performed unknown exhaust modification. Hiked/skinned (continuous snow at ~2800') up the road under surprisingly blue and sunny sky before following a barely existent logging road toward Burn Creek.
A descending traverse took us to the creek. There, we discovered that one of Susan's heelpiece posts on her new/used Dynafits had cracked completely at the base, but was held on by the fore-aft adjustment screw (~06'-08' Comforts, possible aggravating crash recently?). With a Dynatele mindset, we continued up the N side of the creek until crossing looked smart at 3600', crossed, and then cruised upstream to the wide saddle. A downhillish traverse got us to Lower Fisher Lake, where daylight, a brewing storm, fatigue, and cold made camp an easy choice.
The storm was occasionally gusty but friendly, and we awoke to bluebird skies, 6-8" of mostly rightside up snow, and the echos of Stevens avy bombs.
Sure that our return would take as long as the approach, we made a quick trip to sunny Fisher Lake and around toward Terrace for the view before heading back. The usual skin glop of Spring powder arrived mid-day. We attempted the Tonga Ridge trail traverse beneath Sawyer to minimize the shwack with limited success. Once the trail hit the ridge and skins were deiced, travel became faster. Hit the road at nightfall with whoops of joy as we ripped the skins for the first time in ~32 hours. The road went fast, then even faster when we encountered smooth burly-4WD/snomo tracks. A front brought rain for the last miles of hiking to the car.
Snow: ~6-8" of rightside up medium density pow, with a reactive storm layer in the top inch or two. Old snow (1-6" schmoo) above the crust was wet, so the bond was pretty good. Solar effects mattered in the afternoon, with clear spatial variation in sun/shadow. No wet slides seen on sunny Sawyer. We looked longingly at shady pow above 4.5k as we passed.
Trashed gear: 1 binding, two tenderized feet, and a loud subaru.
Useful gear: Susan's GPS made forging straight through forest without visibility possible and efficient.
Smiles? Surprisingly. :).
Photos to come.
Tried to gently rally the non-Outback Subie partway up the Tonga Ridge road - alas, a rock and hard snow stopped us and performed unknown exhaust modification. Hiked/skinned (continuous snow at ~2800') up the road under surprisingly blue and sunny sky before following a barely existent logging road toward Burn Creek.
A descending traverse took us to the creek. There, we discovered that one of Susan's heelpiece posts on her new/used Dynafits had cracked completely at the base, but was held on by the fore-aft adjustment screw (~06'-08' Comforts, possible aggravating crash recently?). With a Dynatele mindset, we continued up the N side of the creek until crossing looked smart at 3600', crossed, and then cruised upstream to the wide saddle. A downhillish traverse got us to Lower Fisher Lake, where daylight, a brewing storm, fatigue, and cold made camp an easy choice.
The storm was occasionally gusty but friendly, and we awoke to bluebird skies, 6-8" of mostly rightside up snow, and the echos of Stevens avy bombs.
Sure that our return would take as long as the approach, we made a quick trip to sunny Fisher Lake and around toward Terrace for the view before heading back. The usual skin glop of Spring powder arrived mid-day. We attempted the Tonga Ridge trail traverse beneath Sawyer to minimize the shwack with limited success. Once the trail hit the ridge and skins were deiced, travel became faster. Hit the road at nightfall with whoops of joy as we ripped the skins for the first time in ~32 hours. The road went fast, then even faster when we encountered smooth burly-4WD/snomo tracks. A front brought rain for the last miles of hiking to the car.
Snow: ~6-8" of rightside up medium density pow, with a reactive storm layer in the top inch or two. Old snow (1-6" schmoo) above the crust was wet, so the bond was pretty good. Solar effects mattered in the afternoon, with clear spatial variation in sun/shadow. No wet slides seen on sunny Sawyer. We looked longingly at shady pow above 4.5k as we passed.
Trashed gear: 1 binding, two tenderized feet, and a loud subaru.
Useful gear: Susan's GPS made forging straight through forest without visibility possible and efficient.
Smiles? Surprisingly. :).
Photos to come.