April 9, 2011, Stuart, Cascadian Couloir

Waited a couple hours for "film boy" to show up and we were off to Teanaway with hopes of beating the next storm.  Sign at 29 Pines said road closed due to logging, but we thought that was finished and looked like that maybe only pertained to M-F.  Next two obstacles were an icy berm blocking the road and no snow on the road.  4-Runner cleared the burm after a little ice axe work and we made it  past Stafford Creek to consistent snow and executed the 5 step trailer/truck turn.  Only four hours sleep and we were off.  Up to Long's Pass was fairly easy, but the wind and snowfall made it feel like the next system had already arrived and perhaps we were wasting our time.  Our hopes were bolstered as a bit of sun lit up our slope for the powder run down to Ingall's Creek and again while taking a food break at the creek in warm sunshine.  It would have been more efficient to go to the bottom of Cascadian and up from there, but we did a rising traverse on harder than expected crust leading Kyle to crampon/boot pack the rest of the climb.  I did some boot packing, but managed another 1500' of skinning with crampons from about 6400' before submitting to crampons/booting again.  Weather kept going in and out of shade and sun and the summit stayed mostly in the cloud deck.  Snow up high was a very nice wind pack and soft and to our surprise and delight the sun had perfectly corned up the rest of the mountain making for a smooth fast ride of more than 4000' from the false summit to Ingall's Creek.  We ate and reveled in the accomplishment before setting out on the grueling 1500' one foot in front of the other climb back up to Long's.  Unfortunately the clouds came in and the sun was waning so the drop back down to Teanaway was horrible, breakable crust.  Fortunately, the memory of the powder run and the Cascadian Couloir will outlive the memory of the crust  :).  Hopefully Kyle has some video to add.

STATS: 8000', three runs, and about 14 hours.  Lost snowboards: one.  Not mine  ;D.