July 23, 2011, Vesper Peak
7/23/11
WA Cascades West Slopes Central
3475
2
With the abnormal snowpack this year and a desire to explore, a friend and I decided to try a couple of spots on the Mtn. Loop Hwy. over the weekend. On Friday evening we drove up to Mt. Pilchuck parking lot to scope out the goods. There was still some rideable snow up top, but we wanted a bit more. Vesper was both higher in elevation and close to where we were camping and so became our hill for the morning.
Saturday morning we ate breakfast, drank a cup or two of joe, and began our "coffee ascent".
We started around 9am and the sun was already heating things up. With as wet as everything was and the warm sunshine, the valley felt like a sauna.
We ran into snow well below Hedlee Pass and were able to start skinning just past the other side of it. Unbelievable how much snow was still back there. We gained the summit around 2pm where we lounged around in the warm sun and zero wind.
The ride down back to the saddle was great considering it's late July. The suncups and runnels were abundant but soft enough to carve some turns. The closer we got to the pass the better the snow was. The ride down from the pass to the end of the snow was hard and bumpy... more desperation skiing than anything else.
Overall a great day. You just can't beat the clear skies and warm temps all the while getting to ride....
Saturday morning we ate breakfast, drank a cup or two of joe, and began our "coffee ascent".
We started around 9am and the sun was already heating things up. With as wet as everything was and the warm sunshine, the valley felt like a sauna.
We ran into snow well below Hedlee Pass and were able to start skinning just past the other side of it. Unbelievable how much snow was still back there. We gained the summit around 2pm where we lounged around in the warm sun and zero wind.
The ride down back to the saddle was great considering it's late July. The suncups and runnels were abundant but soft enough to carve some turns. The closer we got to the pass the better the snow was. The ride down from the pass to the end of the snow was hard and bumpy... more desperation skiing than anything else.
Overall a great day. You just can't beat the clear skies and warm temps all the while getting to ride....
Amazing that Vesper still looks that good... nice!
WOW!!! WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PLACE!!!!
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