Clark Mtn-Napeequa Valley vicinity; July 30-31
7/15/11
1948
1
The snowpack is still abundant/deep on upper flanks of Clark Mtn. Patchy snow was encountered on the Boulder Creek trail near 5,000-ft (after about 9 miles of hiking in from the White River trailhead: for some reason nobody else in the group brought skis ???). A few logs down on the trail, but didnt really slow things down. Hiked the first several miles quickly to get away from the bug swarms of the White River valley.
Mostly continuous snow above about 6,000-ft on SW aspects near Boulder Pass. Still looks like early June on northerly-facing slopes (6 feet+ snow cover remaining near Boulder Pass and cornices still remain along many ridgelines in the area).
The weather front Sunday morning came in much stronger than anticipated east of the crest: sky had been clear at sunset, but the higher ridges and peaks were fully engulfed in clouds by sunrise. Clark Mountains summit had been the groups intended destination, but the weather forced a change in plans. Still ascended to the edge of the Walrus/Clark Glacier and topped-out on a knob near 7,200-ft on Clarks prominent east ridge. Enjoyed ~1,500 vertical feet of turns on suncupped, but soft snow back down toward the Napeequa ending up in flats below Boulder Pass. A seemingly long, but easy skin back up to the pass/camp to regroup, then good corn turns back down to ~5,000-ft to the trail in the Boulder Creek valley floor (with one long 'portage where the slope was melted-out). Fun mid-summer turns followed by a long ski haul back down to the White River trailhead. As expected, the clouds didn't clear until well into the hike out :(
Total miles of ski carrying: 19
Total miles skied: 2
Joy-o-meter (horizontal): 2/19 = 10.5% = very sore shoulders
Vertical hiked/climbed: 5,900 ft
Vertical skied: 2,500 ft
Joy-o-meter (vertical): 2500/5900 = 42% = not bad at all for the very end of July! ;D
More photos are posted here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/chriscass1/ClarkMountainNapeequaValleyVicinity2DayHikeSkiOutingJuly30312011?authkey=Gv1sRgCIHYqfa0pszTkQE
Mostly continuous snow above about 6,000-ft on SW aspects near Boulder Pass. Still looks like early June on northerly-facing slopes (6 feet+ snow cover remaining near Boulder Pass and cornices still remain along many ridgelines in the area).
The weather front Sunday morning came in much stronger than anticipated east of the crest: sky had been clear at sunset, but the higher ridges and peaks were fully engulfed in clouds by sunrise. Clark Mountains summit had been the groups intended destination, but the weather forced a change in plans. Still ascended to the edge of the Walrus/Clark Glacier and topped-out on a knob near 7,200-ft on Clarks prominent east ridge. Enjoyed ~1,500 vertical feet of turns on suncupped, but soft snow back down toward the Napeequa ending up in flats below Boulder Pass. A seemingly long, but easy skin back up to the pass/camp to regroup, then good corn turns back down to ~5,000-ft to the trail in the Boulder Creek valley floor (with one long 'portage where the slope was melted-out). Fun mid-summer turns followed by a long ski haul back down to the White River trailhead. As expected, the clouds didn't clear until well into the hike out :(
Total miles of ski carrying: 19
Total miles skied: 2
Joy-o-meter (horizontal): 2/19 = 10.5% = very sore shoulders
Vertical hiked/climbed: 5,900 ft
Vertical skied: 2,500 ft
Joy-o-meter (vertical): 2500/5900 = 42% = not bad at all for the very end of July! ;D
More photos are posted here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/chriscass1/ClarkMountainNapeequaValleyVicinity2DayHikeSkiOutingJuly30312011?authkey=Gv1sRgCIHYqfa0pszTkQE
Rockin' pictures, Cassman.
And a seemingly appropriate assemblage of torture points for the crowd with which you seem to associate ;)
And a seemingly appropriate assemblage of torture points for the crowd with which you seem to associate ;)
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