1/31/12, Sauk Mountain
1/31/12
WA Cascades West Slopes North (Mt Baker)
2841
3
Good times on Sauk yesterday. Earned some turns with a fairly long road ski to get to some nice terrain. Recent slides in the last day or two from some upper chutes made me superstitious so I stayed low angle or in the trees, away from the run outs. The avalanche paths I saw from my trip on the west and southwest aspects are steep and big and it didn't look like all had released. Looking forward to a super stable day and getting to the top. Some fantastic lines up there.
In my all wheel drive with chains I made it to 2100 feet by car and skied the rest.
In my all wheel drive with chains I made it to 2100 feet by car and skied the rest.
I used to always be planning to get up top during winter but never found the right combination of visibility and stability. Trouble is, when the sun's out the steep (40+) degree face gets soft, then crusted. Had a few scary moments on or under that SW face over the years.
There is a mellower route if you scoot around to the back side on the obvious logging roads. I also once scouted a route following the SE-ish treed ridge where I think there's an old summer trail from the valley floor, but I got spooked on the approach and bailed. Interested to hear more if you manage better than I did.
Mark
There is a mellower route if you scoot around to the back side on the obvious logging roads. I also once scouted a route following the SE-ish treed ridge where I think there's an old summer trail from the valley floor, but I got spooked on the approach and bailed. Interested to hear more if you manage better than I did.
Mark
I've always wanted to ski Sauk, I just have not decided to try it. I've hiked it in the summer and it looks to me like the East basin down to Sauk Lake would be a great place.
Has anyone got any advice or trips planned?
Don
Has anyone got any advice or trips planned?
Don
Mark, thanks for the advice.
Don (and you others out there), I'd be happy go back to Sauk on a stable day, just let me know. Weekdays work best for me but I can get away on a weekend sometimes. It would be nice to start the tour higher by using a burly truck, snowmobile, or waiting for the road to melt out.
Cheers.
Don (and you others out there), I'd be happy go back to Sauk on a stable day, just let me know. Weekdays work best for me but I can get away on a weekend sometimes. It would be nice to start the tour higher by using a burly truck, snowmobile, or waiting for the road to melt out.
Cheers.
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