Feb 11-12, 2011, Buckhorn Mnt (Olympic Mnts)
2/11/11
WA Olympics
3778
8
'Skied' Buckhorn Mountain this past weekend. First time in the Olympic Mnts (took the ferry over from Victoria for the weekend). Great area, but could have used a bit more snow.
Skinning up the trail:
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View of Buckhorn Mnt from the SW (just above Marmot Pass):
Looking SW towards the interior of the Olympic Mnts:
Snow conditions: Measured snow depth at Camp Mystery (5400ft) 185cm/73in. About 20cm/8in at the parking lot (2500ft). SW ridge to Buckhorn wind swept and pretty much free of snow. Supportive crust on most aspects, except north facing slopes which still hold reasonably good snow. Pretty good corn snow on south aspects (after sunny & reasonably warm afternoon on Sat).
Trail: Snow cover on trail patchy to around 3800ft, skin-able beyond and ski-able down to about 4600ft. The trail section on the densely treed steeper south facing slope held very little snow. First slide path at 5300ft had many bare spots.
Road conditions: FSR 27 -2750 easily drivable with any vehicle with >20cm of clearance. Snowy/icy ruts in places, esp after the 2750 turnoff. Used 4wd-high, but no chains.
Skinning up the trail:
View of Buckhorn Mnt from the SW (just above Marmot Pass):
Looking SW towards the interior of the Olympic Mnts:
Snow conditions: Measured snow depth at Camp Mystery (5400ft) 185cm/73in. About 20cm/8in at the parking lot (2500ft). SW ridge to Buckhorn wind swept and pretty much free of snow. Supportive crust on most aspects, except north facing slopes which still hold reasonably good snow. Pretty good corn snow on south aspects (after sunny & reasonably warm afternoon on Sat).
Trail: Snow cover on trail patchy to around 3800ft, skin-able beyond and ski-able down to about 4600ft. The trail section on the densely treed steeper south facing slope held very little snow. First slide path at 5300ft had many bare spots.
Road conditions: FSR 27 -2750 easily drivable with any vehicle with >20cm of clearance. Snowy/icy ruts in places, esp after the 2750 turnoff. Used 4wd-high, but no chains.
Thanks for the TR. Looks like a good first adventure in the Olympics.
Did you get to the top of Buckhorn?
Did you get to the top of Buckhorn?
Very nice! Thanks for coming over from Victoria to our neck of the woods.
Thanks for the report. It does look a little thin on cover near the ridge top!
Awesome! I've been wanting to try that but haven't had the courage to dare the approach. When were you able to start skinning? From the trailhead?
author=bramvs link=topic=23708.msg100392#msg100392 date=1329200697]
Trail: Snow cover on trail patchy to around 3800ft, skin-able beyond and ski-able down to about 4600ft. The trail section on the densely treed steeper south facing slope held very little snow. First slide path at 5300ft had many bare spots.
Aha, I read too fast :)
author=telemack link=topic=23708.msg100395#msg100395 date=1329229959]
Thanks for the TR. Looks like a good first adventure in the Olympics.
Did you get to the top of Buckhorn?
Yeah, we skinned & hiked up to the summit on Sunday. The second photo is taken on Sat heading up for some quick turns in the small N facing bowl above camp.
author=Stormking link=topic=23708.msg100403#msg100403 date=1329235882]
Very nice! Thanks for coming over from Victoria to our neck of the woods.
Yeah, will definitely come back. Thinking about a Mt. Olympus ski trip in spring. Looks like a long walk with skis though... 17.5 miles + 3900ft elevation gain to get to the camp
Thanks for the report. I found that scoured ridge in the same condition a year or so back. I wonder if it stays that way or if when the road is clear enough to access the trailhead there likely isn't enough snow to fill in that side of the mtn? It looks like you had good visibility. This is an area I would like to explore more of.
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