02.15.12 Chair Peak environs
2/15/12
WA Snoqualmie Pass
3041
3
We didn't ski what we set out to ski - but exploration was definitely part of the plan. So in a way I suppose we did...
First there was this on the way up:
"hey that looks like a nice line"
3 minutes later
"what do you think about skiing it?"
sure...
The snow textures looked interesting, so that was part of the exploration. A closer look revealed alternating patches of wind slab and wind scouring. The wind slab was something to look out for throughout the day. Cracked and moved easily on the fluffy snow below. Here's a quick look (30 sec. pole cut):
We didn't end up going all the way up. Snow got deeper, steeper, and slabbier in the col. Still, a nice place to be and a decent descent.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-kniy0q-lOgQ/Tz6wDB0B2SI/AAAAAAAADc8/tCi6x-NHCpI/s1000/Chair-environs_021512_04.jpg" />
Transitioning entertainment was had thanks to the group of three following our track. We were hoping they'd break trail up to the North of Chair, but no luck - instead they continued on in our track, a whimsical track at best... A switchback or two later they stop, maybe they saw my little pits? hmmmm, there they go again, continuing up. But no... now they're traversing. What? Across the face to the North? With no spacing? And steeper terrain up ahead. maybe they haven't noticed the cracks or the pit. Now we're a little worried... But then half way across they change their minds and go back the way they came. OK good. Back at the skin track they transition to go down... We continue on.
very windy on the traverse northward
other side:
On the descent, below the ridge, we crossed a patch of wind slab that had released. I didn't stop to take a picture... but it looked pretty cool. Like plate tectonics gone awry, or the aftermath of a polar ice cap collision. And floating in the middle of it all was a water bottle, with some folks from above trying to retrieve it. We did not linger...
On the Snow Lake skin and back on the divide we had been tossing some options around. Trevor had to be back at his car by 3:30... but then he didn't. True, it was pretty nice up here. And there was that couloir we had just passed... So up we went again -
view of earlier ski (with tectonic patch visible)
and then on to this -
Is that fluffy snow? nah, Snoqualmie Pass really sucks, don't go there.
First there was this on the way up:
"hey that looks like a nice line"
3 minutes later
"what do you think about skiing it?"
sure...
The snow textures looked interesting, so that was part of the exploration. A closer look revealed alternating patches of wind slab and wind scouring. The wind slab was something to look out for throughout the day. Cracked and moved easily on the fluffy snow below. Here's a quick look (30 sec. pole cut):
We didn't end up going all the way up. Snow got deeper, steeper, and slabbier in the col. Still, a nice place to be and a decent descent.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-kniy0q-lOgQ/Tz6wDB0B2SI/AAAAAAAADc8/tCi6x-NHCpI/s1000/Chair-environs_021512_04.jpg" />
Transitioning entertainment was had thanks to the group of three following our track. We were hoping they'd break trail up to the North of Chair, but no luck - instead they continued on in our track, a whimsical track at best... A switchback or two later they stop, maybe they saw my little pits? hmmmm, there they go again, continuing up. But no... now they're traversing. What? Across the face to the North? With no spacing? And steeper terrain up ahead. maybe they haven't noticed the cracks or the pit. Now we're a little worried... But then half way across they change their minds and go back the way they came. OK good. Back at the skin track they transition to go down... We continue on.
very windy on the traverse northward
other side:
On the descent, below the ridge, we crossed a patch of wind slab that had released. I didn't stop to take a picture... but it looked pretty cool. Like plate tectonics gone awry, or the aftermath of a polar ice cap collision. And floating in the middle of it all was a water bottle, with some folks from above trying to retrieve it. We did not linger...
On the Snow Lake skin and back on the divide we had been tossing some options around. Trevor had to be back at his car by 3:30... but then he didn't. True, it was pretty nice up here. And there was that couloir we had just passed... So up we went again -
view of earlier ski (with tectonic patch visible)
and then on to this -
Is that fluffy snow? nah, Snoqualmie Pass really sucks, don't go there.
nice. thx for the update from snocrummie. been wanting to check out that 1st area.
Great pics. Thanks.
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