Mar 31, 2012, Arrowhead Mtn West Slopes
3/31/12
2451
2
Arrowhead is about 10 miles east of Stevens Pass on Hwy 2, south side of the highway. We parked at the railroad tunnel ventilator pullout on the highway north side, to the west of the access road, where there aren't any "NO PARKING" signs.
Walk back across the road and take the switchbacking logging road up , shortcutting switchbacks where practical.
There was a breakable rain crust with a couple of new on top to 4800 feet. Ski penetration was more than a foot climbing to here. Then the crust disappeared and it got DEEP and heavy (dense powder). Ski penetration from there to 5500feet on the west slope got to be consistently over the knee!
We stripped 'em at 5500 feet not feeling great about the new loading. There was a variety of thin wind slab and even a touch of sun crust at times on the west slope. Did the sun poke out through clouds yesterday afternoon? Teleing was a balancing act of staying over your skis perfectly. Falling was no fun. Oh well, you don't know if you don't go! I do love that hill and the quick approach in a nice spot. Anyone wish to say if Snoqualmie got a good deal less snow this week for an easier day tomorrow?
If the skies were to clear tonight, tomorrow would be quite nice up there and there's a heck of a labor intensive skin track for ya!
A few more pics:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23557848@N03/sets/72157629711661529/
Walk back across the road and take the switchbacking logging road up , shortcutting switchbacks where practical.
There was a breakable rain crust with a couple of new on top to 4800 feet. Ski penetration was more than a foot climbing to here. Then the crust disappeared and it got DEEP and heavy (dense powder). Ski penetration from there to 5500feet on the west slope got to be consistently over the knee!
We stripped 'em at 5500 feet not feeling great about the new loading. There was a variety of thin wind slab and even a touch of sun crust at times on the west slope. Did the sun poke out through clouds yesterday afternoon? Teleing was a balancing act of staying over your skis perfectly. Falling was no fun. Oh well, you don't know if you don't go! I do love that hill and the quick approach in a nice spot. Anyone wish to say if Snoqualmie got a good deal less snow this week for an easier day tomorrow?
If the skies were to clear tonight, tomorrow would be quite nice up there and there's a heck of a labor intensive skin track for ya!
A few more pics:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23557848@N03/sets/72157629711661529/
Nope, not much different at Snoqualmie. Little to no new snow overnight at pass level, but snowing hard most of the day. Crust in the trees down low, and then creamed butter up higher. Crazy how deep we were sinking in given how heavy the snow was up there. The stoke was not running too high today.
author=DCM link=topic=24337.msg102853#msg102853 date=1333245218]
Crazy how deep we were sinking in given how heavy the snow was up there. The stoke was not running too high today.
Yeah, that describes it exactly. It was like it was an upside down snowpack except that it really wasn't!
Thanks for the info.
John
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