November 18, 2012, Heliotrope
11/18/12
WA Cascades West Slopes North (Mt Baker)
2496
1
Needed to be back in town for dinner, so Susan and I opted for a quick trip to Heliotrope. Road snowy but 2WD to trailhead, melted slightly on return. Parked low to be sure we could get out with further accumulation, road ski to car was fun.
Efficient travel was by boot 'till near timberline; snow's in the trees, not on the ground. ~100' out of timberline, working up into a snowy tempest, we met two friendly Bellinghamers on their way down. The party ahead of them had triggered a slide, and then they did too. Their crown was ~6"x30'x30', soft slab formed from recent wind action, briefly entraining one skier. As we climbed another ~100', we found enough small whoomphs/easy cracks on a crust layer 0-12" down that we took cover from blowing snow behind a tree, transitioned, and skied for home. Others near us turned around too.
Skiing was mixed as we worked down a gully to rejoin the trail. Another 2' of wet snow would bury the remaining rocks/trees. New snow from this storm was middling in density.
It's winter; bring your avy game. Snow is fun.
Efficient travel was by boot 'till near timberline; snow's in the trees, not on the ground. ~100' out of timberline, working up into a snowy tempest, we met two friendly Bellinghamers on their way down. The party ahead of them had triggered a slide, and then they did too. Their crown was ~6"x30'x30', soft slab formed from recent wind action, briefly entraining one skier. As we climbed another ~100', we found enough small whoomphs/easy cracks on a crust layer 0-12" down that we took cover from blowing snow behind a tree, transitioned, and skied for home. Others near us turned around too.
Skiing was mixed as we worked down a gully to rejoin the trail. Another 2' of wet snow would bury the remaining rocks/trees. New snow from this storm was middling in density.
It's winter; bring your avy game. Snow is fun.