November 22, 2012, Source Lake and Alpental
11/22/12
WA Snoqualmie Pass
3573
5
We turned up our noses at the grassy slopes of Alpental and set off for Source Lake, hoping for better. We set a truly terrible skin track out, through lots of dense trees and over plenty of rocks and streams. Upon reaching Source 75 minutes later (it was a really bad skin track), we were treated to beautiful views of just barely covered talus fields - the basin above Source is definitely not in yet. We guessed another foot would make it a pleasant ski.
Back at the parking lot in *only* 45 minutes, we found Alpental looking a lot more appealing. We did a couple quick laps up towards International bowl, turning around a little below the elevation of the top of chair 1. More barely-covered rocks above there. Down low the shrubs are minor and the rocks are few, and we had mediocre (but great for early-season) turns down 5" of wet snow atop a soft but supportive crust.
Small day, mostly shut down, wet snow, but great to get back out there.
Back at the parking lot in *only* 45 minutes, we found Alpental looking a lot more appealing. We did a couple quick laps up towards International bowl, turning around a little below the elevation of the top of chair 1. More barely-covered rocks above there. Down low the shrubs are minor and the rocks are few, and we had mediocre (but great for early-season) turns down 5" of wet snow atop a soft but supportive crust.
Small day, mostly shut down, wet snow, but great to get back out there.
Good report, thanks.
Yesterday, I found the skiing to be better under the lift line for chair 1 than towards Lower Nash. It's still a bit brushy over there, but found it more enjoyable than the boulder fields of lower Nash. In fact, I would say it was quite pleasant.
I took a look up chair 2 the lift-line, and decided it probably wouldn't be worth the climb compared to lapping Debbie's. Certainly do-able, but bumpy looking.
I took a look up chair 2 the lift-line, and decided it probably wouldn't be worth the climb compared to lapping Debbie's. Certainly do-able, but bumpy looking.
Well seeing that it's totally ruined today with a nasty rain crust to the top, here's what Upper I was like yesterday:
12-15" of surfy pow, though Lower I is still a bit of an adventure that another 18" of coverage would do best to smooth out.
12-15" of surfy pow, though Lower I is still a bit of an adventure that another 18" of coverage would do best to smooth out.
A+ on the dog picture
12-15" of surfy pow, though Lower I is still a bit of an adventure that another 18" of coverage would do best to smooth out.
nash looks posing like that
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