April 18, 2005, Cutthroat Pass
4/18/05
WA Cascades East Slopes North
2117
0
Left the car @ rainy pass a little after 9am. Followed a well used skin track along the PCT to the log bridge. Then another so so track for a bit before making my own. The conditions were hard and frozen in the trees and then a little, 1", fresh on a crust once in the more open trees farther up porcupine creek.
After stopping twice to clean caking snow off my skins >:(, and repairing a ski pole I snaped in two banging the skis to try to clean aforementioned snow, I arrived at Cutthroat pass about Noon. This was my first trip up there and it was f-ing beautiful8). Clear skies, snow stuck to everything in sight, and only a slight breeze.
A quick bagel w/ PB and I headed down toward Cutthroat lake. Almost immedaitely I said to myself 'I should have started earlier'. To call the snow slush or massed potatoes would be too kind. I would liken it more to partially set up concrete. A couple turns were made in the open but once in the trees it was a bit more challenging. Find an opening, follow it untill you are blocked by trees, kick turn, and repeat. Entertaining and exciting, yes. Graceful, Hell no!.
Found the well worn trail/snowshoe/dog/skin track down in the valley and coasted all the way back to hwy 20 by 1:15. A quick hitch and I was back at the car. I'd love to do this tour again when it corns up a bit. It's a treat to make a little loop (sort of) instead of the usual out and back. :)
After stopping twice to clean caking snow off my skins >:(, and repairing a ski pole I snaped in two banging the skis to try to clean aforementioned snow, I arrived at Cutthroat pass about Noon. This was my first trip up there and it was f-ing beautiful8). Clear skies, snow stuck to everything in sight, and only a slight breeze.
A quick bagel w/ PB and I headed down toward Cutthroat lake. Almost immedaitely I said to myself 'I should have started earlier'. To call the snow slush or massed potatoes would be too kind. I would liken it more to partially set up concrete. A couple turns were made in the open but once in the trees it was a bit more challenging. Find an opening, follow it untill you are blocked by trees, kick turn, and repeat. Entertaining and exciting, yes. Graceful, Hell no!.
Found the well worn trail/snowshoe/dog/skin track down in the valley and coasted all the way back to hwy 20 by 1:15. A quick hitch and I was back at the car. I'd love to do this tour again when it corns up a bit. It's a treat to make a little loop (sort of) instead of the usual out and back. :)
Reply to this TR
Please login first: