Feb 2, Kaleetan-Roosevelt Circumnav
2/2/13
WA Snoqualmie Pass
3376
7
Knowing the ski conditions would be challenging we opted for an exploratory mission that would cover some .
Windy conditions made for a quick transition and a few turns, probably the best of the day, in proto corn down the entrance to Holy Diver. We knew the skiing on shaded north-facing aspects would be loud, and the Holy Diver delivered a chattery ride to the bottom where we had a mid-morning snack and discussed the route ahead. We made our way across the divide that separates the drainages that feed Upper and Lower Wildcat Lakes, then gained the east ridge of Caroline Peak.
Skiing the south slopes of Caroline yielded a few turns of corn followed by 1000' of isothermal mush down to Kaleetan Lake.
Following a quick refuel at the lake we ascended Kaleetan's southeast ridge, crossed over to the south ridge and dropped into Melakwa Lake drainage via the steep, and extremely firm at this point in the day, east-facing chute. One of the few weak points in an otherwise imposing ridge line (I'm sure it has a name, I'm just not aware of it).
The original plan was to finish via Bryant Col, completing a Chair-Roosevelt-Kaleetan circumnav. However, at this point in the day west-facing slopes had seen significant sun and Chair's west face was shedding profusely, so we headed up over Melakwa Pass and exited via Snow Lake. As usual, skiing the frozen avalanche chunder-fest that is Source Lake Basin by head lamp provided the most challenging ski of the day.
Windy conditions made for a quick transition and a few turns, probably the best of the day, in proto corn down the entrance to Holy Diver. We knew the skiing on shaded north-facing aspects would be loud, and the Holy Diver delivered a chattery ride to the bottom where we had a mid-morning snack and discussed the route ahead. We made our way across the divide that separates the drainages that feed Upper and Lower Wildcat Lakes, then gained the east ridge of Caroline Peak.
Skiing the south slopes of Caroline yielded a few turns of corn followed by 1000' of isothermal mush down to Kaleetan Lake.
Following a quick refuel at the lake we ascended Kaleetan's southeast ridge, crossed over to the south ridge and dropped into Melakwa Lake drainage via the steep, and extremely firm at this point in the day, east-facing chute. One of the few weak points in an otherwise imposing ridge line (I'm sure it has a name, I'm just not aware of it).
The original plan was to finish via Bryant Col, completing a Chair-Roosevelt-Kaleetan circumnav. However, at this point in the day west-facing slopes had seen significant sun and Chair's west face was shedding profusely, so we headed up over Melakwa Pass and exited via Snow Lake. As usual, skiing the frozen avalanche chunder-fest that is Source Lake Basin by head lamp provided the most challenging ski of the day.
That first shot was worth your entire day.
Sick.
Sick.
Nice! :)!
Holy Diver, that is some strong work!!!!
Do you still have a link available to your Picasa site?
Missed your report in April thanks for the great beta.
John
Do you still have a link available to your Picasa site?
Missed your report in April thanks for the great beta.
John
author=RyanPete81 link=topic=27339.msg115044#msg115044 date=1359958119]
...and skinned and booted our way to the high point north of Roosevelt's true summit (Roosevelt 'skier's summit'?).
So nice to see (rare) accuracy regarding Roosevelt's summit proper!
Definitely an ambitious route for Saturday, with all those diverse aspects... good day for recon though! Thanks for the report.
Here's my picasa album for this trip.
Here are my photos from our April 2012 Roosevelt-Chair figure 8 variation (Wildcat Traverse).
We knew the sun and warming conditions would pose a challenge, so we planned the route around this for the most part. There were some minor on-the-fly alterations to the plans along the way, but open lines of communication and observation made these changes seamless and efficient. Excellent recon trip to an area that doesn't get visited all too often during the winter.
Here are my photos from our April 2012 Roosevelt-Chair figure 8 variation (Wildcat Traverse).
author=John Morrow link=topic=27339.msg115051#msg115051 date=1359988240">
Holy Diver, that is some strong work!!!!
Do you still have a link available to your Picasa site?
Missed your report in April thanks for the great beta.
John
We knew the sun and warming conditions would pose a challenge, so we planned the route around this for the most part. There were some minor on-the-fly alterations to the plans along the way, but open lines of communication and observation made these changes seamless and efficient. Excellent recon trip to an area that doesn't get visited all too often during the winter.
author=cumulus link=topic=27339.msg115059#msg115059 date=1359999024">
So nice to see (rare) accuracy regarding Roosevelt's summit proper!
Definitely an ambitious route for Saturday, with all those diverse aspects... good day for recon though! Thanks for the report.
Ryan I think you said it right on the drive home that we encountered every kind of bad snow possible... Still an awesome exploratory tour into some relatively deep territory for a day trip out of Alpental - gotta love how much Snoqualmie pass area has to offer when the snowpack is in!
couple of my pics:
1) entrance to the Holy Dive
2) W Face of Kaleetan Pk, in the belly of the beast.
couple of my pics:
1) entrance to the Holy Dive
2) W Face of Kaleetan Pk, in the belly of the beast.
Awesome trip, you guys! Even though the snow was crap, it looks like you were able to access some really unique terrain.
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