May 4, 2005, Â Colchuck Glacier
5/4/05
WA Cascades East Slopes Central
2420
1
Left the trailhead at 5am. Arrived at Colchuck lake just after 7am. Trail is in good shape. Patches of snow mostly firm. (temp upper 30s-lower 40s) Not too much sinking in to your knees.
Circumvented the lake and was climbing above the lake by 8:30. Snow that hadn't been tramped down was pretty soft. It didn't freeze last night. Generally there was 5inches of soft corn on top of a slightly denser consolidating base. There are plenty of treacherous voids under the snow as you make your way up, through and around boulder fields. I'm not talking about anything real dangerous, it is just disconserting not knowing when you are going to go in up to your hip.
The snow got gradually firmer as you ascend (big surprise huh?) but it wasn't until the last 300 ft that I kicked my own steps up the firm snow. Prior to that it was alot faster and easier to follow in someone elses footsteps of which there were many.
At 10:30 I got to Colchuck col. I was in the cloud and it was snowing lightly.
The top half of the descent back down the glacier was fun although all those boot paths that had helped me ascend were now an annoyance. There was also quite a few soccer ball size snow chunks which you could generally avoid pretty easily. Half way down the snow started to get a little slushy, wet and deep. It Required alot of effort to turn.
Back down at the lake I determined that it was safe enough to cross (on skis, not on foot) though I stayed close to the edge and am not recommending it. The lake had a mottled appearance where the snow was melting into the ice beneath and leaving some areas of slush and some areas of snow but under all that was a solid layer of ice that from what I observed was at least 6 inches thick.
Arrived back at the car at 2:20pm
Circumvented the lake and was climbing above the lake by 8:30. Snow that hadn't been tramped down was pretty soft. It didn't freeze last night. Generally there was 5inches of soft corn on top of a slightly denser consolidating base. There are plenty of treacherous voids under the snow as you make your way up, through and around boulder fields. I'm not talking about anything real dangerous, it is just disconserting not knowing when you are going to go in up to your hip.
The snow got gradually firmer as you ascend (big surprise huh?) but it wasn't until the last 300 ft that I kicked my own steps up the firm snow. Prior to that it was alot faster and easier to follow in someone elses footsteps of which there were many.
At 10:30 I got to Colchuck col. I was in the cloud and it was snowing lightly.
The top half of the descent back down the glacier was fun although all those boot paths that had helped me ascend were now an annoyance. There was also quite a few soccer ball size snow chunks which you could generally avoid pretty easily. Half way down the snow started to get a little slushy, wet and deep. It Required alot of effort to turn.
Back down at the lake I determined that it was safe enough to cross (on skis, not on foot) though I stayed close to the edge and am not recommending it. The lake had a mottled appearance where the snow was melting into the ice beneath and leaving some areas of slush and some areas of snow but under all that was a solid layer of ice that from what I observed was at least 6 inches thick.
Arrived back at the car at 2:20pm
Nicely done. Should be some freshies coming the next week or so. Skiing should be good this summer!
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