4/03/13 - Shuksan; White Salmon - Upper Sulphide

Solo tour up the White Salmon and Upper Sulphide Glaciers, stopping half-way up the final Summit Pyramid. Leaving the White Salmon parking lot at 0830, I encountered unconsolidated mush (up to 8-10€ ski pen) and copious amounts of recent slide debris to ~4200€™ then refrozen corn/crust to the top of Winnies Slide; ski+boot crampons helpful for easier travel to Upper Curtis. Easy skinning to H-Hwy and short boot pack to Sulphide flats. Above the clouds and sunny/calm/warm on upper mountain, with distant company of one other party (2 who skied upper pyramid, Go-Pros rolling!). 'Found good but locally variable skiing on mostly creamed-corn with shaded pockets of chalk and residual skim crust for most of the descent to ~4800€™, then fun sun-mush to the White Salmon creek bottom. Lots of old tracks all over the place from last weekend €“ must have been a party up there!

Expect large amounts of variably consolidated avalanche debris in lower basin (still actively shedding). Skinned back up to trail-side log deck with one short boot pack around glide cracks at ~4k€™. Back to car at 4p for a beverage & quick drive home. Dog tired...