1/3 Birthday Tour 5/27/13
1/3/13
WA Cascades East Slopes North
2225
1
We hoped the murk would lift and left BlueLake trailhead as climbers came down abandoning their attempt because of fog. Picked our way to the base of south EW spire, soft snow all the way, a touch of rain and brief snow storm. We couldn't see the cornice up top so decided to not make the final pitch and over to Madison Ave. Hung out for awhile hoping for clearing but negatory. (nice meeting you Allen, Laura, Frank). A couple guys climbing up through spire gulch convinced us the avi debris wasn't worth navigating so we went back the way we came. The first few hundred feet was humbling survival heavy breakable crust but it finally transitioned to carvable. Corn was not to be had this day.
The snow cover is disappearing so if you go it better be soon.
We couldn't see the cornice but here's debris from last weekend.
Top of spire gulch:
The scene up top.
survival turns
A few more pics here and my dog too. (pics at Cutthroat Lake: we hiked -- not enough snow to ski for at least a mile)
The snow cover is disappearing so if you go it better be soon.
We couldn't see the cornice but here's debris from last weekend.
Top of spire gulch:
The scene up top.
survival turns
A few more pics here and my dog too. (pics at Cutthroat Lake: we hiked -- not enough snow to ski for at least a mile)
Yeah, disappointing snow pack this year. There was more snow two years ago in early July than this year in May.
I was up at the base of SEWS last Wednesday after a dump of eight inches of pow. That was a nice surprise! Agreed, go soon.
I was up at the base of SEWS last Wednesday after a dump of eight inches of pow. That was a nice surprise! Agreed, go soon.
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