Feb 8, 2014, Red Mountain 5880' Cle Elum Valley

After all the nasty sounding TR's speaking of wind effect in the passes, Jake and I decided to return up the Cle Elum Valley to find more of the great light recycled powder that Pico and I skied two days prior.  Not only did it hold up to expectations, with only minimal localized, visible, and easily avoidable wind pack.  But four more inches of superlight powder fell on top of the foot of recycled powder, on the supportive rain crust (that we never reached with the edges).  Below are a couple links to all three basins on the mountain with beta on approach.
It was the most people I have ever seen up there!  In fact we almost never see any people up there.  Even with the four different parties up there, maybe more, fresh tracks were abundant for all.  My apologies to the party that skied the old growth out along our skin track instead of the clearcut.  The clearcut was thin, but quality snow. From 3200ft, down to the Cooper River Road at 2500 feet, the brush bash and thrash was ridiculously bad with the meager snowpack down low this year.  Vine maple facie shots but we got down safe.  The price of admission I suppose.

Access to northern basin and main 5880ft summit:

http://www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboarding/trip_reports/index.php?topic=26419.0
scroll the thread for a map

Middle Basin access and the variety of ski options:

http://www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboarding/trip_reports/index.php?topic=23997.0
http://www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboarding/trip_reports/index.php?topic=30664.0

Southern Basin approach and ski opportunities:

http://www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboarding/trip_reports/index.php?topic=9552.msg38540#msg38540



More Flickr Pics and vids:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23557848@N03/sets/72157640709009624/