January 29, 2017, Blewett Pass (Tronson Creek side)
1/29/17
WA Cascades East Slopes Central
1843
0
Sunday afternoon, ARB and I did a quick exercise lap at Blewett. We headed up from the Tronsen Creek parking area, towards Haney Meadows. Owing to our late start, the temps (34 degrees), and intermittent sun, the goal was to find some cooler tree skiing on north-facing aspects.
We made it to ~ 5,300 feet before heading down to avoid failing light, increased winds, and rain showers. Snow conditions at turn-were 6-8 inches of heavy wet snow on the surface, over rain crust, over 2 feet of low-density snow and facets. Not very fun, nor confidence inspiring conditions as we picked our way carefully down through the burn back to the snowshoe track.
If you are headed up this way, be cautious using some of the existing skin tracks set in the avy chutes/open meadows on the traverse into Haney Meadows. Several of the recent tracks switchback straight up the most open and steepest (40 degree) slopes, but there are plenty of lower-angle, better-anchored alternatives in the trees.
We made it to ~ 5,300 feet before heading down to avoid failing light, increased winds, and rain showers. Snow conditions at turn-were 6-8 inches of heavy wet snow on the surface, over rain crust, over 2 feet of low-density snow and facets. Not very fun, nor confidence inspiring conditions as we picked our way carefully down through the burn back to the snowshoe track.
If you are headed up this way, be cautious using some of the existing skin tracks set in the avy chutes/open meadows on the traverse into Haney Meadows. Several of the recent tracks switchback straight up the most open and steepest (40 degree) slopes, but there are plenty of lower-angle, better-anchored alternatives in the trees.
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