January 14, 2005, Lichtenberg Mountain

A group of 6 ascended via the route as described in Burgdofer.  Left Smith Brook Road around 8:30 am and skinned to the first switchback.  Snow was heavy with a thin crust along the road.  Crossed Smith Brook and made our way up the ridge to Lichtenwasser Lake.  As we gained the north aspect here and more elevation the snow was heavy powder.  Tree bombs were dropping everywhere when the wind picked up, not too fun getting pounded by one of those.

Crossed the lake and ascended the south edge of the NE facing bowl to gain the summit ridge.  Dug a pit on a N/NE aspect at around 5400'.  Looked to be about 60" of new snow from the past week that has bonded well.  We dug down to a thin crust below the recent snow to do a RB.  Our RB failed about 12" down after multiple jumps on a dirty shear.  We were unable to get the failure to step down after additional jumps.  RB 6.

We gained the summit ridge in steadily declining visibility.  We skied a short, steep run into the N facing bowl (deep pow) and asecnded our skin track again.  To exit we skied the southwest rib off the summit ridge down 2000' to the flats, crossed Nason Creek and gained the highway.  The upper 1500 was heaven, though the light was b it tricky.  The lower 500' was manky funk with occasional breakable crust.  We skinned back to Smith Brook TH along the westbound snowbank to many honks and waves.  Back to the car by 5.  Long day, great skiing.