GPS tracks, Alpental backcountry?

Have any of you ever left a GPS running on your phone or otherwise while skiing the back bowls? If so, would you be willing to share the tracks? I don't want your secret stashes - just the main runs.

Was thinking this would be a nice thing to have while venturing out there. Another piece of data in the navigation puzzle and a good way to orient myself before making a bad decision.

Michael

IME GPX track accuracy in heavy timber has too much variability to be very useful for navigating the Alpental backcountry. There are a lot of cliffs and the correct slots between cliffs than don't dead end can be pretty precise.

This sketch map is a useful resource, but finding someone that will guide you out there is more useful.

Given the current weather/avalanche forecast it is going to be a while before any gates are open anyway -- heck even Upper International has been closed for a while and won't reopen until enough new snow falls to fill in the gaps that developed during the last Pineapple.

That map is a good one, also check www.alpental.com

Yes, the hand drawn map is very useful. I laminated it and keep it in my backpack.. The summit's own map is useful too.

I use GPS on my off-road motorcycle in tight trees and it does very well.

And yes, who knows when the gate will open.

I skied International on Tuesday. They got it open around 11:30ish. It didn't get nearly as much snow as Edelweiss did. I hadn't seen that before.


If I ever get the GPS tracks together, I will post them here.

Michael

Another question. I used to spend a bit of time in the Alpental BC either touring or traversing from the upper gate. That was over 10 years ago and I have forgotten it all.

In your opinion, what are some good places to restart. I remember having some great days around Knoll 2 and Big Trees. Thats about all I remember.

Michael

Everything goes until it doesn't.

When in doubt, on the near side of the Cleaver, go right. On the far side of the Cleaver, go left. If you don't know where Wall St. or Suckers are, don't try to find them on your own until things have gotten more tracked-out. Stay out of Trash Can. If you end-up in Annie's crease, it's been nice knowing you!

I skied Alp today. Pretty decent to about 150 vft above Chair 2 loading station. Snow got markedly heavier below that point. Took one run down Nash -- it was fun until about 200 feet into Lower -- below that point the snow got thicker and chunkier with each turn until you hit the strip of corduroy they had put in up to the bottom of Felson. Views of Glacier, Stuart, Rainier, St Helens.

Talked to patrol -- they had hoped to open the Nash gate today -- but they decided with the stiffness of the snow below 4100 feet that one run was enough for them.

Sadly Alp with be closed Friday due to a Pineapple Express.

If you end-up in Annie's crease, it's been nice knowing you!

Where is Annie's Crease? Near Sweet Little Annie?