May 18, 2006, Mount Lassen, Northeast Face, Day 100

We spent a cool and comfortable evening at Emigrant Pass and at 5am it was 49 degrees.  There was a sizable snow pack at the parking area.  The trail head was deserted, and we began the long flat climb through the Devastated Forest.  Once into the open with widely spaced trees, we were able to move along easily. The bottom 800 vertical is developing sun cups and the return descent was a game of selecting the smallest sun cups to turn on. The morning was cool with a light breeze and a large cloud in the east provided shade until we reached the bench at the base of the mountain.  There was a point release that had begun at the €œsummit dildo€ and had gained momentum and volume and ran to the base of the northeast ridge with a sizable deposition zone.  It was obvious that the eastern aspects were heated and ideal starting zones for point releases.  We climbed the northeast ridge to above the rock band where skinning was no longer practical.  The snow seemed ideal so we pulled our skins.  For the first time in over a week, we found perfect spring corn.  It was 1€ of cream on a firm base, and we yelped our way down to the sun cupped forest below.  It was a refreshing change from the days of mush that we had experienced further south in the Sierra.  The forecast is for cooler temperatures which are desperately needed.  We are heading for Mt. Shasta before returning home. Unfortunately, the forecast for Mt. Shasta was showers.  Day 100 for this season was wonderful spring skiing. After 4 months of living in the campervan and skiing in Tahoe and the Sierra, it€™s time to head back to Seattle and have someone else break trail for an old guy.

Zap & Jill