Dec 23, 2006, Red Mtn. 3 Peak-Pt 5703 Cle Elum

What a 41st Birthday tour for me.  14 inches of light new, over 4" from Thurs morn, over 8" from last week.  Trail breaking was quite challenging right off the start at 2500 feet elev.  We really weren't sure how far we would get.
Pico C. and I were breaking a 14" deep skin track, pole depth of 16".  We went up the main clearcut and then up into the 3rd basin (southernmost), then up to the saddle of Pk. 5703' and a lower northeast point on the ridge 5360+ ft (no elev. on Topo map).  Then westward up to the top of 5703' (1st photo).  Our first run was incredible powder down the Southeast side of Pk. 5703' to about 4600 feet (2nd photo).  Then on with the skins and up to point 5360+ for its' long run off the northeast trending ridgeline (3rd photo), all the way down through the large clearcut to 2600 feet.  Almost 4000 vertical of turns in all.  Never steeper than 35 degrees, although lots of opportunity on this mountain for short steeper shots.  All the new snow kept us on lower angle, gladed, and treed slopes.
Yes this trip starts in a clearcut but with 3 bowls, 4 peaks, and lots of tree and glade skiing on multiple aspects, I am so surprised it doesn't get more attention.  One standard caveat: time this with a new snow and freezing levels below 2500 feet to avoid the infamous "Salmon La Sac Crud Zone".  We timed this one perfectly today as we were turning through 12 to 14" of powder all the way to the bottom!  Thanks Pico for sharing the trailbreaking: the best B-day present I could ask for!