March 10, 2007, Iron Creek Pt 5459' Hwy 97
3/10/07
2400
1
With Margy and Pico again today. Chose east to avoid rain and in hope of corn. The snow turned out to be great no-fault corn!
This tour may not appeal to many TAY'ers due to the 3.5 mile road approach.
Take the Iron Creek Road (Ski trail XC-9714), which is about 7 miles south of Swauk Pass on Hwy 97. At 3.5 miles the road is blocked by a creek ford at 3600 ft, just before the summer trailhead. Here one skins up a beautiful old growth pine ridge N/NE on great open pine terrain to Pt. 5459' (pic 1). As in the second photo, south facing ribs and gullies of 1500 to 1900 vertical feet open up, Pk 5510' and Miller Pk 6402' (far distance) are pictured. These have great corn potential when timed right. We chose to ski down our ascent route which was skiing fun broad descending ridgeline or drops off either the east or west sides (Margy in pic 3). A nice long run of 1900' vertical.
It turned out to be a great day of corn skiing when anywhere else we were quite skeptical of conditions. The rain held off till we got to the base of the run, and it was a pleasant glide and downhill skate on the road to the car.
This tour may not appeal to many TAY'ers due to the 3.5 mile road approach.
Take the Iron Creek Road (Ski trail XC-9714), which is about 7 miles south of Swauk Pass on Hwy 97. At 3.5 miles the road is blocked by a creek ford at 3600 ft, just before the summer trailhead. Here one skins up a beautiful old growth pine ridge N/NE on great open pine terrain to Pt. 5459' (pic 1). As in the second photo, south facing ribs and gullies of 1500 to 1900 vertical feet open up, Pk 5510' and Miller Pk 6402' (far distance) are pictured. These have great corn potential when timed right. We chose to ski down our ascent route which was skiing fun broad descending ridgeline or drops off either the east or west sides (Margy in pic 3). A nice long run of 1900' vertical.
It turned out to be a great day of corn skiing when anywhere else we were quite skeptical of conditions. The rain held off till we got to the base of the run, and it was a pleasant glide and downhill skate on the road to the car.
