April 1, 2007; Chair Peak area
4/15/07
WA Snoqualmie Pass
1412
2
Half awake, but still up for turns, I met up with Justin and Rodger for a leisurely departure time of 9 am from the upper Alpental parking lot for some April foolishness on Chair Peak. Poor visibility and somewhat difficult side-hilling conditions (rain crust) deterred us from initial plans of heading up high on Chair Peak and lead to alternate options off Chair's lower NE shoulder. Wet slide activity (presumably from during yesterday's rain or occurred during warm weather late last week, and now covered with a dusting of new snow) was evident in many chutes and run-outs on Chair Peak, though no active slide activity was noted during today's tour.
As an unexpected surprise given the rain crust, the skiing exceeded expectations with fun, fast turns in the ~1-to-2 inch layer of fresh, fluffy grapuel covering the mostly smooth underlying rain crust down to Snow Lake. After a short stroll over the lake to scope out some possible ski lines for another day (which were mostly fogged-in) we ascended back up to the Snow/Source Lake saddle and enjoyed more fun graupel-on-crust slopes down to Source Lake, then out to the parking lot. Not a bad start to April skiing and not so foolish after all.
Unfortunately no photos as I forgot the camera in the car in my half-awake state (though weather conditions were by no means good for photos anyway).
As an unexpected surprise given the rain crust, the skiing exceeded expectations with fun, fast turns in the ~1-to-2 inch layer of fresh, fluffy grapuel covering the mostly smooth underlying rain crust down to Snow Lake. After a short stroll over the lake to scope out some possible ski lines for another day (which were mostly fogged-in) we ascended back up to the Snow/Source Lake saddle and enjoyed more fun graupel-on-crust slopes down to Source Lake, then out to the parking lot. Not a bad start to April skiing and not so foolish after all.
Unfortunately no photos as I forgot the camera in the car in my half-awake state (though weather conditions were by no means good for photos anyway).
sweet dood! :)
Cass...Jen, Dan and I were in the same vicinity...we ended up at Pinnapple Pass and then a shoulder up towards Bryant Peak that provided some good lines....you're right surprisingly good turns with that fresh snow.
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