May 3-7, 2007, Valdez- Thompson Pass, AK
5/3/07
2537
3
Got back up to Turnagain Pass on Tuesday evening after a fun time in Seward looking at sealions and checking out tidewater glaciers from a boat. The weather was decent, so we climbed and skied Sunburst (happy hour tour 6pm-8pm), but Wednesday morning we woke up to more rainy weather at Turnagain Pass, so we bailed for Valdez a couple days earlier than planned. Arrived to sunny weather and reports of stable week old powder on north aspects.
Thursday we skinned up Nick's Happy Valley and yoyoed 35-40 degree north facing couloirs off Berlin Wall that had calf deep sluffy powder that was incredible. It was an awesome day.
Friday the weather wasn't nearly as cooperative....got in a quick tour in the morning....as soon as we topped out on the little peaklet, the clouds enveloped us and we descended by braille in a white out.
Saturday...more cloudy weather, but we still got in a few thousand feet on the 'School Bus' run at the top of the pass....a little new snow had come in and made things kinda funky...some powder, some corn, and some mank.
Sunday, bluebird again...two laps top to bottom in the Loveland area, powder up high, corn down low...skied till 7pm and could've skied till 11pm (man, the days are looong up here).
Today...heavy rain overnight, really bummed us out...we hit an eastside tour on Dimond Peak, toured up to the glacier and began booting one of the main couloirs that we'd heard had good powder a few days ago. Unfortunately the rain and wet snow did a fair amount of damage even up high...wading crotch deep up a 40 degree chute wasn't a good thing to do, so after a few hundred feet of wallowing we put the skis on and headed back to the rig.
More unsettled weather for the next few days unfortunately...hopefully get one clear day to do a scenic glacier tour and then we'll call it good.
The terrain around Thompson Pass is amazing, and seeing the potential for mountain top to ocean ski runs earlier in the season has us wanting to come back.
Post some pics when we're back home :)
Thursday we skinned up Nick's Happy Valley and yoyoed 35-40 degree north facing couloirs off Berlin Wall that had calf deep sluffy powder that was incredible. It was an awesome day.
Friday the weather wasn't nearly as cooperative....got in a quick tour in the morning....as soon as we topped out on the little peaklet, the clouds enveloped us and we descended by braille in a white out.
Saturday...more cloudy weather, but we still got in a few thousand feet on the 'School Bus' run at the top of the pass....a little new snow had come in and made things kinda funky...some powder, some corn, and some mank.
Sunday, bluebird again...two laps top to bottom in the Loveland area, powder up high, corn down low...skied till 7pm and could've skied till 11pm (man, the days are looong up here).
Today...heavy rain overnight, really bummed us out...we hit an eastside tour on Dimond Peak, toured up to the glacier and began booting one of the main couloirs that we'd heard had good powder a few days ago. Unfortunately the rain and wet snow did a fair amount of damage even up high...wading crotch deep up a 40 degree chute wasn't a good thing to do, so after a few hundred feet of wallowing we put the skis on and headed back to the rig.
More unsettled weather for the next few days unfortunately...hopefully get one clear day to do a scenic glacier tour and then we'll call it good.
The terrain around Thompson Pass is amazing, and seeing the potential for mountain top to ocean ski runs earlier in the season has us wanting to come back.
Post some pics when we're back home :)
Hey guys!
Thanks for posting the trip report -- I've been wondering how you were doing up there! Too bad about the weather but at least you've got in a few good tours, and skiing until 7pm has got to make up for at least one bad-weather day. ;) Can't wait to see pictures!!
How's life in the camper?
Q
Thanks for posting the trip report -- I've been wondering how you were doing up there! Too bad about the weather but at least you've got in a few good tours, and skiing until 7pm has got to make up for at least one bad-weather day. ;) Can't wait to see pictures!!
How's life in the camper?
Q
Wahoo! Can't wait to see pics -- we're warming up the corn for you...
...the ski conditions improved on the 8th and 9th....above 5000ft we found boot-deep powder again, corn below, and had bluebird skies on the 8th.
Our last day at the pass it was snowing at 2000ft, but the spell of warm weather had destroyed some of the snowbridges over the nearby streams...and we had to wade across in a couple spots!
After a week at Thompson Pass we got a pretty good glimpse at just what a unique place it is....all sharing the same chunk of land you have heliskiing services offering a $120 ride to the top of the roadside peaks, the occasional die-hard backcountry skier who is known for spray-painting 'heli skiers suck' on the snow slopes above the road, ski bums from all over the US touring around, and even a pack of Red-Bull sponsored snowmobilers who were regularly sending themselves to the hospital as they attempted a 240ft gap jump up on one of the glaciers.
Our last day at the pass it was snowing at 2000ft, but the spell of warm weather had destroyed some of the snowbridges over the nearby streams...and we had to wade across in a couple spots!
After a week at Thompson Pass we got a pretty good glimpse at just what a unique place it is....all sharing the same chunk of land you have heliskiing services offering a $120 ride to the top of the roadside peaks, the occasional die-hard backcountry skier who is known for spray-painting 'heli skiers suck' on the snow slopes above the road, ski bums from all over the US touring around, and even a pack of Red-Bull sponsored snowmobilers who were regularly sending themselves to the hospital as they attempted a 240ft gap jump up on one of the glaciers.
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