August 18, colchuck glaciers
8/15/07
WA Cascades East Slopes Central
4390
2
This was definatly colorado glacier style skiing, and I have skiied longer descents in colorado in august ( i.e. east bowl snowmass mtn, arapahoe glacier) but this was well worth it, being a new englander, then liveing in the rockies, i take no snow for granted. although it is puney by washington standards.
I left the trailhead around 1130 am, and passed hordes of backpackers on the way up, soon i was at the lake, and was a little dissapointed by the size of the glaciers, also there appeared to be a large part of the lookers left glacier which was melted to glacial ice. the hike around the lake and up the moraine was quick and straightforward. I was further dissapointed by the surface conditions of the snow apun reaching the foot of the glacier, there were moderate suncups with icy ridges. After a couple hundred feet of snow, I found a couple hundred feet of glacial ice, the ice was wet, and some snice in places, less steep on lookers left, pherhaps 35/40 dg on lookers right, i climbed the ice with a whippet and a snow axe, dodgeing a few rocks on the way, the remaining snow above the ice was low angle and straight forward, with a bergshund at the top. Bueatifull views of dragon tail mtn, I can see why rock climbers are attracted to this area. With not much vert below, I decided to spice it up and huck the shrund, i barely stuck it ( i need to work on my landings) then turns down to the ice. A little sketeched about skiing the ice, i took it slow, side stepping and slipping at first with axe in uphill hand, but the ice was wet enough, and angle low enough, that it turned out to be more of a phycological obstical. more turns down to the base. I traversed around and hiked and skiied the second glacier, which was a tad shorter, but a little steeper, and straighter shot, a little more broken up though than the lookers left one. The turns were still enjoyable despite the suncups, although it was a bumpy ride. On the hike back i met two fisherman who were concerned about hikeing the trail with darkness approaching, we went down together, and saw a huge black bear which darted off once aware of our presance. We made it back to the trailhead at 830 just in time. I found a 75 dollar ticket on my wiper, anyone know what happens if you dont pay?
I left the trailhead around 1130 am, and passed hordes of backpackers on the way up, soon i was at the lake, and was a little dissapointed by the size of the glaciers, also there appeared to be a large part of the lookers left glacier which was melted to glacial ice. the hike around the lake and up the moraine was quick and straightforward. I was further dissapointed by the surface conditions of the snow apun reaching the foot of the glacier, there were moderate suncups with icy ridges. After a couple hundred feet of snow, I found a couple hundred feet of glacial ice, the ice was wet, and some snice in places, less steep on lookers left, pherhaps 35/40 dg on lookers right, i climbed the ice with a whippet and a snow axe, dodgeing a few rocks on the way, the remaining snow above the ice was low angle and straight forward, with a bergshund at the top. Bueatifull views of dragon tail mtn, I can see why rock climbers are attracted to this area. With not much vert below, I decided to spice it up and huck the shrund, i barely stuck it ( i need to work on my landings) then turns down to the ice. A little sketeched about skiing the ice, i took it slow, side stepping and slipping at first with axe in uphill hand, but the ice was wet enough, and angle low enough, that it turned out to be more of a phycological obstical. more turns down to the base. I traversed around and hiked and skiied the second glacier, which was a tad shorter, but a little steeper, and straighter shot, a little more broken up though than the lookers left one. The turns were still enjoyable despite the suncups, although it was a bumpy ride. On the hike back i met two fisherman who were concerned about hikeing the trail with darkness approaching, we went down together, and saw a huge black bear which darted off once aware of our presance. We made it back to the trailhead at 830 just in time. I found a 75 dollar ticket on my wiper, anyone know what happens if you dont pay?
Nice trip into rarely-worked-in-the-summer terrain! And, a great set of tracks, I'm sure!!
Who wrote the ticket? And what was the violation? If it was for the "Not Having A Trail Head Pass", I have found it effective to write to the Fed's and ask for a court date. I'm still waiting for my court date from 4 years ago! Otherwise, I would write to the agency issuing the ticket and tell them that were no parking violation warning signs in the area you parked, unless you can remember seeing any. I can't imagine who would have nothing better to do than drive to remote parking lots and write tickets?!
Who wrote the ticket? And what was the violation? If it was for the "Not Having A Trail Head Pass", I have found it effective to write to the Fed's and ask for a court date. I'm still waiting for my court date from 4 years ago! Otherwise, I would write to the agency issuing the ticket and tell them that were no parking violation warning signs in the area you parked, unless you can remember seeing any. I can't imagine who would have nothing better to do than drive to remote parking lots and write tickets?!
I have written a note to the park rangers in one case, indicating that I forgot my pass at home. They never replied.
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