11/25/07 Sourdough Gap
11/25/07
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
2927
2
Meg, Dan and John went to Chinook Pass, expecting the usual Cascade weather and lots of brush and rocks. Instead we found clear skies, sun and good snow cover (considering the date). The blue sky inspired us to go touring in place of doing laps. We skinned from the parking lot to the saddle west of Sourdough Gap and then up the the peak for a lunch spot with a view. Who knew one could see to Mt. Hood in November! Good turns down the north-facing slopes beyond the Gap. Moderately unpleasant crust on the south side above Sheep Lake but no rocks or brush. All-together, a unexpectedly glorious first trip of the year.
Welcome, John.
There's some good lines in there.
There's some good lines in there.
We skinned up to the Sourdough Gap area on the 20th, and it was glorious. The sun was out. It was my first blue-bird day of the season, and it was my first experience at Chinook pass. We experienced a similar mix of snow. We were given wonderfully light powder on NE slopes. The peak we skied lies to the east of Cystal Lake and dropped off into nothingness and certain death on the side we didn't descend ;) We skied the NE face for some great early season treats. The turns in the upper chutes were thin, but the bottom was like whipped cream. I did suffer a painful gouge to the board that will be with me forever. We followed the sun out, and the moon took our place quiet boldly guiding our tracks out. Sun-crusts had developed on the SW faces and were a bit frustrating at the top. However, the powder in the flats exposed to lower sun angles and shade were still well preserved even as we made our way back to the skin track. As a new rider to the south-central Cascades and Crystal-Chinook area, it was an education in the variety of terrain that the area has to offer. In fact, it was my first trip to Chinook, and a wonderful introduction it was.
Reply to this TR
Please login first: