12/1 Unicorn Saddle
12/1/07
2663
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Four of us left the Narada Falls parking lot around 11:00 under high clouds. We planned on skiing the lovely looking meadows on the backside of the Pinnacle/Unicorn saddle and getting out before the forecasted storm arrived. Unfortunately, we didn't climb fast enough, I guess because the weather hit hard at nearly the same moment that we gained the saddle. Because of the sudden vertigo inducing lack of visibility and the complete lack of tree, rock, or anything by which to guide one's self we opted to return to the car. The ski back to the treeline would have been much better had we been able to see better. Likewise, the ski down the creek bed would have been more fun had there been fewer rocks. Instead the first quarter was skied without seeing much, and the second quarter was skied alternating between jumping off ledges through the rock-infested creek bed (it seemed like a good idea at the time) and bushwhacking. Then the last half of the ski was spent polling our way back the road.... Silver Basin the day before was much, much better.
Notable was a group of people hiking with their downhill gear strapped to their packs. They left before us and had not even made it half way out of the trees when we passed them on our way down. The depth of their bootpack told a story of a wallowing futile struggle. I would have been upset at them for ruining the skin track if I hadn't felt bad for them.
Notable was a group of people hiking with their downhill gear strapped to their packs. They left before us and had not even made it half way out of the trees when we passed them on our way down. The depth of their bootpack told a story of a wallowing futile struggle. I would have been upset at them for ruining the skin track if I hadn't felt bad for them.
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