Feb 2, 2008, Table Mtn. Pt. 5969 via Pipe Creek

This one is another long tour for few turns so I posted it initially on WTA but it doesn't seem to want to come up.  Check map below to view the excellent non-groomed non-motorized ski trails that we connected in a loop to the open runs of the NW side of Table Mountain.  More than 8 miles and 2400 vertical feet of climbing to get a short 800 vertical run is not most folks idea of a backcountry ski trip, but it sure was quiet and beautiful on a day that snowed constantly and left no real views.  The snow was light, uncohesive, 8" to 12" deep, and fun for our one run.  Skiing the established track down the Pipe Creek Ski Trail No. XC-140 was a luge run and a hoot.  Pictures taken on Friday (above Pico's head) show a partially obscured peek below the clouds of our objective SW of the wind blown slopes of Diamond Head Mountain(See Burgdorfer).  The Diamond Head west slopes never seem to hold enough snow from the west winds scouring away at them, so we headed for what we hoped was more protected terrain west.  Note: Pico is actually skiing AT gear, or learning, anyway.  One more point of proof that AT actually stands for Aging Telemarker!
A note of relevance:  Both on Friday http://www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboarding/trip_reports/index.php?topic=9017.0 and today our body weight initiated some woomphing.  South exposure on Fri and NW exposure yesterday.   Shooting cracks propagated fairly long distances (we were in harmless locations at the moments).  We were figuring these were isolated wind slabs settling.  But we stayed on 30 degree terrain or less and really stayed off any of the big slopes in the area.  I am often pretty confident with assessing the snowpack in the area but the varying winds of the week have factored into our trip choices for sure.

The USFS has a cabin rental less than a mile from Pt. 5969 and on the rim at about 6000 ft.  So I also wanted to scope potential for runs below the NW rim that could be accessed quickly from the cabin.  There is definitely more to explore below the Table Mountain rim in the way of runs, but it is a haul from any parking for sure.  Still another great day to be with friends in the mountains.  Thanks to Margy and Pico for being flexible and willing to break alot of tiring trail for a short reward!