April 30, 2008, Pineapple Pass - Dry Powder
4/30/08
WA Snoqualmie Pass
3252
1
I got up to Alpental at 8:15 AM today, and while many decided to ski Denny today, I decided to head up to Parking Lot 4 and see who was heading out back. Much to my surprise, there were no car tacks past Lot 3 and no cars in P4. While I was not excited about breaking trail by myself, I decided to head out to back and maybe climb to Pineapple Pass to ski Great Scott with my dogs.
Giving credit where its due (and what self-respecting climber would not), my Golden Lab (Lucy) broke trail for me all the way out to Source Lake. When solo with my dogs (Lucy, and my little Jack Russell Piper), I always play it conservative simply because they do not have transceivers on. Thus, we have headed up Chair Peak basin about 8 times this year, and both dogs know that trail pretty good. But today, there was no cat track cut or ski track out with 12 14 inches of snow covering the normal route. That did not seem to bother Lucy for a second, and she literally broke trail the entire way and did not once get of the trail. Mans best friend in action!
When we arrived at Source Lake, I took a look at Chair Basin, but it was filled with soft slab debris (and we had passed some debris along the trail beneath the cliffs that end Draft Dodger). Thinking that any sun would bring all the new snow down off the cliffs that lie above the Basin, I concluded that Pineapple was the way to go. At that point, I had to start breaking trail.
Decent touring up, but no base per se as the snowpack had not really re-frozen after last weekends warm temps. As I was about half way up to the Pass, I noticed a solo skier flying up behind me. Much to my pleasure, when within normal shouting distance, this kind gentleman asked if I wanted him blaze the last bit and of course I acquiesced.
When arriving at the top, I learned my new friend was Andy, a recent immigrant to Seattle from Salt Lake City who will be working for Mountain Madness as a guide (welcome Andy). A really nice guy and fun to ski with on the way down. And what a ski it was. Basically thigh deep powder, and as good as any that I have skied the entire year (and boy has there been good powder this year!!). Dry and light, with only the last 200 vertical getting a bit thick, but still quite fun.
It was now 11:30 AM and I needed to head back home and Andy was headed up to Snow Lake. As we parted and I skied away I decided to stop and look back up one more time at our tracks and there cannot be more of these days (can there?). Just then a huge slide came growling down Chair Peak (Be safe Andy were my parting words). Definitely time to head home.
Sorry I am getting this post so late today, but I needed to prepare for coaching my sons Little League game. I live out in the Snoqualmie Valley and it rained pretty good starting at 6:00 PM or so (we only made it through 3 innings). Might make for another good day tomorrow. Hope to see you there!
Giving credit where its due (and what self-respecting climber would not), my Golden Lab (Lucy) broke trail for me all the way out to Source Lake. When solo with my dogs (Lucy, and my little Jack Russell Piper), I always play it conservative simply because they do not have transceivers on. Thus, we have headed up Chair Peak basin about 8 times this year, and both dogs know that trail pretty good. But today, there was no cat track cut or ski track out with 12 14 inches of snow covering the normal route. That did not seem to bother Lucy for a second, and she literally broke trail the entire way and did not once get of the trail. Mans best friend in action!
When we arrived at Source Lake, I took a look at Chair Basin, but it was filled with soft slab debris (and we had passed some debris along the trail beneath the cliffs that end Draft Dodger). Thinking that any sun would bring all the new snow down off the cliffs that lie above the Basin, I concluded that Pineapple was the way to go. At that point, I had to start breaking trail.
Decent touring up, but no base per se as the snowpack had not really re-frozen after last weekends warm temps. As I was about half way up to the Pass, I noticed a solo skier flying up behind me. Much to my pleasure, when within normal shouting distance, this kind gentleman asked if I wanted him blaze the last bit and of course I acquiesced.
When arriving at the top, I learned my new friend was Andy, a recent immigrant to Seattle from Salt Lake City who will be working for Mountain Madness as a guide (welcome Andy). A really nice guy and fun to ski with on the way down. And what a ski it was. Basically thigh deep powder, and as good as any that I have skied the entire year (and boy has there been good powder this year!!). Dry and light, with only the last 200 vertical getting a bit thick, but still quite fun.
It was now 11:30 AM and I needed to head back home and Andy was headed up to Snow Lake. As we parted and I skied away I decided to stop and look back up one more time at our tracks and there cannot be more of these days (can there?). Just then a huge slide came growling down Chair Peak (Be safe Andy were my parting words). Definitely time to head home.
Sorry I am getting this post so late today, but I needed to prepare for coaching my sons Little League game. I live out in the Snoqualmie Valley and it rained pretty good starting at 6:00 PM or so (we only made it through 3 innings). Might make for another good day tomorrow. Hope to see you there!
Thanks for the report. Think I'm gonna head that way.
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