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I was up near the Tooth today, trying to climb something. Took my skis for kicks. The trail to Snow Lake isn't really skiable, too many creeks and bare spots. I got some really nice turns in on the approach gully to Great Scott Bowl. Hit a rock.  >:(

Went back today and cleaned up where I left off.  This time with my short board.  I had a little time so I began hiking up above the Express lift, but found the snow too deep without my snow shoes.  And breaking trail would have been hell alone.  I'm with Ross, the better skiing was in the middle so I yo-yod that section twice today.

I skinned the Silver Fir chair at Ski Acres this morning.  I got some decient turns during a couple of laps on the upper part of the "Outback" run.  Too much brush and little creeks on the lower section -- but no rock damage to my skis.  



Updated to include photo

I certainly agree with your observations on the hill conditions.  Some places were definitely sketchy and required a cautious approach.  Some of the dangers were marked and some not.  Hey my pow board took some shots but nothing deep.  Once things appeared to be tracked I ventured into the trees and near the tree lines.  Most people pushed the snow to the sides anyway.  I would not recommend it unless you know and feel comfortable about the surrounding terrain. &nbs...

I went up there Thursday too for a short tour to check things out.  I didn't go above chair 1, but I think that's where it will be better/deeper.  It was snowing and should be a couple new.  I might head  up again on Sunday, although riding the lifts certainly has some appeal.  I am wondering if heading out to Source Lake might be a good idea, it often seems to get a bit more snow in that part of the valley.  

Wow , extremely jealous! 8)

Skiing closed areas is Fantastic on many levels:

1.  No better feeling then grinding down a rock strewn "trail" that would be "off limits" if the area was open.  We dig our own graves.

2. Early season snowpack needs grassy slopes - the BC undergrowth is scary and dangerous early season.  No better place to find grassy slopes then the modified landscape of resorts.

3. Talk about easy access - park right up front even on the biggest powder day!

4.  E...

Yep, good times.  Maybe skinning the ski area isn't the purest/highest form of backcountry skiing, but it sure felt good to get out there on this year's snow!  The stuff from last year was good while it lasted though I guess.  Out with the old, in with the new!  Actually i've always had a fondness for pre-season pow-pow at the resorts before they open .  Especially at the Alp where I am a lot more intimate with the terrain.  I guess it's just fun to get freshies on shots that you know will soon...

Gonna be a great winter boys, let's get together soon ! Good reporting as always.     Jerry

I've been thinking about painting Gaper on my helmet but I think just wearing the child's mouse helmet cover I have is sufficient (which is complete with eyes, ears, nose and a long tail)

;D  ;D Now that's funny.  At least now we will be able to recognize each other if we are ever on the same mountain!

Great, that's good to hear Mad Dog! I've been thinking about painting Gaper on my helmet but I think just wearing the child's mouse helmet cover I have is sufficient (which is complete with eyes, ears, nose and a long tail)

Thanks for the concern Gaper_Jeffey, but I did have it painted by a professional painter that is familiar with all the paint and plastic issues, and has done several custom helmet paint jobs.  No clear coat was added for safety issues.  8)

Thanks Mark, kinda fun to have a new, freshly painted helmet.  8)  

What a great day it was, the fresh skiable snow just kept coming in all day long, filling in our tracks faster than we could keep up.   ;D  If this is any indication of what the winter skiing will be like, it's gonna be a VERY good season.

Nice helmet, Mad Dog.

A very good trip indeed, surprising amount of cover. Great bunch of folks.  
My photos, such as they are can be found @

Very nice.  It looks like you posed you're subjects.
I can just imagine you hollering into the wind, "A little more to the left!!!"
My hands were frozen from photography as well.
We were surprised by the snow we found.  And the snow that fell.  Nice deep fluff up high in Eastern Cascades. Two feet deep in places around 6500'.
5" of fresh fluff at a 2800' trailhead after a 6.5hr hike.

We were at Shuksan today.  And while poor visibility and arduous trailbreaking were the truths of the day, it was well worth it for the few steep pitches that allowed a man to throw down a respectable turn into 2 feet of snow.  As for density, it was heavy below 4000', but decent above.

I say you go for it.  But then I always say that.

Thanks, Dick.
Good info.

Good call, Lucky.

Thanks for the reminder. I'm not one for personal glory in the chase for never-ending turns, except within my own household. A few friends told me about the unwanted notoriety, both on TV and radio. (Apparently there's some info sharing going on in the media!) Notwithstanding, I'd not give back any of those precious moments, even captured as a "cross-country" skier! I'm just hoping that the frozen base warms a bit now, so we don't have that wonderful sheet of Teflon beneath the entire...

Why, yes Robie, I do know; thanks for asking.

The insert in my Iron Butterfly boxed set (which contains no less than three versions of the song), says that Doug Ingle was messing around with a lyric, "In the garden of Eden..." while drinking red wine on an empty stomach.  Two thirds of a gallon later, when Ron Bushy asked him what he was working on, he slurred "In a gadda da vida..." and the rest was history.  

Anything else I can help out with, you ju...

It never stops playiing in my head. Do you know the real
meaning of innagaddadivida?

Nice report, Andy, thanks.

Yeah, I'm with you, Greg.  Every time I listen to Inna Gada da Vida when sleep deprived and malnourished, I am overtaken by inexplicable urges to do horribly self-destructive things.  

Fortunately, in my case this hasn't happened since 1971, when I wore elephant bells with a 30 inch waist and quoted Kahil Gibran to anyone within earshot.  Nice to hear that someone's keeping the dream alive.  

Nice move, Greg.
Us workin' folks are gonna hope that some of it lasts 'til the weekend... with a little luck we might even get a bit more  ;)