Seattle: the sunny snowmachine-less side

     So Monday a buddy(KC) of mine had just purchased skins allowing him to really venture in the backcountry.  I thought now would be a good time to break him in before the good snow comes, because it is coming.  Hopefully.  We headed to turnagain pass which is pretty much the best if not only option at this point in time.  Given the shallow snowpack snowmachines are not allowed in their typical area which leaves it wide open for skiing.  In addition, these slopes get the most sun relative to the non-motorized reacreation side of the pass this time of year.

     The inversion wasn't as noticable, but no new snow meant a solid and frosty skin track.  After anticipating more cold clear weather I was surprised when it was cloudy.  A speck of snow fell here and there. We made it up to the top of the ridge.  I had never skied the seattle creek side so we elected to do a run down Main Bowl from the skiers' left side.  KC seemed energetic and willing enough to climb out of there but I could see the fatigue setting in.  The run was pretty good but I did manage to deposit more P-tex on a band of rocks lurking un-noticably beneath the surface.  KC and I skinned up and out of the bowl with hopes of returning after more snow but before snowmachines.
     We then skinned along the seattle ridge to Warm-up bowl and skied a nice open face on the highway side.  On the ridge the snow had been slightly wind-affected but it was scattered and localized.  The slope was a bit tracked but had room for better lines than elsewhere down to the car.  We followed other tracks down through the alders with no bushwhacking needed, indeed an unexpected and welcome surprise.  KCs' legs were fried by this time which made it tougher for him to enjoy the patches of pow in the alders. 

     Down in the creek (highway side) while skinning back to the car the sun broke out over the valley for an instant.  Pure awesomeness. We noticed it has been so cold for so long the hoar frost was growing hoar frost.  As we were booting along the construction trail with my skis on my shoulder I, for a reason I still can't grasp, decided to lick the riser of my dynafit binding.  Yup, they are metal.  Fortunaley KC had some water and bailed me out but meanwhile many thoughts went through my head, such as the kid in "A Christmas Story" who licked the flagpole, how long it would be before I could taste again, why did I lick my binding?  Who knows.
     At the car I could tell KC was relieved to be done.  Overall it was great to get out.  I hope I didn't push him too hard and ruin his first experience.  I promised him the goods were yet to come with longer days, deeper snow, and stronger legs.