Magnificent!

     So today Sir Shredsalot and I headed out to Eagle River for some backcountry action.  Given the recent weather patterns and our destination, finding the good stuff today was tough.  The snow is an awkward transition right now between the end of winter and the good spring corn.  Temps are too cool during the day to soften things up for more than a brief window in the afternoon.  Down low it might be good but uphigh still crusty, or, up high good corn but down low rotten.
     After the up-and-coming pre-ski tradition of fast food we booted the muddy trail from parking all the way to the clearing below the saddle.  From there we skinned crusty and sometimes breakable snow to the ridgeline and skied a variable snow run down to the valley floor.  The sun had popped out and burned off all the clouds, there was a mild breeze at times.  I'm ok with the lack of accuracy in weather predicting today.  Give me the sun and I'll call it good.  Snow was mostly crusty, even on northern aspects, likely due to the winds and warm ambient temperatures.  No corn today though.
     We headed up to magnificent and skied a few runs in the bowl in a pocket of decent snow before skiing the ridgeline down to the valley floor.  We skinned back up high enough to traverse to the saddle and muddy booted it out.  It was a beautiful day and was good to get out even if the snow wasn't ideal.  The view allowed for me to add a few more runs to my list, possibly even this week if the weather is fair enough on my days off, but mostly for next season when the powder returns.
     The meadow creek drainage is unique in that there is no ready public access at its' runout.  The saddle is the best access and from there it's up to you.  The ridge leading up to the peak has gently sloping green-circle-like terrain running down to the creek that would be prime for learning.  I also enjoy it on an unstable/lazy powder day.  I have always seen wildlife when I am in that drainage.  Today it was an eagle and we happened to see a sheep near the summit. 
     In addition to wildlife, the views up Eagle River are studded with the big peaks of the Chugach which are always inspiring.  I found myself thinking, "how could I ever leave this place?" and I really don't know.  It would be challenging and would be a difficult decision to make if I wanted to go back to school somewhere. 

Two line ideas in this pic, minimum.

4 dogs, 4 dudes

     A beautiful clear weekend day without work = ski for me.  Our Denali gang got together in the AM for more planning talk, gear testing/discussions and then we headed out for a backcountry tour with the dogs.  Weather was perfect, with the exception of some ridge-top winds picking up near the end of the day. 
     We headed out to the Harp mountain trailhead in the South fork of the Eagle River Valley.  The original goal was to check out the couloirs in hanging valley but the always present indecision of the group dynamic lead to a sampling of various snow conditions.  We started up Harp to about the 3rd saddle and skied some surpisingly good spring corn conditions to the near valley floor, traversing up valley a ways before converting back to skins.
     We skinned back to the hanging valleys and soaked up the amazing views, solitude, great weather and possibilities for both summer and winter backcountry activities.  We then headed north up a gully and gained the ridge-line heading back to Harp summit, but stopped along the way for a powder run down to the valley floor on the Eagle River side. 
     A long, windy traverse with eye-popping views for motivation kept us going to the Harp summit.  From there we encountered variable and wind-blown snow conditions up high which turned into ski-able late-warm-day conditions further down.  It's always nice to ski to the car. 
     It's also nice, now that I am near the end of my ski season, to be fit enough to do longer tours with more vertical without being tired or noticing that it was work.  It makes it much easier to enjoy the views and allows for greater access to things farther out that might not be attainable in the early season.  The snow coverage allows for easier travel and the downhill skiing is a fun alternative to hiking/running down a slope.  Places normally thick with alders and brush in the summer are accessible in the winter. 
     The winds today were cold enough to make me realized I could probably still get frostbite in the end of April, cool but at the same time a slap with reality to get my head in the game.  It also reminds me how rugged the mountain environment is and how out of my control it is.  It adds a challenge and way of looking at them that is much different from the city.  I do appreciate this and look forward to this aspect in light of our Denali attempt.  The energy I get from being in the mountains can't be conveyed by words or pictures.  Every time I try to explain it to someone I feel something like when I am trying to explain something to someone who doesn't speak my language.  It's just inadequate and they only way they'll get it is by getting out there a lot, and I hope they do.  A shared appreciation for the Chugach would be great, but you don't know unless you go.

 

 

 

invisible lines

     So today I was flying solo and decided to do a longer tour that may/may not have worthwhile results and check another goal off my list. Bluebird day, calm weather with mild breeze at peaks, warming temps with the sun as the day progressed.  I headed on-base with the goal of the back side of Knoya peak as suggested to me after a previous KGK post.  I also wanted to check out the possibility of lines off the North side of Wolverine down into the North Fork of the Campbell Creek.
     Spring is pretty much here as I discovered by the nice pile of bear scat near the Stuckagain trailhead and numerous tracks both there and higher up-valley.  Also, some ptarmigans' tails are brown already.  I wished I had brought the bear-spray then.  There had been rumors and sightings but I guess I was in denial.  The moose with thier calves are moving up-valley as well.  I saw the hole of one eager ground squirrel. 
     I did a relaxing skin up to the drainage leading to the backside of Knoya, picked my line and route up, and skinned up with no problem on mildly variable snow with a thin sun crust.  At the top I had some lunch, took in the view, hoping that my stalling would allow the sun to soften the crust up a bit.  I skied it down a bit prematurely due to my impatience.  There was a wind crust too that made it one of my less-than-smoothest skis.  This gully would be great with better snow conditions.
     My urgency was to get to a line across the valley that I had spotted while eating lunch.  A top-to-bottom run, perfect aspect for powder, minimal avy danger, and likely my line of the day.  I skinned up to realize I was almost to the bowl at lookers-left of Wolverine.  I could skin up to Wolverine and ski that out, make it an annual tradition, but I wanted this line and needed to get back to the car without a long skin and Lucy was looking tired.
     It was great.  Non-stop to the valley floor, perfect snow the whole way.  Soft, not slabby or sun-crusted or wind buffed.  Consistent.  I didn't stop to wait for Lucy, she'll be fine and this could be the last powder run of the season.  I couldn't have asked for a better run.  I called it good after that and skinned/skied out to the car.  I like skiing this drainage because not many people do, it has a mostly-ski-out trail, and the peaks are pretty tall. 
     Before dropping down into the trees I looked back to see it.  It was almost invisible.  Neither line can be seen from the city or residences.  I will definately keep this last line in mind for the future and hope for enough snow next season to open more lines off the back of Wolverine.  This valley would make a good ski-camp location: a lot of options.

springtime is here

ahhh, now that's what I'm talking about.

     So an early April dumping on the front range that didn't get blown off, followed by a long stretch of clear and calm skies lead to some amazing skiing.  Too much to write on every outing.  I had a pretty amazing ski planned as I mentioned in my last post: it fell through, but remains high on the objective list for next winter.  I have been skiing closer stuff with buddies this past week, nothing too unique or out of the ordinary, but this last dump has allowed for me to check off a few more items on my skiing to-do list.
     Saturday we headed out to do the NNW facing lines off Rusty that have been on my list for awhile due to the frequency with which they are skiied by AlaskaJack.  Weather and company: perfect.  Snow: good enough for me.  We headed out of Prospect Hts on a well-packed trail.  We couldn't see it until we got right below the line but some go-getter turkey had skied it the day before.  No worries, it was only one line and they afforded us a skin track.  2nd time this happened to me in the Wolverine Bowl.  It was a mellow day with great views and pretty good skiing once we figured out where the good snow was at. 
     I managed to fit in a short evening ski up peak 2 after a brief weekend in Seward. Surprisingly untracked and holding good snow on some aspects and especially lower down.  Again: perfect weather and company and no disappointment with snow.
     I can't figure out what aspects will consistently have powder.  That last wind was out of the North, adding a wind-buffed layer what should be the soft and fluffy stuff.  The south aspects are in an awkward punchy-crust-melty-who-knows-what depending on the time of day and elevation.  This complicates things for an indecisive person like me.  I'm less motivated to get out there.  When I say get out there I mean do something out of the ordinary, more obscure or less obvious. 
     I hope this weather stretch lasts through this week so I can pull off 2 more skis on thursday and friday.  I had resigned to the the ski season winding down prior to this dump and was adjusting my mindset to the summer activity goals, but, this extension has given me an urgency to get a few more things in.  We'll see.


I ski with a helmet when I go out with this guy.  It's for my own safety.  He's the original rock-finder.

Gordon Lyon

     So today I was recovering from yesterday's outing and decided do more of an afternoon ski.  I hooked up with another local who it has been awhile since I skied with.  We met at Arctic Valley and skinned up to Gordon Lyon with the objective of skiing the drainage to the northwest of there.  Weather was perfect: bluebird skies, cool temps, calm weather although the wind picked up toward the end of our outing.  By some miracle the snow from last weekends' storms was still there and plenty soft it was.
     I had skied one run on the back of Gordon Lyon before, but never anywhere else in that drainage.  We did another run back in there which, once at the bottom, allowed me to look up at all the possibilities.  I could have spent all day there and then some.  There were plenty of lines yet to be skied.  Note to self.
     I don't know what to say. Conditions were fabulous all around.  Others must have thought the same as we noticed more and more people as the day progressed. As we were skiing out we saw close to 10 different folks in the valley.  I sure hope there is snow left for me when I am done working.  I will likely head back there if my Saturday objective falls through.  Stay tuned.
     On another note, I stumbled across an avalanche forecast site for the front range and ER.  Where has this been all winter?!?!  It is new apparently.  Anchorage Avalanche Center.

A military chopper buzzed us on the way up.

 

 



Ptarmigans' S. Couloir

     So Christmas came in April this year.  A storm dropped about 15" in the front range followed by another ~5" last night.  I lucked out and took a vacation day this week so that is one more day of skiing for me.  With snow this deep you need steeper terrain to get enough speed so touring solo wasn't much of an option, especially so close to the end of the storm.  I went out one day to Peak 3 and enjoyed super deep and soft powder, then headed out to Harp for more of the same.  Surprisingly, wind has not yet blown it all away! 
     The S-couloir is a classic front range ski that has been on my list of things to do for 2 winters now and 3 for a buddy of mine.  For me, this is mostly due to skiing inability and lack of confidence, both of which have decreased quite a bit this season due to gaining experience.  We decided today would be the day to get after it.  We were skeptical about the avy conditions so we kept the possibility of a no-go in the back of our minds.  We had heard reports of heavy sluffing a day or two earlier and knew this new snow could be sitting on a sun-melted ice crust, depending on aspect.
     The S-couloir was just about my only option today as it is a flat skin in and a boot-pack up.  My riser broke off yesterday and I was going to get it fixed after this outing.  No riser = no climbing for this guy, it's just too awkward.  Poor timing given my affinity for front range A/T skiing.  I lucked out and SkiAK had a part and would hold it for me.
     No one was at the TH: perfect.  Weather was cool, gentle breeze, calm, slight snow-haze with the sun trying to poke through.  No trail was broken yet so we followed remnants of a previous one, likely from the reporter of heavy sloughing.  We noticed whoompfing on the way out, but knew the couloir held a different snow pack. 
     We got to the bottom of the apron and started up.  Conditions were variable throughout the whole couloir.  Apron was mostly soft and deep with some soft debris and the lower 'S'.  At the narrow point it was half stiff chalky slab and half soft-and-deep.  Same for the upper portions.  Ligh quality deteriorated as we ascended.
     Boot-packing was hard.  I had never done it, never skied a back-country couloir either.  The hard pack was ok, but anything else seemed like I was making no progress.  I like skinning better, it is easier. I do believe I would rather skin an extra couple hundred yards than boot pack.  Yup.  I arrived at the top soaked with sweat and snow, and quite fatigued.  I knew I could ski it down, but not like I had hoped to: with fresher legs.  Maybe it's just the nature of the beast. 
     I looked over into the couloir behind it and it looked fun: note to self for another day.  We skied it down without any signs of instability.  There was just some minor sloughing of the top 2" near the top but that ceased soon.  Lighting was less than ideal, mostly flat.  We did get to check it off the list though. 






the tall peak in the center is Ptarmigan



 

S. Suicide to Rainbow

     So last night I was planning on skiing the Goathead couloir today, then I saw a pic of someone who had just skied it last night.  I wanted to do something untracked so I started brainstorming.  Something I haven't done that I could do in half a day: another AM appointment in my way but not too bad because it would allow the snow to soften a bit. 
     South Suicide down into Rainbow.  I had been eyeing this slope for awhile now, catching glimpses of it as I drive down the Seward highway.  Access is limited due to private property in Rainbow, but it always has several large and well-covered bowls that should be low-angle enough for me to feel comfortable skiing by myself. 
     I pulled into Falls Creek, not too busy, some trail runners and a possible hiker or two.  I booted the first 30 minutes until there was consistent snow to start skinning.  Then it was on for another couple thousand feet.  Coming out of the alders into the lower portion of the bowls was great: sunny, clear, calm and warm.  The sun was at my back, uncomfortably warming my bum in my black pants.  I ran into to skiers coming out who skied the upper North facing couloir by Falls Lake. They said it was soft and it looked like it.  Someone also skied an impressive line down one of the couloirs in the first cirque to hikers' right.  Steep.
     I took a few pics and noted the skiable couloirs for a buddy who is interested in skiing them but my goal was South Suicide.  Snow was thin on the Falls Creek drainage side, evenly but thinly covered on the Indian creek drainage side, and perfect for my ski down to Rainbow.  I saw a gully off the summit and checked it out: it had rocks near the bottom.  I like uninterupted flow so after a brief summit visit I descended about 200 feet down to a good start point, took one last look and skied it.
     The snow had just become soft enough, good turns, not too steep but enough to be fun.  Super long run distance wise and pretty good (3000)vertical.  I could have kept going but I was getting tired and knew I had to skin up back into the Falls Creek drainage, so I turned around.  After a tired skin back to the ridge, I skied the Falls Creek drainage down to the alders and booted it to the car: too dangerous to ski given the tired legs and crusty/alder-dense conditions.
     I think this would be an excellent powder stash for when the close stuff gets skied out if there is not wind after a dumping.  It is quite a bit of work to get to though.  I noted a number of nearby lines that would be fun to do if one was camping out up in Falls Creek, including the couloirs but also some farther out runs that probably wouldn't be worth the distance for just that run alone.  On another note, the view from the top is spectacular: mountains as far as the eye can see, peak after peak after peak.  It makes me realize how big my little corner of AK is.
    


Looking down Falls Creek at Turnagain Arm

Looking up Falls Creek at South Suicide.  The slope on the left looks nice for another day.

That's North Suicide.  A few lines I can see for future skiing. Tired Lucy.

Rimey summit of South Suicide.  My drop-in point.











whatsup harp? it's been awhile.

     So with another sunny/clear/warm day in the forecast I was contemplating today's outing.  I wanted to do something new.  I was flying solo today, had limited time due to AM and PM appointments with the real world, and was a little tired from yesterday.  I didn't want to drive too far either.  I'll save my ideas for later, but I ended up going with Harp mountain.  It's close and if it doesn't look good I could always head to the S. Fork trailhead.  Skier Boyz just wrote a good description of the typical Harp presentation.
     Things looked good but I was doubtful about snow quality.  I found it to be in that awkward stage between spring snow and winter snow.  The skin up went well with amazing views along the approaching ridge, a major selling point for Harp.  The snow ran out/got too hard to skin so I boot-hiked the last 1/4+ to the summit.  Great views and weather were well worth the climb.  This was also my first 5000ft peak on skis in the Chugach, surprisingly enough. 
     I enjoyed the drink and eat, then hiked down a bit to the snowfield lookers' left of the summit.  The summit lines were too rocky/bare to attempt.  I geared up and skied down.  Conditions were variable: 1-2 inches of soft on a hard slab up high, punchy in the middle with a rare pocket of softness, then punchy but skiable the rest to the spring-like conditions in the bottom.  Lucy was being challenging today, frequently getting in my way(maybe she couldn't see and needed 'doggles'.  I hit another rock and took a large surface area out, but no core shot thankfully.
     The line was good though and I would do it again.  I would like to get a summit line next winter as well as explore some of the other bowls from there.  It's an easy ski-out to the car. 


Harp is just right of my start point. elevation 5001.

 

good snow duo from last week

     So last week on one of those super-nice days after the front-range dumping I headed out with two buddies to do a tour.  We elected to go for the lookers'-left gully off the Wolverine shoulder.  The snow was deep and no winds had been through yet so we were banking on good pow and were not disappointed.
     We left from the Prospect Heights trailhead and it was a bit colder than expected.  We warmed up soon in the sunlight, which started to bake us once up to the lower Wolverine bowls.  We discovered someone had broken trail for us the night before to the same run we were going to do: no worries, they did one lap and given the depth of snow the broken trail was appreciated. 


evidence of the-night-before-solo-skier

     It was windy at the top so we didn't hang out much.  The north side down into the long lake(?) drainage looked awfully tempting and I knew there were some shots that way from previous scopings but wasn't sure.  The buddy with new skis wasn't about to risk his p-tex integrity either.  The snow was deep and angle was hardly steep enough.  A bit anti-climatic given lack of speed but the weather and fresh snow redeemed. 
     As we skied the skin track and trail out we stopped and the middle-fork loop.  There was a lack of opinion about my suggestion to shoot over to rusty point so I made the call after all, a day like this is worth taking advantage of.  We skinned over to the southwest aspect of rusty point I had done with difficulty awhile ago.  This time I was sure the getting would be good with the new deep snow and steeper slope.  We broke a trail through the alders, recalling the same path as last time, crossed the gully and headed up.  New-ski-buddy was keeping up but struggling, he hadn't been out in awhile. 
     We arrived at the looker's-right shoulder a bit tired but ready.  Fabulous views of Anchorage and the surrounding area from here.  I would recommend just hiking it when there is no snow.  The slope delivered: good angle, good snow, good views, good weather, good run.  The other two were pleasantly surprised by the quality of it. 
     As we skied out, coincidentally, the groomer had gone through the trail we skinned up on which gave us a literal backcountry groomer down to the bridge.  There were we slapped on our skins and mosied to the cars. 


Tikishla in the background



skin-rippin' with wolverine in the background.

Playing with the Penguin

     So today was a wonderfully sunny non-work day.  After an early morning appointment we headed out to ski Penguin....why not?   Weather was prime, just a slight breeze heading up, sunny, clear, warm.  Best of all was the better than expected snow conditions higher up.  At the trailhead it was crusty up until the trail opens out of the alders and into the gut of drainage.  Once we reached that point it was golden.  Not epic pow, but plenty good enough snow to have some fun on.


topping out of the gut

     We skinned up to the ridge before the false summit and took a good warm-up lap down the south face of the bowl and continued to the lower gully.  Deciding it was worth doing again and ready for another line we skinned up and headed down a more westerly aspect that was both steeper and not yet effected by the warming sun.  The sunballs were rolling a bit by the end of that run.  We continued on from there, enjoying slightly punchy yet skiable snow until the alder line.  It was not good from there down to the trail. 


About to start the best line of the day.

     Penguin is one of my favorites.  It provides good vertical, mostly sheltered skiing, above-alpine skiing, and a variety of slope angles.  The most attractive part of this ski is the views of the Chugach which include the Turnagain Arm.  One is able to see the Eastern aspects of the Suicides, the peaks behind the front range when gazing from Anchorage, as well as the Arm and the mountains across it.


Looking down best line of the day

     Ever hear of "doggles"?  They are goggles for dogs.  See the picture?  The idea seemed odd until I thought about it:  the sun is quite intense higher up with all the snow.  We use glasses so we don't go snow blind, why not the dogs?  This dogs' owner knows someone who was in the mountains frequently with thier dog, and it went permanently snowblind.  I may try this with Lucy.  We are out there enough, and given the lack of obstacles and abundance of simple-to-maneuver terrain I think they would be a wise attempt to try. 
    

Link to today's video:  https://vimeo.com/63141356