snow cave photos from Mt Baker

Baker Backcountry

Slept in a hole in the snow.  Skied in a buttery fog ... at least it wasn't raining!!

Backcountry weekend up at Mt. Baker.  Very lucky the weather held.  But the fog was rough.  Not safe to ski in the open--no depth perception at all.  Good education.  Building snow caves was great fun.  Anne and I built a Ranger's Trench with a tarp and skis.  Turned out good. 
Also real tough snow conditions on Saturday:  breakable crust.  I couldn't turn at all.  Very humbling.  Snow in the night gave pretty decent snow for Sunday--but still, the fog shut the skiing down.
Second-hand down booties are killer for winter camping!

Chair and Kaleetan Peaks

 

Out of Alpental

Good day out skiing with Matt on Sunday.  What started as a reconnasaince mission to Kaleetan Peak became a ski tour out of Alpental.  We skied up the E. Face of Chair Peak (a mt. that we would love to climb soon.)  The conditions up high weren't stable enough, so we skied happily down.  We need another route to the NE Face, which looks fine, overlooking Snow Lake.
We hope to retry Kaleetan on Thursday; this time with climbing boats and not skis ... which we may regret later.

Seattle Mountain Rescue

I was just accepted into Seattle Mountain Rescue (SMR), a Search and Rescue organization that specializes in high-angle (ie-mountain) rescue.  I am super, super excited, not to mention a little shocked.
It is all down to JamieB Wood--she wrote me the most killer recommendation.  Thanks Jamie.

http://www.seattlemountainrescue.org/

PNW alpine on McClellan Butte

If the snow is too cruddy to ski ... why not climb? Climbed the North Gully of McClellan Butte to 50 feet of the summit to find the upper route unclimbable due to lack of snow. Eight rappels, much downcliimbing, and a good measure of laughter later we were back on the trail for home.

PNW backcountry days

BC day with Matt and Ben on Union Peak. Sunshine and 50 degrees. No appreciable avy danger, and yet, there were wet loose slides everywhere and they were easily skier triggered. Hummm ... really though, they were little more than slow heavy grumpy sluffs. Very small. No slabs. No concern. Heavy wet slow snow. Great ski day all and all.

xmas 2010

 

When visiting Rob Fargason in Alabama a few years ago.

MT ADAMS WEB