Big Trees
Mar 17th, 2012 | By rob
Rankin, Mike, Stefan and I debated various options for a tour on the drive up to Snoqualmie Pass. In the end, we opted to head up Alpental Valley, and possibly up to Wonder Gully depending on what conditions looked like. We were the first people in the upper lot, and laid in a skin trail up past...
Full backcountry trip reportLodge Lake
Mar 13th, 2012 | By rob
Taking advantage of Daylight Saving time, Tim and I headed out behind Central for a couple of laps down to Lodge Lake. The snow was deep and light, and Tim found a couple of fun lines to enjoy. We tried for a steeper line on the second lap, but ended up skirting East onto mellower terrain, as...
Full backcountry trip reportKendall-ish
Feb 26th, 2012 | By rob
Another high avalanche day equals another day around Kendall. Stefan and I debated going elsewhere, given the large of number of people we encountered last time on Kendall. But the lure of a already laid skin track beaconed us, and...
Full backcountry trip reportKaleetan
Jan 27th, 2012 | By rob
The five of us skinned up Alpental valley with the pre-dawn light illuminating the faint backcountry tracks laid down a couple days prior. We remarked how unusual it was to be the first tracks up the valley, especially given the cloudless sky and ample powder. Reaching Bryant Col, we half joked...
Full backcountry trip reportKendall Trees
Jan 22nd, 2012 | By rob
With avy worries fairly high, Stefan and I decided to head into the trees in search of ample powder and fresh lines. Our location must have been a wise choice, as we ran into at least eight other groups.... The snow was fantastic, and the heavy snow and winds kept us from venturing out of the...
Full backcountry trip reportBullion Basin
Jan 7th, 2012 | By rob
Mike and I made the drive down to Crystal for a tour around Bullion Basin. Mike had explore the area a couple of years ago, while this was new and unchartered territory for me. We followed the skin track up to the high point above the Basin and descended back into the Basin. Skiing above 6,000ft...
Full backcountry trip reportNorth Side of Kendall
Dec 23rd, 2011 | By rob
Mike and I took the scenic route up across Coal Creek and through Kendall Lakes. A group had attained the ridge before us, and their track veered right towards the double barrelled chutes, so we went left. We scouted a couple of ways down, all of which looked a little crusty - our descent was...
Full backcountry trip reportSilver Peak
May 14th, 2011 | By rob
Another ski season, and another tour with Tim on Silver Peak. The weather was warm, and the snow a little sloppy, but as always, a fun time out. Have to hit Silver at least once a...
Full backcountry trip report"Not So" Super Steep Couloir
Apr 23rd, 2011 | By rob
On my last tour into Silver Creek basin, I got a good look at the "Not So" Super Steep Couloir, and after spending some time staring at a map and photos of Kendall Ridge, I thought I had the entrance figured out. I couldn't rally any partners for the...
Full backcountry trip reportGuye Peak Couloir
Apr 22nd, 2011 | By rob
A pre-dawn start, Trevor lead the way up the Commonwealth and Guye Peak. We took a few nice sweeping turns off the top before picking our way into the couloir. Ski conditions were challending, with six inches of rapidly warming snow sitting atop frozen avalanche debris - made me feel like a...
Full backcountry trip report