July 16th and 17th taking it easy on the American River at one of our favorite campsites just 10 minutes down the Eastern slopes from Chinook Pass, WA. This was my first visit to this zone so late in the season and was pleasantly surprised to find our low route around Naches Peak(to the SE side from the Pacific Crest Trail foot bridge over Hwy 410). One reason I like this tour is being able to click in and get a few turns to start the tour moments after shutting the car door. Once around Naches we just did laps off the Ridge on soft sun cups that were great for carving. Finished up w/ an easy out the same way we came in, then the 10 minute drive back to camp and did a repeat the next day. Great weather!

My Friend Victor Zurn, who I haven’t seen in a while because he has been snosk8in’ Stevens Pass for the most part last season, sent me over this teaser of a film he has been working on since this past Winter – Skate the Snow. This is what Victor had to say:

New Snow Skate Documentary . The history of snow skating so far. Will
You Skate the Snow? Gearbox films and myself have taken vintage cuts
and fresh footie, along with great interviews with Steve Frink , Rocker
Trucks, Pioneer Snow skates and others. Featuring Skating from.
Spicoli, Shag, JakeT. and myself. check it out!

July 10th, 2010 – Stuck right in between a good snow thing and Summer trail hiking thing I thought a “Purgatory Walkabout” in the Central Cascades on July 10th, 2010 was in order. Our version of escaping the heat and being green in doing so. Me and Trooper dog left the Hyak Parking lot headed up the old defunked F.S. road towards the Clear Cut. Once on the backside of the Clear Cut climbed up a couple hundred feet to connect w/ the Pacific Crest Trail. Once on the PCT made our way for the Silver Creek overlook just behind lookers’ left (from I-90) Kendall Peak where we hit our first steep snow patch traverse. About 6 or so nice wide patches of snow later we crossed the Kendall Catwalk wich was free of snow. Just past the Catwalk it was skins on and made our way towards Peak 5,851 for our first ski down to Ridge Lake where we would camp.

Day two was hoping to climb up above Gravel Lake to ski down on Edds Lake. I was a week late for that one, so chose to spend the day skiing off Peak 5,851. On my last ski of the day at 7PM I spotted a really nice coulior just below the peak that was good to go down towards Goat Creek Below Red and Lundin. Thought I would hit it the next morning. I started my ski down to Gravel lake and did the short skin back up to camp. Just when I was thinking time for supper and the fact it was just me and Trooper again up here by our by our selves these two guys just popped over the ridge from completing a summit of Mt. Thompson and ask if the lake below our camp was Gravel Lake. They chatted for a minute then started their 3 to 4 hour blaze back down to Goldmyer Hot Springs. I say blaze because they had never traveled that bush whacking route from Gravel Lake to Goldmyer and only having a little over two hours of sunlight left the last hour or so would be w/ lamps.

Was hoping by early morning the sun would win over again but wasn’t looking good. Headed back for Hyak w/ Mr. Drizzle and his girlfriend Sideways Windy joining us the entire walk home to the Yak.

Attention PCT Thru hikers from Mexico to Canada not even close in our zone yet, unless you are traveling w/ an ice axe and crampons. That would surely put your packs over 20 lbs.

Live to Ski Another Day!
TNT

One of the Animals we see in our every day life in the mountains and loved by all dogs, The Squirrel. This one was sent to me and was amazed, so I had to share it (guess it is a mountain sport???).

Time to go find some snow!
TNT

A little teaser from one of the BIG boys…

Sounding like a broken record in two ways, first – skiing longer than normal, and second – another repeat video of Silver Peak but this time in full sun w/ my friend Silas Wild. We skied a small patch on the West face off the the lower Silver Cirque which turned out to be a nice little diversion before our next two skis on the North side.

This was the best snow coverage w/ the smallest sun cups I have skied in my almost a decade of playing up there over the 4th of July holiday(when the Snow Gods allowed). Will most likely get an August “novelty” ski in this year which means only 2 to 3 months this year of travel off the pass to get the monthly turns in before the next cycle begins!!!

Skins were on 50 vertical ft below and to the SE of the rock shelter and was able to skin over the water fall at bottom of East Bowl then booted up the Silver Cirque for what I guessing was the last descent off the ridge for this year(unless you do it in the next couple dayz). Then booted back up to the lower dome and hit the middle chute I like to call TNT cause it’s Dynamite! On past July skis the choke point melts out but this year you still can link turns. The old growth bench just before the rock shelter still had continuous snow except for a 5-10 ft. stretch(walked it anyway because of all the debris.

Anyway, still looking good for a quick fix in the NW w/ one of the smallest approaches around.

Here is a link to our facebook page where you will find a video of the trip, and friend us TOO!
Live to Ski Another Day!

One of Washington’s many Big Mountain lift serve playgrounds is getting a lot better for next season, or maybe I should say a lot warmer for the ride up the slopes next season.

Gondola & Summer Update – June 29, 2010 from Ski Crystal on Vimeo.

Fourth of July and super thankful for our freedom and my AWESOME son Trevor N. Tietjen aka TNT II who was born on this day 23 years ago. I always try to hit the stompin’ grounds on this holiday (if the Snow Gods allow), so up the hill Sting, Trooper and myself went. Getting up there finding the mountain socked in and Mr. Drizzle out in full force, so we bagged it and headed East for some sun. Chose to take a walk in the Teanaway heading towards Esmeralda basin. About 30 minutes into the walk spotted a nice small snow field and bombed back to the car and grabbed the boards for a couple laps. Still a good amount of snow to play on in this zone for a bit longer, but plan for a full day because it is a reach.

As I sit here on Snoqualmie Pass in the “Home Base” this July 3rd, 2010 and wait for Mr. Drizzle to take off so I can go ski the stompin’ grounds, Silver Peak, for yet another 4th of July weekend. I was reflecting on the GREAT May trip to Utah this year. In doing so, I couldn’t help but think of one of my favorite zones we didn’t have time to ski, Sundance Ski area(located between Provo and Heber City) which sits in the shadows of the MIGHTY Mt. Timpanogos. Lucky for us our friend Chase did and captured some vid of a May day in the super gnar chute. If you ever get to Utah for lift serve action be sure to put Sundance on the hit list smaller and lower than the others but has a chill vibe, great views and most of all short lift lines.