Our Pacific NW recently made National Geographic’s 2012 list of ‘must do’ trips 3x. 3 of the 20 top athletes and explorers in the story named the Pacific NW Trail and Mt. Rainier as ‘must do’ destinations for hiking, climbing and of course, skiing. While we love and include Mt. Rainier on our own must do list, we were pleasantly surprised to see it named in Nat Geo by none other than one of the world’s greatest big mountain skiers and friend of the Snow Troopers, Chris Davenport (who has, among other things, won World Extreme Skiing and Freeskiing Championships and been in dozens of ski films). After all, he’s skied all 54 of Colorado’s 14,000’ peaks in less than a year, the Himalayas and everywhere else we can only dream about. We caught Chris on his way to Antarctica – he tells us that he skied Mt. Rainier with fellow ultra athlete/photographer, Ted Mahon, down the Wilson Headwall after climbing the Fuhrer Thumb. He’s also skied Emmons Glacier after turning around below Liberty Ridge. More details of his Fuhrer Thumb trip are in the book, Fifty Classic Ski Descents of North America (which also includes other WA routes on Mt. Shuksan, Mt. Baker and Eldorado Glacier). Below are some pictures of Chris on Mt. Rainier taken by Ted. You can see more in the book (get a copy using the link in our sidebar under “Resources”) and at www.tedmahon.com and www.chrisdavenport.com.  We hope Chris, Ted and their friends return to ski WA again soon.

The snow keeps coming in the PNW. Crystal Mtn. is reporting 6″ in the last 24hrs and expecting several feet over the next 5 days. That said, they’ve announced that they could open as early as Thurs., Nov. 17th as well.  The race is on – who will be first to open for skiing and snowboarding in WA?  Viva la nina!

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Just a few pics from Snoqualmie Pass, WA to Schweitzer, ID on an easy date to remember the start of what could be another epic NW season. Live to Ski Another Day Snow Troopers, and see you in the lift lines soon.

Alpental, WA – as seen 8:30PM, 11.11.11 – photo by JD Smith

Alpental, WA – as seen 8:30PM, 11.11.11 – photo by JD Smith

Hyak, WA – as seen 9:30PM, 11.11.11 – photo by Cristin Kloeck

Easton, WA – as seen from WSDOT cam at 9:35PM

Schweitzer, ID – as seen 9:00PM, 11.11.11 – photo by Spencer and co.

As weather forecasters have predicted, it is coming down hard in some of our mountains today – in particular, Mt. Baker where it is getting hammered all the way down to White Salmon.  The ski area is reporting that if conditions persist (which is expected) – Mt. Baker could POSSIBLY OPEN AS EARLY AS NEXT THURSDAY, NOV. 17th!!! Viva La Nina!!

Shortly after the last storm that hit the Cascades of Washington followed a massive amount of snowriders for the weekend of November 5th and 6th. Mt. Baker’s Heliotrope and Mt. Rainier’s Muir were amongst the favorites for fresh on glacier, but Andrew, Jacob and company rolled the dice w/ a trip up to the Skyline Divide trying to avoid the mad dash for fresh. They got a late start but were overnighting on Skyline Divide and driving the car all the way to the Skyline Divide trail head was a plus.

Once the 3+ mile skin to the ridge was knocked out, camp was set, and the guys enjoyed some evening powder skiing that took place under moonlit skies.

After a cold night of sleeping on the ridge the first reward of the day was an epic Sunrise, then the skiing began!

The next morning being on the Skyline Divide already the guys were able to log some good vertical of nice powder.

short video of the trip below.

The National Weather Service has issued an URGENT WINTER SNOW WARNING in effect until 6am Thurs: A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH W. WA TONIGHT BRINGING THE 1ST SNOW OF THE SEASON TO HIGHER MOUNTAIN HIGHWAYS. UP TO 5″ OF SNOW WILL FALL IN THE MOUNTAINS TONIGHT WITH THE HIGHEST AMOUNTS IN THE N.CASCADES ABOVE 4000′: 3-5″ AT HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF MT BAKER HIGHWAY & NOAA SAYS 7-11″ AROUND 6000′ AT MT BAKER TONIGHT!! OTHER CASCADE HIGHWAYS ABOVE 4000′ INCLUDING N.CASCADES HIGHWAY & ROADS TO PARADISE, SUNRISE IN MT RAINIER NP WILL LIKELY HAVE 1-3″ TONIGHT. HIGHWAYS OVER STEVENS PASS, SNOQUALMIE PASS AND WHITE PASS AS WELL AS THE ROAD TO HURRICANE RIDGE IN OLYMPIC NP CAN EXPECT AT MOST 2″ OF SNOW.

With new snow and then sun in the forecast, TNT and I decided to head up to Mt. Baker for the day. We picked up Andrew Eckels along the way and continued our drive up highway 542 and then (right 1 mi after the Glacier visitor center) onto Glacier Creek Rd. We arrived at the Heliotrope Ridge trailhead lot (elevation 3650ft) at dawn to find about 4 other cars there – 2 more arrived shortly after us. Expecting we’d have to hike about 3.5mi before skins-on around Coleman Glacier, we packed the ski boots and set out on sneakers. Good thing ’cause the usual bridge x-ing over Grouse Creek was out, requiring a muddy downhill scramble and jump over slick rocks/logs. We hit snow at about 4500′ but with temps that dropped to the hi-20s the night before, there were many icy patches at stream x-ings and over run off. As we approached the end of the forest, we headed right, up the Climber’s Route – 100% snow coverage from there, very hard packed with icy spots. I used microspikes for the hike up (and down). TNT and Andrew put their skins on right around Hogsback camp – conditions were icy underneath the few inches of new so some might want to use crampons (definitely don’t recommend walking the traverse in shoes or boots).

Once up the ridge, we found several inches of untouched dry, light snow and we went at it – again and again. Great skiing for Oct.!

Mt. Baker as seen from our playground

video of the day below

If you like what you saw from our Mt. Baker and other backcountry trip reports and want to get in on the action, check out the guided trips and classes offered by Pro Guiding Service - a top notch operation right here in our backyard of N. Bend, WA - their group of professionally trained and certified mountain climbing and ski mountaineering guides instructs, outfits and guides all facets of mountaineering and offers a wide range of ski mountaineering (and climbing) classes and trips at very reasonable prices. They’re under the same roof as Pro Ski Service which sells and services a wide range of equipment you’ll need.  Martin Volken, the owner, is a UIAGM certified Swiss Mountain Guide who also works as an instructor/examiner for the AMGA ski mountaineering program, authored “Backcountry Skiing: Snoqualmie Pass” and co-authored “Backcountry Skiing: Skills for Ski Touring and Ski Mountaineering”.  Whether you’re looking for experienced guides for NW backcountry trips, want to improve your skills or never ventured into the backcountry before, Pro Guiding Service will get you going. There’s really no better time than now to learn:  New, specialized equipment for ski mountaineering and access to info, training and guides make it easier than ever before.  Check out the class & NW trip schedule below and visit their website for details and registration (they sell out quickly)  – learn how to get out there safely this season … live to ski another day!  See you on the snow -soon.

(Classes are held at Alpental or Snoqualmie Pass unless otherwise indicated)

AIARE 1 with REI Issaquah:  Dec. 5-11

AIARE Avalanche Course Level 1 – 3 sessions:  Jan. 3-5, Jan. 13-15, Feb. 10-12

Intro to Ski Touring – 3 sessions: Jan. 5-8, Feb. 2-5, Mar. 15-18

She Rocks Advanced Ski Touring Course – Weekend sessions: Jan. 7-29

AIARE 1 with REI Redmond – 2 sessions:  Jan. 10, 12, 14-15; Feb. 7, 9, 11-12

She Rocks Women’s Intro to Ski Touring – Jan. 14-17

Advanced Transceiver Search – Jan. 18

Intro to Ski Touring and Avalanche Education – Jan. 20-25

TGIF Day Trips to Alpental  - Jan. 20, Feb. 10, 17, 24, Mar. 2

AIARE Level 2 with REI Redmond – Jan. 24, 26, 27-29

AIARE Avalanche Course Level 2 – 2 sessions: Jan. 27-30, Feb. 17-20

Intro to Ski Touring on Saturdays – Jan. 28 – Feb. 18

Advanced Ski Touring Course on Sundays – Jan. 29 – Feb. 19

Advanced Navigation – Feb. 1-2

TGIF Day Trips to Alpental or Crystal – Mar. 2, 16, 23

Ski Mountaineering in Whistler – Mar. 2-5

Kendall Shooting Gallery (Gold Creek Valley) – Mar. 9-11

Spearhead Traverse Express – May 11-13

Forbidden Tour (N. Cascades Nat. Park) – Mar. 15-18

Chikamin High Route – Mar. 22-25