The Snow Troopers

Skyline Divide, WA – Eye Candy – 7/24/10

TNT — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:27:54 +0000

July 24, 2010 – On the day the bridge opened for the Skyline TH just out of Glacier, WA thought it could be a nice ridge walk w/ a possible ski. To make this trip more of a workout, train for hanging w/ the Traslin Bros, and most of all get a friend to come w/ I acted as a Sherpa packing boots & skis x 2 pair for a six mile in to finally get a small patch to play on off of Peak 6563′. The skiing was much better at the 6,000 + level w/ the sun cups small enough to open it up for some good Summer Cascade Carving.

This ridge walk is now one of my all time favorites w/ skis or w/out. Just remember if you do it w/out snow bring lots of water for it is a DRY hike. Check out some pics on our facebook page and friend us while you are there too!

Live to Ski Another Day!
TNT

Table Mtn, WA – Steep Late Lines – 7/23&25/10

TNT — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 01:15:14 +0000

Camping on the Mighty Nooksack River just past Glacier, WA and skiing some of the surrounding zones. Wanting to take it easy on a couple of days enjoying both the river and the snow, we found our selves up at the Mt. Baker ski area for some “skins on” at the parking lot of the US Forest Service visitor center and made our way for Table Mountain.

Coverage was great for late July but the sun cups were quite large on the super steep skiers’ left Blueberry chutes. Still had last weeks sun cups from Chinook in my head that were very soft and could rip down the mountain slicing right through them w/ no problem. First lap skied the shot just to the lookers’ right of the final pitch of the summer Table Mtn. trail and did a hip check on my third turn which took me by total suprise and put my confidence in check for the far skiers’ left chute. the chute had a nice 8′ or so moat 1/3 of the way down which would gobble you up w/ a fall anywhere above that point, so always wanting to “Live to Ski Another Day” I practiced my survival ski skills the entire way down!

It was nice to have the snow so close to the car but it is time to head much higher now. Any one wanting some steep sun cup car serve skiing? If so, Artist Point opens this upcoming weekend 7/31/10 (if not sooner per the ranger at parking lot this past Sat.).

Check out some pics on our facebook page and friend us while you are there too!

Hyak, WA – The Little Beast from “Summit East” – Summer 2010

TNT — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:28:54 +0000

Lots of friends have been asking of the progress up here on our “Home” mountain Summit East – the gem w/ in the crown of jewels of the Summit at Snoqualmie. Well here is a link to our facebook page for some pics taken over the last few weeks up here. The guys are movin’ fast on this project so we can have a lift served season here at Hyak, WA. Don’t know if you remember or not what shut us down for almost two seasons, The Massive Avalanche of January 2009. See the video below taken 15 minutes after Avalanche took out the lift and a locals house w/ him in it watching tv at the time.

The Video below is of some good times on Summit East and what awaits us for the 2010/2011 season!!!
Thanks Dan, Guy, Trevor and the rest of the Summit at Snoqualmie’s kick butt team for making it happen!

Chinook Pass, WA – Ski From Vehicle – 7/16-17/10

TNT — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 03:22:52 +0000

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!

“Skate the Snow” teaser – History of Snosk8in’

TNT — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:11:16 +0000

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!

Central Cascades-Purgatory Walkabout-7/10-12/10

TNT — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:43:13 +0000

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

Summer Training Program for Balance, Speed, and Strength

TNT — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 16:13:08 +0000

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

Stewart, BC, Canada -TGR teaser, Last Frontier Heliskiing – 2010

TNT — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 05:34:42 +0000

A little teaser from one of the BIG boys…

“Skate the Snow” teaser – History of Snosk8in’

Silver Peak, WA – Broken Record – July 7, 2010

TNT — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 16:28:09 +0000

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.

Silver Peak, WA – Best July Skiing in a Decade – July 5, 2010

TNT — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 03:13:56 +0000

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!