Ski Local: Part 2

Well its been an interesting week on the Palouse. We have experienced about every type of snow conditions this week. For me this week has been a chance to ski some areas I've been eyeing since the summer. Most Of the places I have been skiing this week are on private property. As such I have been reluctant to publish information on the interwebs. Instead of tippy-toe around the subject I would prefer just being straight forward. If you attempt to ski on private property always make sure you ASK FIRST in areas that are legally posted. By not doing so you risk the recreational opportunities that may be historically tolerated. Also, you may be confronted by angry landowners wondering what the hell you think your doing.  Always be prepared to explain why you are on someone else's property! That being said most people will let you if you bother to ask.


They call me Stormy Tuesday


This week Tuesday and Wednesday were great. As I was skiing down from Emile Ridge on Wednesday the freezing rain began to fall. By Thursday it was obvious that the rain crust had formed most everywhere around the area. I like skiing in firm conditions so I thought a trip up West Twin would be in order.  I had not been on a ski trip up West Twin in about five years so it was great to see the road block again. The air had heated so that the snow in the trees was constantly falling everywhere. This constant noise let me accidentally sneak to within about 20 feet of a large cow Moose. I was fumbling with the camera as it walked away and was immediately invisible. Next time I guess.




Moscow Mountain Road Block 1/19/12

A group must have been staying up at the Warnick Cabin. They picked a good week. There was a great skin track up Cabin Rd. and a couple cars in the parking lot covered in snow.  The skiing sucked but it was nice to get out. I wonder in anyone knows of a shortcut to the top of West Twin. It just doesn't seem that efficient to follow the road. However the bushwhacking in that area in gnarly. I'm thinking about traversing from Gemini trail west. Any thoughts!

On Friday it was back to Emile Ridge for some lines I have been eyeing for the last decade.




Flax Meadows



Emile Ridge, Idaho 1/21/12



Short, Fun, and steeper than it looks.



Again from the top, this time with feeling!

Overall the skiing right around Moscow is great. Aerobically you can ski for miles and technically you can find steep pitches although they are short. I can not stress enough the importance of accessing these site legally. The last thing we need as a community is to be seen as a bunch of hippy poachers. When in doubt, ask or go elsewhere. There are many public areas that offer fun just not at such a close proximity.  

I want to thank all the folks that have sent positive emails and the like. Coming up in the next couple weeks will be a few guest trip reports and a piece on helping to fight illegal snowmobiling in wilderness areas.

If you get out in the backcountry and observe any avalanche, weather, access, or snow conditions you think may be helpful to the public please send them in. Also, if you have a trip report you would like to submit please send them in. You can email palousebackcounrty@gmail.com.  Thanks for visiting! Have fun and be safe.

Ski Local

Its dumping snow on the Palouse. With travel conditions as they are, today will be a good day to hit the local spots. I've spent the last couple days "skiing local" and it's been great. Check out places like Tomer Butte, Paradise Ridge, Moscow Mountain, Kamiak Butte, and Palouse Divide. The Paradise Path is good for traditional XC skiing. Always be sure to Ask First when traveling on private land and make sure you park in a safe and courteous manner so plows can get around and do their jobs.

In conditions like we are experiencing a person can find powder to lap just about anywhere there is a hill. Minimize driving=Maximizing fun in my opinion. Often it will be better than you think. We will have more post in the days ahead on skiing local.

If you get out in the next couple days be sure to read the relevant avalanche advisories. If there is enough snow to ski there is enough to slide and with the winds it could happen anywhere!

Also, please feel free to any submit weather, snow, avalanche, or access conditions you think might be helpful to the public to palousebackcountry@gmail.com. Also send any trip report or photos you would like to see published here at Palouse Backcountry. Have fun and be safe!




Doesn't look skiable in September.



Maybe it is in January!

 


Palouse Divide and East Dennis Conditions

Headed up to Palouse Divide today. The conditions were suitable for skiing all the way up from the parking area but not skiing back down. The conditions are still very thin up to the actual Dennis Mountain Loop. The real fun was near the East/West Dennis saddle.



Mt. Dennis loop. 4'' of snow/no base



Near the East/West Dennis Saddle

I did four laps near the saddle in about four inches of low density powder.  The lighting and passing snowstorms were amazing all afternoon.
  



West Dennis

Turning is fun!



Its seemed like there were quite a few people on the South side of the highway. I think the trails on that side would be better for traditional cross-country skiing. I ended up walking about a mile or so down the road because it was to thin to ski down. It was snowing very hard up there as I was leaving. I think by the end of the week grooming the trails will be in order.

I'll be heading up to ski somewhere tomorrow so I will post a report on that tomorrow evening.  It looks like we are in for some serious snow this week. Time to wax up those powder skis!

If you get out this weekend be sure to read the latest avalanche advisories from the Panhandle National Forest Avalanche Center and the West Central Montana Avalanche Center. This new snow will surely increase the avalanche danger.  Also, be sure to remember you can submit observations or guest trip reports at palousebackcountry@gmail.com. Have fun and be safe!

Winter Wildlands Alliance Backcountry Film Festival

Thanks to the University of Idaho and Hyperspud Sports for hosting the Winter Wildlands Alliance Backcountry Film Festival. It all goes down Wednesday January 25, 2012 at the Kenworthy Performing Arts Center in beautiful downtown Moscow, Idaho. There will be nine different films including; Solitaire, Chalk and Ski, and Breaking Trail. These are great films and the proceeds go to support an awesome group the Winter Wildlands Alliance. If you can't make the show I highly recommend joining the WWA. You can get more info about here. If you like safety and quiet in the backcountry you will like there message. The show is between 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm. Tickets will be $5 and can be purchased at UIOP office at the UI rec center or at the door. For more info you can call 885-6810.

Check out the Powderwhore "Breaking Trail" Trailer and we will see you there.

Cooke City Chronicles

One of my favorite website's having to do with skiing is Cooke City Chronicles.  The author mt surf does an awesome job expressing the feeling of being in the cathedral of the mountains. I highly suggest spending a few minutes (hours) checking out his site. I especially like the black and white photos like this one of Abiathar Peak (10,928) just inside the Northeast Gate of Yellowstone National Park.




Abiathar Peak's North Couloir Photo: mt surf/Cooke City Chronicles


 The North Couloir on Abiathar Peak was first skied in 1999 by Hans Saari, Kris Erikson, and snowboarder Stephen Koch. A worthy climb let alone a ski descent. Cooke City Chronicles really lets the reader dream BIG. Dreaming is an important part of skiing and adventure. Check it out and follow your dreams!

Clearwater Mountains Bluebird

Headed up to Marks Butte near Freezeout Ridge early this morning. The roads were a little icy but I was able to drive a 2wd car to the start of FSR 301 at the St. Marie's River Rd. intersection. The road has melted out substantially and one with a 4wd vehicle with knobby tires or chains can easily make it to within 1.5 and 2 miles of the bathroom. I realized as I was getting ready that I left my avalanche beacon at home. Its still a good practice to wear one when skiing solo I think. You may come across fresh slide debris, team up with people you meet, get caught and buried with others around, and aid in recovery efforts. I knew from the get go it was going to be a mellow day.

Cold and clear

The climb up went fairly quick. A truck that went up on Tuesday broke the trail. The truck was from a group of skiers who got up in the fresh snow and had put in a track. Nice work on getting after it whoever you mystery skiers were! Just past the bathroom I met a group of three skiers from the Moscow/Pullman area who were heading up with a snowmobile. The graciously offered a ride up and I didn't want to pass up the chance of a quick ascent up the last of the flats. Holy crap I was not prepared. Its been years since I've been pulled by a real sled and I was really struggling to hold on and keep the right body position. After about a mile or so I was hosed and proceeded to skin the last two miles.

Upper slopes of Marks Butte

Freezeout Ridge

The sun was out in full force. It was awesome. A few clouds remained down in the valleys but the surrounding peaks were visible in the distance. Since I didn't have a transceiver and another group was in the area I had even more reason not to venture to far into avalanche terrain. I basically just skied back down to the radio towers for a run down the slope to the southwest of the towers.

Friendly backcountry skiers

Good Snow!

The turns down were fun. Any fresh snow this winter is good. It was overall cold and dry and the snow was already turning into surface hoar crystals.  The fresh snow was on a pretty solid crust which seemed be present on most of the upper slopes.  The southeast slopes had many well developed wind slabs that I think will be a big concern when we get more snow.

My up and down tracks

The best skiing was below the radio towers in the moderate tree terrain.  After a quick break for lunch I began the ski out which was short but fun. Lots of turns in the powder on the road. It was a fun day in the sun and snow, a little humbling in the being pulled by a snowmobile department, and a relatively safe day out. 

If you get out in the backcountry and observe any avalanche, weather, access, or snow conditions you think may be helpful to the public please send them in. Also, if you have a trip report you would like to submit please send them in. You can email palousebackcounrty@gmail.com.  Thanks for visiting! Have fun and be safe.

The Doug Coombs Quick and Painless Ski Tune

Here's a great video from the website http://www.thesnaz.com/. They have a bunch of really cool videos featuring the late Doug Coombs. This one shows Doug's time tested method of ski tuning. Enjoy!

Lookout Pass Backcountry

Headed up to Lookout Pass for a couple of days this weekend. I wanted to get out and check on the state of the snowpack and hopefully ski some powder. Sunday I went up the West side of St. Regis Basin to get a look at a large avalanche that happened late last week.  Conditions were tremendous and I was able to see the crown of the avalanche was all ready partially filled in.

Partially filled avalanche crown

I spent most of the day skiing tight trees. The snow was really good. About 15 inches of low density snow and lots of it. There are so many more people in the backcountry these days which I like. This weekend there was lots of evidence of the popularity of backcountry skiing and snowboarding.



Copper Lakes steeps

It was nice to get out in the sun finally and after a few laps I headed back up to the top of Runt Mountain and a quick ski back down to the parking lot. I slept in my car and it was actually quite cold. All part of the adventure for sure. On Monday I took the lift to the top of Runt Mountain. The plan was to ski to St. Regis Pass then climb the ridge between St. Regis Basin and Willow Creek Basin as far as I felt comfortable. As I climbed south from St. Regis Pass the temperature really started heating up. By the time I got to about the 6000 foot mark I knew I was pushing the safety boundaries. The temperature was well above freezing and the sun was beating down. With all the new snow and being by myself I decided to pull the plug. Skiing back down was awesome. Very deep powder!



Perfectly spaced trees?



The treed ridge on the upper right was my highpoint.
Approx. 6400'

By lunch I was ready for some skiing in bounds. The conditions were great. It was warm, the sun was out in full force, and there were a ton of really happy people having fun up there.  I did head out of bounds below the run B-52 and the area below the Quicksilver cat track. There was run after run of deep powder and you can now head southeast once you hit the snowmobile road. This road is downhill all the way back to the backside lift. This area is steep and definitely susceptible to avalanches. On one run I came across some young snowboarders who were in over their heads. They followed me out and were unaware of the downhill road heading back to the lift and wanted to head uphill towards the parking lot. To each there own I guess. All in all a good few days of skiing.