This winter was punctuated by far too many schedule, work and snow condition issues to get much done. Resort skiing just did not have the appeal it once did. Rock climbing provided an interspersed diversion and it was great to finally know that spring had started to arrive. Early in the year I decided that a brush-up on my glacier climbing skills was needed, it had been a while since I had walked across a crack strewn field. The Mountaineers advertised a backcountry ski course that covered all the bits and pieces needed to refresh the old grey matter and keep me safe. Over all it was a great course and the instructors Oyvind, Richard and Tobae made sure that the skill level of the objectives were scaled to the ability of the participants.
Beautiful spring weather made Early Winter Spires even more inviting
This time of year at Washington Pass and Blue Lake trail head turns out to be one of the most popular ski destinations in the state, perhaps in all of the country with about 25 cars parked at the pull-out. This sets up an interesting set of decisions – especially when the conditions change. Do we follow everyone else’s tracks or do we make our own way? When one sees multiple tracks, the assumption is that they lead the correct and safe way up. Reality may be a lot different, skin track that is steep and direct is not always the fastest. Sometimes I wonder if the track isn’t set steep just to show how direct you can get. We set our own out of the trees to gain the ridge. It is interesting to use the terrain to one’s advantage and gain altitude with out needing heel lifters and extra strain of a steep climb, saving energy for really needing it.
Slot we skied is to the left in the photo.
After reaching the ridge and reviewing snow anchors, ice ax arrest, and belaying (something that everyone should do each year) we proceeded to decide which way to ski down. There is a narrow looking slot just above where we stopped and it was decided that we would ski through it and down the slope back to the cars. I am not one to choose narrow places to ski and was nervous about the prospect. Oyvind did a great job of coaching with by saying, “We can manage through this by taking a look at it in different places.” Which was the most important thing that I learned from the course, that you are in control of where you are in the mountains and careful travel also means making the right decisions at the right time.
Always looks flat in the pictures
Nice ski tour on a beautiful day. It is always good to get out and do a trip with new people. The mountains looking across the valley looked inviting as they stetched away from our vantage point. Life’s work lay ahead for some. Crasy possibilities. The snow is melting fast and will allow for light and fast travel to summits. I figure that we will need to climb just about every weekend this summer in order to get caught up on our quest to do the 100 by the end of the year. We may need to extend things a few months or get a spate of great weather. Mayber this summer will be one of the best summers for weather and getting up climbs. We have a long trip scheduled right around the first part of July, but until then we have four or five weekends to get up stuff.
Life's work. Looking northwest from Blue Lake Peak
Since I am now unemployed, Woody, Will, Bill and I decided to stay an additional day and do a tour.