Friday, March 28, 2014
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Crater Lake Splitventure Day 2 - Applegate
For day 2, we decided to head up the ridge line once again, but instead of continuing to Garfield we headed towards Applegate. We took a slightly different approach to further explore the terrain lower on the ridge but also in part because we knew what the conditions were like on the steep and icy ridge.
Somehow, we once again got into terrain that was sketch...and once again we were kicking ourselves for not having brought crampons...we loaded up on the dosage of kicking by having to kick-step our way through the steep section until we got on mellower terrain again.
We gained the ridge and then got into some open meadows that treated us to some phenomenal views of the valley and the cascades. We could see Pelican Butte, Brown Mtn, Mt McLoughlin, Mt Ashland, Union Peak, Mt Bailey, Mt Thielsen, Mt Scott, Mt Bachelor, Paulina Peak....
The weather was a little warmer than the day before and we theorized about how good the split boarding was going to be...the snow was softening up and spring corn was in the air! We made our way to the peak proper where we hung out and just filled our heads with the views. We were more than happy to just take it all in. While we were hanging out and grabbing a bite, we saw a skier come up and then drop into the scooped terrain and swoosh some turns. The best part was that we did not hear that scrape sound that comes when skiing hard snow/ice. It was setting up perfectly!
We changed from tour mode into ride mode. As we were doing that, we noticed the skier's skin tracks on the edge of the cornice! DOH! It made my heart skip a beat just thinking about how insane that was.
Bob dropped in first and got some nice arcing turns as he went down the feature. I pointed my split board downhill and did the same, albeit on a line further south to try and find untracked snow. It was full on sweet nectar of the spring snow gods. It was difficult not to enjoy the sweeping turns in the enormous terrain around you.
The plan was to ride the scoop, and then instead of riding all the way back down, we were planning on skinning back up for another quick lap. After another skin, we reached the peak again and cherry picked our line. I dropped in first and rode while trying to enjoy every moment. Within what seemed like seconds, we were at the bottom of the first feature and trying to figure out where to pick our way through on the terrain. We picked a line and tried to maintain as much momentum in order to keep moving on the slightly flat meadow section. Soon enough our speed ground to a halt and we walked over to a little knoll that would allow us to milk some more downhill out of the ride.
The lower we got, the heavier the snow got as the temps were warming up. Before we knew it, we were back in the trees and dropping back on to the access road...all too soon, it was over! An hour plus of skinning up, took us all of about 10 minutes (or less) to descend). It was all good though - it was food for the soul and head. Nothing like a little backcountry therapy to cleanse....mmmm mmmm good...thank you, may I have another!
Pictures of Day 2:
Somehow, we once again got into terrain that was sketch...and once again we were kicking ourselves for not having brought crampons...we loaded up on the dosage of kicking by having to kick-step our way through the steep section until we got on mellower terrain again.
We gained the ridge and then got into some open meadows that treated us to some phenomenal views of the valley and the cascades. We could see Pelican Butte, Brown Mtn, Mt McLoughlin, Mt Ashland, Union Peak, Mt Bailey, Mt Thielsen, Mt Scott, Mt Bachelor, Paulina Peak....
The weather was a little warmer than the day before and we theorized about how good the split boarding was going to be...the snow was softening up and spring corn was in the air! We made our way to the peak proper where we hung out and just filled our heads with the views. We were more than happy to just take it all in. While we were hanging out and grabbing a bite, we saw a skier come up and then drop into the scooped terrain and swoosh some turns. The best part was that we did not hear that scrape sound that comes when skiing hard snow/ice. It was setting up perfectly!
We changed from tour mode into ride mode. As we were doing that, we noticed the skier's skin tracks on the edge of the cornice! DOH! It made my heart skip a beat just thinking about how insane that was.
Bob dropped in first and got some nice arcing turns as he went down the feature. I pointed my split board downhill and did the same, albeit on a line further south to try and find untracked snow. It was full on sweet nectar of the spring snow gods. It was difficult not to enjoy the sweeping turns in the enormous terrain around you.
The plan was to ride the scoop, and then instead of riding all the way back down, we were planning on skinning back up for another quick lap. After another skin, we reached the peak again and cherry picked our line. I dropped in first and rode while trying to enjoy every moment. Within what seemed like seconds, we were at the bottom of the first feature and trying to figure out where to pick our way through on the terrain. We picked a line and tried to maintain as much momentum in order to keep moving on the slightly flat meadow section. Soon enough our speed ground to a halt and we walked over to a little knoll that would allow us to milk some more downhill out of the ride.
The lower we got, the heavier the snow got as the temps were warming up. Before we knew it, we were back in the trees and dropping back on to the access road...all too soon, it was over! An hour plus of skinning up, took us all of about 10 minutes (or less) to descend). It was all good though - it was food for the soul and head. Nothing like a little backcountry therapy to cleanse....mmmm mmmm good...thank you, may I have another!
Pictures of Day 2:
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Monday, March 24, 2014
Crater Lake Spring Splitventure Day 1
It has been a bit of an odd year for snow this year in Central and Southern Oregon. Southern Oregon has been stuck in the pineapple express path this year. Central Oregon got early snow and then late snow...mixed with some rain, and then more snow. It has been inconsistent at best which has made rallying for the backcountry less than ideal.
Since Crater Lake is more or less halfway between Central Oregon and Southern Oregon, it has been a bit more of a mixed bag than the Central Oregon mixed bag.
Bob and I rallied to meet for a weekend of splitboarding at Crater Lake this past weekend. We were a bit anxious about the snowpack and conditions as the area did not seem to have received their usual huge snowpack.
The upside was that the weather looked absolutely amazing for the weekend...It looked like spring corn conditions were in store and mother nature did not betray us relative to what the forecasters had projected for the weekend.
This was the first time we had been able to align calendars and weather to meet up for a Crater Lake rendezvous since earlier in the season and we quickly realized the season might soon be coming to a close. What better way to celebrate it than with an exceptionally mild day with views for hundreds of miles?
The game plan was to leave before mid-morning such that the temps would warm up a little and soften the snow up. We got more than what we bargained for. As we were getting ready to leave, I heard Bob exclaim something along the line of 'ruh roh'...That is never a good thing to hear as 99 times out of 100 it means something was forgotten. I recognize that tone well as I have been guilty of the same. As it turns out the missing offenders were the poles. We surveyed the options and then came up with a plan...it just meant we would get a little later start but that actually ended up working in our favor since the snow conditions were just getting better as the day progressed.
After sorting through some of the logistical challenges, we made our way into the park and parked at the lower visitor center that would give us access to the upper ridge. From there we would see what conditions held in store and plan the day accordingly.
We started the steep ascent up the ridge and quickly realized we should have brought our crampons as the icy and steep conditions proved sketchy!! As I was cutting back on one of the steep switchbacks, one of my split edges lost contact and there I was sliding down the hillside with poles askew and split board and skins all going in different directions. It was as if someone threw a starfish down down the side of the hill and watched it slide and spin until friction finally stopped the slide. It woke me up and Bob got a good chuckle of the clown show that unfolded in front of him. I gained a renewed respect for the conditions that day as we kept lamenting the poor planning of leaving our crampons behind, With the crampons, the icy side-hilling ascent would have been much much easier and dare I say 'enjoyable'?
We tried to find 'good' snow with better traction but were stymied by the icy conditions thanks to the old growth drips freeze/thaw cycle. Eventually, the ridge was gained and we got into a better rhythm as we continued our approach. As we ascended, we discussed the options and fairly quickly settled on some unfinished business....Garfield Peak. We had ogled this bold and proud line for a while but wanted to make sure conditions were safe since it is an avalanche path. We had done the lower section of it before but had never dropped in from the top to link the line from top to bottom. Conditions proved to be uber safe as the snow was very well consolidated (concreted) with a layer on top that was starting to soften up.
We reached the summit of Garfield which is right around 8,000 ft and we took our time enjoying the views and being in the moment. There was very little wind so we lingered and basked in the process of switching from tour to ride mode.
Soon enough we were on the upper glade that is separated from the bottom section by a rock band that you can either drop through a chute or skirt around the side on some steep terrain.
While on the upper glade, I had a moment of realization and clarity that shouted out loud to not be over-zealous and over-aggressive as falling would mean a long slide until the terrain flattened out. The conditions were such that a fall would have consequences. As quickly as those thoughts raced through my mind, they quickly subsided as I found the flow and was able to carve some McDreamy turns....ahhhhh
All too soon we were at the rock band and we worked our way around the band and got some more luscious turns in while hooting and hollering on the way down. We both knew that this was a culmination of having the patience to wait for the right conditions and being bold. It all came together and we each really enjoyed being in the moment as we rooster tailed turns on the way down.
Day 1 was in the books and it would prove to be a cherry day! Every time I pass that line, I will think fondly of the virgin run down it...and I look forward to the next time everything aligns so we get an opportunity to ride it.
more pix to come....
Since Crater Lake is more or less halfway between Central Oregon and Southern Oregon, it has been a bit more of a mixed bag than the Central Oregon mixed bag.
Bob and I rallied to meet for a weekend of splitboarding at Crater Lake this past weekend. We were a bit anxious about the snowpack and conditions as the area did not seem to have received their usual huge snowpack.
The upside was that the weather looked absolutely amazing for the weekend...It looked like spring corn conditions were in store and mother nature did not betray us relative to what the forecasters had projected for the weekend.
This was the first time we had been able to align calendars and weather to meet up for a Crater Lake rendezvous since earlier in the season and we quickly realized the season might soon be coming to a close. What better way to celebrate it than with an exceptionally mild day with views for hundreds of miles?
The game plan was to leave before mid-morning such that the temps would warm up a little and soften the snow up. We got more than what we bargained for. As we were getting ready to leave, I heard Bob exclaim something along the line of 'ruh roh'...That is never a good thing to hear as 99 times out of 100 it means something was forgotten. I recognize that tone well as I have been guilty of the same. As it turns out the missing offenders were the poles. We surveyed the options and then came up with a plan...it just meant we would get a little later start but that actually ended up working in our favor since the snow conditions were just getting better as the day progressed.
After sorting through some of the logistical challenges, we made our way into the park and parked at the lower visitor center that would give us access to the upper ridge. From there we would see what conditions held in store and plan the day accordingly.
We started the steep ascent up the ridge and quickly realized we should have brought our crampons as the icy and steep conditions proved sketchy!! As I was cutting back on one of the steep switchbacks, one of my split edges lost contact and there I was sliding down the hillside with poles askew and split board and skins all going in different directions. It was as if someone threw a starfish down down the side of the hill and watched it slide and spin until friction finally stopped the slide. It woke me up and Bob got a good chuckle of the clown show that unfolded in front of him. I gained a renewed respect for the conditions that day as we kept lamenting the poor planning of leaving our crampons behind, With the crampons, the icy side-hilling ascent would have been much much easier and dare I say 'enjoyable'?
We tried to find 'good' snow with better traction but were stymied by the icy conditions thanks to the old growth drips freeze/thaw cycle. Eventually, the ridge was gained and we got into a better rhythm as we continued our approach. As we ascended, we discussed the options and fairly quickly settled on some unfinished business....Garfield Peak. We had ogled this bold and proud line for a while but wanted to make sure conditions were safe since it is an avalanche path. We had done the lower section of it before but had never dropped in from the top to link the line from top to bottom. Conditions proved to be uber safe as the snow was very well consolidated (concreted) with a layer on top that was starting to soften up.
We reached the summit of Garfield which is right around 8,000 ft and we took our time enjoying the views and being in the moment. There was very little wind so we lingered and basked in the process of switching from tour to ride mode.
Soon enough we were on the upper glade that is separated from the bottom section by a rock band that you can either drop through a chute or skirt around the side on some steep terrain.
While on the upper glade, I had a moment of realization and clarity that shouted out loud to not be over-zealous and over-aggressive as falling would mean a long slide until the terrain flattened out. The conditions were such that a fall would have consequences. As quickly as those thoughts raced through my mind, they quickly subsided as I found the flow and was able to carve some McDreamy turns....ahhhhh
All too soon we were at the rock band and we worked our way around the band and got some more luscious turns in while hooting and hollering on the way down. We both knew that this was a culmination of having the patience to wait for the right conditions and being bold. It all came together and we each really enjoyed being in the moment as we rooster tailed turns on the way down.
Day 1 was in the books and it would prove to be a cherry day! Every time I pass that line, I will think fondly of the virgin run down it...and I look forward to the next time everything aligns so we get an opportunity to ride it.
more pix to come....
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