Mt. Rainier, Summerland, July 6-8, 2012

 

Me.

  

Phil at the Bridge

  

Brian and the Big R.

 

 The view expands as we near the lower slopes of Summerland.

 

 Brian and Phil climbing into lower Summerland.

Lower Summerland

Our camp in the "Meadow".  Both afternoons, we were approached by rangers who informed us that we were illegally camped in a meadow. They were nice enough to not cite us and make us move, but now we are in "the system".

 

 After setting up our camp we skied up toward Goat Cirque and upper Summerland in search of running water, and turns.

Climbing above the valley bottom gave us this view of Goat Cirque.

 

Phil, ripping some turns on the way back toward camp.

Our morning view from camp.

 

 After breakfast, we skinned up to the watering hole before heading up toward Panhandle Gap.

 

 Brian and Phil skinning toward Panhandle Gap. Meany Crest, with Rainier behind, is in the background.

Panhandle Gap is the corniced saddle right of center.

The view to the northwest from above Panhandle Gap

 

The view to the south from the Gap.  Goat Rocks is on the left, and Mt Adams is the big one to the right.

 

 Phil, skiing the slope above Panhandle Gap.

Phil taking a picture of Brian skiing down. The cornices on Panhandle Gap loom above.

Brian, skiing down slopes below the Gap.

 

Me, skiing into Goat Cirque (photo courtesy of Phil).

Phil, climbing into Goat Cirque for one more run before heading back to camp.

Klahanne Ridge, Olympic National Park, June 12th, 2012

 Climbing the route of the snow-covered Switchback Trail. We would return to the car down these slopes.

Approaching the ridge top.

 Looking south toward Hurricane Ridge and the heart of the Olympic Range beyond.

 From the top of the ridge, looking down into the north bowl.

 Kevin making tracks down the upper bowl. The snow was new from the last couple of days, buttery smooth, and very fast.

 We met a local named Gary at the top of the ridge. He caught up with us at the bottom of the lower bowl.

 Heading back up...

 and up..

 and up.

The view out over the Strait of Juan de Fuca, to Mt. Baker, from the top of the ridge.

Lundin Couloir, June 3, 2012

A rather ugly start to a rather unpleasant tour.

Majestic old fir at the rim of Commonwealth Basin.

Commonwealth Creek, at the entrance to Commonwealth Basin

My objective was the snow couloir in the upper right of this picture. A grove of subalpine fir blocks the entrance to the start of the couloir.

Avalanche debris at the base of the Lundin Couloir. There was a grove of subalpine firs filling the entrance to the middle third of the couloir. I named it The Strainer. It was steep and the firs created a snaggle-toothed environment that couldn't be bypassed.

Looking up at the final climb to the col at the top. Unfortunately, this was my high point.

Looking down on the middle third of the couloir from my high point. (You can see The Strainer in the middle of the picture.) I stopped here to eat some food and hydrate. Within minutes, a squall blew through, making everything wet. I was figuring to wait this out and get to the top of the route, but then the thunder starts rolling in. Time to go down.

I found a crack in the toe piece of one pair of my Switchback binding. I sent this picture to Voile on a Monday, and by Friday I had a new set of beefier toe pieces, under warranty!
Voile rocks!

Kendall Knob, 7 April 2012

 Looking across the pass to Summit Central just after breaking out of the trees.

 The view toward Summit West, and Granite Peak and Bandera Mt. beyond.

 Looking toward Kendall Ridge above Kendall Peak Lakes.

 Skyline Peaks, left to right: Granite Mt., Bandera, Denny Mt, Bryant, Chair Peak, Roosevelt Peak, Guye Peak and Snoqualmie Mt. Summit West and I-90 in the foreground.

 Self-portrait.

 Wind-buffed sugar snow, soon to be corn.

 The slope leading to the traverse around to the east leading to the summit of Kendall Knob.

 The summit of Kendall Knob. Rainier and Silver Peak on the right horizon.

 My tracks on the east side of Kendall Knob. I hit this slope just as the corn set in.

 In the Coal Creek Basin below Kendall Peak Lakes. I had plenty of time, so I headed up to the top of the basin to get in another run before heading home.

The view of the east side of Kendall Knob from my high point at the head of Coal Creek Basin. My tracks run parallel to the treeline coming down off the ridge.