White Salmon Glacier skiing - March 1, 2003
White Salmon glacier goes up to the right.
Stupid Movie
WSSC - the movie - 2.8MB, 4m12s
We contoured from the Baker ski resort into upper White Salmon creek, taking about
75 minutes to finally reach continuous open terrain. Then it was a slog through
avalanche debris up to the toe of the glacier. Lucky for us, this area had received 5 or
so inches of snow the previous day, because as feared, last weeks powder had been pounded into a
very solid windcrust.
Hiking up. photo Greg M.
When we got to the steepening of the glacier, Matt and I put skis on our back, since
the terrain was kind of constricted for switchbacking up on skis. Greg put on his
horscheizen. Very quickly, Matt was on smooth glare ice topped with a few inches of powder.
We had no crampons, so this way was a no go. We climbed back down a bit, and continued
up along a fresh slough released from Mt Shuksan the previous day. More "in the line
of fire" than our original route, but it was quite cold today so it should be safe.
Matt begins his ski. photo Greg M.
Sometimes it was breakable crust, sometimes it was a powder wallowfest, sometimes it was
a firm crust, sometimes ice. The higher we get, the less consistent it becomes.
We make our way up towards what looks like a crevasse indentation, and set a "decision spot" as
some rocks just above it. Motivation wanes as the conditions worsen. Turn around here?
"I guess we should at least go to the rocks... have some kind of destination." said Matt.
Occasionally I suggest we should put skis back on and skin up, since the terrain is so
wide open, and it would be safer. But kicking steps is going quick, so we just continue
doing that.
Matt, and some nice light. photo Greg M.
I continue up, veering a hundred feet or so right of the suspicious indentation, and get into a rhythm, aiming
for the rocks. Suddenly, poof, my right foot disappears into a hole! With my left foot
and both poles on solid ground, I avoid plunging any further. Hmm, this crevasse was
totally concealed, but by only about 8 inches of snow as I find out as I clear away the
"snowbridge" with my ski pole. It appears to go down a long ways. Stupid! Should have
put the skis on. Still... unusual to find such a thinly covered crevasse in March in the Cascades?
Seeing as we are not roped up and have
no crevasse rescue gear, this seems like a good spot to turn around.
Turn Matt, turn. Baker ski area in the background. photo Greg M.
The descent from around 6000ft is better than expected,
and we find a nice section that isn't too crusty, and in fact has some good powder.
Nice to be on such a long slope!
Lower down, the snow becomes atrocious survival skiing on breakable crust... finally the crust
ends and we slither down on silky powder on a firm base. It's still early afternoon, so
we decide to climb to a nearby knoll for what looks like a nice 600ft run. It is very nice, so
we do it again before heading out, and make it back to the ski resort by 5.
Matt heads toward the MatCave.
Tracks from where we turned around. The crevasse is obvious now
that the sun is on it, but I was well to the right of the last visible indentation.
