TR: PNW Greybird Chuting

**Northway** · 03-09-2008, 07:20 PM

Date:
March 7, 2008

Location:
Central Washington Cascades

Skiers:
PNWBrit & Northway

History:
Cruising the hills this past summer, I happened to follow a ridgeline around a beautiful chute and gulley filled basin with perfect north aspect that just looked like incredibly fun terrain. It became one of the 'must hits' this winter.

We had a couple early season storms followed by great weather, and thinking there might be enough snow to ski, I enlisted BC-Flow and Squirrel99 for a scouting mission back in late November. With the early season ski jones in full effect, we were excited to get out. Well, the coverage turned out to be thin and the snow a HORRIBLE combination of punchy and crusty that had us scratching down one lap and retreating out of there.

BC-Flow making it look MUCH better than it was. (November '07)

Jump to present day:
With a bit of new snow early last week, but sun and warming affecting most aspects, it seemed a good time to head back in there and see if we could catch the north aspect with some winter snow.
With the original scout team unavailable, PNWBrit and I headed out on Friday to have a look.

The day dawned and remained perfect PNW greybird.

PNWBrit scratching up across the frozen cue ball that was the refrozen southern aspect of the approach:

About this time we were both feeling like the chances of finding winter conditions were fading fast.

Topping the ridge, the north aspect revealed densified cold wintery pow! We were psyched!

PNWBrit skinning a tranquil, grey ridge:

We come across something that looks fun to ski:

So we do. Northway preparing to drop in:

PNWBrit cranking 'em through the chute:

And arcing out the apron in boot deep recycled pow:

Looking back up at the line:

What a difference a snowpack makes.

Same line from November:

With the sky growing ever greyer, we think we can get another lap before the weather really turns.

The pow near the trees looks even better so we head for this:

And PNWBrit does his thing again:

Northway follows, with a 'centered' pow stance:

That was good. We should come back sometime.

Thanks PNWBrit, what a great day in the mountains!

**Dromond** · 03-09-2008, 07:56 PM

Looks like fun! Grey isn't so bad as long as you're skiing near stuff and the snow's not to variable, eh?

**Scotsman50** · 03-09-2008, 08:14 PM

Very nice area you guys found and well done on not turning around while on the skating rink.

**PNWbrit** · 03-09-2008, 08:30 PM

A great day Northway. Even the not really very much fun bits were enjoyable.

North facing snow was consistent dreamy goodness, unbelievable considering the south facing crap that we toured up. My feet are still vibrating from going back down that shit though.

Let's get that other project marketing email going this week?

Scotsman: I avalung-bugled for you from the ridge figuring you might just hear me at the hill.

**Zeedashbo** · 03-09-2008, 08:36 PM

nice work fellas. looks like northway had a day off from race coaching. did much the same east of the pass in the sun. some very nice snow above 5,000 feet.

**Shin-to-Win** · 03-09-2008, 10:52 PM

Way to find the good stuff yesterday. After scraping the ice off of the groomers this morning, we poked around a few of the more remote northern aspects today and found some untracked creamy goodness as well.

Must be getting spoiled cause it left me jonesing for some new nukeage.

**highflyingpilot** · 03-09-2008, 11:35 PM

It wouldn't be a PNW TR unless is was grey.

**PNWbrit** · 03-10-2008, 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by Zeedashbo

nice work fellas. looks like northway had a day off from race coaching. did much the same east of the pass in the sun. some very nice snow above 5,000 feet.

That photo of him standing at the top? Seconds before that he'd asked me where the gates were.

Northway's ski skillz > my photography skillz

**Northway** · 03-10-2008, 02:01 PM

but...but...How do you know where you are SUPPOSED to turn?

**Squirrel99** · 03-10-2008, 03:22 PM

Yeah buddy! Nice to get it with some snowpack this time

I gotta get back there this Spring

**PeachesN'Cream** · 03-10-2008, 04:53 PM

Well played boys!

Hope to do a re-hash of that november mission later this spring. Just got a positive ruling on my ACL and should only have to go in for some light knee cleanup. Hoping to be back to full power in early April. Perfect for the touring season and spring dumps.