TR: Corn in the BC

SkaredShtles · 03-19-2007, 12:26 PM

So my buddy asked last week if I wanted to hit up some BC goods this weekend... to which I promptly respondend "Well.... maybe."

Turns out the wife was feeling extra generous, so she gave me the green light. We met at a local PnR at 06:00 and headed up. Two of the other guys bailed on us (one guy's wife got called in unexpectedly and the other had a "leak under his kitchen sink"

), so the other three of us hit the trailhead and got geared up right at 08:00.

The skin up was pretty much "wander through the woods in a northwesterly direction until you hit treeline" - which worked pretty well. We got suckered a couple times into some fairly tight trees which is always a PITA to navigate.

Stopped by a little cabin that was pretty much buried in the snow - if it hadn't been for somebody digging out about 2' in front of the door we probably wouldn't have seen it at all.

Hit treeline and skinned into the basin below our objective. Discussed ascent options and decided to head straight up the bowl. The angle was not too steep to skin - but almost. We hit the ridge, hung out to wait for the corn to ripen, dug a quick pit just to check the general demeanor of the snow, and had some "lunch" (it was only about 10:30).

After twiddling our thumbs for about 30 minutes we did the quick boot to the summit proper (12573') and checked the great views of the mountains all around. The wind was howling, of course, on the top, so we quickly de-skinned, locked the bindings, and started down.

The first few hundred was variable sun crust, windblown, and icy hardpack, but once the aspect moved to S-SE the corn was revealed. Had a bunch of really nice corn turns all the way into the basin floor. We then *attempted* to ski some really nice glades back to the trailhead but ended up getting creeked in what I suspect was Cucumber Creek. Trees were f**king tight as all Hell and the easiest descent was in the creekbed - and you know how those tend to work out.

We eventually traversed a little and found a crazy little window down through the trees which eventually dumped us out on the nordic trail system. We made a *fast* descent from that point back to the trailhead. All told - 4 hours round trip with an elevation gain of about 2500'...

Next time maybe we'll do a few laps.

I need fatter BC skis.

Pics to follow... maybe.

RenegadeRick · 03-19-2007, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkaredShtles

I need fatter BC skis.

Who are you and what have you done with SS?

amydalayna · 03-19-2007, 12:57 PM

maybe we will know it is his when he says:

'here is a picture. I didn't take it and it is no one in my group, but it WAS the same day I was out... and yes, it was that good'.

but i'm still confused. SS... are you really admitting you would like fatter skis?

SkaredShtles · 03-19-2007, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amydalayna

maybe we will know it is his when he says:

'here is a picture. I didn't take it and it is no one in my group, but it WAS the same day I was out... and yes, it was that good'.

but i'm still confused. SS... are you really admitting you would like fatter skis?

Yes - for BC. Breakable crust is a heartbreaking condition to encounter with skinny skis. Especially with the reduced control of AT boots.

amydalayna · 03-19-2007, 01:51 PM

would it have been better if you started a bit later in the day?

SkaredShtles · 03-19-2007, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amydalayna

would it have been better if you started a bit later in the day?

It has been really warm up high lately. We were hoping that our ascent would be mostly on frozen pack to avoid the bottomless wallow that can occur when the lower snowpack loosens. We probably could've waited it out another hour on the summit but the wind talked us out of it.