Zach drops into a chute, thankful to be skiing snow rather than moss.
If yesterday represented a complete lack of achieved snow, today went 180 degrees in the other direction. Then added a 360. Fresh, sometimes quite deep, snow was in abundance as Zach and I followed, then broke, a trail on Mt. Herman in the vicinity of the Mt. Baker Ski Area.
Clouds gave way to clear blue skies, which Zach informed me are a rarity in the area. With the Mt. Baker area having recorded the highest snowfall for any ski area in the world in 1998/1999 (at 1,140 inches), I can understand why it is often cloudy.
Zach breaking trail through more of the deep stuff.
Between skiing on Mt. Herman, then doing laps below Table Mountain, we got a look at some potential objectives for later during our stay in the Cascade region. There’s a definite kid-in-a-candy-store effect to be had here. There are large peaks in most directions. Coverage up high is excellent. The key to ski descent success in the Pacific Northwest appears to be to begin ski tours above the treeline, in the alpine. (Noted..!) Snowpack stability has become a larger issue than it was several days ago, but that’s what happens when large storms leave loads of snow laying about.
A view to the South before the clouds disappeared.
Zach finding equilibrium with a swooping turn on mellow terrain.
A OK making tracks down the first line of the day. Pic by Zach Guy.
A OK pushing out a few mellow GS turns. Photo by Zach Guy.
Zach steps in to give a crown line the snow scientist exam.
For those of you who enjoy these sorts of things, here’s Zach doing a cameo appearance above his powder cloud.
Mt. Shuksan. That’s 100% mountain, that is..
Oh those are some fabulous pictures!
Wendy – Why thank you. I’ll be sure to tell my camera guy!