– The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures

– The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog

Banner
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures
   

Sahale Soujourn — PNW

by Lou Dawson July 6, 2012
written by Lou Dawson July 6, 2012
On Sahale Arm, Johannesburg Peak is the backdrop.

On Sahale Arm, Johannesburg Peak is the backdrop. Click most images to enlarge.

Yeah, it’s a trade route. So with that out of the way, PNW locals, you can hold your ribbing. Thing is, I’ve got a list and trade routes all over the world are on it. It’s a writer thing, perhaps some of you understand (grin). Good to catch another tradster.

Sahale Mountain in Washington’s Cascades boasts a big long ridge called Sahale Arm — makes for an excellent low-key ski location in contrast to surrounding mountains that remind you of Chamonix. Lots of good stuff on the web about Sahale, so a few photos will suffice:

Some guy with a big camera named Jason said we should do this twig crawling.

Some guy with a big camera named Jason said we should do this twig crawling or we could not say we'd skied the PNW. Our feet were still on the ground, so it didn't count as bushwacking, but still, do we get a badge or something?

The day began with a sporty little traverse above glide cracks and punji stakes.

The day began with a sporty little traverse above glide cracks and punji stakes. This to avoid what locals told us was 'the endless hiking trail that actually goes downhill when you want it going uphill.'

You arrive at Cascade Pass, then swing northerly away from the Chamonix zone.

You arrive at Cascade Pass, then swing northerly away from the Chamonix zone to the semi-Cham zone. That's Eldorado Peak in the background, another Cascade classic.

On Sahale Arm, actual summit is the tiny bump on horizon.

On Sahale Arm, actual summit is the tiny bump on horizon. A small glacier sits below the top bump. I didn't know how safe that glacier is so we did our turnaround there instead of the summit. Later, I found out most people just ski over the glacier unroped as it has nearly zero crevasse danger

I couldn't resit snapping this classic view of Lisa in front of Johannesburg.

I couldn't resit snapping this classic view of Lisa in front of Johannesburg.

And finally, I was playing around trying to get Euro style hero flash-fill shots.

And finally, I was playing around trying to get Euro style hero flash-fill shots.

Looks like we’ve got a nice weather window for a few more days, so we’ll be trying to hit a few more classics up here in the Cascadian zone. Thanks all for visiting WildSummerSnow.com

7 comments
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
previous post
WS Field Office Forage: Stinging Nettle Pasta
next post
Mount Adams Southwest Chutes — World’s Best Ski Descents

7 comments

Mirz July 6, 2012 - 9:45 am

this looks really beautiful. I think I have to make it out to the Cascades next summer 🙂 thank you for sharing your experiences. amazing pictures. best wishes, mirza

Pete Anzalone July 6, 2012 - 11:16 am

Looks like sun-cup-city but still better than a bike ride.
Beautiful pix!!

Jason Hummel July 6, 2012 - 11:18 am

So cool you guys got 1st tracks too. Nice. What a great, great choice. You guys picked a classic.

Lisa July 8, 2012 - 8:40 am

Jason, wonderful to meet you and Andy. I always look forward to viewing your magnificent photos. Keep up the great work.

Andy Traslin July 8, 2012 - 11:38 pm

That’s the beauty of the of PNW in the summer, when it is sunny.
You can ski one day and mountain bike the next.

Drew Tabke July 10, 2012 - 1:26 pm

Suncups ruined my vacation.

Tob January 25, 2013 - 10:07 pm

I love that area! If you really want to experience pnw bushwhacking, do the ptarmigan traverse. Cascade wedge is practically mandatory!

Comments are closed.

Recent Comments

  • Leadville Longstrider on Giving Myself the Gift of Backcountry
  • rob coppolillo on The No-Beacon Day — Using Terrain to Minimize Avalanche Exposure
  • Stefan Ucloud on The No-Beacon Day — Using Terrain to Minimize Avalanche Exposure
  • rob coppolillo on The No-Beacon Day — Using Terrain to Minimize Avalanche Exposure
  • Tom Scilacci on Tele Tech First Look — Voile Ultra Vector BC, 22 Designs Lynx, Scarpa TX Pro

Gear Reviews

  • Versatile and Sustainable — WNDR Vital 100 Ski Review

    January 14, 2021
  • Meidjo 3.0 Binding Review – Backcountry Telemark Evolves

    January 12, 2021
  • Tele Tech First Look — Voile Ultra Vector BC, 22 Designs Lynx, Scarpa TX Pro

    January 5, 2021

Trip Reports

  • Finding Early Turns on Rainier’s Muir Snowfield

    November 14, 2020
  • Treading Lightly Through Close-to-Home Mountains

    October 6, 2020
  • Snoqualmie Classic — Chair Peak Circumnavigation

    May 26, 2020

Totally Deep Podcast

  • Risky Business — Zahan Billimoria on Solving for Z

    December 14, 2020
  • Totally Deep Podcast 81 — CAIC Director Ethan Greene

    December 9, 2020
  • Unraveling the Mysteries of Avalanche Education — Totally Deep Podcast 80

    November 16, 2020

Tips & Tricks

  • 10 Essential Mistakes for the Backcountry Ski Touring Beginner

    December 2, 2020
  • Buying Used Gear Guide Part II — Poles, Avy Gear, Packs

    November 25, 2020
  • Save Your Ski Day — Emergency Car Kit Essentials

    November 24, 2020

Ski Touring Stories

  • Giving Myself the Gift of Backcountry

    January 15, 2021
  • Six Who Dared — Elk Mountains Traverse & Richard Compton Tribute

    January 7, 2021
  • Risky Business — Zahan Billimoria on Solving for Z

    December 14, 2020

Newsletter Sign-Up

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • About Lou Dawson
  • Authors Page
  • About
  • Contact
  • Copyright & Legal
  • Website Security

@2020 - All Rights Reserved. Designed and Developed by WildSnow


Back To Top

Read alsox

Six Who Dared — Elk Mountains...

January 7, 2021

Finding Early Turns on Rainier’s Muir...

November 14, 2020

Treading Lightly Through Close-to-Home Mountains

October 6, 2020