A big thanks to Onx backcountry for making these post happen. Check out the Onx mapping app for your next backcountry adventure and click here to use the app to support your local avalanche forecasters
The definition of shralping is never clear, but throwing Cascadian powder around does perhaps qualify. Along with exploring Stevens trade routes, today also involved testing a few items from Mountain Equipment. In this photo Louie is enjoying a pair of Kamchatka Salopette, meaning full side-zip bibs that are nice and minimalist. He's also wearing a Mountain Equipment shell. These guys make some of our favorite stuff, and this year it all gets even better. We'll cover as much of it as possible over coming months. Click all photos to enlarge.
I’ve done a lot of ski trips in my life. Based on such experience, Washington State sojourns tend to be exercises in shell jacket testing under full moisture conditions. Today we tested some Mountain Equipment shells, but a water column eval was not to be. Instead, the sky looked like Colorado but the ground looked like a glacier. Perfect.
Lou
Woody Dixon finds yet another patch of untracked Cascadian whiteness.
Louie backcountry skiing Stevens Pass. We kept wanting to include the undercast in our photos.
Can't decide which photo I like better.
We're tourists, so we can't get enough of the ghost trees.
Enchanting PNW, Woody Dixon leads the way.
After this little soujourn on Stevens, Lisa and I said goodbye to Louie and headed back to Colorado. We’ll spend about a week back home then we’re on the road again, or in the sky. In fact, we’re thinking we might get to report on some rather disruptive gear along with rather good pastries, so stick around.
After 15 days of perfect pow, great friends and turns with Louie, it will be a while before Lou stops grinning. Heartfelt thanks to everyone who made our trip so magical. We wish you equally wonderful adventures in 2013. Happy New Year!
Cascadian farewell to WildSnow. Stevens waved goodbye with a brocken spectre.
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain. For more about Lou, please see his personal website at https://www.loudawson.com/ (Blogger stats: 5 foot 10 inches (178 cm) tall, 160 lbs (72574.8 grams).
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lou.dawson.writer
11 comments
Saw you at the Safeway in Leavenworth yesterday, celebrity sighting! Glad you had a good job, but quit posting photos of sun in Washington. It does not exist. First sun since October.
Unbelievably beautiful photographs! are you sure those were in the Cascades? I am sorry I missed seeing you both this time around. Hopefully we will catch up with you in Colorado some time soon. Happy New Year. –Pacia
Great photos! I envy your vision and scenery. Best wishes for the new year.
Pacia,
Woody took good care of us and it was especially nice to see the new line from Mountain Equipment. Beautiful stuff!
Come to Colorado soon for more of those blue skies. Happy New Year to you and Craig.
Lisa
I like the first shot of Louie much better. His movement is directed across the center of the frame rather than away from it. Really great photo though, with the distant mountains in the background.
Union? Jove? We were in that neighborhood as well. Perfect day
Another shot with DPS skis! The conversion must be complete!
Oh, they’re good skis no doubt. But I’m not some kind of DPS acolyte now (grin), just traveling with only two pair of skis, one skinny and one fatter, due to need to test I chose DPS for the fatter ones and Manaslu for the smaller ones. With so much powder, I ended up on the DPS most days.
WOW! These photos look awesome. The snow looks great. I am so jealous of your experience that you can have. The first look at these scenes takes my breath away. Skiing down theses slopes must be a thrill. The Cascades are extremely magnificent to ski on. It’s a great way to start off the New Year. I also like the first picture of Louie better. It’s positioned better and brings out the background. Hope you all have a safe and prosperous New Year!
Lou – thanks for the great trip reports. I’ll be at Hilda Hut in the Selkirks in a couple of weeks and I hope we have snow as good as you found.
What boots did you end up using for your BC / WA trip? It’s probably time for me to replace my Scarpa Lasers.
Hey Lou are those the Wailer 99’s??? I have a pair myself this year and think they might be in the running for best quiver of one from October to July!!!
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