Flew to the left coast to visit number 1 son Jerm last week for some 
lift served skiing at Alpental and Crystal, but mostly to be part of a 
weekend back country excursion that Jeremy put together.  We were a 
group of nine going into a Central Cascade back country hut operation 
near Leavenworth called Scottish Lakes High Camp.  Most in the group 
were fairly new to back country skiing and some were new to skiing, so 
Jeremy looked for an operation that would accommodate a variety of 
abilities while offering challenge.  High Camp was perfect.  We arrived 
at the parking-lot pickup after dark on Friday.  Gear was loaded first 
on 4wd Suburbans for a two mile climb up a road resembling a bobsled 
run.  (Snow levels are quite high in the Pacific Northwest this year.)  
Gear and people was then transferred to snowmobile sleds for a six mile 
climb to High Camp huts.  Night was absolutely spectacular--crescent 
moon, billion stars, temps around 20, no wind.

Accommodations at High Camp were rustic--gas lamps, out-houses, wood 
stoves--but comfortable.  The camp has nine huts of varying size, a 
central lodge, sauna, and wood fired hot tub and is surrounded by 
spectacular terrain.  We settled in with wine, cheese, smoked salmon, 
and getting to know ya's.  Next day we parceled out the gear.  Two 
girls--from London--who had never skied took to cross-country skis for 
exploration of groomed trails around the camp.  The rest of us were on 
AT and Tele gear with skins for climbs onto the ridges that surround 
the camp.  Our first trek was a long loop up McCue Ridge--about 2.5 
hours of moderate up through a clear-cut meadow, tight tree trail and 
exposed ridge line with unbelievable views.  Snow at the top of the 
ridge was breakable crust on a south facing meadow.  But we executed a 
tricky traverse around a rock outcropping and got back into the trees 
of a north-northeast facing treed bowl.  Calf deep light powder greeted 
us--steep at the top then mellow all the way back to the camp.

After a late lunch, we skinned up Wild Bill Hill--about 600' vertical 
of recovering clear cut forest adjacent to camp.  Moderately steep 
pitch with deep powder through recently planted, well spaced trees.

Pot-luck supper in the lodge Saturday night introduced us to a variety 
of food and experiences.  Hot tub some, early to bed for others, 
followed.

Sunday breakfast was nutritional and intellectual preparation for the 
day's trek.  We planned to ski out to the cars, so we needed to be 
careful to end up in the right spot.  Clear skies of yesterday were now 
overcast with moderate snow falliing.  Jerm planned well.  We skinned 
part of the route we did the day before, but before getting into the 
high ridge we de-skinned and proceeded to the east down a mellow open 
ridge.  Powder was deep and consistent.  The ridge eventually fell away 
into a wide steep funnel into a drainage gully.  Great skiing, steep 
and deep.

Skins on to get back to the top of the ridge.  Our hopes for an easy 
exit over a small shoulder were dashed by a series of cliffs that we 
hadn't counted on.  Climb up was at first steep and across an exposed 
roll that had avi potential.  Under Jerm's direction we attacked it 
cautiously--spreading out, crossing one at a time, quickly.  We had avi 
gear, but definitely lacked experience if anything happened.  Nothing 
did, we were able to get back into the trees and continued up and out 
above the ridge.

Time for lunch and more contemplation on the best route to traverse the 
clear-cuts to get back to the ridge that would take us to the 
snow-mobile track.  Some traverse, some dropping, then a little bit of 
up to the last clear cuts.  The snow was surprisingly consistent on 
this south facing slope.  The day's new snow along with night time hoar 
frost kept the snow loose over a firm crust.  Final drop brought us to 
a tricky rock garden, but the route through it was easy to find and now 
we were on the snow mobile path.  Snow on the path was good and it was 
wide enough to keep turning, short up then about four miles of gentle 
down to the parking lot.  Gear was brought down a few minutes after we 
arrived, perfect timing, perfect weekend.

Some pictures--not much of skiing 'cause it was just too good to stop.

http://homepage.mac.com/hollymalczyk/PhotoAlbum2.html

  

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