In 2017 I found myself back in New Zealand and ready to go on some new adventures. I had gone down on a trip with my wife and after a month of tourist based activities it was time to get back out in the backcountry. My friend Adam came up with a plan to do a heli accessed mission to Hope Lake in the Otago Backcountry. Once dropped off we would set up a tent and ride some lines in the area.
Base Camping
Base Camping in the Khibiny Mountains
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One of our main goals on our week long ski vacation to to do a base camping mission in the Khibiny mountains. From the day we arrived in the Kola Peninsula we watched the weather forecast and on the 3rd day of the trip we had a 3 day weather window. The good thing was that it would be clear skies but the bad thing is the temperatures would dip down to -30 c at night. So after a long morning of getting our gear dialed we were off on a basecamping mission. This would be our first time camping after a few years of exploring the Kirovsk area.
When we arrived at the end of the road we were next to a massive lake we would have to skin across to get into the Khibiny Mountains. It would be about 15kms to get into the range and we would be on a race to put up camp before darkness arrived.
Eightmile Lake Camp and Ski Tour by Icicle Creek
After scrolling through Google Earth for days on end I stumbled across Eightmile Lake. With North facing slopes almost 3000 vert off the directly from shores it would be great skiing. Being near Leavenworth and on the Eastern Side of the Cascades it would be a much colder climate. After a warm up during the week we hoped this side would still hold powder. With one final weekend in the Cascades my friends Ben, Scott, Seth and I went on an overnight camping mission.
Australian Splitfest 2015
The 2015 Southern Hemisphere season started with a trip to Australia. It was the Australian Splitfest time and Adam West was interested in if I wanted to put together a course. I decided on doing a “How to set up a base camp safely and explore bigger lines while taking in conditions”. It would be a brief trip but as always I was looking forward to it.
Mount Logan via the Douglas Glacier
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Mount Logan in the North Cascades was the final peak I needed to snowboard to complete the 9000 foot peaks in Washington state. Jason Hummel and I came up with a plan to camp at the base of it and climb and ride Mount Logan via the Douglas Glacier. Here is the trip report below.
It all started 3 years ago. A random invite landed me right into the heart of the North Cascades heading up Cascade River road. The previous year my focus had been on riding volcanoes and I was looking for a taste of something different so I jumped at the chance to go ride the North Face of Buckner Mountain. What the peaks lacked in elevation they made up for in personality. Over the years I was fortunate to travel to numerous deep valleys in the North Cascades and each one had a different feel. Logan was the last in a project that slowly came together in mid-June 2012.
Jack Mountain via Nohokomeen Glacier Headwall
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I first set my eyes upon Jack Mountain and the Nohokomeen Glacier Headwall when I was attempting the retreat of the Picket Range. I was attempting to do what took two days of travel back in one long push. Making my way up to Sourdough Ridge I decided to take a water break. I’d gone to use my stove but it wouldn’t work. There was fuel and it had been working earlier, but it just wouldn’t work any more. Quickly I realized I had no access to water, and all I could think was “here I am in the Pickets, alone and without water, good work Kyle”.
With this mindset I looked off to the East and saw the open slopes of Jack Mountain. From my vantage point I could see the Nohokomeen Glacier running down the north face. It looked awesome and I knew before long I wanted to make it out there.
Magic S Loop via Cascade Pass
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The Magic S Loop has been on my radar for a long time as it always seemed like a great ski tour. With both its proximity to Cascade Pass and the quality of lines it was only a matter of time. Being on the edge of North Cascades National park it offers steep and scenic runs. With a nice weather window and some time on our hands Jason Hummel and I made our way north. The plan originally was to have no plans but before long we were at the end of the road. Looking at options we had already skied numerous peaks in the area. One thing that we hadn’t done as a crew was the Magic S Loop. Things kind of fell together as it was a late start and before long it became our mission.
Goode and Mount Logan via Highway 20
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The North Fork of Bridge Creek is one of those valleys in the North Cascades rarely visited. With both Goode Mountain and Mount Logan in close proximity the area offers great terrain. Both Scott and I had been in the area via a previous trip and had wanted to go back. With 5 days of good weather our plan was to camp. With the opening of Highway 20 we decided on heading there via Black Peak Col. We weren’t sure how the route would go but we knew it was going be a wild journey non the less. It was time to get some redemption in the North Fork of Bridge Creek.
Goode Mountain: The King on the North Cascades
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Any mountaineer who has intimate knowledge of the Cascades knows of at least one mountain that invokes fear. A mountain full of near-vertical faces, glaciers covered in seracs, crevasses and schrunds and an abundance of cliffs everywhere. For every dream of majestic open slopes, there is a nightmare hiding in the shadows. To me Goode Mountain was that nightmare.
Ulrich’s Couloir Snowboard on Mount Stuart
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The Ulrich’s Couloir on Mount Stuart is one of those Cascade Classic backcountry lines. Being a continuous 4’200 foot south facing run it is both aesthetic and fun. Being the second tallest non volcanic peak in the Cascades and isolated to the eastern side its view alone rivals most other peaks. With a forecast that called for a bit of snow before clearing up in late April there was a chance to get powder on the line. Knowing this Jason Hummel and I were off on a drive to the Eastern Side to attempt to ride the Ulrich’s Couloir.