hike up..... hike down.....

[dpratte]

...So let's say that I'm tempted, but not crazy enough (or should I say foolish enough) to challenge my skiing ability. I have hiked up to the bowl for this spring sensation in the past and now I'm curious about seeing what some of you have seen....so.... would it be "stupid" to scale the bowl - a bit - for a bigger view if I wasn't planning on skiing down? (Just trying to "see what I can see").

Of course, my expectation is that if I did this, the next time I would probably be carrying my skis.

[Mots010]

When you hike up the ravine, you will probably find that it is much steeper than it looks from the bottom. The hike up can be tricky, but it's do-able. Hiking down, on the other hand, might be very tricky. First you're going to have to avoid people hiking up. Then you have the people skiing down. It is very steep, and I would think the safest way of getting down is to ski it. That may just be my opinion, but I think others will agree with me. You could also hike up as far as you feel comfortable with your skiis, as the bottom of the bowl is not as steep.

[M@]

You'd probably be best off finding an alternate route DOWN other than the bowl. But going UP the bowl without skiis should be easier than hiking up with them. Maybe the boot-spur? Check some trail guides.

M@

[targheehucker]

Like others have said, since it is a bowl, you can always hike up wherever then when you reach your "freak out level" just start back down (since the bowl gets steeper as you ascend) Otherwise, right gully (above and slightly right as you look past top of lunch rocks is probably the easiest (relative) option... Plus the top half is bare of snow so it is really just a steep hike. If it is above freezing and the snow is soft you really shouldnt have worries of out of control sliding if you fall. Its steepness is just below needed for self arrest techniques. Good luck with sliding in upper left gully or headwall... So i think right gully be your best bet matey. Oh and the views into the ravine from the top are truly sick from there....

[saxman]

You can hike up through lunch rocks and get at least 3/4 of the way up the bowl. That way you will be sheltered should there be any ice dumps, and have many foot/hand holds and places to rest along the way.

There is one other thing you can do.......I did it a couple of times.......and it is really rather fun. Hike up a safe part of the bowl, make sure there are no crevasses, rocks, or people, go up as far as you feel comfortable, sit down and then pick your feet up. Yep, that's it, just pick your feet up. It is a rather quick, fun way down, and you are sure to get a roar from the crowd. /Saxman

p.s. there is sure to be people yelling "HIGHER", "H I G H E R ", don't listen to them. Go where you feel "comfortable" and let 'er rip. You can always go higher next time......:-)

[skicdave]

Yes... lets relive just such an event when Mark from Boston risked all (along with snow up his shorts) when the crowd encouraged him to go MUCH higher than he had planned with his space saucer...
Higher! (http://timefortuckerman.com/sounds/tuckerman2002-higher3.wav) and Higher! (http://timefortuckerman.com/sounds/tuckerman2002-higher2.wav)

He naturally responded by mooning the crowd...

http://websmith.ca/photos/tuckerman20020420/119-1916_IMGcensored.jpg

Dave

http://ski.websmith.ca/ski/gifs/moose3a.gif

[saxman]

Skidave, Allways with the pertinent posts!!! I guess if you hang around enough, you get to see it all.

Thanks dude, beautiful shot. I had to explain to the person in the cubicle next to me "What was so funny.....?" :-) /Saxman