View Full Version : skiing streams and drainages-thoughts
Cat in January
12-27-2006, 08:34 PM
My skis are tuned, but I don't think they will see much use for at least 2 weeks, so I thought I would throw out another question. What are people's experiences skiing streams, or drainages-either on the rock pile or other places? I realize these may be guarded secrets so please feel free to be general in the location. I am thinking the avalanche risk must be lower. I know they are often great places to hit at the resort when there is a dump.
Lee
My skis are tuned, but I don't think they will see much use for at least 2 weeks, so I thought I would throw out another question. What are people's experiences skiing streams, or drainages-either on the rock pile or other places? I realize these may be guarded secrets so please feel free to be general in the location. I am thinking the avalanche risk must be lower. I know they are often great places to hit at the resort when there is a dump.
LeeThe size of slides can be much smaller in tight drainages and they might be safer...but terrain traps can kill in a small slide! I've been chased by sluffs in some drainages...don't go alone, check the conditions, take a shovel and dig before you drop in...watch for weak bonding between layers...strong layer with a week bond to the next layer down is Bad! But unconsolidated pow can also get started...breathing that is not good eaiter!
Not enough base yet...wait.
Justin
12-28-2006, 11:12 AM
As any Easter Skiah knows, stream beds are are like wet dreams :) I can think of a dozen of the top of my head I skied on a regular basis At SUnday River when I was a BEthel resident...
DOOOO it...
adh24
12-28-2006, 11:46 AM
OK this is something I never heard of. Why are stream beds so special?? Educate me!:)
Jolly J
12-28-2006, 12:10 PM
OK this is something I never heard of. Why are stream beds so special?? Educate me!:)
They're not. :-)
Make sure you watch for open holes as well.
Justin
12-28-2006, 12:54 PM
yes they are... :) No trees + untouched powder = ear to ear grin.
here is one from Baxter:
http://mitoc.mit.edu/trip_reports/2006-Katahdin-CandP-Day3/IMG_1505.sized.jpg
surf88
12-28-2006, 09:59 PM
I skied the Cascade Brook above The Basin a few years back in waist deep Pow. There were some really fun sections, but alot of flats. One of the hardest drainages I have ever skied, or snowboarded down is the one that leads into the box canyon at Champney Falls on Mt, Chocurua. I
There's a riverbed at Smuggs that I skiied once - can't say I liked it. A whole mess of cliffs popped up (watefalls) that we had to de-ski to get over. Maybe in a few feet of fresh we'd of hucked them - but we had to de-ski. Couldn't go around for some reason.
M@
Ispoiler
12-29-2006, 01:22 PM
In Northeast creeks are usually better to bushwack up and typically are the most direct line. Pick up a typo and see what can be found. Whittenberg in the catskills is a perfect example, the hiking trail is over 4miles to the summit while a creek takes a much more direct line. This creek has alot of birdwatching potential and may need a few tools for clean up, if it ever snows again it would be a very nice run.
steep'n'deep
12-29-2006, 03:56 PM
I skied the Cascade Brook above The Basin a few years back in waist deep Pow. There were some really fun sections, but alot of flats. One of the hardest drainages I have ever skied, or snowboarded down is the one that leads into the box canyon at Champney Falls on Mt, Chocurua. I
Cool stuff man,
A 2 seasons ago, I skied the Champney Falls Trail a la the Goodman book. It was a fun skin up, with the added enjoyment of a summit wind that you could barely stand against. The ski down was...interesting. Survival skiing at its finest, the snowshoe track created bobsled like conditions on the trail. I decided to buy a helmet about halfway down...
Re: the streambed: Did you climb the brook, or drop in from above? I've ice climbed there many times, but never thought of trying to ski it. Sounds like a challenging adventure.
surf88
12-29-2006, 06:28 PM
Cool stuff man,
A 2 seasons ago, I skied the Champney Falls Trail a la the Goodman book. It was a fun skin up, with the added enjoyment of a summit wind that you could barely stand against. The ski down was...interesting. Survival skiing at its finest, the snowshoe track created bobsled like conditions on the trail. I decided to buy a helmet about halfway down...
Re: the streambed: Did you climb the brook, or drop in from above? I've ice climbed there many times, but never thought of trying to ski it. Sounds like a challenging adventure.
Both. I had climbed there before and always wanted to drop in. In march of 05 my climbing partner and I, brought both are climbing gear, and snowboards. It was a lot of fun. The ice was a little rotten but the snow was still fluffy, and deep. First we rode down the streambed above the canyon, and then we did the drop into the canyon. The trees make the chute into the box canyon all the more sketchy. The bobsled like ride you spoke of back to the car was made more exciting with ice axes and crampons in our backpacks:eek:
Here is a few pics from the day.
http://www.techsourceconsultants.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10044/normal_tux11.24.06_008.jpg
http://www.techsourceconsultants.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10044/normal_tux11.24.06_010.jpg http://www.techsourceconsultants.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10044/normal_tux11.24.06_009.jpghttp://www.techsourceconsultants.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10044/normal_tux11.24.06_012.jpghttp://www.techsourceconsultants.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10044/normal_tux11.24.06_013.jpg
The trees make the chute into the box canyon all the more sketchy.
Must have been a low snow year the time we tried it ('97?) - there was the remains of a wire fence to contend with, too! I've got (non-digital) pics of me nearly wrapping my noggin around one of those trees.
Survival skiing to be sure above it and some interesting shots off the summit of Choco that day to boot. Classic NE adventure ski.
Think I heard some woodchuck mention a streambed or two near Wildcat... Nah. Must be the barleywine talking.... ;)
...Think I heard some woodchuck mention a streambed or two near Wildcat... Nah. Must be the barleywine talking.... ;)Imagination running wild...talking woodchucks...what's next? Waist deep powder in a streambed?
surf88
12-29-2006, 10:11 PM
Must have been a low snow year the time we tried it ('97?) - there was the remains of a wire fence to contend with, too! I've got (non-digital) pics of me nearly wrapping my noggin around one of those trees.
Survival skiing to be sure above it and some interesting shots off the summit of Choco that day to boot. Classic NE adventure ski.
Think I heard some woodchuck mention a streambed or two near Wildcat... Nah. Must be the barleywine talking.... ;)
The rusty old fence was there up at the top, adding to the natural beauty.:rolleyes:
Are you talking about the streambed that goes off the back side of wildcat? The one that if you follow; you end up in Jackson and have to hitchhike like 10 miles to get back to the ski area???... umm not that that has ever happened to me.:doh:
Skilasnow
12-30-2006, 10:37 PM
Pick up a typo and see what can be found.
Too many jokes :D
There's a riverbed at Smuggs that I skiied once - can't say I liked it. A whole mess of cliffs popped up (watefalls) that we had to de-ski to get over. Maybe in a few feet of fresh we'd of hucked them - but we had to de-ski. Couldn't go around for some reason.
M@
There's a bunch of 'em in the Sterling Woods leading down to rt 108. Some of them are like halfpipes.
BTW - Hello, I'm today's FNG!
Jack
ILOVE2SKI
01-01-2007, 10:56 PM
Streambeds are fun to ski. Needless to say I went down Elevator Shaft last year made a few nice turns once I got to one of the steeper sections, then had to hike out of the woods becasue the streambed was not frozen and I was standing at the top of a waterfall... intersting!
Mmm Wildcat... :)
Mad Skier
01-03-2007, 01:14 PM
Mmm Wildcat... :)
Home of my favorite streambed yet.
172Recon
01-13-2007, 04:32 PM
There's a bunch on the way up the GOS trail, mostly at the top. Not really worth it in my opinion, although it is sometimes tempting. The only problem is getting out of it at the bottom. You could also try the ultimate drainage area...The R.C.
surf88
12-18-2007, 05:32 PM
Bump! I know this is an old thread, but I found this video today on youtube and I was reminded of this thread.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MhP28eW1GA&feature=related
The narrator makes me laugh really hard.
elwood
12-18-2007, 06:02 PM
There's a bunch on the way up the GOS trail, mostly at the top. Not really worth it in my opinion, although it is sometimes tempting. The only problem is getting out of it at the bottom. You could also try the ultimate drainage area...The R.C.
This might just be the best year to hit the R.C.
That would be sweet.
172Recon
12-19-2007, 04:45 PM
This might just be the best year to hit the R.C.
That would be sweet.
I'm up for that.
Luddite
12-19-2007, 08:32 PM
Without giving up too much info there's a nice old stream bed on the backside of Guido near "moose scat rock". But it has a lot of big rocks in it, will need 3-4' before it's skiable...
I 'spose if I had a ride I could introduce a couple of stream-lines with 5-7 feet of snowfall on them at the moment....but there's still a little work to do in order to get a nice look at three more.
clg898
12-19-2007, 09:25 PM
I 'spose if I had a ride I could introduce a couple of stream-lines with 5-7 feet of snowfall on them at the moment....but there's still a little work to do in order to get a nice look at three more.
I'll drive! How's Saturday? Gas and beverages on me! Donuts too! I could take one or two others from the area if there's enough interest.
I'll drive! How's Saturday? Gas and beverages on me! Donuts too! I could take one or two others from the area if there's enough interest.
Obligated in town on Saturday. Sunday is open.
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