2017 Season Edit

Here it is...the 2017 Season Edit. Enjoy.

Throwback Thursday – Mt. Adams

It’s been balmy and pouring rain in Portland. I can’t help but think of what an epic storm this would have been, had temperatures been a few (20) degrees cooler. Nonetheless, the cold front is forecasted to move in any minute now, and snow is expected to fall in the mountains. As I was sitting by my powder skis, pining for face shots, I was reminded that ski season in Oregon is more than just early season dumps. The late season is often the best. While most of my top runs of all time involve deep, dry powder snow, one of the best was on corn snow on Mt. Adams. So, after an unfortunately long hiatus, the Kickturner is back with a throwback Thursday.

I skied the Southwest Chutes of Mt. Adams on June 7, 2014. Much has been written about the Southwest Chutes, but they are worthy of all praise. The climb is a little bit of a slog. The standard route is typically crowded. The false summit can be a total buzz kill. But the ski down is truly world class.

Broken Top

While many people out there were spending Valentine’s Day weekend exchanging roses and chocolates, I spent it with two dudes and one rugged bitch of a mountain. The eroded, jagged summit rim of Broken Top represents a distinct departure from the standard conical peaks of the Cascades. Sitting right next door to the Three Sisters, Broken Top is often an overlooked destination due to the long approach and concerning avalanche conditions during much of the winter. By spring, when avalanche concerns have subsided, the approach is equally long, but often without the benefit of a snow. The day after Valentine’s day, the snow, weather, and season all aligned to make an attempt at Broken Tops formidable crater. It did not disappoint.

Juneuary

WARNING: The following contains a full-on complain-fest. 

Beautiful Bulletproof Ice

“Now is the winter of our discontent.” I have no actual recollection of what Shakespeare meant by that line, but it probably had to do with really marginal snow conditions. Most of Oregon is hovering around 15% snowpack, despite average precipitation. January produced hardly a flake of snow, and most of the snow from those Christmas Storms has melted (at least below 6000 feet). We were left with little more than uninspiring spring-like conditions, but without the warmth or sunlight to get an actual corn cycle going. Meanwhile, the flatlands of the East Coast were pummeled by snowstorm after snowstorm. What a waste.

Tam McArthur Rim

One could make the argument that the terrain along the Tam McArthur rim is the best in Oregon. Located NE of Broken Top, and more or less due East of the Three Sisters, the Tam rim offers some of the most sustained steep pitches in Oregon. Given the steepness of the terrain, much of it is highly avalanche prone, and can only be skied in prime conditions. We headed out there the day after Christmas. Unfortunately for us, we did not hit prime conditions. Nonetheless, the views alone were worth the six mile approach.