Diamond Head Trip Report 01/02/12

Happy New Year Everyone!  It’s beginning to snow, and it’s time to tour!  Not sure about you, but we’ve been getting really anxious for snow the past couple of weeks. 

This week we decided to head out to White Pass, WA on Monday for some fresh lines.  We heard they recently got quite a dump out there and didn’t want to miss it!  However, slabs with 4ft deep crowns on Sunday told us to do otherwise.  So, after much debate, and a few beers, Brendon, Brian, Craig and I decided to hike Diamond Head out of Blewett Pass instead.  The avy danger was quite a bit lower and we could ride the west or south facing slopes, and we knew there would be fresh lines.  The small snow base was a concern, but we decided to go for it anyways.

With a late start to the day (about 11pm we finally got our butts in the SYNCRO) we loaded up on food and spare batteries and hit the road.  The Diamond Head parking lot was packed with sled trailors.  But we weren’t worried!  We were taking our own route.

Craig and Brendon Brendon, Stefani, Brian and Koni

The hike up was pretty fun.  It definitely felt like the first hike of the season.  Thanks to his riding groomers every single day while the rest of us sit at home waiting for a good dump, Brian broke trail for us the entire 1,800 feet up!  He definitely was the T-Rice of the group.  The hike was a pretty mellow one, with rollers, gorgeous views, and bunny tracks all around!

Brian Leahy

The last 1/8 mile of the hike was the slowest, most challenging.  The small amount of snow on top of a pretty solid ice layer, created a very technical climb for us!  Brian took the liberty of side stepping straight up the steep slopes between the narrow trees, shaving all the soft snow away, leaving nothing behind for the three of us!  We finally decided to unstrap, and boot pack from there up.

Once at the top, Brendon, Craig and I setup “camp” and made some hot chocolate and enjoyed the view.  Brian continued up the ridgeline of the hill as high as he could get without mountaineering equipment.  As we sipped on our coco and threw snowballs for the dog, Brain proceeded to traverse around to the North- Northeast side of the hill.  There, he found much deep pow, great open lines, and what looked like a skiers tracks from a few days prior.  He really wanted to take that line.  It took the three of us some serious work to convince him not to take it.  (Thinking of the 4ft crowns at White on that aspect only the day before).   We did not want to have to use our beacons that day.

Once he finally came back around to the safer side(shown here), Brian rode a pretty sweet line down the West-facing slope and even got a little spine ride down a wind lip!   The first ½ of our ride down the hill was awesome and interesting at the same time.  Fresh snow that was relatively deep, and totally untouched, but as soon as we’d start getting into it, we’d find an angry rock hiding beneath the happy powder.  The boards and skis have some new war wounds, that’s for sure.

The bottom half was way to bare to ride.  Uncovered fallen logs, dense trees, and a setting sun made it so ridiculous, we couldn’t help but laugh.  We eventually decided it better to unstrap and hike down to the Forest Service Road.

All in all, a fun hike, and a fun ride for most of the way.  We definitely need more snow though…