Pat Mulrooney's blog

Mt Rainier - Summer ski mission!

Pat Mulrooney — Wed, 2 Jul 2008 12:36:18 -0400

Rating

Rainier has been one of those mountains that's eluded me over the past few spring summer volcano seasons. It was always weather or altitude or something that we couldnt control that would shut us down. This week-end however it would happen! I watched the weather all week before hand and decided on Thursday it would be a go. Danielle, Jordin and Tobin were keen to get up there as well as none of them had ever summited either. So after an exciting traffic bout with the border and I-5, 10 hours later we found ourselves at the White River trailhead. Realizing this would probably be a race from the summit Tobin prepared his secret wax formula.

After the 5km of dirt trail to Glacier Basin we arrived at the inter Glacier and finally prepared the skins. It was now past noon and the full heat of the day was upon us with no shade in site. After a few more hours we finally got our first full view of the route and the final approach to Camp Schurman.

As always Schurman was a little full but everyone was stoked with the great summer weather.

Everything seemed to be lining up prefectly for a summit! The sunset was amazing from camp as Rainier cast her shadow over the Cascades.

After a few hours in the tents we awoke and prepared breakfast. Most mountaineers had left at around 1:00 am and their LED's dotted the route almost to the top. We on the other hand were timing the climb to allow the corn to set up. The ranger had suggested a 3:00 pm decsent.

At 5:30 am we were roped up and on our way up.

The route to the summit was in perfect shape with very little traversing. We spent the next few hours weaving our way around the seracs and icefall to the final 4 summit bergshrunds.

At 1:30pm we arrived on the summit! A little windy and hazy but we all felt pretty good and were pumped to be on Columbia Crest at 14411ft.

It looked like we would be in for a perfect run all the way down to camp! No blue ice!

After our 6000ft and still another 3500ft one to come we only one thing left to do. Enjoy a cold crisp Rainier Beer!

Pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/patmulrooney/sets/72157605929961357/

The Powder Maker

Pat Mulrooney — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:09:45 -0400

Rating

The annual Baker trip was well over due this year due to week-end after week-end of clouds and Cascade thunder and lightning storms. I've been up there enough times to know that blue bird is the only way to go. The Friday night mission turned out to be an epic 19 hour trip when a number of interesting factors came into play. We left the truck at 12:30pm on Friday night and skinned up the road to the Helliotrope trailhead. As soon as we entered the forest Mike's headlight decided to fail. With the pine needle snow covered forest floor we got severly lost following numerous trails from other climbers in the same situation.

After a riduculous 4 hours in the forest we finally got to the toe of the coleman glacier. As we were getting harnesses and gear on Mike snapped a pole in half. His Birthday wasnt going as well as planned but we managed to splint it with his shovel handle and a lot of duct tape. As we ascended the glacier the mountain became completely enveloped in a heavy cloud. The surface was almost blue ice like and the sun wasnt anywhere near coming out for a melt cycle. We decided to climb a little higher and try and wait it out. Three hours of waiting paid off as the cloud line dropped and the volcano showed it's North Face.

The glacier was completely filled is with this years huge snowfall. Only a few signs of icefall were the only evidence of spring.

When we reached the Colman Colfax col the ice was starting to break down and prepare the Roman wall for an epic corn decent.

The summit was hot and wind free. We relaxed and ate for an hour and geared up for our 4:30pm decent. Mike had the Birthday rights of dropping in first.

The entire decent to the tree line was corned up making it the best conditions I'd ever had on Baker! Volcano season is on!

Pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/patmulrooney/sets/72157605652732732/

Currie to Wedge in a day!

Pat Mulrooney — Tue, 3 Jun 2008 13:46:07 -0400

Rating

With the the clear weather and good alpine temps over the past week I'd been itching to get a spring epic in. On Friday Matt suggested the classic Mt. Currie to Wedge traverse. I'd always heard good things about this trip and couldnt think of a better way to end the month of May. Fully aware that we needed a super early start to beat the daily melt, Matt convinced the freindly people at Blackcomb Helicopters to meet us at the Whistler heli port at 5:30 am. After a Vancouver departure of 3:30am we soon found ourselves on the summit of Mt Currie at 6:15 am. The first descent down Currie's south face was a little firm from the previous nights freeze.

We soon found ourselves ascending the first big climb of the day up to Hibatchi Ridge. The sun was finally staring to show itself!

After reaching the ridge we still had one more descent on some Spring hardpack on the shady west slopes down to Mystery Creek.

From this point the route consisted mainly of glacier travel. We put on the harnesses and set out for the steepest climb of the day. At the top the impressive north face of Weart and The Owls came in to view. The snow was finally starting to give in to the sun!

The decent below the Owls and down to Weart Glacier was incredible. Perfect Spring Corn! After a quick lunch break we started up the massive Weart Glacier with Lesser Wedge visable in the far distance.

After about an hour the impressive glaciated North Face of Wedge came into view.

The sun was now heating things up as we made our way up to the North East Arete. Based on the time of day and the snow conditions we decided against a Wedge summit and descended perfect snow down the Wedgemount Glacier.

When we reached the Hut at the lake it was time to get into shorts and soak up some sun before milking every last turn in the trees. No coast mountain spring mission would be complete without this image.

After the 2 hour dirt hike and a total of 28 kms we found ourselves at the Wedgmount Lake trail parking lot.

Pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/patmulrooney/sets/72157605403595408/

Cornburst

Pat Mulrooney — Fri, 30 May 2008 23:16:21 -0400

Rating

Danielle gets some May turns on Cloudburst.

Pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/patmulrooney/sets/72157605343477433/

Snowspider

Pat Mulrooney — Fri, 30 May 2008 23:06:06 -0400

Rating

There's still some snow in the mountains!

Pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/patmulrooney/sets/72157605316269115/

Another deep week-end on the Duffy!

Pat Mulrooney — Fri, 4 Apr 2008 12:10:14 -0400

Rating

Dave Hill drops in.

Danielle and Dave on the uptrack.

More pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/patmulrooney/sets/72157604375791046/

Spring Pow!

Pat Mulrooney — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 12:00:28 -0400

Rating

The Coast Range keeps gettin deeper and the Easter long week-end was no exception. The area we were in recieved around 60cms over the previous few days and had blown in to approx 1 meter on some slopes.

Some how Danielle and I had this entire valley to ourselves all week-end. Temperatures overnight were -14 deg C. Pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/patmulrooney/sets/72157604250895484/

Pemberton Pow.

Pat Mulrooney — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:49:16 -0400

Rating

Danielle finds some Spring pow.

Another sweet week-end north of Pemberton in a new area. The snow above 2000m was perfect. It keeps getting deeper! Pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/patmulrooney/sets/72157604141202062/

The approach.

Endless lines!

Pat Mulrooney — Tue, 4 Mar 2008 21:29:27 -0500

Rating

We managed to squeeze in a few more days of pow under blue skies last week-end. A new area was found with limitless possibilities. North facing terrain everywhere should be well preserved for weeks to come.

Pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/patmulrooney/sets/72157604042606000/

Arlberg, Austria report 2008

Pat Mulrooney — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:50:50 -0500

Rating

Danielle on her way down Ochsenkopf to Zurs.

During a perfectly good drinking trip to Europe in January, Danielle and I decided to throw some Austrian Alp pow into the mix. So after a couple weeks in the Czech Republic and Ireland we rented a car and headed for the hills. I seem to have horse shoes up my arse everytime we go to St. Anton. During what I would call not one of their best seasons it started puking within 12 hours of us arriving there!

Sluff Management on the Flexen Spitze at Zurs.

After only a full day of snowing the Alpine recieved over 1 meter of fresh. The skies cleared and the Alps delivered. The valley is so big that it takes more than a week to get skied out!

The endless lines on the Mittagspitze.

The next few days we hit all the villages in the Arlberg Valley. Lech Back-country. Above the Village of Lech.

Descending the Hassenfluh. It's still a drinking vacation!

Whitecap Alpine at McGillivary Pass Lodge

Pat Mulrooney — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:56:54 -0500

Rating

Once again I found myself spending New Years in the Cadwallder range with Ron Andrews and some great freinds. There's a true sense of remoteness in that place you don't get just anywhere. Every December I start counting the days in anticipation of the light deep pow that will be had. This year we had some significant goals that had to accomplished. On New years eve Colin and Mike joined me on our early flight in from Pemberton.

After a quick gear unload we found ourselves back in the A-star and scoping out a landing spot on Prospector peak.

Due to high winds and weight we couldnt make a landing on the summit so we touched down at around 1950m. With so much going on in the snowpack this season we took a detailed look at the snowpack before making the summit approach. After a perfect ridge approach and some bootpack sections we found ourselves standing on the summit at 2:00pm.

The anticipation of this 4000 ft line was unbelievable. We couldn't have asked for better conditions. -20 deg C and blubird.

Upon reaching McGillivary Creek I started to realize my underestimation of the skin back to the Lodge. However I truly believe that most great friends are made in serious bushwacking missions where you have to get knee deep in ski and snowboard boot river crossings. That's all that has to be said. We pulled up to the cabin just after 9:00pm with Ron eagerly awaiting our details of the days mission. Serious amounts of beer and food were consumed along with a bottle of Champaigne to bring in the new year. I couldnt have imagined a better way spend the last day of 2007. Once in bed I couldnt get this line out of my head that we spotted last year from Ronnies Col. It was the fabled Star Mountain Couloir and it had to be done!

After a semi early wake up we set out to try and beat the inevidible storm on route. The approach was straight forward and the ridge line gave us great views of most of the line. Right on the edge of the North rock wall there was a small entrance with almost no cornice! Mike jumped in with style and all I saw was his head for the next couple thousand feet.

Not a bad first day of 2008! The next three days it puked day and night! We spent the mornings breaking serious trail and hitting the steep tree lines all over the valley.

A big thanks to Ron and Lars Andrews for another great year! We'll be back soon! http://www.whitecapalpine.ca/

More pics from the trip: http://www.flickr.com/photos/patmulrooney/sets/72157603673423923/

Big day on the Duffy

Pat Mulrooney — Tue, 8 Jan 2008 17:39:24 -0500

Rating

Jordan Manley drops in on "The 2500ft Line"

Dec 29 was another great day on the Duffy with a massive crew. pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/patmulrooney/sets/72157603667578926/

Grizzly Shoulder

Pat Mulrooney — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 20:51:53 -0500

Rating

Photo: Danielle Balik

Another unreal day in the pass! -17degC and Puking all day. We're expecting another 30cms by the morning.

Bluebird in Rogers Pass!

Pat Mulrooney — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 23:31:53 -0500

Rating

Mike Tigges slaying Puff Daddy!

I'm not sure what I did to deserve this day in Rogers Pass but it must have been something good! -12degC, clear skies and over a meter of light density pow make for a perfect day in the Selkirks. It keeps getting better. Way more pow shots of Mike here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/patmulrooney/sets/72157603516142464/

Zdenek and Mount Sir Donald. Mount MacDonald at sunset.

Game on in the Pass!

Pat Mulrooney — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 23:49:55 -0500

Rating

Mike Tigges Chokin on Cheops!

After a hairy 8 hour drive and arriving at Glacier Park lodge at 1:00 am we finally got out first face shots in Rogers Pass this season. The pow this season is already bottomless and it was puking all day! Right now looking out the hotel window I can see the moon and clear skies. Tommorow's going to be ridiculous! Pics:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/patmulrooney/sets/72157603510083036/

Zdenek Manhal coming up for a breath!

Before the Flood

Pat Mulrooney — Mon, 3 Dec 2007 21:30:04 -0500

Rating

Danielle and Zdenek crossing the glacier below Cypress peak.

We managed to climb and ski Cypress Peak near Squamish on Saturday before the freezing level event. Temp at 2100 on Saturday, -16 deg C.

Pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/patmulrooney/sets/72157603361653291/

Squamish has the snow!

Pat Mulrooney — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 22:33:29 -0500

Rating

Mike Tigges on Cloudburst's north face.

With no new snow all week and the temps remaining cold I hit Cloudburst again knowing I would get more fresh. Mike and I mixed it up and decided to approach from Hwy 99 via Chance creek. Cool to see both sides of the mountain. I had my eye on this huge 2500 ft North face chute you can see from the Sea to Sky. Great snow and clear skys all day! Pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/patmulrooney/sets/72157603299917375/

Mike and Lupa checking out the Tantalus range.

Cloudburst Powburst!

Pat Mulrooney — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 22:04:33 -0500

Rating

Danielle tears Cloudburst a new one!

For some reason I'm catching a case of right place, right time this season. This was my fourth day on the board this season! Danielle and some others joined me on Sunday for a session on Cloudburst Mountain in Squamish. We drove from the Squamish river to near 900m with heavy duty chains on the snowy and icy road. Right from the truck we we were able to skin rock free all the way to Cloudburst's summit! We measured 180cms at 1600m. When I squinted real hard I think I saw 6000 shredders smiles on Whistler Mountain from the summit. Waist deep and -8 deg C all day. Winter has hit Squamish!

Pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/patmulrooney/sets/72157603244548667/

Squamish Valley old growth forest!

Droppin in!

November Pow!

Pat Mulrooney — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 21:15:34 -0500

Rating

Danielle Balik droppin in! Photo: Pat Mulrooney

With a small break in the weather this week-end I was positive I could find pow high in the alpine. We decided to make it an overnighter and increase the chance of getting higher up. No one can say we didnt work hard for this one but it paid off. The snow above 2000m was incredible! Especially in the North facing couloirs in the area. At least waist deep wind deposit! Late on Sunday afternoon it started puking. It should be on next week-end for sure. All pics here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/patmulrooney/sets/72157603122115845/

Mike, Danielle and Lupa breaking trail. Photo: Pat Mulrooney

Rider: Pat Mulrooney Photo: Mike Tigges

Heading for the goods! Photo: Pat Mulrooney

The season Begins!

Pat Mulrooney — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 18:25:07 -0400

Rating

Jamie Bond's first turn of the season! Photo: Pat Mulrooney

Watching the fall storms pound the coast all week meant an early season mission was a go for this week-end. Nothing was going to stop me from finding some fresh October pow! Jamie and Jordon were pumped to join me for the 2008 season opener. Our destination changed a few times as we drove the sea to sky highway but we finally found ourselves parked in 4" of fresh in the Eastern Cayoosh range. The sun was even shining through! After an hour we found ourselves aproaching the rocky North face of Gotcha Peak and an obvious twisting couloir that was filled with new October snow. This was one of the best October days in memory! A few more weeks and it's game on! Check out all the pics here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/patmulrooney/sets/72157602590498264/

Jordan Manley on the approach. Photo: Pat Mulrooney

Jordan on the North face of Gotcha Peak. Photo: Pat Mulrooney

Jordan Elbow deep! Photo: Pat Mulrooney