Ssh - quiet Hank. Don't say a word. Every time this year I've even thought of
threatening to go up there, the weather screws me. What a strange year.
Been skiing at Hull since 1996 - seen almost every weather combo, this year is a first.
(What the Hull?!)

But your right, this does look promising. The snow levels look to be staying low enough
for the next few days.
play with the time slider
http://www.snow-forecast.com/maps/dynamic/ncal

This one is fun.
http://www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/earth/

While up there on March 6, I ran into a guy from the CDEC. He was trying
to fix the new weather/snow station they just put up there.
:D
It's still not working, but I'm sure they'll fix it.
http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/queryF?HUL
It's located right at Windy Gap.

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I'm afraid our Forester isn't going to get us up the road to our usual camp a week from now, but I'll watch closely.

Many thanks for the new CDEC link, I hope they get it working.

Boardman Ridge is closed for the winter. New rules. The Forest Service has started
a seasonal closure of Boardman Ridge. Closed December 1st - opens May 1.
:roll:
There is another way in. :D
Was there last week. Working on the TR.

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Found a way in that leads to Hullaska Ridge.
http://www.earnyourturns.com/10341/hull-mt-11apr12/

Forest Road 19N50 is a main road that takes off of the M6. A different approach was refreshing.
A bit of bushwacking never hurt anybody!

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Hullaska Ridge cuts across the skyline and rises to the summit ridge in the middle.
The Hully Gullies can be seen on the right.

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Was up at Hull last week.
http://www.earnyourturns.com/10748/tr-hull-mt-18apr12/
Been having fun with the new entrance to the mountain. A bit of bushwacking never hurt anyone.
It was a very short ski season for Hull this year. Didn't head up there 'till late March.
The month of April provided deep enough snow to grab some spring turns. However, other Coastal opportunities come into shape in May.
My 17th season at Hull was a short one, but the route finding for another entrance kept me entertained.
Here are a few shots from my last couple trips in April.

From the parking spot on FR19N50 @ 4800' the top of Hull can be seen peaking out above Horse Peak.
From L to R -
the top of Hullaska Ridge-left of center- with Grey Bowl dropping off the top.
The Hully Gullies in the middle
and OB Bowl dropping off on the right.


This is the direct route from my parking spot on FR19N50


With more snow, other options will become available.

janzalo enjoying the bushwacking up the ridge proper


Looking up Hullaska Ridge just before the top


Same spot looking to the right (east) over Grey Bowl.
The Hully Gullies can just be seen right before the mountain curves around to OB Bowl.


The elk down by Lake Pillsbury. Hullawest Ridge (middle) and the summit (R)


Looking down Hullaska Ridge. Follow the ridge all the way down and to the left to Horse Peak
Skiers left off the top drops into Grey Bowl/Skiers right drops into Meteor Bowl


From the saddle above Horse Peak. Looking up to Hullaska Ridge coming in from the left.
The Hully Gullies on the right.
OB Bowl dropping off on the right skyline.


It was a very short season at Hull, but a fun one.
As always, the full collection of photos can be viewed on my Flickr page.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jibmaster/

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My trip with snowblasta back on March 28 has been posted.
Check out http://www.earnyourturns.com/9984/hull-mountain-mar12/

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Decided to drive up to Hull for Christmas Day with snowblasta.
Not much snow over Elk Mt.
Started snowing heavily when we got to Lake Pillsbury.




Found the snow started accumulating just above the lake
at 2000'. Attempted the drive up to the Hullaska Ridge entrance.
Turned around.
Deep snow on narrow, muddy roads with a cliff on one side.
We weren't getting anywhere near Hullaska Ridge with the Jeep.
So we drove down and back to Boardman Ridge.
There was no sign saying the road was closed.
The drive up was exciting.
Trying to stay in the jeep ruts and out of the woods.
The road on the north-facing section was deep.
Too deep.
We had to Jeep going sideways at times, trying to get up the road.
Finally got stuck in about two feet of snow.
One hour and 5 picks with the winch got us turned around.
We drove down to the open spot just before the north
facing section and skied up from there.
It was puking snow.

We had started out late in the first place.
We figured we wouldn't get too far on a storm day.
By noon, we were skiing up the road.
Made it to Camp I.











The ski back down the road was fast.
Lots of accumulation during our 2 hour jib.
Still puking huge, fat globs of wet, dense Coastal snow.

We drove back over Elk Mt.
Barely made it.
Several inches of snow on the road
as low as half-way down the switchbacks.

It was great to be back at Hull. Even though it was just a road jib.
Plenty of snow!

30 days off in my future - starting next week...

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Part II Jan. 10-12:

After the clutch was repaired, we headed to Hull.
Hull Mt. from Elk Mt. on the way in.




We were headed for the Penny Pines TH.
At the base of Hullaska Ridge.
The road was still icy down by the bridge.
We jibbed in the Jeep to just about 4000'.
And set up camp at the first major snowfield.






We set up camp for the night and settled in.


The next morning, we set out to get our jib on.


I have not been at this TH before to experience the long approach from down low.
We were about to find out.
It took us 2 hours to ski up the road to my camp spot of last year.


A look at the summit ridge from the viewpoint at 4848'
Where I camped out last year.


Zoomed in view of the summit from the viewpoint


Zoomed in view of the top of Hullaska Ridge from the viewpoint


Looking north, Black Butte


We took it back down to the Jeep.
Camped out and went up the next day.

Now I know.
I've never come from down low on this route.
It was nice to know how long it takes for the approach.

The next morning, we skied up the road. Back to the viewpoint.
About half-an-hour past there, we took off up from the road.
Put the skins on and headed for Horse Peak.
Horse Peak is a name I've given to the top of Horse Ridge, as named on the topo.


Looking up from the road to the Horse Peak.
Skin to the top of Horse Peak, but just off to the left.


Looking back to the viewpoint from the pass at Horse Peak.
Sheetiron, St. John and Snow Mt. (L>R)


The viewpoint at 4848'


Looking up to the upper mountain from Horse Peak Pass.
Summit on the left. The ridge we are on will lead to the base of Hullaska Ridge(middle).
The Hully Gullies to the right.


Grey Bowl coming off the Hullaska Ridge peak.


The Hully Gullies - Hullafar Bowl directly behind.


Looking across to Timberline Camp on Boardman Ridge


The view from Horse Peak, across Boardman Ridge(Camp II area) to Lake Pillsbury


snowblasta with Snow Mt. in the background at the Horse Peak Pass.


The snow was frozen solid and it was freezing cold. We skied down from there.
Video edit from the trip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9P4AG_jomw

After investigating the low-snow approach from the Penny Pine TH,
we were determined to come back next week and nail it.

Saw the elk by the lake on the way out


Hull from Elk Mt. on the way out


For the complete list of pics from this trip:
http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=1174439 ... %2C%202013

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Part III

Headed back to Hull on Friday, Jan. 18.
From the top of Elk Mt. on the way in


Down by the lake


There was still snow on Elk Mt. A ton of snow on the road
after we crossed into the Game Refuge on the M6.
We drove to the same spot. Penny Pines TH.

After setting up the tents, we kicked back and cooked up.


Shortly after dark, we hear a vehicle approaching.
Two vehicles pull up and four guys pop out.
Ready to jib.

Turns out they read my invite on Ttips and decided to represent.
Meet the newest members of the Coastal Crest Snow Patrol.
Ian (Mr. Cordova), Steve, Seth and Joe.
Nice meeting you guys!

More food and stories into the night and then we crashed out.
We awoke Saturday morning and prepared to get our jib on.
Ian rises from the dead




By 9am, we were off and jibbing.
We probably could have driven up the road a bit more,
but we had a pretty sweet camp spot.
The road was melted out in spots as we cruised up.
Ian had some Dynafit bindings, Seth had his splitboard,
while Steve and Joe where core enough to jib
on their resort gear.

After awhile, the snow patches started connecting on the road.
Seth busted out his skins, Joe continued booting it
and incredibly, Steve scooched, skated, sidestepped and jibbed his way
up the road locked into his resort bindings.

Still two miles to the viewpoint. I gotta name that spot...
Shortly after, the road winds it's way under Horse Peak.
Off the road and up the slope we go. Time to cover up the scales with skins.
About an hour from the viewpoint, we arrive at Horse Peak Pass.

L to R
Steve, Seth and Ian


snowblasta always has to color coordinate his boots and skis.
Grey Bowl directly behind him with Hullaska Ridge snaking up.


It was sunny and warm, but the snow was staying firm.
Time for me to bust out my sun hat.


Water was becoming an issue. So was my hangover.
With frozen water all around us, stuffing it into our water bottles seemed
logical. The snow in the water bottles melted slowly.
I moved even slower.

We jibbed our way up from Horse Peak Pass to the base of Hullaska Ridge.
The corn window had come and gone, but the top of the ridge was still soft -ish...
After 5 hours of jibbing from the vehicles and one hour from
the Pass, snowblasta tops out first. I was about 30 minutes behind.
Ian arrived at the top second, and while waiting for the rest of us, decided
to bag the summit of Hull Mt.


Nice job dude!

Steve arrived shortly after I did and Ian returned from the summit.
It was time to ski!
I made two videos this time.

From my helmet cam
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxzXh2rb8Lo

snowblasta's helmet cam
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4I_sfjuEvo

We caught up with Seth and Joe on the way.

The snow was better than I thought in spots and simply pure ice in others.
But it's a nice long run. And no jeep ruts to fight on the way down the road.

It took about an hour to ski down to the vehicles.
The newest members of the CCSP jibbed off after a while. They were on a mission.
While snowblasta and I stayed one more night.


It was great to meet you guys! Glad you showed up.

I like the new TH. Gonna have to do it again.
Maybe tomorrow...

Full set of pics:

http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=1174439 ... %2C%202013

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