Couple shots driving in that night of Tom:




Met up w/ a couple buddies in Bishop. They had a big day that day and looked beat. They said they were gonna do an easier day in Big Pine creek the next day. That sounded like a great place to trip out of, but I was looking to do something a little more ambitious so decided on Norman Clyde at last second.

It was a long day, but easy traveling up back there. I skinned to the base of the chute then transitioned to verts. The first 1/3 of the chute was the deepest snow I've ever tried to climb. Even w/ verts I was up past my waist and at some points it was impossible to go up and I had to do wallowing traverse to even gain elevation. Luckily a bit further up I was able to follow a line of old debris that was only knee deep.

I brought out my brand new GoPro HD and was taking some small shots on the way up, but soon found out a 2gb memory card in HD isn't ***. I ended up having to delete all my approach footy just to get what I salvaged.

As for the riding, what I expected to be the conditions of a lifetime turned out to be frustrating and a huge let down. The wax on my board (or lack thereof) combined w/ the snow conditions and some icing on my base going on created an impossible riding situation. I couldn't link two turns together as my board would literally come to a stop as if I was riding on carpet. Along w/ some very deep unpredictable snow w/ some breakable layers underneath it, I was crying and bitching until I finally had to stop and take off my board to scrape off the ice. Eventually down lower the snow changed and I just figured out I needed momentum to get things rolling I guess.

I edited out my last series of crappy turns all the while bitching and moaning about my predicament. At least what I did get in this vid was spectacular. I was just hoping it was gonna be like that the whole chute, but you take what you can get I guess. One thing is for sure, the gopro takes awesome video!!!

Pic of N Clyde couloir bcd took before the el nino pounding. It's super fat now:


(no camera w/ me on this trip)

VIDEO:
http://vimeo.com/9139376?hd=1

Nice job dude. This is a new classic. Once you see it from anywhere you're pretty much doing it. Haven't made it yet myself but it's high on the list. I love your video and pictures!

_________________
Mike Schwartz
www.thebackcountry.net
mike@thebackcountry.net

Yeah Brooks that video/helmet cam is the business! The accessory couloir on the lookers left (joins in to the NC couloir proper about 2/3 up) has caught my eye before. The last time I was up there, I noticed it was holding less wind-affected powder than the main couloir ......it might be worth a return trip. :idea:

I skied Norman Clyde Glacier's north couloir on Friday. Not to be confused with Clyde Couloir in the North Palisades area, just right of U notch. What a beautiful tour out there. We found pretty good wind buff snow on the glacier and in the couloir, and had good weather. A storm followed us out so closely we could just barely feel it at our backs.

Maybe like Brooks, I first saw this line while climbing Slide Mountain. I hadn't heard about it, but knew I'd do it as soon as I could ralley a partner or two. That was two years ago, and have since seen some friends go do it. Don't have to be jealous anymore, except maybe a little for the face shot run Brooks got. Dude! We could barely climb the thing sinking into our thighs on that steep slope with much firmer conditions. Plus it's a bit eery on a glacier, crossing a bergstrom, and staring up in that long schlog up the couloir. My watch read 13.400' at the top. Solo in pow is brave.


Perfect snow coverage above Big Pine I bet to ski any of these big peaks. You're not skinning from the car, don't wait until later in the spring for stuff like Birch.


North side of Kid Mountain from near the trailhead at the old Glacier Lodge Site 7965'. This is the traihead access for Middle and North Palisades, and is plowed year round.


The first thing you see is a set of sweet couloirs. The one on the left goes and is fairly wide. I never got a view of the one on the right, I've heard you need to rap if it isn't a huge winter. Snow depth is not huge right now, just a few feet at the car. Saw Dan Mingori's car in the parking lot. Wonder what they did.


Following the drains usually works out best. As long as you don't fall into a hole. There were lots of open spots in the creeks along the way. Easy to spot going up. Skiing down is where you need to pay attention.


Now we are about 2k up in the mountains where you can get into 3 distinctive paths. Middle Palisades and South Fork Pass, Norman Clyde Glacier (hidden behind that rocky peak in the center, or head right up towards Mt. Sill.




Our first view of Mt. Sill.


Our first view of the Norman Clyde Couloir, hard to make out but on the left. Mt. Sill visable on the right.


I think we got to this spot on the left by 10am. We were feeling good, and I began to think we might have enough energy to ski the couloir and then go look at the pass below Mt. Sill. Nope. There was some mileage to go still as seen on the right.


Can you you say California?


How about East Side?


Greg punched in a steep skin track. The glacier was steep and huge.


Then my turn to make the staircase. Somehow I had energy to do the whole thing, but all along I knew it would hurt me on the descent. I just wanted to do it for some reason. In a few places I was sinking into my thighs and deeper, and needed to spread pressure between my boot and knee at the same time, while pushing on flat ski poles. For the majority of the couloir the flat pole push up mixed with a light step worked fine.




Looking to the west at who knows what. Gotta get out the maps. Later.


Greg and I are psyched! No wind and some sun in a nice little nook. The wind was howling 30-40 as I stood up to take this picture. ice and debris would go shooting past at eye level once in awhile. Winds came from the SW, so this was the right side of the mountains to be on today.


Skiing was pretty good, but oddly firm compared to how deep our boot penetration was. Not that I want my old skinny skis, they would have sunk right through that wind thickened surface snow and I'd still be up there right now.




This was a great vantage point watching greg come down with the light changing and storm coming in.




Looking at the upper half of Slide Mountain on the way out. There is a thread for this peak on the forum. Some nice wide couloirs below the face and great views from the top.


Always cool to be off a climb or ski and see the storm touch down just as you reach the car.

_________________
Mike Schwartz
www.thebackcountry.net
mike@thebackcountry.net

Excellent. Those shots really define the reason we don't ever need to leave California to ski - even though there's only surfing here dude.

Nice Mike! It's been awhile since I've seen some eastside love.
Headin' down there soon myself!
That couloir and glacier is an amazing run and the best part is it goes right back to the car :D

Wow - that is an unreal area! Nice pics Mike.