This post missed publication last year. But as I look over my blog I’m happy to share it now.
- Date: April 9, 2025
- Distance: 8.04 miles round trip
- Elevation gain: 4,203′
- Trailhead: Ashcroft
- Strava: https://strava.app.link/B9eLVefnWSb
As the dry, warm weather quickly settled the season’s below average snowpack, Mark, Parker and I were excited to venture into the high country for a bit of ski mountaineering. Parker is usually our main partner for ski mountaineering, but we don’t usually get to see him much outside of April and May. Living closer together this winter, however, we had gotten to see a lot more of each other. Even so, getting out for the first spring ski with Mark and Parker always feels special. We make a great team and always share lots of laughs.
Parker picked us up at our place, and we made the quick drive up to the Ashcroft road closure. We had boots on the ground by 6:10 am. Besides a couple of stops to poop, we made good time up the valley towards the dramatic basin below Malamute and Cathedral. Parker had been up our intended line once before, so we followed his lead and the myriad of other tracks in and out of the basin.
At the base of Malamute, we started heading up our line and were happy to be able to skin about half way up the chalky snow before electing to take the skis off and boot as the slope got steeper. As he took his skis, off, Parker dropped one and we all watched in surprise as it slid down out of sight and over a roll. Parker insisted Mark and I continue to the top while he retrieved his ski since he had skied this line before. We turned on our radios so we could keep in touch while Parker navigated down to retrieve his ski. Thankfully the ski had gotten caught just 300 ft or so down from where he had initially dropped it! At the top Mark and I waited for Parker to catch back up and the three of us enjoyed views off the summit.
The snow was still cold when we descended; an eggshell crust and variable snow tracks from a party the day before made for less than ideal conditions, but it was a fun, aesthetic line nonetheless.
With plenty of time left, we decided to ski another, more north facing line off the Eastern ridge of Malamute that we had been eyeing on the way up. Parker led the charge up the apron, again skinning about halfway up the line. As the slope got steeper, we successfully put skis on our pack and started booting up. After transitioning to boot pack, the slope angle continued to ramp up and we were surprised to see the crux of the line–a 48 degree pitch at a narrow choke– was much more intimidating than it looked from below. The hiking was slow in the soft, north-facing snow, and we were all anxious to make our way back down through the steep pitch. At the top Mark’s mind-body connection was in full play and a nervous/morning poop turned into a near emergency. Luckily, the gentle ridge on the backside of the line provided a safe haven to void his bowels. With the code brown canceled, we transitioned to ski down. I made the first turns down the steepest line any of us had skied that season. I felt excited and focused and after spraying a bit of beta back to Mark and Parker, made my way through the crux to a safe stopping point where I could watch the other two descend.
After having all safely navigated the couloir we enjoyed some fun turns in the run-out before picking our way back down to the car. Even with the low snow numbers this year, being in the backcountry in early April meant we were still able to ski almost all the way back to the car. As we got into the lower elevations, we did find ourselves challenged by the usual warming-snow-bush-whacking combo, but made it back without too much hassle.
Back at the car, we enjoyed the warm sunshine and looked forward to another spring in the mountains.
