Winter Conditions at Gash Point

Basking in the wind at the Saddle near Gash Point

It was full-on January this weekend at Gash Point.

Warmer temps at the trailhead and a glimpse of blue sky lulled us into thinking that it was going to be a balmy day.  As we broke out of the forest and onto the ridge leading to the saddle below Gash Point, the wind picked up and hurled snow in our faces.  Well, we've been searching for face shots!


Click on the "View in Hillmap" link above to see our route in hillmap.com, view the USGS topo map of the path, print a map and upload the gpx track to your gps.

There is a well-established skin track from the lower parking area at the hair pin turn just above 4700'.  The track is a bit of a tobogan run at the moment: slick and a bit icy in places.  It follows a good line up to the ridge, but has been mostly erased by the wind once you break out of the taller trees.

Snow conditions are variable.  I had to dig deep and remember how to ski on crusty snow, so far this year we've been spoiled by the gorgeous powder on most slopes.  We did find some patches of great snow, although I'll wait to head up to Gash again until more snow falls.

Definitely glad to be on our fat skis!  My Black Diamond Starlets handled the crust well, especially while turning on crust through the trees.  Ryan was singing the praise of his Black Diamond Justice skis throughout the day.

All in all, it was a great day and I look forward to skiing Gash again - although next time I hope for some summit views.

Sugar Plum Fairies at Kootenai Creek

Whenever I enter winter - taking a few steps beyond the car, past the parking lot and far enough into the landscape that the cold starts freezing my fingers - I think about the first time I really entered winter. My freshman roommate took me on an overnight snowshoe trip into New Hampshire's White Mountains.  The twisted pine trees up high were frosted with powdery snow and I could hear strains of The Nutcracker playing in my head.

Beautiful.  Unlike anything I had ever seen.

Now I am fortunate to enter winter regularly, taking backcountry ski trips to marvelous locations.  Sometimes in the midst of the sweaty, freezing, keep-moving trips I forget to take a moment to look around me.

Here are some photos up the slowly freezing Kootenai Creek, an ice-filled, glittering, wonderland on an overcast day.  Photos can't capture it, so I urge you to stop for a moment next time you're in winter and take a deep look.

Moding Gloves to do Blood sugar Tests in Frigid Temps

Using the modified glove to do a bloodtest while on a ski tour. Orange thing is 1-Liter Ultralight Dry Sack I use to keep my meter clipped to my avalanche beacon harness so it stays warm and dry inside of my clothes. 

Any diabetic skier or mountaineer will tell you that checking ones blood sugar in frigid windy conditions is painful. It means exposing an ungloved hand long enough to fiddle with the tiny test strips and, prick a finger and milk enough blood out of the frozen digit to satisfy the meter.

After putting up with this for years I came up with a simple solution that works so well I wish I had thought of it ages ago.

I cut a short section out of one of the seams on the middle fingers of a pair of Outdoor Research PL 100 Gloves and stitched either end of the slit to stop it from spreading further. I can now pull just one finger out, use it to pull out a test strip, prick it and do a blood test. (I choose the middle finger because I don't like doing blood tests on the sensitive index finger and because the middle finger seems easier to warm back in mittens as it is surrounded by other fingers.)

Supplies: Glove, Tiny Scissors, Thread, Sewing Kit

Stitching the ends of the slit with the glove inside out. 

On a recent ski tour in temps far below freezing I used these gloves in combination with a pair of modular Black Diamond Mercury Mitts and was able to keep my hands comfortably warm the whole time despite frequent testing. I wore the modified gloves alone when I was warm from exertion or needed to play with bindings or other gear. When I needed more protection from wind or snow I used the gortex shell of the mitts directly over the moded gloves and at the lunch stop I used the poofy lobster claw liner of the mitts over them while eating which provided enough warmth to dry them out a bit.

The lip of the seem seal the slot fairly well but powder snow can work its way in. A smal flexible magnetic closure system would be ideal but since the gloves aren't waterproof to begin with I am happy just using them with shells.

I plan on doing the same mod to a second pair of fleeces gloves so I have a dry spare and pair of Outdoor Research Gripper Gloves that are made from Windstopper fabric. I find the Windstoper gloves too sweaty for use while traveling up hill but hope they will be the perfect glove for use at windy stops or in camp.

Taking a quick stop from trail breaking through powder to do a blood test.

Lolo Pass Skiing for the Start of 2013

On new years day 2013 we headed back to the Cristal Theater at lolo pass and skied a few different laps. We found light fluff everywhere. The base was excellent on north aspects and south aspects were skiable but had barely covered rocks and logs in places. Making turns on the slopes between summer climbing crags was a lot of fun and made for some good photos.

Click here to view a map of our tour in hillmap. Dropping due East to the highway at the end of the tour is not recommended. Doing so we found untracked but thin snow and we had to make a very brushy traverse as the highway embankments are high and steep. 

This and the top photo are south facing.  

A deeper north slope. 

Looking across the valley at the line through the trees and boulders on the upper left that shook up my flu addled stomach something awful last time we were here. 

The usual shenanigans.