We woke up at the hotel feeling better than we'd felt in days. After a delicious breakfast in the room and a slow morning, we finally motivated and hit the road around 11:30. Our plan was to head to the hut near Duffy Lake that our server had suggested.
After one last stop at the grocery store and an hour long drive to the trailhead, we started skinning around 1:00 in spring-like conditions. Most of our approach followed a logging road that is well used by snow machines, but we eventually branched off to venture the valley, still following some snow machine tracks. The approach was short and painless.... It couldn't have been much longer than 5k or over 1500 feet of vert.
The hut is wonderful (and free!). I think there are 14 of us here tonight, and it is cozy, warm, and best of all, dry! There is even a wood stove and solar lights. I almost feel like I'm at the Merrells' cabin.
After getting settled and eating a snack, the five of us headed out to get the lay of the land. We followed a skin track that switch-backed up the mountainside directly behind the hut. The snow was excellent on north facing aspects, but we felt a definite crust on all other aspects.
After breaking out of the trees maybe 1000 feet above the hut, we skinned to the summit of a nearby peak. The terrain was gorgeous and huge. The skiing possibilities were limitless. After identifying a few potential objectives for tomorrow and investigating a possible exit route for Saturday, we dug a pit, ripped skins, and got ready to descend. Kevin and Jerry took off first, followed by Dave who fell right near the top. He wasn't injured, so I headed down the slope toward Kevin and Jerry while Will waited for Dave to get his skis back on.
I enjoyed fun powder down to Kevin and Jerry, and then the three of us proceeded to wait for Dave and Will. After a few minutes, we started to get worried as they hadn't shown up and it seemed unlikely that they would have inadvertently skied past us. Kevin suggested that I try "yelping," or calling out my signature "Koooooooeey!" After reminding him that I am not a Chihuahua, I called out and got a response. It was eventually communicated that Dave had lost one of his skis. After waiting a few more minutes, Jerry, Kevin, and I donned skins and began breaking trail up to them.
Reunited, we joined Will and Dave in the tedious search for the ski. Dave and Will had already excavated much of the search area, but we began a somewhat systematic process of probing for the ski as we worked our way across and down the slope. It was extremely frustrating and a huge bummer for Dave. On the bright side, I would much prefer to probe for a ski than a person, and we were all relieved that the ski was not lost on the traverse.
After many hours of searching between the five of us, I plunge stepped down the slope with Dave while the rest of the crew spent a few more minutes looking before skiing down to the hut defeated. Back at the cabin, we had a relaxing dinner and dried out. Looking forward to skiing more tomorrow! A system is expected to move through the area tonight and the new snow might decrease stability. We're all crossing our fingers for more sunshine and hoping the storm doesn't materialize.
After many hours of searching between the five of us, I plunge stepped down the slope with Dave while the rest of the crew spent a few more minutes looking before skiing down to the hut defeated. Back at the cabin, we had a relaxing dinner and dried out. Looking forward to skiing more tomorrow! A system is expected to move through the area tonight and the new snow might decrease stability. We're all crossing our fingers for more sunshine and hoping the storm doesn't materialize.
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