King Ravine 4/23/07

lftgly · Apr 24, 2007, 9:29 PM

After skiing Great Gulf on Saturday and Sunday, I was beat by Sunday night, but when the phone rang, and it was Doug Mayer asking if I could get Monday off to ski the Seven in King Ravine, I said "yes".

We were able to skin all the way up to the Seven - right through the huge boulders in the ravine floor.

The King Ravine trail, once described as "ballet with crampons", was covered with snow.

The icefall was probably skiable on this day, but having forgot my helmet back at Appalachia, I resisted the temptaion.

The ascent took us 3 hours, skinning the whole way. There was a lot of tree damage from the winds the previous Monday, requiring many detours along the Short Line trail above 2500 feet.

We were able to do a little trail work, to make the descent a little more enjoyable.

It was hand-to-hand combat with the trees down King Ravine trail from the Subway junction, but thanks to our earlier efforts, Short Line trail wasn't too bad below Mossy Fall.

We eventually got to just let the skis run, and even make a few turns, all the way back to Appalachia (we had to walk the last 100 feet from the power line).

lftgly · Apr 24, 2007, 9:30 PM

Snow surfaces were not the spring corn conditions we would have liked. It has not been freezing up overnight, so it was soft, mashed potatoes everywhere, even in the steep gully.

However, the snow is dense enough, that it was still supportive through the mid afternoon, all the way down to Appalachia, where it was 70 degrees (though it helped to stay on the center of the boot packed trail). It was probably in the 50s in King Ravine. It's melting fast!

David Metsky · Apr 24, 2007, 10:32 PM

Killer trip report, I've always wanted to see the terrain in there when skiable.

-dave-

snoseek · Apr 24, 2007, 10:34 PM

awesome!! some nice off the beaten track stuff. i've always wondered about kings ravine. there's lot's of good stuff in the whites that deserves exploring.

cbcbd · Apr 25, 2007, 1:28 AM

That is awesome!!! I so wished I had my skis last time I was in there, now it looks much better!

I was talking to a "Doug" at the Pearl Izumi store a few weeks ago when I went into King Ravine and showed him some pics... he was psyched with what he saw and wanted to get in there... wondering if it's the same guy.

David Metsky · Apr 25, 2007, 9:27 AM

Doug is the web lackey for Car Talk, and a big RMC dude.

-dave-

lftgly · Apr 25, 2007, 9:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Metsky

...the web lackey for Car Talk, and a big RMC dude.

Thanks for setting the record straight, Dave. I hastily copied and adapted this trip report from an email, and I apologize to Doug for not censoring his name to protect the innocent. Hopefully my TR didn't get him in any more trouble than he was already in for skipping work.

cbcbd · Apr 25, 2007, 10:19 AM

That's cool... there's not too many Dougs out there and it just seemed like a coincidence. I'll edit my post to help him keep his job

-Doug

ps-Car talk rules!

Angus · Apr 25, 2007, 3:05 PM

hiked this area - madison and adams day trip - last summer and my son and I were discussing the possibilities of people skiing this stuff - doesn't look as intimidating covered in snow! pixs do lie! very cool!

dmc · Apr 25, 2007, 6:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbcbd

That's cool... there's not too many Dougs out there and it just seemed like a coincidence. I'll edit my post to help him keep his job

-Doug

ps-Car talk rules!

I hear ya...

-Doug

Apr 24, 2007, 9:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
lftgly Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Franconia, NH Posts: 34	King Ravine 4/23/07 After skiing Great Gulf on Saturday and Sunday, I was beat by Sunday night, but when the phone rang, and it was Doug Mayer asking if I could get Monday off to ski the Seven in King Ravine, I said "yes". We were able to skin all the way up to the Seven - right through the huge boulders in the ravine floor. The King Ravine trail, once described as "ballet with crampons", was covered with snow. The icefall was probably skiable on this day, but having forgot my helmet back at Appalachia, I resisted the temptaion. The ascent took us 3 hours, skinning the whole way. There was a lot of tree damage from the winds the previous Monday, requiring many detours along the Short Line trail above 2500 feet. We were able to do a little trail work, to make the descent a little more enjoyable. It was hand-to-hand combat with the trees down King Ravine trail from the Subway junction, but thanks to our earlier efforts, Short Line trail wasn't too bad below Mossy Fall. We eventually got to just let the skis run, and even make a few turns, all the way back to Appalachia (we had to walk the last 100 feet from the power line). __________________ ...the man who goes alone can start today...

Apr 24, 2007, 9:30 PM	#2 (permalink)
lftgly Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Franconia, NH Posts: 34	Snow surfaces were not the spring corn conditions we would have liked. It has not been freezing up overnight, so it was soft, mashed potatoes everywhere, even in the steep gully. However, the snow is dense enough, that it was still supportive through the mid afternoon, all the way down to Appalachia, where it was 70 degrees (though it helped to stay on the center of the boot packed trail). It was probably in the 50s in King Ravine. It's melting fast! __________________ ...the man who goes alone can start today...

Apr 25, 2007, 1:28 AM	#5 (permalink)
cbcbd Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Seattle,WA Posts: 1,631	That is awesome!!! I so wished I had my skis last time I was in there, now it looks much better! I was talking to a "Doug" at the Pearl Izumi store a few weeks ago when I went into King Ravine and showed him some pics... he was psyched with what he saw and wanted to get in there... wondering if it's the same guy. __________________ Sign, sign everywhere a sign... pointing out the trails, can\'t make up my mind. Last edited by cbcbd; Apr 25, 2007 at 10:20 AM.

Apr 25, 2007, 10:19 AM	#8 (permalink)
cbcbd Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Seattle,WA Posts: 1,631	That's cool... there's not too many Dougs out there and it just seemed like a coincidence. I'll edit my post to help him keep his job -Doug ps-Car talk rules! __________________ Sign, sign everywhere a sign... pointing out the trails, can\'t make up my mind.

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Apr 24, 2007, 10:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
David Metsky Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Somerville, MA Posts: 565	Killer trip report, I've always wanted to see the terrain in there when skiable. -dave-

Apr 24, 2007, 10:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
snoseek Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Golden, Co Posts: 1,570	awesome!! some nice off the beaten track stuff. i've always wondered about kings ravine. there's lot's of good stuff in the whites that deserves exploring.

Apr 25, 2007, 9:27 AM	#6 (permalink)
David Metsky Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Somerville, MA Posts: 565	Doug is the web lackey for Car Talk, and a big RMC dude. -dave-

Apr 25, 2007, 3:05 PM	#9 (permalink)
Angus Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 364	hiked this area - madison and adams day trip - last summer and my son and I were discussing the possibilities of people skiing this stuff - doesn't look as intimidating covered in snow! pixs do lie! very cool!