#splitboarding — Public Fediverse posts

Any great mountain adventures should start with a waterfall along the trail. The more waterfalls, the better the adventure! The beauty seen, the cool
breeze felt, rewards the soul hiker beginning to end. 

My friend and I set out on the Van Trump trail, named after Philemon Beecher Van Trump; best  known as the first person with a documented ascent of Mt Rainier along with Hazard Stevens back in 1870. The creek, trail and glacier are all named after P.B. V.T., even the falls below Christine are named after his daughter. Discussing plans for this trip we renamed the route VT trail as just hearing the word trump is a negative reminder of a different heartless man. Though the two people are completely unrelated. As a national park supporter & guide, I have witnessed how much the budget cuts have deeply impacted the park negatively. Still a worthy trail to pursue for the mountains beauty felt through out.

There are 3 named waterfalls in this approach, Christine Falls, Bloucher Falls and Comet Falls. Comet Falls certainly is the biggest and one of the grandest falls Ive seen within the Mt Rainier National Park boundary. There are hundreds of trails I have yet to do but feel this trail is one of the most scenic approaches up the mountain Ive found so far...

#MountainMonday #mountains #waterfalls #hiking #splitboarding #tahoma #MtRainer #mtrainiernationalpark

Found some new views of Tahoma to share! This side of Mt Rainier National Park is rarely visited, we saw old tracks but had the mountain to ourselves on Saturday. Looking up from 7000ft/2134m this view is only half way to the top summit around 14,410ft/4392m. We were glad to be 100% done on our 50% summit. More stories ahead...

#mountainmonday #mountains #tahoma #mtrainier #splitboarding

Found some new views of Tahoma to share! This side of Mt Rainier National Park is rarely visited, we saw old tracks but had the mountain to ourselves on Saturday. Looking up from 7000ft/2134m this view is only half way to the top summit around 14,410ft/4392m. We were glad to be 100% done on our 50% summit. More stories ahead...

#mountainmonday #mountains #tahoma #mtrainier #splitboarding

Found some new views of Tahoma to share! This side of Mt Rainier National Park is rarely visited, we saw old tracks but had the mountain to ourselves on Saturday. Looking up from 7000ft/2134m this view is only half way to the top summit around 14,410ft/4392m. We were glad to be 100% done on our 50% summit. More stories ahead...

#mountainmonday #mountains #tahoma #mtrainier #splitboarding

Found some new views of Tahoma to share! This side of Mt Rainier National Park is rarely visited, we saw old tracks but had the mountain to ourselves on Saturday. Looking up from 7000ft/2134m this view is only half way to the top summit around 14,410ft/4392m. We were glad to be 100% done on our 50% summit. More stories ahead...

#mountainmonday #mountains #tahoma #mtrainier #splitboarding

Found some new views of Tahoma to share! This side of Mt Rainier National Park is rarely visited, we saw old tracks but had the mountain to ourselves on Saturday. Looking up from 7000ft/2134m this view is only half way to the top summit around 14,410ft/4392m. We were glad to be 100% done on our 50% summit. More stories ahead...

#mountainmonday #mountains #tahoma #mtrainier #splitboarding

Some views from yesterday's skintrack up cardio hill. A winter storm is set to drop up to a meter of additional cascade flake.

But for now, its still quite low tide at middle elevations, definitely bounced off the reef once in a fit of irrational exuberance on the way down.

#pnw #landscapephotography #splitboarding #snowboarding

Got out into the alpine today, explored a new zone on Snoqualmie Pass I had never been. The mountain access starts at a low elevation, we approached from 2500ft/762m topping out around 4500ft/1372m. My partner was feeling confident riding down a line we frankly didn't belong, I was feeling a little weak in the confidence & left knee. We descended the fall line in the 3rd picture shown here. Warm temps opened the snowpack, making it soft, mushy, hard to ride and easy to sink in deep. We eventually acknowledged we were in over our heads, pulled the plug to climb out through steep trees. Attempting to get in position to transfer from ride mode to climb mode on the splitboard... my step caved in, I sunk up to my chest in a sinkhole between a downed tree. Stress kicked in, not just from the present moment but these present times, wtf is going on world! Negative thoughts looped my mind. Thoughts of an injury causing a rescue did not settle well, nobody would come get us where we were. I felt my mortality more ever clear. My rule in the mountains is to keep it cool, you need a clear head to get you through. Mountains are my place to learn, reflect on life and feel alive.

Our handy gps maps & determined legs carried us to safety. All is well. Today fully kicked my ass. Good reminder when to listen to your own instincts. The older I get the more you realize prevention is truly key. I can make solid decisions, speak up when I need to but will follow people I trust to places we sometimes should avoid. Patience carefully got us through. The Cascade mountains around Snoqualmie Pass in Washington are no joke to mess with. Some of the spookier mountains Ive explored, a lot of water drains from the steep mountain peaks around and the low elevations, warm temps & deep snowpacks keep the conditions always changing. Live to learn. Mistakes will happen but we are stronger together.

#splitboarding #mountains #beauty #exploring #backcountry #overcomingadversity #StrongerTogether