On November 12th we headed up to Turnagain Pass to ski some more early season Alaska backcountry. The area had received about a foot of new snow. Fueled by the suprisingly good conditions a week ago we had to check it out again.
It was a perfect day--clear, no wind, and about 20 degrees F. A bluebird day in AK always blows the mind! We skied some steep north facing lines and with the foot of fresh, snowpack was still stable. Clint Butler skied the most filled-in line and charged it with confidence. Conditions are still thin--being cautious and light on your feet is wise--but considering it's mid November, the stoke is easy to find. - Jason Scheben
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Slashing some early season turns? Email tess@powdermag.com with pics and a report.
Photos by Matt Niederhauser
11/9 - Mt. Bachelor opens November 18, but you wouldn't think it from the full parking lot last weekend. Powder-hungry Bendites spent the weekend reaping face shots on the cone and hitting the homemade booters that now cover the lower mountain.
Photos by Ian Fohrman
On Tuesday, November 1, Clint Butler and I skied Lane Glacier at Hatcher's Pass, about 1 hour, 20 minutes north of Anchorage. It's still really thin around here so choices are limited but if you wanted to put in the effort for some turns up high, Lane Glacier was the place. There was about a foot of fresh on a fairly consistent base for the top 1,000 vertical before rocks started popping up everywhere.
Due to the lack of snow and amount of effort required up north "AK SYNDIKATE" decided to check out the conditions to the south. Clint Butler, Simon Evans, Justin Keen, and I hit Turnagain Pass (a little more than an hour south of Anchorage). We hiked "Tin-Can"—the first 400 feet were a total bush-wack, but after that you could put the skins on and cruise. It's only about an hour and half to a false summit where you can choose to ski the southern aspect known as "Hippy Bowl", or continue to get the goods. We chose to keep going and skied some lines off the steeper north and west facing aspects. Overall, some quality early season turns! - Jason Scheben