Powder Stash
Mazama,
Washington
Overview
Just west of Varden Creek, the slopes above Highway 20, which I believe locals refer to as the Powder Stash, provide great terrain for storm skiing. The north facing slopes consist predominately of forest with old burn, although you will find some open areas below the western ridge. While there are some steeper sections, the terrain is generally more mild than other nearby areas. From the pull-off, head up and trend lookers left towards the mellow ridge above Varden Creek. Gain the ridge around 5,400 feet and follow the ridge up to the high point of 6.986 feet. From the top, there are various options, with most choosing to head down slightly before the prominent western ridge. While you can ski on the ridge, it can be a bit wind effected and there will likely be some cornices on your right. Eventually you will come into an open area below the ridge, which conditions allowing, can make for some great turns. From there pick your way down through the burn area, heading to the looker's left if you want to exit near your car.
Directions
Parking
Trip Reports
With some unexpected free time on my hands during the week, I decided to take advantage and get out for a ski tour on a Tuesday. While there hadn't been a big dump of snow recently, it looked like snow had been accumulating in the North Cascades over the last week, especially at higher elevations. I decided to check out a new area, which I believe the locals refer to as the Powder Stash.
After dropping my son off at school, I arrived at the pull-out around 10:30am and was somewhat surprised to not see any cars in the lot. I had consulted the map the night before to plan out my approach and potential ski, but truth be told, I was hoping there would be a skin track in place and indeed there was a skin track heading up across the road.
I hopped on the skin track and started heading up. There was a dusting of fresh snow on the skin track, and only a couple of inches of powder on top of a solid crust, but I was hopeful there would be more powder up higher. Considering the terrible winter we were having, the coverage was actually pretty good. Probably a solid 3 to 4 feet of snow on the ground, with more up higher.
I hopped on the skin track and started heading up. There was a dusting of fresh snow on the skin track, and only a couple of inches of powder on top of a solid crust, but I was hopeful there would be more powder up higher. Considering the terrible winter we were having, the coverage was actually pretty good. Probably a solid 3 to 4 feet of snow on the ground, with more up higher.
Slowly but surely, the quantity of powder increased as I progressed up the skin track, and by the time I reached the ridge, around 5,400ft, it was clear I would be getting in some decent powder turns today. While the clouds had moved in and completely covered the blue sky from the morning, the ski conditions were looking better and better.
After cruising up the ridge a bit, I started to get really hungry. I had been lost in my thoughts and hadn't been paying much attention to how much vertical I had covered, nor had much further I had to go. Checking my watch, I realized I had gone up 2,600 feet, so I pulled off the skin track and grabbed some food and water. Hydrated and with a full belly, I continued skinning up the mellow ridge, eventually reaching the high point of 6986 ft. Unfortunately, visibility was very limited, and I couldn't see Silver Star or down in Varden Creek Basin.
After some more food and water, I transitioned to ski mode and decided to head directly down from where I was. I had some nice turns off the top, and then cut over a bit to get off the ridge and into a gully. The skiing was good in the undisturbed snow, however there were a number of ski tracks through the gully, and I was feeling the crust when going through older tracks.
I kept skiing down and then headed skier's left and found a nice alley through the burnt out forest which hadn't been touched. The powder was still deep enough to make for some great turns.
I then spied an open area to my left and made a short traverse over into the bowl. Unfortunately, I could see a lot of older frozen avy debris in the heart of the bowl, but the skier's right hand side was relatively clean. That also meant there were some older tracks going through as well, however there was enough room to enjoy some untouched snow on the way down.
Once I was out of the open area and into the burnt out forest, it was more survival skiing. It wasn't too bad, I've certainly had much worse. There was a thick crust underneath and I had dusted off my big ass powder boards which I hadn't used in at least 5 years, and it took a little getting used to maneuver through the trees on the crust.
At the bottom as I was traversing back towards the car, I saw the road below and decided to exit onto the road and walk back to the car, which was a couple of hundred yards back up the road. It was a better than expected day. Found some nice protected north facing terrain that should hold snow well, and it was a peaceful and relaxing day out in the mountains, with not another soul in sight.
