01-10-12 - Darrington, Washington
 

Wife and I went for a spin up near Darrington today.

Clear Creek
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-m...learCreek2.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-M...ClearCreek.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4...4/_MG_2458.JPG

Up to FS23
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-W...4/_MG_2474.JPG


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s...4/_MG_2475.JPG

Just an old snowmobile track and a skin track.. nice snow
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-e...4/_MG_2478.JPG

floating nicely along
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-X...4/_MG_2480.JPG

hard pack
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-1...4/_MG_2484.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L...4/_MG_2485.JPG

getting to the fresh snow
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-L...2/_MG_2490.JPG

started getting steeper..
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_...4/_MG_2492.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-B...4/_MG_2499.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-n...4/_MG_2504.JPG

up and up
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-H...4/_MG_2506.JPG

you can just see White Chuck..
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--...4/_MG_2517.JPG

looking back.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-r...4/_MG_2520.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-g...4/_MG_2524.JPG

floating nicely at 4psi
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_...4/_MG_2529.JPG

grade was a bit steep
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-b...4/_MG_2534.JPG

bunny highway
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-t...0/_MG_2536.JPG

3740ft. time to park. up ahead the grade steepens significantly and there is a lot of off camber exposure.. not something for a one-rig adventure.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8...4/_MG_2537.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-F...4/_MG_2538.JPG

White Chuck
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9...4/_MG_2540.JPG

Baker
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L...4/_MG_2553.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-e...4/_MG_2554.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-g...4/_MG_2561.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-T...4/_MG_2565.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-6...4/_MG_2571.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_...4/_MG_2583.JPG

nap time.. wife had about 20 layers on :p
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6...4/_MG_2589.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-U...0/_MG_2626.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s...4/_MG_2652.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-d...itled_HDR2.jpg

brought the snowshoes but we didn't need them at all... 4100ft elevation
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-1...4/_MG_2669.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-m...2/_MG_2672.JPG

Pugh on the left
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7..._Panorama4.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-c...4/_MG_2673.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-u...2/_MG_2682.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B..._Panorama5.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-M...4/_MG_2725.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-v...0/_MG_2677.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-H...4/_MG_2750.JPG

time to head back.. getting dark
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-I...4/_MG_2759.JPG


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Z...2/_MG_2782.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0...2/_MG_2779.jpg

guys flew over in a copter, wonder where they went
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n...4/_MG_2802.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-E...G_2848.CR2.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-N...2/_MG_2891.JPG

:P

wow!!! those are amazing photos!

Awesome adventure! Great shots. I wish we had mountains here in Ohio instead of our rolling hills.

What camera/lens are you using?

Nice, thanks for the pics.

Looks like you had a fun trip!

Thanks for sharing the pics.

Nice pics in difficult light, thanks.

4 psi? How do you air up at the trailhead?

And the helo is a 2000 Robinson Raven recently for sale in Illinois.

thanks.. I use a canon 7D, most of these shots were with a 24mm F1.4L. I converted my AC to on board air. if you don't air down to ~6psi or less you won't go anywhere in the snow. I usually start at 6 and go down to 2psi if needed. interesting, that bird was a ways from home. I flew over this area in a R22, hope to do it again someday

Nice shots!!