Skiing Plateau via Warner Creek Trail (21/33)

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Skiing Plateau via Warner Creek Trail (21/33)


I can’t stress enough the importance of hiking peaks before you ski them—preferably from all the routes that get you to the summit. This past summer, I hiked Plateau from Warner Creek as part of the All Trails challenge and immediately thought to myself that this could be a very skiable route.


I started with my friend Mendy a little after 9. It was pretty bony at the start, maybe a few inches on the ground of crusty snow. I wasn’t exactly mad at the crust because it allowed me to stay on top of the snow and prevented my bases from getting destroyed. I assumed that as I climbed, the snow would get deeper, but I was wrong. 



Apparently, even the higher elevations got a big ice storm Wednesday. The tree trunks were glistening and coated, and at times it made traction a bit of an issue. However, some light snow fell creating dust on crust which made things easier on the way down. This tour was a total of almost 12 miles and took about 9 hours.



I often wonder what it is about pain or discomfort that can be so addictive. People in endurance sports thrive on the discomfort of pushing their bodies to the limit. And some people seem to be addicted to their psychological and emotional pain. I think we’ve all met people who need to find something wrong and can never be happy. At least with backcountry skiing the discomfort is tempered by the beauty of nature and a sense of accomplishment.



Today’s IPA was Torque Wrench by @industrialartsbrewing You can’t go wrong with any of their beers (9/10).



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