The Prouty Headwall is a line I’d been wanting for a few years, and with the weekend’s forecast calling for high pressure and warm temperatures, the timing looked right to give it a try. I left work on Friday around 11:00, and stopped at Odell Lake to pick up Dan, who’d spent the night at his cabin after several days of skiing around Mt Lassen. After loading gear in my Suby, we hit the road and arrived at the trailhead at 1:30, and found Joe already there. A short time later, with gear packed, we set out for Green Lakes to camp for the evening….
The trail started out dry, and there were lots of hikers about. After a half mile or so, intermittent snow started, and quickly became a nuisance, as it covered a good portion of the trail but didn’t allow for continuous skinning. Fall Creek was scenic as usual, and kept the hiking from becoming to monotonous. We talked to a couple of rando skiers on their way out who’d skied Middle earlier in the day, as well as South from about 9,000 feet, and they indicated there weren’t any other folks around at Green Lakes…
At the Moraine Lake trail junction, we started skinning, and followed the irritating bootpack, eventually coming to the first crossing of Fall Creek. Skinning across wasn’t an option, due to the snow banks on the far side, and none of us were eager to fall into the creek, so we booted across…..
Overall the going was slow, and it took us three hours to get to the lake, but we eventually made it. We found a suitable place to camp, and set about pitching our sleeping bags, melting snow for water, and getting ready for the evening.
Once the sun dropped behind the South Sister, it cooled down considerably, helped by the steady breeze blowing through camp. We ate dinner, swapped stories for a bit while sipping on some whiskey Dan brought in, and the skiers hit the sack once it became dark. I stayed up for another hour or so to snap a few photos of camp under the stars…..
After a good night’s sleep, we awoke to a beautiful morning and I knew it was going to be a good day. Oatmeal hit the spot for breakfast, and we loaded packs for the day’s adventure. While waiting for Dan and Joe, I snapped a few pics of the surrounding landscape in the early morning light….
We headed out around 7:30, and scoping out the best line across Green Lakes, it appeared heading straight across would be the best bet. There were still lots of tension cracks on the ice, but plenty of open water around the shoreline to make things feel sketchy. Getting out on the ice, it was indeed plenty thick, and we cruised out onto the lake.
As we neared the north shore, I snapped a few pictures of Dan and Joe heading across as the sun crested the ridge to the east and provided a nice backdrop next to Broken Top….
Once across the lake, we ascended the obvious gully to the northwest of the lake, making good time on the still frozen snow. The views became better and better, until I had to stop and take a picture of Broken Top in the background….
The snow on the east facing slopes above Green Lakes was just starting to corn as we crested the top of the ridge and got our first view of the Prouty and the Middle and North sisters beyond.
The three of us were stoked to see the main chute on the Prouty headwall nicely filled in, smooth and with no bergschrund showing. We saw the tracks from the two skiers we met the day before, starting around 9,000 feet. They were the only evidence of ski tracks on the glacier, and the chute was nice and clean. We started skinning up the glacier, admiring the views before us as well off in the distance….
The glacier resembled more of a large snowfield than glacier, with the exception of one large jumbled icefall around 8,500 feet, which made for some cool pictures with Broken Top as a backdrop….
We continued to climb, and around 9,000 feet, switched over from skins and ski poles to crampons and ice axes. I went with an axe and whippet, and was happy to have the steel crampons. I kicked steps for the skiers, and worked my way up through the crux, stopping to take a few pics….
The snow firmed up towards the top of the chute, and the pucker factor raised as I couldn’t get more than a few centimeters penetration on the adze of my ice axe. I placed each step carefully and inserted the pick into the snow for extra security, and soon was standing on top of the roll over waiting for Dan and Joe….
The two of them arrived a few minutes later, and we hiked the remaining bit to the summit, making the top by 11:30. After not seeing a soul all day, I wasn’t the least bit surprised to see about 12 folks chilling on top. We hung out for a half hour or so, eating lunch and enjoying the views from 10,358 feet. Then, it was time to drop in for a sweet run.
The turns off the top were excellent. Perfect, smooth corn. We worked our way down to the saddle below, then regrouped and discussed the plan for riding the chute.
Joe decided to drop in first, and traversed across the slope to rider’s left, then proceeded to make turns down several hundred feet. Dan dropped next, and I snapped a few photos of each of them as they ripped turns.
When both skiers were safely down, I dropped in. The steep turns were smooth, consistent and some of the best of the season. It doesn’t get a whole lot better. Below is a shot of Joe ripping further down the Prouty, as well as a shot of me that Dan snapped…..
One nice thing about the bigger volcanoes is the continuous vertical in one run. We made turns down the Prouty until our legs grew tired, then stopped for a few minutes to catch our breath. More riding shots…..
I snapped lots of photos of the skiers, including the shots below of Joe cruising past the icefall and Dan ripping corn with the gnarly wall below the Hodgecrest behind him….
We cruised back down to around 8,o00 feet, looking for the location near the lower moraine pile where we followed a continuous snow chute up earlier in the morning. I rode down first, and when I turned around captured the below photo of the two skiers coming down, looking like ants….
Working our way back to the east facing slopes above Green Lake, we continued to make turns and the snow remained in good shape. Below are a couple shots of Joe with Broken Top on the descent…..
The snow got a bit soft near the lakes, but we were able to glide all the way back to the lake’s edge. It was getting warm, and I was looking forward to a late lunch and some of the wine Joe had packed in.
The skin across the lake went quickly, and soon we were enjoying some cold snow melted water, freeze dried lunch and Joe’s wine, all while relaxing after a great run. The lounging didn’t last long though, as we needed to pack camp and make the four mile trek back to the trailhead.
The “ski” out was challenging as expected, but the cold beer, pickled salmon and chips and salsa at the car made it all worth it. Back at Dan’s cabin, we enjoyed another beer, as well as good conversation with John, who’d spent the weekend making turns on Broken Top. Looking out across Odell Lake to Diamond Peak as I pulled onto the highway and headed home, my mind was already wondering where the next adventure will be. Hopefully the weather holds and it won’t take too long to find out! Here’s a parting shot from the trip…..
