Crystal Mountain ski resort

Cement Basin and East Peak Powder Link Up

Boot laying snowboard tracks down Cement Basin
Snowboarding down East Peak in the Crystal Mountain Backcountry

Cement Basin is one of those areas that you reach when on top of East Peak. It’s a nice eastern slope that because of it’s aspect consistently gets loaded with snow. While it’s not nearly as big as some other areas there are a handful of good lines. That being said there are two big gullies to drop into but are open because they are avalanche paths. Dropping in you should use a bit of hesitation but when and if things are stable it’s an amazing pitch and fun line usually filled with deep powder. Knowing this we made our way out there and we’re fortunate enough to make first tracks.

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Sheep Lake Couloir near Crystal Mountain

Looking into the Sheep lake Couloir near Crystal Mountain Ski Resort Washington
Looking into the Sheep lake Couloir near Crystal Mountain Ski Resort Washington

The Sheep Lake Couloir is one of the main gems out of the Crystal Mountain Ski Resort Southback. It’s an aesthetic line that runs down the face of Shepard Peak over 1000 feet to Sheep Lake below. It is a decently long distance to make it out to the area so it is usually a spring touring mission. With clear weather and great snow Ben, John, Boot and I decided to head out there on New Years Day. Being the start of winter it was cold and the daylight was short but what we lost in time would be made up by the quality of snow.

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Crown Point Milking the Different Aspects

A beautiful day in the Crystal Mountain Backcountry
A beautiful day in the Crystal Mountain Backcountry
Ski touring out to Crown Point

Crown Point is a great Peak in the Crystal Mountain Backcountry as in has numerous different aspects. With the different slopes you can find numerous styles of terrain from the summit. Knowing that the snow was good on all aspects Boot, Jenni and I put in a solid skin track. The plan was to make the most out of the day and work with terrain to ride numerous aspects off Crown Point. It was Jenni’s only day to explore the backcountry so I wanted to make the most out of it.




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Bullion Basin Failure and Ride in an Avalanche

The moment before getting caught in a slab avalanche on Bullion Peak
Standing on the summit of Bullion Peak before getting caught in an avalanche
Snowboarding Bullions Basin in the Crystal Mountain Backcountry

On Monday I found myself dropping into Bullion Basin and found myself caught in a small avalanche. I intending on doing a ski cut than heading for the trees on the left hand side to see if it moved. Well…things didn’t go as planned and as I was traversing towards the trees I saw the snow slab. Within a split second the snow was all around me and take me for a 400 foot ride and taking a ride in an avalanche. This is the build up to the trip.

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Cement Basin, Lake Basin and East Peak Link Up

My touring route through Cement Basin, Lake Basin and East Peak

The Cement, Lake and East Traverse is connecting some of the better lines just east of Crystal Mountain. This has been a go to tour for me for many years now. By doing this small traverse it puts you in some fun terrain. If you plan your timing right you can also have some other fun lines along the way. This trip report is focused on two back to back days heading up the Bullion Basin trail. With the first day riding the slopes of Cement Basin before doing the Cement, Lake and East Traverse.

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Pickhandle Point North Swaths by Crystal Mountain

Ben skinning up to Pickhandle Point

Pickhandle point is one of those peaks in the Crystal Mountain Backcountry that has great runs in all directions. Being one of those peaks that splits into three separated drainage you can work with conditions and always find a good line. From open tree skiing on the west side to a wide open swath to the south side it’s not hard to find something that suits what you are looking for. This time around both Ben and I were searching for a spot that would have powder still after a warm front had made its way through the Cascades.

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Gunbarrel Area and DogLeg Peak

Finding myself in the white room on our second lap in the Silver Basin of Crystal Mountain Backcountry
Finding myself in the white room on our second lap in the Silver Basin of Crystal Mountain Backcountry
Snowboarding down Gunbarrel in the Crystal Mountain Backcountry

The whole south side of Silver Basin in Crystal Mountain is stacked with great runs. From 3 Way Peak to Pickhandle Basin the ridge can get you into some fun areas so people of all abilities. In the middle of all of this is Gunbarrel and Dogleg Peak with an endless amount of options. With an easy access skin it is one of the easiest places you can get out to. With my time limited to one tour before going to Japan Ben and I wanted to make the most of it. We would head out towards Gunbarrel and put in a solid skin track for multiple laps. With snow so good in the Cascades I wondered why I was heading to Japan.

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Crystal Mountain to Stampede Pass Ski

Ski touring from Crystal Mountain to Stampede Pass Washington

Over the years I have fallen in love with self supported long distant travels. There is something special about traveling long distances through the snow covered mountains. With all the silence you become in tune with your surroundings. Over a decade I’ve been piecing together a traverse through the Washington Cascades. The Crystal Mountain to Stampede Pass section was a trip I had been putting off for years. The area consisted almost entirely of tree covered peaks, clear cuts and logging roads. This is one of the only areas in the crest of the cascades that’s not in Wilderness or National Park.

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