Overview:  Broken Top was on our priority list #1 to ski when a good spring weekend hit.  The Everything came together and we got to ski some fantastic lines.  Lots of opportunity for some good skiing here, from open bowls to chutes of every size and steepness. 

Route:  We had plans to hike in from Dutchman flat. We were lucky enough to get a snowmobile ride to the wilderness boundary that saved us more than half of the hike to the mountain. From our drop-off point it was a hike in the night until we were up fairly high towards the Bowl of Broken Top and made camp.

 Broken Top from the Dutchman Flat parking lot.  A good angle of the ridge on the left that we would hike up to the top of our first run of the morning Pucker Up.  Earls plane set us up for a late arrival at the trailhead.  But we would soon find a way to make up some time.

 As Earl and I are packing up at the trailhead, Andy strikes up a conversation with some nearby snowmobiles.  It did not take long to pop the big question, "How about a lift?"

Moments later we each got shuttled up to the Sisters Wilderness Boundary.  We packed on up and hiked from there.  Andys GPS pointed us to our planned camp location. Headlamps lit the way as the sun was down by now.  Andy on skins, Earl and I snowshoes - each of us packing about 50 plus pounds of gear.

 Our first run of the day would be Pucker Up. Seen here receiving the first light of the morning on the left.  We wanted to hit it first because we knew it would be getting really soft quickly.  There was some avalanche debris around and looked like a few small slides in the last few days.

Leaving Camp, it was a long way to the top of our first decent.  It was a chilly night, I was close to being cold.  As soon as we started hiking in the sun, it was so soft on the steep slopes we sunk up to our knees.

   Top of the ridge, moments before I drop in. Camera was on back to film Earl and Andy from the bottom. Steep, soft, after this run we all knew it was going to be a damn fine day. Mt Bachelor in the background

  We continued on to 9 O'clock couloir deep in the bowl.  Earl and I led the charge up with Andy filming from the bottom.  We soon reach the Bershrung, a crevasse where the glacier separates from the mountain.  I try to go left of it.  A step or two later I fall through - only to my waist, but it goes much deeper.  Earl finds another way over and we begin in the steep chute to the top.  Its very steep.  I continue to the top and Earl sets up camera in the chute.  I radio to Andy, "dropping" First two turns -  Lots of movement. A thick layer of  the snow around me joins me for the ride. I yell to Earl on the way down to watch out.  Its not enough to take him out and I was able to ride the sluff out.

Here, Andy on the way up with Earl at the top.

Massive Swirls of color above in the volcanic rock.

A full day of some good lines. Tomorrow it was a long way out, this time no snowmobile.  E and I take the high route while Andy skiis farther down to find flatter terrain for skinning, we hook up back at the car. 

Extras

1.   Movie - Broken Top

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