Night's are long in the winter, and cold. This face called the NE Face of Mount Fury has long been on my mind. It is 4500-ft high and was one of the great challenges of my youth. With two good friends we skied the upper portion of this route in very poor late season conditions. It was the scariest descent I ever made.

mount furypicket rangenorth cascadesnorth cascades national parkpacific northwestmountainsmountainsnowicerockpicket traversejason hummel photographynight photography

Another far away view of Mount Fury shimmering under moon and starlight. THE PICKET TRAVERSE, Feb 2009.

mount furypicket rangenorth cascadesnorth cascades national parkpacific northwestmountainsmountainsnowicerockpicket traversejason hummel photographynight photography

Shadows being chased down the sides of Mount Challenger. The Pickets Traverse, Feb 2010.

picket rangepicketsmount challengerglacierthe picket traversenorth cascadesmountainssnowicejason hummel photographyskiing in the pickets

There are times you look deep into the mountains and you don't just see a mountain, but arms and legs wrapped around torsos and heads. It is a convolution of alpine seductiveness.

picket passsouthern picketspicket rangenorth cascadesnorth cascades national parksnowicecliffblack and whitepeaksjason hummel photographypicket traverse

Skiing down into Luna Creek Cirque was amazing. Each turn better than than last and all told, simply the best reward we could've asked for. Pickets Traverse, 2010.

picketsnorthern picketsnorth cascadesnorth cascades national parkpowdermount fury

If you look closely, you will see our tracks dropping from center left of this photo and traversing to the far right. The Picket's Traverse, Feb 2010.

winter traversepicketsnorth cascadesnorth cascades national parkfaceiceblack and whitemcmillan spiresmcmillan cirque

The Southern Picket Range. East McMillan Spire, West McMillan Spire, Inspiration, the Pyramid, Degenhardt, etc. This photo was taken from high on Mount Fury during our climb up from McMillan Cirque. The Picket Traverse, North Cascades National Park, Washington.

East McMillan SpireWest McMillan SpireInspirationthe PyramidDegenhardtnorth cascades national parkwashingtonnorth cascadesblack and whitesouthern picketsthe picket traverse2010ski traversewinterwinter traversejason hummelforest mcbrianmcmillan cirquemount fury

Wind swept slopes on the Challenger Glacier. Ahead you can see Mount Shuksan. The Picket Traverse, North Cascades National Park, February, 2010.

the picket traversewind swept snowsilhouettemount shuksanmount challengerjason hummelforest mcbrian

Shadows are etched into the snow like a painting. Here I am skinning up a slope. Behind you can see the folds of slope. Pickets Traverse 2010.

north cascades national parknorth cascadesshadowpicketsnorthern picketsmineral high routemineral mountainpicket traversejason hummel photography

Nearing the pass that drops us into McMillan Cirque. Ahead you can see McMillan Spires. The Picket Traverse, North Cascades National Park, February, 2010.

mcmillan spiresforest mcbrianjason hummelblack and whitenorth cascadesMcmillan cirque