Kendall Adventure Zone - January 2025
Exploring this lesser-known, remote, and technical terrain at Snoqualmie Pass has been on my radar for a while now. This area is legendary for its long, narrow couloirs and big-mountain feel, but the conditions need to line up perfectly to make it worth the effort. So, when the weather gods smiled with stable avalanche conditions, 5+ inches of fresh snow, and zero wind—it was game on.
Visibility wasn’t exactly ideal—socked in and misty—but we knew the conditions up high would be worth it. Temps hovered around 34°F, which meant heavy, manky snow down low, but as we climbed higher, quality improved dramatically. We decided to ski one of the Silver Twins couloirs and it delivered. It was long, steep, cold, and full of pow.
We skinned back up to the ridge linking 10 steep switchbacks between the Spoonman and Sterling Direct couloirs and from there, we exited Commonwealth Basin. This part had lots of up-and-down terrain that kept us honest, and also some sections of high-speed single-track that’s always super fun. Down low, we hit heavy snow and a parade of skiers and snowshoers, always part of the Snoqualmie Pass charm.
What a good first tour in the KAZ (Kendall Adventure Zone)!
Stats
Distance: 8.29 mi
Ascent: 3,483 ft
Total Time: 5h 37m
Starting Elevation: 2,972 ft
Max Elevation: 5,408 ft
