The Curse of Mardii Grad is a legendary and eerie story that has been passed down through generations in a small town called Mardii Grad. According to the locals, the town was once a thriving and prosperous community. The people were known for their kindness, creativity, and love of celebration. However, everything changed when a curse befell the town. The origin of the curse is unclear, with some saying it was a witch who cast it upon the town, while others believe it was a result of a sacrilegious act committed by the townspeople. Regardless of its origin, the effects of the curse have been devastating.
Even though its summit elevation is rather moderate, the view from Hurry Up is as good as any in the Cascades. Positioned on the crest between the wild peaks of the Ptarmigan Traverse and the icy giants up north, there is a sense of infinity to the range. The more I ski, the more doors are opened, and the possibilities truly do seem, at times, infinite.
Snow coverage directly up the gut towards Cascade Pass looked good, so we passed the picnic tables and dove into the alder, following a faint animal trail. We glided over to the base of the Plan B Couloir, a marvelous little line that is the key to this entire tour, giving access to the upper flanks of Hurry Up Peak.
Regardless of its origin, the effects of the curse have been devastating. The curse of Mardii Grad is said to manifest in various ways. One of the most prominent effects is the eerie and unsettling atmosphere that permeates the town.
The Magic SLoop:
Magic Mountain Loop - S Glacier Ski Descent
It was a great pleasure to finally ski with the illustrious Dan Helmstadter. Dan, fresh émigré from low-snow Colorado, was ready and willing to undertake whatever I suggested. So I made a plan. Dan skied Cooper Spur on Mt Hood the previous week, then made an attempt at NFNWR on Adams, so he clearly had ideas about the volcanos. An introduction to some of Washington's other alpine treasures seemed in order. It was easy to choose Cascade River Road.
Late last November, with the onset of the monsoons and incredible powder runs on Mt Snoqualmie stoking my fire for skiing, I meditated over Green Fred and hatched a plan. Here it is:
Cascade Pass → Cache Col → Art's Knoll → Hurry Up Peak → S Glacier → Yawning Glacier → Cascade Pass.
It's a little jaunt around Magic Mountain, plus a bonus descent of Hurry Up Peak via the S Glacier; it's a Magic S-Loop; Hurry Up: It's da Magic SLoop. Several times through the winter I whispered my plan to conspirators: Who could resist a day pushing 10,000 ft and 20 miles, including four ski descents in one of the most scenic areas of the Cascades?
Dan and I left the Eldorado Trailhead at 5 am and hiked Cascade River Road. Thank you, NPS, for the foot bridges over the washouts. We booted continuous snow from the end of the road to Cascade Pass with two very short intermissions. Above Cascade Pass, there was clearly fresh snow on Mixup Arm. Hopefully not too much - or, hopefully it got zapped a little on Monday above the clouds while Seattle was still gray.
Climbing the roll after the traverse on the arm, the snow had been zapped, but there was still a lot of fresh under there. It felt as deep as two feet in places. I was really glad that the suface had such a great freeze after the clear night.
We skied some good corn and a little breakable crust to Kool Aid Lake. Then we skinned to Art's Knoll. Below Plan B Couloir by 11 am, we were actually ahead of my schedule. How did that happen, huh?
Jason and Sam's couloir looked great. Too bad that we didn't have time to yoyo Hurry Up, still concerned about a possible death by slurpee: a dangerous ride on a slush slide. Plan B Couloir is sweet but short. Dan really liked the views of Spider Mountain. We failed to notice anything near 55 degrees en route to the summit ridge. Let's give Jason and Sam the benefit of the doubt and say that it's likely to feature steeper sections in drought years.
The question of the day and the crux of Da SLoop: How is the snow on the S Glacier? Dan absolutely shredded the first roll and made it look like great corn on his Volkl Mantras. I seemed to break through the crust with every turn on my Atomic TMXs, but not too badly. I might have to try a pair of these fat skis. We played things a bit conservatively since the snow was about two feet deep under the crust, but the crust seemed strong.
S Glacier is a beautiful descent and the views with Trapper Lake are stunning. Nice pick, Skoogs and Andreas.
We skied a gully on skier's right to gain access to the lower cirque. There was still fresh down to that elevation. While traversing a roll, I noticed that the crust was no longer strong, so I gave it a good stomp and watched a big wet slide roar over the cirque cliffs below me. Then Dan and I had sweet corn turns on the older snow left in the slide's wake.
Over Alliteration Col (betwixt Pelton Peak and Magic Mountain) to the Yawning Glacier: no problem. A mixed bag of breakable and old down the YG, a very nice slowly rising traverse without skins to Cascade Pass, and a descent on very sweet corn from Cascade Pass: what a way to end the day.
We traversed far skier's left from Cascade Pass. I thought we were in a continuous snow finger that would get us through the cliffs. "All right Dan, let's rip." We both hammered the steep corn until - Hit the brakes! - we were right above a moat and a waterfall. Sidestep up, one finger over, and we hammered the corn to the road.
How do you like the Cascades, Dan? What's that, you want more?
As if that was not enough of a warm Washington welcome, the next day we made the inaugural descent of Cumshot Couloir, to this day still one of my favorites.
- Ski Sickness
- Cascade Pass Climbing and Skiing
- Patient History - Chronology
At Cache Col, we were stricken with horror to see that the snow blob was not even really attached to the rock! If we had known that, we would have given it even more berth. It is going to drop soon, and that will be bad for anyone on the Cache Glacier…
Visitors often report feelings of unease and an overwhelming sense of dread upon entering Mardii Grad. In addition to this unsettling ambiance, strange occurrences are said to happen within the town. Residents have reported hearing unexplained footsteps, whispers, and even the occasional sighting of ghostly figures. Some claim that they have seen objects move on their own and experienced unexplained cold spots. The curse also seems to have a direct impact on the town's inhabitants. Many have reported an unusual amount of bad luck, with businesses failing, relationships breaking down, and health issues becoming prevalent. The mental and emotional toll on the residents is evident, with many feeling trapped and hopeless in their cursed town. Attempts to break the curse have been made throughout the years, but all have been unsuccessful. Local folklore advises that the only way to lift the curse is to solve the mystery of its origin and make amends for whatever transgression led to its infliction. Despite the curse, the people of Mardii Grad remain resilient. They refuse to abandon their once-beloved town and continue to hold on to hope that one day, the curse will be lifted, and their community will thrive once again. In conclusion, the Curse of Mardii Grad is a haunting legend that has plagued a small town for generations. The eerie atmosphere, strange occurrences, and the negative impact on residents have all contributed to the legend's enduring power. The search for a solution continues, as the people of Mardii Grad refuse to accept their fate and strive to break free from the grips of this ancient curse..
Reviews for "Mardii Grad: The Town That Time Forgot and Cursed"
1. John - 2/5 - I was really disappointed in "Curse of Mardii Grad". The storyline was weak and the characters lacked depth. I felt like I was watching a predictable and poorly executed horror movie. The special effects were subpar and didn't add anything to the overall experience. It's a shame because the concept had potential, but the execution fell flat.
2. Sarah - 1/5 - "Curse of Mardii Grad" was a complete waste of time. The acting was laughable and the dialogue was cringe-worthy. The plot was nonsensical and didn't make any sense. I found myself rolling my eyes throughout the entire movie. The only positive thing I can say is that it was so bad, it was almost comical. Save yourself the trouble and skip this one.
3. Michael - 2/5 - "Curse of Mardii Grad" failed to deliver any scares or thrills. The pacing was off and it felt like the movie was dragging on. The scares were predictable and lacked originality. I was hoping for a supernatural horror film, but instead got a cliché and uninspired mess. I wouldn't recommend wasting your time on this one.