Mt Hood's new Howitzer and Newton Creek Access?

Another thing I have been noticing is that even when they say they are done with the artillery/avalanche controll they still say it is closed to uphill traffic. Why not open it to up hill traffic after they are done? I for one do not use the cat track that far before I break off to the ridge line. I am sure there is precedence for this at other ski resorts.

one more thing. I really like the spell check feature. Not blessed with that talent. Thanks for putting that feature in. Two thumbs up.

I came under heavy fire this afternoon. I was on the ridge opposite of the Heather lift, just on the good side of the wilderness area. At about 12:30 they started firing shots. I imagine that these were hand charges, on their side of the line. But god awmighty, if my flesh didn't turn cold. If they were firing on the pea gravel ridge, I sure as shit hope that the man pulling the lanyard is a sharpshooter, and has read the owners manual.
Interestingly enough, in the morning, as I was coming up the creek there were no postings of any closure. This was roughly 10:00 am. As I was exiting at 3:15 they had 3 signs up as notice.
Does anyone have an idea why they would be blasting midday as opposed to 6am? It had not started to snow when they were blasting.

OK...I'm going to have to play the other side of the coin on this one.  Not to defend MHM, but to defend the  avalanche control folks that work hard to keep ski area slopes safe, and to get a discussion going about avalanche safety, whether it be in a developed ski area or in the backcountry.

“AVALANCHE SAFETY SAVES LIVES”

I am curious though, how many of the folks that commented are avalanche professionals?  What background and experience do you have in controlling a developed ski area?  How many of you have completed a level 1 & 2 avalanche safety course?

John wrote: I'm worried that they'll be lobbing shells at Pea Gravel Ridge and beyond leaving BC visitors pretty much helpless.

The avalanche control professionals will not be “lobbing” shells on Pea Gravel Ridge, if they even decide to control Pea gravel the shells will be strategically placed below the ridge in the starting zones.  Howitzer's hit there targets spot on!  They do not just start lobbing booms.

Keep in mind, (if) Meadows is doing control work, there is a reason, that reason is that there is a considerable or high chance there is a hazard and the snow pack is unstable.  Avalanche control personnel do not go out on any given day and just start 'lobbing' charges.  The use of hand charges and especially Howitzer's is very expensive.  Control work is done when there is a high probability of a given slope sliding.  They spend the money to open up more terrain for their paying customers!

I'm not sure about anyone else but on a high hazard day I usually try and stay out of avalanche terrain.

Northwest wrote:  “I came under heavy fire this afternoon”. This week with all the new snow and wind the avy hazard spiked way up, it does not have to be snowing at the time for the hazard to go up.  I hope you were aware of the hazard?  Did you see any signs of instability?

I urge all of you to go meet a few of the patrollers/avalanche control folks at Meadows, you might just find they might know what they are doing, and just might be nice guys!  And after all, they are skiers too and most of them might just be backcountry skiers as well!

Good news. Somebody's listening. MHM has a public statemement about access to Newton from Heather. This showed up on the MHM website on Sat Dec 27:

"Designated hiking routes are:

1. North Boundary - Turn right at the first Heather Canyon Runout sign to exit the Mt. Hood Meadows / Forest Service permit area towards the Newton drainage. Please do not go further uphill into the Canyon.

2. South Boundary – Proceed along Mitchell Creek boundary accessing along the tree line skiers right of Buttercup Lift (to your left has you climb uphill).

Ask Ski Patrol for additional information."

That's what I call a good neighbor response. Let's hope that it works for everyone!

JJS

OK...I'm going to have to play the other side of the coin on this one.  Not to defend MHM, but to defend the  avalanche control folks that work hard to keep ski area slopes safe, and to get a discussion going about avalanche safety, whether it be in a developed ski area or in the backcountry.

“AVALANCHE SAFETY SAVES LIVES”

(rest snipped)

Bc_skier-

All your points and counterpoints are correct, IMO.  We should consider the Mt Hood Ski Patrol our allies.  I have no doubt they'll be the first to come to our aid in Newton if a tragedy happens there.  Let's not forget that our right to visit Newton should never be restricted because MHM wants to do business.  Our (the BC visitor community) and MHM objectives shouldn't be limited by each other.  BC visitors should be trusted to make the right choices about placing themselves at risk.  I personally like to make that choice.  I don't like MHM to make it for me.  I'll climb anywhere as long as the up-route is safe.  I'll also return in my tracks if I don't like what I see when I get to my planned top.  It's my choice and my right.

My immediate concern is that the ones manning the Howitzer might either be undertrained/unexperienced or, worst yet, just unlucky with a bad shot.  Regardless of how accurate a weapon is on the perfect battlefield, once the projectile leaves the barrel, the trajectory is out of control.  Think about the wind.  It's just not that predictable up there.  That's what I mean about "lobbing".  If you're on the ridge and one comes close, you're at risk.

I think MHM attempted to over-limit access at the advice of lawyers who worry about liability.  I think that MHM and the ski patrol have been lobbied by the BC visitor community to be a good neighbor which led to MHM's latest public statement on Newton access.  It appears they have kept it at the legal limit.  They'd be smart to place signs early and consistently.

JJS

Does anyone have an idea why they would be blasting midday as opposed to 6am? It had not started to snow when they were blasting. 

I can answer that:

One activity of avy control is periodic maintenance, which can happen at any time as long as access is safe.  If entry risk diminishes over the course of the day to an acceptable level, the ski patrol might enter and try to knock down what they can.

Also, I'm sure the Mt Hood Ski Patrol avalanche pros are just that: paid professionals.  The MHM business managers have probably calculated to the steely cold extreme how many ski patrollers to keep on the payroll to meet their double black diamond traffic objectives.  There just isn't a business case that justifies hiring a huge team to keep all that terrain open.  They do it when they can get around to it.

JJS