The Kendall Trap

Great discussion! RIP Monte!

Very nice work, Charlie.
I thought I was pretty knowledgeable of that area but I had a couple of AHA moments while reading your piece.
thank you for putting this together... it is very helpful and will likely save some lives.

Thanks Charlie,

Good write-up and reminder of how easy it is to get lulled into terrain.

Pretty good reading, it mirrors quite a few of my feelings about that terrain that I thought about in the last few years and why I don't ski it much any more

I've ridden this area a lot over the years but 95% of the time its so fricking early that we are guaranteed to be the highest party on the mountain.  I think I've summited the ridge only once and gone up the tree band where Monty was found many times pending a check of conditions.  I will agree entirely with the statement about wx change.  Its night and day between the old growth trees and the open slopes below Kendall.  It catches so much wind there by comparison to the trees, way more that say the Phantom.  I think its positioned to get hit with west winds coming through the pass and also when it switches to easterly flow it gets lee side/crossloaded.  The snow depth always increases too and combined with the wind are factors to consider when debating going higher.  Never seen anything move on our trips higher but I do think about it more now with the way it works the change in danger gradually.  Tempting too as the short sections above the old growth offer the best skiing on the mountain too although riding skiers right is not somewhere I go as it spooks me.  Never been there at the weekend, usually a quickie before work hence the factor with skier density can be taken out.

Another take.  We were out on the morning of your 1st accident in April 2010.  Great snow BUT we were out really early before it warmed up.  Powder in April, not something you want to be riding in the afternoon on a solar aspect.  My TR noted this too and I got a lot of flack from folks over this one, certainly recall that even though we did not venture above the trees that day.  I'll link that is I can find it.

www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboardi...x.php?topic=16323.25

Thanks for the discussion, very interesting and thought provoking.

Charlie -

I just got around to reading this. Thanks for taking the time to put it together and share with this community. We can all keep learning how to be as safe as possible and this provides a good example and context for a place where many of us have ventured. Cheers and stay safe.