Deep snow, other people

When Snoqualmie Pass opens, a lot of people will head for their favorite places, inbounds and out. It will be deep, and the skiing will be good. There will be plenty -- there is time to relax.

-- Ski with a trusted partner, and keep them close; this from a long-time soloist. Deep-snow immersion is sometimes inescapable without a friend.

-- Be aware of people below and people above. Choose ascent routes that can't be hit from above. Choose descent routes to avoid impacting likely uptracks with sluff or an accidental avalanche; big slides can run far. Communicate if you can.

-- Arduous trailbreaking will concentrate people throughout this storm cycle, by both necessity and pragmatism. Other people will follow your track.

As Garth Ferber said, when pressed for a few wise words: Leave a margin of error.

Sage advise, Charlie.

Yes, and super wise advice from Garth.

When Snoqualmie Pass opens, a lot of people will head for their favorite places, inbounds and out. It will be deep, and the skiing will be good. There will be plenty -- there is time to relax.

As Garth Ferber said, when pressed for a few wise words: Leave a margin of error.

Alpental base slide today.

No way! Does anyone know of a site that might be logging the Alpental images? (I just emailed Amar)

Got skeptical for a number of reasons (slope angle, probability of grooming, groomer lumps in the bed surface, lack of debris pile, etc.).

The webcams are being live-streamed to Youtube, and you can go backward in time.

I believe that the apparent slide is just grooming.