High Campbell no more

pyramid point. Maybe i need to un-plug for a while. Sounds like there are wide spread pwl concerns from BC and down into Oregon all reacting to different local loads. And yet when i asked about what avy's kim k.  was refering to in her blog, no answer. Does that irritate me? No. Why? I have no control over how others respond. Internet communication has flaws. 

Different person, different blog.....I havent always gotten quick enough responces ( my view from Kim or the Patrol blog - other issues likely) , but TAY posters can be pretty intense....look at all the soup flak reports, or PB reports - so very sad

what, someone put pee on a poor tree? Was this the final max load event leading to chair lift  destruction? Bill, you notify the insurance company and i'll handle the FS. I'm on it scotsmen, who is this Chris fellow?   

And I'm very sad I missed out on that tree...I have always used other trees that are still standing....I really like"old" trees every where I can admire them....Think of Lord of the Rings number 2? Great trees! I think I know who Chris is

In the name of more control I have been informed Washington State, MRNP, EPA and the FS are all studying the tree peeing issue. Several million dollars later the goal is a watershed preservation RCW which will delineate civil and criminal penalties for fouling the watershed with ones product. While it may be perfectly acceptable for bears to do it humans are to punished. Crystal's MDP actually budgeted for rangers to inventory not only 410 tracks but evidence of improper urine disposal. I am certain a few witty naysers will shout "It can't happen here" and I would remind them the current fine for such behavior in the Wasatch is $150.00, $250.00 if your dog does it.

In the name of more control I have been informed Washington State, MRNP, EPA and the FS are all studying the tree peeing issue. Several million dollars later the goal is a watershed preservation RCW which will delineate civil and criminal penalties for fouling the watershed with ones product. While it may be perfectly acceptable for bears to do it humans are to punished. Crystal's MDP actually budgeted for rangers to inventory not only 410 tracks but evidence of improper urine disposal. I am certain a few witty naysers will shout "It can't happen here" and I would remind them the current fine for such behavior in the Wasatch is $150.00, $250.00 if your dog does it.

Pfft, as if it was that simple. The law actually states: "Hereon, wherein thine urine is considered a threat to the anchoring flora of greatest stature in a regional protected ecosystem, the evacuation of urine shall heretoforth be banned insomuch as it has an ability to degrade same said ecosystem, and irritate John Muir's ghost."

CLEARLY, the defensible argument is hinged upon actual damages, which lies in the general toxicity of the urine to the tree.  While there are a myriad of chemicals that can be contained in urine and a full lab analysis would be best, pH is the most glaring issue and thus for brevity I simply carry a set of pH strips around. I give 'em a dribble before letting loose, and if it passes the test I aim at the tree of my choosing, while filing the used pH strip away in a dated ziploc in case I need it for legal  defense.

I hope this photo helps explain the point Lowell, Joe, Bill, etc. were making. It’s a helicopter shot taken the next day from nearby Crystal Lakes basin (just south of Crystal Mountain) roughly the same aspect, elevation and crown size as the Campbell Basin slide. Skiers in avi classes probably pay closer attention to slab and weak layer formation, and may be less familiar with the deformation occurring in lower layers of the snowpack in the Spring. So understandably, many wouldn’t anticipate a Ski Area’s need to test slopes for deeper instability before encouraging guests to travel beneath them. But if you saw the huge natural avalanche below Crystal’s Rockface around Noon on April 1st, 2011 (similar weather dynamics) you’d appreciate the steps taken to prevent a similar situation on busy Queen’s Run last week. You wouldn't want you and your posse to be buried under that pile ‘o debris you see in the bottom of that basin there, would you? Or have all the ski areas just close until we're sure the hazard is gone...July maybe?

On a related note: Boy, I would hope that if I found myself way at-odds with a respected member of the avalanche community like “Lowell ‘F-ing’ Skoog”, I would recognize the wisdom in also paying closer attention to the science of Human Factors in avalanche accidents (condensed version: listen to the girls and the grey-hairs) before getting too committed to one particular point of view. (See the NWAC “Education” opportunities for more Science!)

Great shot, Corey.
Thanks.