April fools on Table Mountain

After a great day in bounds we decided to take advantage of the afternoon's improved visibility out on Table Mountain in the near Baker BC. We headed out to a conservative, lower angle spot on Blueberry chutes known as the Line. As we transitioned we watched some folks poking around higher up near the Horn. It was clear from our perspective that loading on that steeper slope and aspect made for some risky route selection. I called it 50-50 they would kick something off if they dropped there. We dropped into our line and skied it safely one at a time. Once down near Bagely lakes we watched the risky folks up top, deciding to hang out in case they got in trouble. I pulled my camera and put it into continuous shoot mode and zoomed in. The two riders dropped a couple turns and we could see the snow pack sag beneath them. The first dropped and here is the result . The second also dropped (not pictured) and kicked off some more. The remaining two backed off.

Great vid, chuck. On Sunday (actual April Fools Day, right?) I was stupidly curious enough to take my partner skiing down the lower angled top section of slope into the lower entry to that area (Dog Chute or Grandma's) to see if the two fresh tracks in produced any consequences. What was I thinking? Like if they had gotten a scot-free clean ride we should do it? Fortunately, we could see that they popped a wide-propagating slab with plenty of residual hangfire (on the steepest part, skiers left entrance of where that guy traversed to) so we skinned back out. Been kicking myself all week for even tampering with the thought. You can't even see Sunday's wide-based 12" crown anymore on your video. Pretty weak bond in there.

Well done backing off there. We saw you two drop in a bit and the snow also buckled under you. We were happy to see you retreat!

The action depicted in the video is within my comfort zone. Hard to say if they knew what they were getting into without talking to them about it. Standing by to offer assistance was the polite and neighborly thing to do. Calling them out as fools on the internet was not.

The action depicted in the video is within my comfort zone. Hard to say if they knew what they were getting into without talking to them about it. Standing by to offer assistance was the polite and neighborly thing to do. Calling them out as fools on the internet was not.

Hills, your comfort zone and ski abilities are not everyone else's. Less skillful skiers/riders could have been caught. Chuck saw a risky situation and with quick thinking captured it for others to see and do with the video as they may. He fairly objectively reported the situation but never called them fools. I see it as reminder to be careful.

Good post Chuck!

Whether the pictured boarders were operating in their comfort zone doesn't matter to me. I simply don't like to drive sloughs/avalanches down the hill when there are good runs nearby with less potential for slides.

Carrying ones personal risk level into the crowded sidecountry should come with some consideration of other skiers and boarders.

They were not called idiots, but...

April fools? Most sointently, nyuk, nyuk, nyuk!