TR Replies

SWEET

I second the motion...

Stability seemed pretty rock solid.  We dug a pit about 6000 ft on a NE aspect just off Pea Gravel ridge yesterday and got basically nothing shearing with hard shoulder taps, except for the top inch of wind affected new snow.  It looked like there's an old rain layer about 2.5 ft down, but seemed pretty well bonded.     

As nice of a day it was up there yesterday, I'm ready for more snow...

Excellent thread, nice of you gents for not dropping the gloves on the martyr and sweater-ing him (think NHL)...
But the "We are both well trained in avalanche safety" comment raised my eyebrows as I did not detect anything in any of martyr's posts to back this up. Not slamming you here man, I just didn't come away with that impression.

The coolest, greatest thing I will take from this thread is the quote from Joeda:

"...That is why the skins s...

tx james - Sharon put up the photos.  Video is up too now

http://www.leelau.net/2009/Decker2009_11_27/

author=BSHB link=topic=14648.msg61295#msg61295 date=1259466106]
This is beautiful, is this in washington?
Thanks,
Ben

No, it is in B.C. http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/coquihalla/index.htm The area around #8 on the map is one of the 2 or 3 best back country skiing locations near Vancouver...less than 2 hours drive after you cross the border.

This is beautiful, is this in washington? how long does this tour take/would you recommend it to someone just getting into touring or is this more advanced,
Thanks,
Ben

Thanks for your inspiring report...now maybe I should head there too!!!!!  Tough to leave when 2800' vert. is only 20 miles away.

Any photo's Matt?  ;)

Did you make use of a back country pass (if available) or pay the full lift ticket price? Sure sounds like a decent November day, either way.

Great discussion.  This is an excellent example of how the BC ski community comes together here for the benefit of all involved.

I have a thing or two to add.
Scotty and Joeda (and others) seem to take issue with anyone choosing to tour out of Crystal on Sunday:

author=Joedabaker link=topic=14595.msg61192#msg61192 date=1259192037]
The disturbing thing to me was that there were multiple visitors from the same area, not just Hyper'...

author=kneel turner link=topic=14479.msg61221#msg61221 date=1259258775]
Yep.  Pres week.  Me and the "soon to be" + some friends.  You guys?  I'm buyin the first round of PBR's!

Hopefully!

All this trail poo and pee got me to thinking back. Many years ago Ron ,Mad Dog ,Myself and others were climbing up MT St Helens. I was ahead as we neared treeline on the way up. I stopped behind some trees and buried 3 suprise beers for our return. Kinda relaxes one for the trail ski out you know. Well we had a good ski back down and darn if Ron doesn't ski right up to my stash and take a leak! " I saw you take a leak here so I thought it was a good place"  Of couse he was p...

:-[

Gonna go to Scottish Lakes this year Kneeler?

I believe the initial rating was a 3 but this changed when I looked again on Monday.  The Monday rating also included Sunday which was increased to a 4 - obviously a more representative rating of the Crystal conditions but of no use being a day later.  No substitute for field observations as Joe states.

This is quite the blowhard thread.

author=natefred link=topic=14595.msg61195#msg61195 date=1259194606]
The only real avalanche incident I remember being mentioned in any of the reports from this locale seems to have been within the resort (waist-deep burial in Powder Bowl?).  If you want a heuristic trap to talk about, how about the unquestionable brilliance of the decision to stay within the safe confines of the ski area?

Even worse, That was Lucky Shot!

But...

author=coyote link=topic=14479.msg61076#msg61076 date=1259094722]
That's right Rafmax;
I hate America (that's why I like Obama- he's not from here. Just ask the "birthers") and I hate freedom (that's why I stopped telemarking and picked up A.T.).
;-)

Thats ok, jesus still loves you.... he A.T.s too.

author=natefred link=topic=14595.msg61195#msg61195 date=1259194606]
  If you want a heuristic trap to talk about, how about the unquestionable brilliance of the decision to stay within the safe confines of the ski area?

Now you're just being silly! Hows that for thread drift. ::)

Good stuff Joe, but I think the avy danger that day was rated 4= high, not 3= considerable.
I could be wrong but if it was a 4 I think that's significant to this discussion.

I like many others will tour on a 3 day as usually that's the best snow. I personally will not tour on a 4 day, not just because of the danger but mainly because the terrain I would have to choose to feel comfortable on a day like that would be low angle wallowing. Now I know there's always mic...

The disturbing thing to me was that there were multiple visitors from the same area, not just Hyper's.
Like This One
This one showed some pretty savvy work in one of the more protected areas in a bigger dump, but there are still areas of concern there as mentioned if not handled well. T...

OK.  I 'fess up.  Guilty as charged.

To be more straighforward, that particular chute, is called by the locals, (in hushed tones), "that patch of snow between two rocks".

But the chutes above it, between that "chute" and the upper parking lot, are, indeed, called "the death chutes".

Hey!  To put the record straight, we Baker locals welcome the Seattle throngs in that brief early season period where we have the sno...

author=hypermartyr link=topic=14595.msg61164#msg61164 date=1259173635]
Much more helpful than PNWBrit's advice about not going into the mountains.

That's not what I was saying at all  ::)

How, when, where, why, with who and being able to do so again.

But obviously you'd know that being "well trained in avy safety"?