TR Replies
Great photos (love the second and third especially - very moody). Thanks for keeping up the travelog, Silas.
"Wet powder" - that phrase has been the object of some amusing conversation.
I hope you get some clear weather, not just for your sake - I want to see the views in your photos!!
"Wet powder" - that phrase has been the object of some amusing conversation.
I hope you get some clear weather, not just for your sake - I want to see the views in your photos!!
I am in awe of those powder baskets. Reindeer hide webbing?
That's why good communication is key. I know Skybum is familiar with the lingo and understands how to apply the knowledge. One of the last times I went out with him (3 people total) we all split up along the trail and each did compression tests in different types of terrain that we planned on riding. It was a great way to collect a lot of data in a short amount of time. But without good communication skills and knowledge this is all pretty usless..
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It's interesting how a pit test can be interpreted so differently by people in one party. It's certainly not an uncommon occurance.
I guess it's just the difference of comfort levels, terrain, familiarity with a spot and conditions. I see it a lot amongst my friends and find it interesting in a clinical sort of way. Both of you seem to have had flags go up, and it sounds like you adjusted your itinerary accordingly. Which is the appropriate response.
I guess it's just the difference of comfort levels, terrain, familiarity with a spot and conditions. I see it a lot amongst my friends and find it interesting in a clinical sort of way. Both of you seem to have had flags go up, and it sounds like you adjusted your itinerary accordingly. Which is the appropriate response.
I didn't intend to make it sound like you gave your seal of approval on the snow pack we encountered. Sorry, if it came out that way. ;) I admit that one particular column you isolated using my ski caught my attention when it seemed to slide on the crusty layer about 4ft down. Regardless, I would like to think that we could have skied the other side of the ridge, or perhaps something a little steeper than that and still avoided a slide, but perhaps I'm dreaming. ...
Good day out. I had fun.
I really wouldn't have called the conditons stable at all. It's why we wallowed in low angle trees.
I really wouldn't have called the conditons stable at all. It's why we wallowed in low angle trees.
thanks for partnering up Steve. it's good on a day like that to share trail breaking duty, so there is a little energy left for the descents. WOO HOO!
as a side bar it was good to ski newton without the constant nuisance of the mt hood meadows howitzer in the background.
as a side bar it was good to ski newton without the constant nuisance of the mt hood meadows howitzer in the background.
Silas - I've had multiple days with you not far from Kendall Knob that were more fun than what I experienced in the area on the 15th. It was a fun day out to be clear, but more in the "being out in a storm" way than "wow, the turns were just mind blowing and plentiful everywhere" fashion. I was with our mutual pal who survived a full burial some 20 years ago near Crystal, and I think she wisely steered our group away from the runs that would have been steep enough for de...
Judging from your (Silas) TRs I can’t believe that you're too stressed about missing the best Cascade snow of the season ;) Not to worry though, it was on the heavy side at Snoqualmie… but what it lacked in quality it made up for in quantity. Okay it was a bit of a wallow fest, but a great time and a very fun group. I love the extreme summit photo on.... Kendal Knob! Thanks Lisa.
Wow, I am missing the best snow of the year. Although, January 2 at Crystal still remains high on my list. Thanks for the photos of awesome snow!
author=shred link=topic=12698.msg52973#msg52973 date=1237253047]
That first shot is money!!!
I'm fairly certain that photo pinpoints when and where I caught the cold I woke up with yesterday. Well done, Weep.
Hey Michael, of course you are remembered fondly!
Cookie Monster you are one comprehensive snow evaluator. I am also interested in their response to your last set of questions about how far they continued to travel after they figured it was unstable. Not too bag on them anymore, but mainly because that is when the thinking gets interesting. It sounds from the report that they were around 5k from the description of "the opening below the summit" That is well past where I imag...
Cookie Monster you are one comprehensive snow evaluator. I am also interested in their response to your last set of questions about how far they continued to travel after they figured it was unstable. Not too bag on them anymore, but mainly because that is when the thinking gets interesting. It sounds from the report that they were around 5k from the description of "the opening below the summit" That is well past where I imag...
Peteyboy a tip of my old skinny skis to ya ! I Just checked out thier website and they still have the one way ride. priced at $6! Keeping it real I'd say!
A day of cat skiing for $199. I love thier motto/slogan "where powder is a reality"
A day of cat skiing for $199. I love thier motto/slogan "where powder is a reality"
I hope this isn't out of date - but Anthony Lakes in Eastern OR is legendary for the one-ride to the goodness.
These are great observations. Optional questions for Kite_Heeler and Alex_P.
What was your perception of your test results while out on the tour?
A. These test results indicate widespread instability and low triggering energy.
B. These test results indicate less-than-isolated instability and moderate triggering energy.
C. These test results indicate isolated instability and high triggering energy.
How do you feel your snow tests influenced your perce...
What was your perception of your test results while out on the tour?
A. These test results indicate widespread instability and low triggering energy.
B. These test results indicate less-than-isolated instability and moderate triggering energy.
C. These test results indicate isolated instability and high triggering energy.
How do you feel your snow tests influenced your perce...
If you are triggering avalanches, tree bomb are triggering avalanches is that the sign of the devil and the end is near? Only if you hear a voice in your head that sounds like your avalanche instructor reminding you the Avalanche Danger Scale and that detail about consequences of being caught and there you are getting caught and hitting a tree, going over a cliff or just being buried.
Skiing on Sunday was a great example of an evolving hazard no matter if you were in the trees or out...
Skiing on Sunday was a great example of an evolving hazard no matter if you were in the trees or out...
What a day!!! I am still digging POW out of my gear!!!
JimD working on that head emersion thing.
JimD working on that head emersion thing.
Yeah, NWAC shouldn't use additional ways like silly poems to inform people and get their attention...lets keep it very statistical and full of technical jargon only ;-) [playful sarcasm]. Not everyone learns/understands/interprets information the same way and if this makes a person think and remember a bit better then what's the harm?
Yahoo for solo backcountry skiing...probably a third of this seasons 60 days have been solo. It's a fine lesson in self-sufficiency, co...
Yahoo for solo backcountry skiing...probably a third of this seasons 60 days have been solo. It's a fine lesson in self-sufficiency, co...
It's nice to see I'm remembered (perhaps not fondly, but I'll take remembered anyday)
If the slope is too dangerous for 20, it's too dangerous for 1. Being in groups doesn't make skiing in avy terrain any more safe, so be careful for throwing stones.
And, yes, this climb was one of my favorite solos when I lived in WA. For many reasons.
If the slope is too dangerous for 20, it's too dangerous for 1. Being in groups doesn't make skiing in avy terrain any more safe, so be careful for throwing stones.
And, yes, this climb was one of my favorite solos when I lived in WA. For many reasons.
Silas, if i ski half as much as you when i am half your age, that wouldn't be so bad..
you didn't miss anything spectacular yesterday. seeing as you complained about my lack of picture posting: my friend Simon has some up here http://www.steilwaende.at/
today was nice in the ötztal, gorgeous weather and three or four good turns between the sastrugi.
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you didn't miss anything spectacular yesterday. seeing as you complained about my lack of picture posting: my friend Simon has some up here http://www.steilwaende.at/
today was nice in the ötztal, gorgeous weather and three or four good turns between the sastrugi.
Thanks for the info, Kite and Alex -- everyone's risk tolerance is their own, of course. Glad you got some turns in and got down safely.
It's those little slopes so close to the relative safety that seem most likely to catch someone off guard, especially with the powder fever. We're all starved for it...
It's those little slopes so close to the relative safety that seem most likely to catch someone off guard, especially with the powder fever. We're all starved for it...
Ha, that old thread of Mike's came to my mind when I read this too. But what do I know, I frequently do this tour solo - rocks in my head? Those crowns also look familiar to me although I only recall seeing them once in the trees there under similar circumstances. I believe that day we turned just below treeline and saw the fracturing on just about every steep rollover that we ski cut. In hindsight we probably should have turned around much earlier than that, but as we were first up we didn...
Should have skipped the beer in Skykomish and gone up in the afternoon, damn it... Ah well. Nice photo series!
Cool. You prolly skied over our lines from Saturday, which, I presume, were adequately covered. ;D We did four laps on the N side with an exit out Nason Creek and hitchhiked back to the car. It was snowing like mad all day.
Awesome snow at white this weekend. I Couldn't believe how much snow fell! Incredible rewards for all and good snow building for spring.
While your concerns seem well-intentioned and reasonable, there's also a big difference between the Phantom and the old growth on climber's left. I've toured in there on high danger days several times. I think experienced and conscientious people could reasonably do it solo too. Not saying whether that's what those people were, but if the danger's high enough you can get pounded by a natural on the road below Alpental; who gets to say when where is safe for whom?
This post was an attempt to inform the community of the instabilities in the snow we observed as well raise the concern that BC travel alone does raise your risk level. I am not trying to slam anyone.
With a burial out of the question there are countless other injury, equipment failure, ect. which could be harder to handle by yourself.
I raise this concern because several times this season we have come across solo skiers, and it always make me nervous.
With regards...
With a burial out of the question there are countless other injury, equipment failure, ect. which could be harder to handle by yourself.
I raise this concern because several times this season we have come across solo skiers, and it always make me nervous.
With regards...
Love the fourth photo of full submersion, nice!
Nice face shot there Chris! T'was deep at the local Pass too, almost too deep.
With snow levels being as low as they were the snow was suprisingly heavy and dense.
Well, then, in Union Creek there was bad crust but good stability.
gracias
gracias
Well, it's official. I think you do actually know everybody.
Last I checked the Phantom isn't a "fairly safe slope" especially in these conditions, solo or not. Just sayin'
author=Kite heeler link=topic=12697.msg52887#msg52887 date=1237173628">
Headed up to Phantom Trees with my roommates this morning. With 13" of fresh on the ground and more falling at +2in/hr we took our time with each decision.
Questionable stability was observed in the lower elevation trees wit...
Glad your had fun down to Louise Lk.
We can't take credit for puting the track in, only maintaining it. The credit goes to two skiiers and a slowboarder last wk.
We can't take credit for puting the track in, only maintaining it. The credit goes to two skiiers and a slowboarder last wk.
author=telemack link=topic=12694.msg52923#msg52923 date=1237217878]
Question for all: Is everything on the opposite side of the Bullion saddle
called Cement Basin? We were south of where it is labeled on the maps...
I'm thinking that Cement Basin is limited to the Cement Creek drainage which runs into Union Creek at about 4800 feet. The creek (drainage) south that parallels the Union Creek Trail I would call the Union...
Yup. Who needs Europe snow, though the apfel strudel in Skykomish isn't quite as good as Austria. :)
Great company and ambience; tough conditions.
Difficult skiing most of the day, and some brutal skinning in Cement Basin.
Ski crampons would have helped with the dust-on-crust.
Question for all: Is everything on the opposite side of the Bullion saddle
called Cement Basin? We were south of where it is labeled on the maps.
I watched the YouTube vid in my classroom this morning, but with no sound. It might've hurt the...
Difficult skiing most of the day, and some brutal skinning in Cement Basin.
Ski crampons would have helped with the dust-on-crust.
Question for all: Is everything on the opposite side of the Bullion saddle
called Cement Basin? We were south of where it is labeled on the maps.
I watched the YouTube vid in my classroom this morning, but with no sound. It might've hurt the...
Very nice! I like the way you thumbnailed the sequance shot too. Photos 1 though 6 where money!
Avalanches are serious. Enough with the silly poems on NWAC. I've felt this way for years now.
Glad you're ok. Careful.
From Mark the Wise in SABNW:
From Mark the Wise in SABNW:
WEATHER SYNOPSIS FOR WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY
Current clearing and cold bring facets and hoar,
Factors to watch when storms beat down the door.
March sun melts snowflakes, and more than a few,
Yield nighttime crusts after day turns to goo.
And recent wind transport has made for some slabs,
We were in the general Snoqualmie neighborhood too (open and forested south and sw slopes), and ended up picking a gently uptrack up to a beautiful forested ridge, and instead of dropping in on some nice steep tree lines we just tucked tail and did a bobsled run back down and just to the side of our carefully-placed uptrack (in deep forest there were even some nice untracked if slow turns, but in the open it was wallowfest unless you were in the tracks of others). I have to agree that I've...
Nice! Sorry I missed you boys today. Got stuck skiing deep snow at the area and eating fries with the little one in the lodge....Next time..
Skiing W Face of Kendle / Commonwealth today we found conditions sketchier than I've seen them in a long long time.
Big John! Thanks for letting me tag along. That last run was excellent. But the skin back to the Nordic parking lot sucked. Next time I'm parking down where you were.
Wow, sounds sketchy alright.
1 question:
Quote: "This was a risky day to even be out and to be skiing BC alone is asking for trouble even in the trees on a fairly safe slope."
Why go out in the 1st place if its risky, as in at least high rating on a slope such as this? If avalanches are being triggered by skiers then yes there is an advantage to having a group over being solo in that you have a chance of being dug out but the triggered high risk is st...
1 question:
Quote: "This was a risky day to even be out and to be skiing BC alone is asking for trouble even in the trees on a fairly safe slope."
Why go out in the 1st place if its risky, as in at least high rating on a slope such as this? If avalanches are being triggered by skiers then yes there is an advantage to having a group over being solo in that you have a chance of being dug out but the triggered high risk is st...