TR Replies
4:30 am?!? And Rusty said I get up early....
Got a couple laps up there today (north face Table, and the south face of oposite hill), Again many people were laying down tracks far and wide in the Baker bc. There was some very small isolated pockets of shallow windslab at the highest elevations.
I included a pic I took from the skin track just a little ways outside of the parking lot, then my new camera batteries died from the cold. Snow was again dry and deep unconsolidated pow with a few hidden terrain obstacles lurking about (today...
I included a pic I took from the skin track just a little ways outside of the parking lot, then my new camera batteries died from the cold. Snow was again dry and deep unconsolidated pow with a few hidden terrain obstacles lurking about (today...
author=lordhedgie link=topic=11568.msg48148#msg48148 date=1229820241]
... my toilet was running, ;)
If your toilet is running...you should catch it.
author=neil turner link=topic=11550.msg48023#msg48023 date=1229671199]
The snow is so low in H2O content right now (with more forecasted coldness) I can't imagine it developing sufface hoar before Sat/Sun when the next system is suposed to hit.
Isn't surface hoar the winter equivalent of dew? In other words, it forms because of moisture in the air, not moisture in the snow. I doubt that the water content of the snow has much...
I couldn't get out of my house yesterday, but my toilet was running, so I toured over to the hardware store and bought a new flapper. I count myself amongst the small cadre of people who have ever skied into town to fix a toilet. ;)
Cookie
First off my avy understanding is limited at best with Level I experience more or less and lots of books and observation. I always lean towards the side of caution and kind of assume "worst-case scenario" conditions until I can prove them wrong by testing and observation.
I said that Friday looked like it could be a good day for surface hoar formation. Hopefully high winds would keep that from happening (and other factors) and we'll no doubt have TR's...
First off my avy understanding is limited at best with Level I experience more or less and lots of books and observation. I always lean towards the side of caution and kind of assume "worst-case scenario" conditions until I can prove them wrong by testing and observation.
I said that Friday looked like it could be a good day for surface hoar formation. Hopefully high winds would keep that from happening (and other factors) and we'll no doubt have TR's...
my friend cut his leg down to the bone sledding on a car hood 2 days ago, and I slammed into a train track after dropping a cliff in the pow pow and now can't walk because I hit my ass so hard. I had to get dragged home on a sled. but it was so worth it!!!
Are there any southwest aspects on Table that are skiable?
Cookiemonster, what course does this exam come from?
Randy Beaver wrote:
What? Double D's in bottomless pow at night.
Add 2-3ft on top of that and you got today. Cold, bluebird, 2k laps, blower, bottomless if I fall in any direction I'm ph--t deep. To be continued...
No pics of our AWESOME exit line?
What? Double D's in bottomless pow at night.
Add 2-3ft on top of that and you got today. Cold, bluebird, 2k laps, blower, bottomless if I fall in any direction I'm ph--t deep. To be continued...
Thanks for all the replies and good information. I asked Baltoro why he expected surface hoar ( because he'd forecast it in his post ) and clear/cold temperatures aren't enough. So I was curious. Also was curious why his post contained a buried surface hoar forecast.
There are 43 questions in the avalanche exam that deal with surface hoar formation: http://www.scenomics.com/internal/accounts/richardm/avalanche/exam/chapter_03_questions.htm
There are 43 questions in the avalanche exam that deal with surface hoar formation: http://www.scenomics.com/internal/accounts/richardm/avalanche/exam/chapter_03_questions.htm
Were the slopes wind-loaded on the southwest aspects?
That's the stuff you remember for years.Kids and adults both.
I grew up in Kentucky and we used to sled down the hollows of the local golf course on Car hoods.We all carried 1/2 pints of whiskey or some sweet liquor for the wounds . about 4 0r 5 of us to a hood ,man those things would fly. Of Course you had to take off the hood ornaments.
I grew up in Kentucky and we used to sled down the hollows of the local golf course on Car hoods.We all carried 1/2 pints of whiskey or some sweet liquor for the wounds . about 4 0r 5 of us to a hood ,man those things would fly. Of Course you had to take off the hood ornaments.
author=Slo-Steve link=topic=11529.msg48080#msg48080 date=1229721914]
We saw the climbers you guys talked to at the top of pan point. while descending Wednesday. They were in tents at about the location we met up. One tent was already thrashed with at least 1 broken pole. They asked if they could follow our tracks up to Muir. I told them no. They made some comment that it was as cold here as in Canada.
Glad these guys were ok!...
We've been skiing the back side of this range today.... myrtle street!
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=121039020056
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=121039020056
I'd like to be the first to congratulate you on your 420th post. A coming of age ritual in many primitive societys, including our own. No pics of our AWESOME exit line?
Jer~
hey, good to hear from you. Missed you sunday fer sure, twas good to get after it again. Hope Bend treats you well in the partner department and you can get some recon done before we come to visit...
hey, good to hear from you. Missed you sunday fer sure, twas good to get after it again. Hope Bend treats you well in the partner department and you can get some recon done before we come to visit...
Nice to meet you Joe. Sorry we didn't stick around to meet the others but we wanted to make it to the shelter before the system came in. Turns out we still were not fast enough. Thanks also for the skin track.
The system came on pretty fast and was strong. It was blowing hard from the north. It blew the slope immediately below Muir to ice, so it was hard to make the last 100 feet. The shelter was definitely a necessity at that point.
The system came on pretty fast and was strong. It was blowing hard from the north. It blew the slope immediately below Muir to ice, so it was hard to make the last 100 feet. The shelter was definitely a necessity at that point.
Monika, I'm available to break trail downhill any time it is needed...
Sweet line and very inspirational! That's definately the 'you fall you die' type of terrain. Good on ya!
Wow that's a tough line. i skied that area exrtensively for years.Our hut used to be on 39th between Grahmn and Raymond. Nice terrain ! Raymond from 35th west aspect might be the steepest.
Good to hear wind will keep the hoar down. Still need to look for it in protected areas.
Agreed, surface hoar usually requires somewhat consolidated snow and more than 36 hours to form.
Very nice. I scoped out a pretty sweet line down first avenue towards Northgate, but KC Metro contributed too much objective danger...
Love the vid.
Love the vid.
Nice ;D
That sure looks secluded.
Did you keep that buried dog that you found? I suppose he was there before this last system buried him. Lucky dog may not have been freed until spring had you not come along.
That sure looks secluded.
Did you keep that buried dog that you found? I suppose he was there before this last system buried him. Lucky dog may not have been freed until spring had you not come along.
Awesome pics - send me a pm with the location of this super secret area ;)
Not to make anyone think that hoar won't be an issue where they are, but there are very strong winds forecast in advance of the snow, so I think that in most locations the hoar will be blown clear before it is loaded.
Shhhhh - the Baker folk will want to come down and track it out. You might also want to try my street - 39th- into Morgan, West Seattle's Crooked Couloir.
DAMN! Another stash revealed!
i tried to dig a pit but i couldn't get past the asphalt layer though to see how well it was bonded to the dirt underneath.
Not much base, but plenty of local wildlife.
Very Nice. did you dig a pit?
Clearly a classic, Pete.
My hat's always off to those that nail first descents :)
Becky - hope that hand heals quickly.
My hat's always off to those that nail first descents :)
Becky - hope that hand heals quickly.
Neil
I hear you on how dry the snowpack and I'm not really sure how that'll play out. The good news is people will likely be out today, tomorrow and Sunday to confirm or deny surface hoar formation for us.
I hear you on how dry the snowpack and I'm not really sure how that'll play out. The good news is people will likely be out today, tomorrow and Sunday to confirm or deny surface hoar formation for us.
author=prestonf link=topic=11526.msg47927#msg47927 date=1229554574]
Thanks for writing up your experience!
If my memory serves me correctly, it does seem that the Blueberry chutes have a recent history of recurrent early season slides...
Thanks for posting. It reminds me why I prefer traveling in small groups in slightly more remote areas, even if the lure of easy access powder is sometimes too great to pass up. ;D
The snow is so low in H2O content right now (with more forecasted coldness) I can't imagine it developing sufface hoar before Sat/Sun when the next system is suposed to hit. I'm still "pow drunk" right now, so not really able to scientifically explain this, but if you were in it you know what I'm talkin 'bout 8).
If I'm way off on this, hit me with some nollej!
If I'm way off on this, hit me with some nollej!
author=neil turner link=topic=11551.msg48019#msg48019 date=1229670093]
These words should never be spoken >:(! Ullr is watching...
I have a feeling that Ullr is reasonably indulgent about seemingly intemperate statements when they're made by his children who've done all that climbing in new snow to earn their smiles...
Clear cold weather is the typical progenitor of surface hoar, as long as the air is still enough so the layer of water vapor hovering over the snow stays in contact with the very cold snow surface:
"On a cold clear night when the snow surface is cooled by loss of heat to the atmosphere, the air becomes supersaturated with respect to the ice and water vapor condenses on the snowpack to form a...crystalline surface...known as surface hoar. In cold northern latitudes surface hoar wi...
"On a cold clear night when the snow surface is cooled by loss of heat to the atmosphere, the air becomes supersaturated with respect to the ice and water vapor condenses on the snowpack to form a...crystalline surface...known as surface hoar. In cold northern latitudes surface hoar wi...
Clem,
Comments from the "bizarro world":
"Great snow, but too much of it. It will get better as the run is tracked out some."
These words should never be spoken >:(! Ullr is watching...
Same but better @ Central today ;D!
Comments from the "bizarro world":
"Great snow, but too much of it. It will get better as the run is tracked out some."
These words should never be spoken >:(! Ullr is watching...
Same but better @ Central today ;D!
Other than the weather being clear and cold, why do you expect surface hoar formation?
Looks amazing!Good stoke I think I skied there once after the crystal mountain ski mountaineering race!
author=snoslut link=topic=11546.msg47979#msg47979 date=1229637226]caught gazing at what will soon be grazed
i love seeing a line or trail so much in the distance that it's tattooed on my shoulder... that's a great picture!
In the avalanche and ski guide courses I have taken.I have never been told to stick together and and ski tour up an avalanche slope.(one at a time,spaced out)especially in a storm cycle.People were making mistakes,me included,but I did not think anyone was an idiot(maybe more experienced versus less experienced)or misguided with good intentions.Example a large group of people I knew were close to the action had no idea the incident happend untill my brother ran into them at seymour mountai...
Were there only a correlation between skills snow sliding and knowledge of how snow slides......theres no correlation between being a ripper and being avy savvy. But I wouldn't call people out I didn't know like that unless I was on the internet or something. Wait, where are we?
BTW Tim I did 7 years in Whatcom County, with a Baker Pass and not much else to my name, and I ain't never heard of no Seattle chutes.
BTW Tim I did 7 years in Whatcom County, with a Baker Pass and not much else to my name, and I ain't never heard of no Seattle chutes.
i wasnt there so i dont know exactly what happened but my roommate came home and told stories of helping two brothers, (one of which caused a slide where his brother had just told him not to ski), dig out one of them and look for his skis.. regardless of the cattle or whatever you are always responsible for what you ski and for the people below you.. whether you agree with their line of ascent or not.. ive met a few idiots out on the blueberry side but for the most part people are pretty aware o...
That's fantastic! I almost headed up today, but postponed for friday or saturday.
author=telemack link=topic=11526.msg47929#msg47929 date=1229555851]
One of my regular ski buddies, who can really crank, has told me a couple of times: "I think I can ski out of any avalanche I get caught in." ???
Really, this guy (or girl) must be pretty stupid to put forward such an obviously absurd statement. It is suprising that someone who has spent enough time on the snow to "really crank" would have...
author=savegondor link=topic=11529.msg47942#msg47942 date=1229562304]
Nisqually Chute looks almost ready...hummmm.
The Nisqually Chute did look good but it was likely dangerously loaded atop the previous systems crust and there are several large crevasse's lurking near it's base. We talked about it but opted for more conservative terrain.
On our way up we came across Mr. and Mrs. Freebird who were kind e...