TR Replies
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...
The cascade river road is generally plowed at least the first 6 miles in where there are settlements. I have generally seen signs of plowing in the past at least to the Monogram Lakes / Lookout mountain trailhead - this is nearly always accessible.
Since it was dry until yesterday there, I am guessing that with chains can probably travel at least to the hidden lakes road turnoff or beyond, it will be pretty similar to the snow load at marblemount or newhalem where the webcams are and...
Since it was dry until yesterday there, I am guessing that with chains can probably travel at least to the hidden lakes road turnoff or beyond, it will be pretty similar to the snow load at marblemount or newhalem where the webcams are and...
I was up on Saturday also and I witnessed the witless boot pack towards the blueberry chutes. I saw a lot of people without packs, so I can only assume they had no beacons. Probably why no one went into search mode. Hopefully the new snow keeps some of them between the ropes. Glad you made it out okay.
From your pictures it looks like you are standing on cave ridge - did you do a big loop?
I didn't recognize Lundin from that angle. I only skied it once, and I haven't done the ones on the backside. It was pretty straight forward. The run kind of flattened out in some benches earlier than I thought it would and there was a drainage trap but it was obvious. It was fun, there was more snow then.
Similar conditions to the Nov. 25 slide documented at Crystal mtn, 2006. I was a bit too close to that one & had to come back for a ski several weeks later. My partner was very fortunate to come out of an up-side down full burial but the skis didn't surface til next spring. Even with ski tracks 125 feet to our right and 150 feet left, there were snotty isolated slabs out there. Learned about "complacency" and trusting the tracks of others. This year isn't giving me...
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." ???
some of the people who contributed to these statistics may have thought the same way:
"Avalanche Accidents – World Stats:
During the 2007/2008 season, the USA continued to be a world l...
author=tim_place link=topic=11526.msg47922#msg47922 date=1229545611]
We pray daily for more snow at Snoqualmie.
So do we.
Very glad you're ok, Atraslin.
author=andyrew609 link=topic=11529.msg47941#msg47941 date=1229561987]
How did coverage in the Tatoosh look?
Tatoosh looked thin. We originally had planned to ski there, but opted for Paradise/Muir due to low snow coverage. After this most recent dump, it may be ready to go...
Hey Kevin, do they plow the Cascade River Road, or do we assume with low snow levels that it's covered too?
author=RonL link=topic=11525.msg47912#msg47912 date=1229532286]
My rule of thumb for outside of the closed ski areas at Snoq has become about 50inches. Maybe others venture out earlier. I had some fun runs down the Silver Fir Area this weekend but you had to pick your lines carefully, ski lightly, and I used rock skis. Of course I have rock skis from taking similar trips to what you just described.
any beta on Lundin peak in...
Nisqually Chute looks almost ready...hummmm.
How did coverage in the Tatoosh look?
Probably a little more difficult to get there now -- I just noticed that it is currently snowing in marblemount, at last!
However, the road was a fun glide, cross-country style, and there are no down trees, which makes snowmobiling in easy. Now, if only we could find a 4x4 with a small plow attachment - it wouldn't take much to keep it open at least to the 2500' level...
- Kevin
However, the road was a fun glide, cross-country style, and there are no down trees, which makes snowmobiling in easy. Now, if only we could find a 4x4 with a small plow attachment - it wouldn't take much to keep it open at least to the 2500' level...
- Kevin
Thanks for cleaning it out Mr. Traslin!! Next time give it a proper ski cut. Slackcountry is just going to get more crowded, I think everyone's getting a splitboard for Christmas this year.
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." ???
Check the latest issue of Backcountry Magazine and you'll see that view debunked in the article on "Avalanche Mythbusters".
Check the latest issue of Backcountry Magazine and you'll see that view debunked in the article on "Avalanche Mythbusters".
Thanks for writing up your experience!
Yea, I gotta disagree with you also Tim, the baker slackcountry seems like it's a zoo year round, at least when it's bluebird and a weekend, similar to the slackcountry around other ski areas. I've seen the stuff you're talking about in March. Although, like you say, I'm sure the fact that you guys are usually the 1st within the immediate area to have a base creates an influx of powder-starved Seattlites, Canadians, Mon...
Yea, I gotta disagree with you also Tim, the baker slackcountry seems like it's a zoo year round, at least when it's bluebird and a weekend, similar to the slackcountry around other ski areas. I've seen the stuff you're talking about in March. Although, like you say, I'm sure the fact that you guys are usually the 1st within the immediate area to have a base creates an influx of powder-starved Seattlites, Canadians, Mon...
Sounds about the same as it was on Ptarmigan ridge yesterday.
author=tim_place link=topic=11526.msg47922#msg47922 date=1229545611]Ok, ok that sounds shi**y. But you just don't see that nonsense after the season gets going.
I beg to differ -- you see that nonsense year 'round, it's just not quite so concentrated. It's not like the snow at Snoqualmie induces good decision making out of the blue, though perhaps the "cattle" effect is somewhat reduced.
I'm glad you and Andy are ok Mike. Thanks for the beta. I've decide I'll probably stick closer to home and ski trees. Perhaps monitor the situation from the keyboard fwiw - my two concerns:
1- Wind slab and storm snow on the W/S
2. Skiing terrain with which I'm not familiar after a storm event.
Otherwise - will tour up the Coquihalla
1- Wind slab and storm snow on the W/S
2. Skiing terrain with which I'm not familiar after a storm event.
Otherwise - will tour up the Coquihalla