TR Replies
author=bc_skier link=topic=8735.msg35132#msg35132 date=1199945094]
Here is another photo marking some of the areas - but not all - that could have slid had a skier or snowshoer ventured out there at the time.
Yeah, absolutely. In fact I would just shade all the slopes in Edith Creek basin pink. In the earlier thread in which we talked about the Edith Creek basin fatality, I suggested staying out of there entirely when avalanche conditio...
Thanks for all the comments. Here is another photo marking some of the areas - but not all - that could have slid had a skier or snowshoer ventured out there at the time.
author=vogtski link=topic=8735.msg35110#msg35110 date=1199923486]
the Pan Pt 'winter route' and commonly used SW face route are just above the AV...
Doesn't the "winter route" ascend the minor crest (studded with small trees) that the slide in the picture starts from? I've always assumed that's what the term "winter route" refers to, but I wasn't certain. I remember Ray Smutek describing...
Looked like a tasty day Tony. Great video.
author=Jeff Huber link=topic=8740.msg35113#msg35113 date=1199926134]
What the hell are you talking about Aaron? Everyone knows whenever there is fresh powder there are no reasonable slopes to ski at Bennett Pass or in that area or basically anywhere in the Mt Hood backcountry. Best to go to the resorts ;)
(I'm kidding)
How would you know...you skipped out on us this weekend.
Oh, and yes, the quality is much better than the youtubed version...
Yeah, funny accent for a guy from the northwest part of lower Michigan (the pinky nail of the mitten).
I was PMed about what camera I was using. My response is below:
The camera I have is an Aiptek DV recorder. It has an "Audio/Video In" Jack for anything from a DVD player to a helmet camera. I looked around on the web and the "suggested" helmet cam for use with the Aiptek is made by www.sportzshot.com. It is kind of a strange setup. Surezshot sell...
I was PMed about what camera I was using. My response is below:
The camera I have is an Aiptek DV recorder. It has an "Audio/Video In" Jack for anything from a DVD player to a helmet camera. I looked around on the web and the "suggested" helmet cam for use with the Aiptek is made by www.sportzshot.com. It is kind of a strange setup. Surezshot sell...
As of Jan 1:
CURRENT CLIMATE PER CENT LAST THRU 2007 THRU 2007
DEPTH AVERAGE OF NORMAL YEAR MAX/YEAR MIN/YEAR
MT BAKER 112 88 127 130 190/1949 1/1928
PARADISE 117 91 129&...
CURRENT CLIMATE PER CENT LAST THRU 2007 THRU 2007
DEPTH AVERAGE OF NORMAL YEAR MAX/YEAR MIN/YEAR
MT BAKER 112 88 127 130 190/1949 1/1928
PARADISE 117 91 129&...
How much snow has paradise gotten this season compared to Baker? Last year southern peaks like adams had poor seasons, much more so than further north. This year that doesn't appear to be the case. Any numbers out there?
author=OldHouseMan link=topic=8740.msg35070#msg35070 date=1199838696]
I wouldn't say a slide couldn't happen in the clear cuts at Bennet Pass but myself and my skiing buddies usually consider the clear cuts to be reasonably safe low angle skiing when the avy danger elsewhere is up.
What the hell are you talking about Aaron? Everyone knows whenever there is fresh powder there are no reasonable slopes to ski at Bennett Pass or...
Here's another vote for the wind theory...large cornices often form on the east side of those trees as well...the Pan Pt 'winter route' and commonly used SW face route are just above the AV...
The Dec 18 fatality was in the shaded gully 1/3 mile left in the larger view...think I'll stay off east through north aspects until we after we have another slice of Pineapple...
Paradise has been getting a foot per day for days...even strong trail-breakers should...
The Dec 18 fatality was in the shaded gully 1/3 mile left in the larger view...think I'll stay off east through north aspects until we after we have another slice of Pineapple...
Paradise has been getting a foot per day for days...even strong trail-breakers should...
I'm curious ... the main slope/route leading up to Pan Point is more or less just "above" (from photo's perspective) the slide area, correct? (Looker's left of the tree patch?) And so the top of Pan Point would be just beyond the upper-right corner of photo?
I've only been to Pan Point about ten times in my life, so am not totally familiar with the terrain there.
I've only been to Pan Point about ten times in my life, so am not totally familiar with the terrain there.
Extra snow accumulation in that area due to the trees on the windward side slowing the velocity of blowing snow and allowing it to accumulate there. None of the other potential avy slopes in the photo have as many small trees that close to the slope.
I measured BP clear cut #1 at 25% at the top and 28% half way down where it is steepest so that is the lower danger zone. Also, it has some good anchoring with all the stumps and baby trees. Still, this year is unusual. I jumped all over a section of slope above a tree at 30% and couldn't get it to budge.
My biggest worry was all the tree wells!
My biggest worry was all the tree wells!
Is that south facing? A little bit of sun warming the trees and rocks?
The cornices on the ridge to lookers left tell me that the slopes that broke were cross loaded. Perhaps an earlier wind scoured those slopes to a crust, but the cross loading itself would have kept me off that aspect.
I'm assuming that slid on the New Years crust. Was that a surface hoar layer? Maybe the wind was able to get to some of those other areas and blow it off before that snow came. That patch looks like it might be a bit protected.
author=bc_skier link=topic=8735.msg35084#msg35084 date=1199854918]
I have a question for all of you avalanche students. Why did the above slope slide and the rest of the obvious avy slopes around it not slide?
:) Ah, such a simple question.
So many possible answers; for such a mysterious science.
To he who can answer that question with absolute certainty and factual accuracy lies the ability to save untold lives and possibly lifel...
ron j-
Yep, I was over in the Tatoosh.
Rusty Knees-
Yes, 100% windloaded.
I have a question for all of you avalanche students. Why did the above slope slide and the rest of the obvious avy slopes around it not slide?
Yep, I was over in the Tatoosh.
Rusty Knees-
Yes, 100% windloaded.
I have a question for all of you avalanche students. Why did the above slope slide and the rest of the obvious avy slopes around it not slide?
Amusing video work---I couldn't place Poopsicle's accent though----Swedish Chef from the muppets?
What helmet camera were you using and is the native (non-youtube) video higher quality?
Thx
JK
What helmet camera were you using and is the native (non-youtube) video higher quality?
Thx
JK
I spent last new years up there and it was a blast!!!
Tony! That was just like skiing with you - got a tree branch in the eye to prove it.
I wouldn't say a slide couldn't happen in the clear cuts at Bennet Pass but myself and my skiing buddies usually consider the clear cuts to be reasonably safe low angle skiing when the avy danger elsewhere is up.
The unequivocal, sure fire answer to your question is...
it depends. ;)
it depends. ;)
I spent a weekend at Cassal. It did have a nice slope for skiing but unfortunately it was raining when we were there :(
If I were to do it again, I would approach from the south up logging roads from that housing development. Much shorter and more direct than the Rendezvous base.
If I were to do it again, I would approach from the south up logging roads from that housing development. Much shorter and more direct than the Rendezvous base.
Nice video. Remind me not to ask for a ride with that guy though! ;D
Thanks Pete A...that's where I was as well, except I accessed via Silver Fir. (hit up Radio Mtn. first). I definitely was wondering which access would prove best - Hyak or Silver Fir. Have you taken both? Preference? Thanks for the info!
was skiing on the north/northwest side of Catherine....accessed it by using our season passes for a freebie ride up to the top of Hyak and then out across the xc skiing trails.
What side of Catherine were you all on and what route did you take to access, out of curiosity? Catherine was superb on NY's day!!!
Thanks, Marcus & Telemack. Marcus, sorry you couldn't make it out. Hope that knee gets better soon! JD, nice to run into you guys -- I figured there must've been at least one other TAY group up there. I hope Irena had a good day in the backcountry and is left wanting more.
author=mtn_mama link=topic=8717.msg35012#msg35012 date=1199762101]
It must have been you boys that we met up there at the top. Thanks for letting us have first turns!
Yeah,
Thanks for checking the bomber stability for us!!! I was a bit sketchy about that stuff near the saddle!
And to everyone else: thanks for the beta.
-Jayme
I was wondering if you were a Turns-All-Year group.
I was out with Kelvin and my girlfriend Irena on her first (and hopefully not last) trip into the Backcountry on the teleskis. I said hi and let you pass and then hassled you in the parklot on the way out, since it was so early and you were moving so very fast and strong.
Good day up there, a little heavier than days past, but who can complain, sun break was beautiful with all the fresh snow.
I was out with Kelvin and my girlfriend Irena on her first (and hopefully not last) trip into the Backcountry on the teleskis. I said hi and let you pass and then hassled you in the parklot on the way out, since it was so early and you were moving so very fast and strong.
Good day up there, a little heavier than days past, but who can complain, sun break was beautiful with all the fresh snow.
Nice vid, good music selection & synchronization, and sweet fluff.
Did you see it happen? Maybe windloaded?
The last shot in that sequence is sick Jim! Did Jeff get a new red jacket just to slut for your camera? I seem to remember him destroying his last one on a low snow day early season at stevens pass... Check out our TR from the same day you guys were out. http://tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=107770 Of course we rode on the lifts and took the pictures in whistlers slackcountry but at least we walked a little bit for them! We were using my sd500 at 4PM in a whiteout, so what we...
Ah, I'd seen an uptrack on my way out and figured its owner had some sage knowledge of a nifty route upward. I was more than a little concerned that I didn't see a downtrack, as I left the railroad grade not long before dusk.
If your route home following tracks took you through thick trees, along logs, and generally downhill, that was my uptrack. If it took you down steep, but not quite so thick trees, across a sizeable avalanche slope above a munchy looking terrain trap, t...
If your route home following tracks took you through thick trees, along logs, and generally downhill, that was my uptrack. If it took you down steep, but not quite so thick trees, across a sizeable avalanche slope above a munchy looking terrain trap, t...
Good to know the conditions were still good up there. We had some fun up there on new years eve and the Saturday before.
As far as the north side, I remember this trip report from last year among others:
http://www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboarding/trip_reports/index.php?topic=5746.0
As far as the north side, I remember this trip report from last year among others:
http://www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboarding/trip_reports/index.php?topic=5746.0
It must have been you boys that we met up there at the top. Thanks for letting us have first turns!
The Coulter Ski Trail sign is just 100-200 feet up the road from the current Midway transport pit stop. We were told that no one has skied it this year yet, so it would be slow going, but I am sure Don/Chris could provide a lot of information re: signage, etc. I got the feeling old guidebooks might provide information about this trail; I think it was a traditional way of getting to/from US2 "back in the day". And no to your McCue Ridge question. My main lesson from th...
Here's pics:
1. Self portrait with skin track depth at 5000 feet.
2. South slope of Pt. 5703'.
3. North slope of Pt. 5085'.
1. Self portrait with skin track depth at 5000 feet.
2. South slope of Pt. 5703'.
3. North slope of Pt. 5085'.
Thanks for the great TR. I was staring at the terrain a couple of days ago with the binoculars hoping some adventurous folks would leave some evidence of their journey. ;) Your TR is exactly what is needed to encourage a followup journey.
I was out there as well, and experienced conditions similar to what you did. I got a late start due to home projects and indecision about where to start skiing - Hyak or exit 47. I choose exit 47 after seeing the crowds on the pass and falling for what looked like a more direct route to Silver Peak on the map. As you've noticed, contour lines on maps don't tell the whole story. Who would have known that someone would try to grow a "Christmas tree farm" at the top of the ridge...
author=Randy link=topic=8717.msg34985#msg34985 date=1199720543]
The Silver creek drainage off the "backside" of Kendall ridge is quite a bit steeper with mostly north facing couloirs that then open out to the east.
Descents have been made here -- but these routes are more akin to skiing "The Slot couloir" on Snoqualmie than the "front side" of Kendall.
Randy,
Do you know anyon...
author=savegondor link=topic=8717.msg34967#msg34967 date=1199679322]
If anyone has done any stability exploration of the East face of Kendall Peak/Ridge on the Gold Creek side I'd appreciate the beta. My guess is that it's a completely different story on that side.
The Silver creek drainage off the "backside" of Kendall ridge is quite a bit steeper with mostly north facing couloirs that then open out to the...
Regarding your comment on consolidation on the west aspects - perhaps this is because of mostly westerly winds compacting snow on that side? I realize there have also been east winds, but it seems that a lot of the snow since early December has fallen during west winds. Just a thought...
Nice shots JD, your the man!
Gord & I headed over there again, It was just as good and with sun breaks as well. Wish you were there ;)
Gord & I headed over there again, It was just as good and with sun breaks as well. Wish you were there ;)
Save for the scary bit, with which I'm still coming to terms, it was indeed a good adventure.
Granite's looked beautiful in the sunlight over the past two days. Come in, come in, said the spider to the fly... The benevolent future-gazing NWAC folks seem to have ordered up a whole 'nother batch of winter though - it'll be a while (and worth the wait).
Granite's looked beautiful in the sunlight over the past two days. Come in, come in, said the spider to the fly... The benevolent future-gazing NWAC folks seem to have ordered up a whole 'nother batch of winter though - it'll be a while (and worth the wait).