TR Replies

Lowell,

Thanks for you explaination and additional info about the 1977 avalanche where the winds loaded the west slopes. Noting the direction of the prevailing winds is important but winds can change and come from many different directions on a big mountian like Rainier.

Cheers!

1/10/08 2:03am

Lowell_Skoog

author=PetefromBoston link=topic=8735.msg35137#msg35137 date=1199975829">
cross-loaded? east through north aspects?

Anyone mind breaking it down for a BC learner (less than newbie)? Why would the pink areas be more dangerous than the non-pink areas?
It seems like anything not on a ridgeline is sketchy.

The photo was taken looking almost directly north. As you scan the pink areas from left to right, you're lo...

1/10/08 12:47am

bc_skier

Pete,

The pink areas are not meant to represent the only hazardous areas. As I wrote they are some - not all - avy hazard areas in the photo.

Cross loading is correct, which most likely built up a slab on any lee slope from northeast through southeast.

1/9/08 10:37pm

PetefromBoston

January 6 - Crystal BC (East Peak)

author=bc_skier link=topic=8735.msg35132#msg35132 date=1199945094]
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.

cross-loaded? east through north aspects?

Anyone mind breaking it down for a BC learner (less than newbie)? Why would the pink areas be more dangerous than the non-pink areas?
It...

1/9/08 5:52pm

Animal

:) George and I saw you on Sunday. We were the guys that asked about your snow pit. Wow the skiing was awesome, after doing some runs on the back side of East Peak we were amazed. I called our first run "Silent Splendor" With all the deep power it took some work to get back up! On this day the powder woody was definitely satisfied.

1/9/08 2:30pm

steve_f

Thanks for the input. It looks like that was a good area for the conditions Saturday. But where else to go around the Hood?

I got a deal for you guys, I'll break trail AND let you have first tracks if you show me some new areas. Desperate, maybe, but I'm powerless over this fluffy white powder...

1/9/08 2:13pm

Lowell_Skoog

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...

1/9/08 2:04pm

bc_skier

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.

1/9/08 1:59pm

Lowell_Skoog

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...

1/9/08 1:01pm

Seth

Looked like a tasty day Tony. Great video.

1/9/08 12:34pm

OldHouseMan

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.

1/9/08 9:55am

ajjenkin

Oh, and yes, the quality is much better than the youtubed version...

1/9/08 9:54am

ajjenkin

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...

1/9/08 9:02am

philfort

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&...

1/9/08 8:50am

Jason_H.

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?

1/9/08 8:48am

Jeff Huber

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...

1/9/08 8:04am

Gary Vogt

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...

1/9/08 4:49am

Double E

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.

1/9/08 4:31am

Jakes_thread

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.

1/9/08 2:14am

pabloson

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!

1/9/08 1:55am

pabloson

Is that south facing? A little bit of sun warming the trees and rocks?

1/9/08 1:28am

curmudgeon

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.

1/9/08 12:23am

md2020

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.

1/8/08 1:17pm

ron j

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...

1/8/08 1:01pm

bc_skier

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?

1/8/08 11:59am

JCK

Jan 1-4 Rendezvous Huts Methow Valley

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

1/8/08 11:36am

Salal

I spent last new years up there and it was a blast!!!

1/8/08 11:11am

MW88888888

Tony! That was just like skiing with you - got a tree branch in the eye to prove it.

1/8/08 8:31am

OldHouseMan

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.

1/8/08 6:24am

hefeweizen

Jan 1-4 Rendezvous Huts Methow Valley

The unequivocal, sure fire answer to your question is...

it depends. ;)

1/8/08 6:13am

Jerm

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.

1/8/08 4:40am

January 5, 2008, Mt.Catherine

Nice video. Remind me not to ask for a ride with that guy though! ;D

1/8/08 4:09am

cjm720

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!

1/8/08 2:22am

Pete A

January 5, 2008, Mt.Catherine

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.

1/8/08 1:56am

cjm720

January 5, 2008, Mt.Catherine

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!!!

1/8/08 12:29am

Nate R

January 5, 2008, Kendall Peak and Video Blog

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.

1/7/08 4:12pm

savegondor

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

1/7/08 1:55pm

jdclimber

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.

1/7/08 1:39pm

telemack

Nice vid, good music selection & synchronization, and sweet fluff.

1/7/08 1:13pm

Rusty Knees

Did you see it happen? Maybe windloaded?

1/7/08 1:06pm

ron j

1/5/08 Heather Ridge, Stevens Pass

Shot from over on the Tatoosh?

1/7/08 12:16pm

coldsmoke

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...

1/7/08 11:24am

Charlie Hagedorn

January 6, 2007, Exit 47 BC (Olallie/Silver Peak)

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...

1/7/08 11:17am

BigRed

January 5, 2008, Kendall Peak and Video Blog

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

1/7/08 11:15am

mtn_mama

January 5, 2008, Kendall Peak and Video Blog

It must have been you boys that we met up there at the top. Thanks for letting us have first turns!

1/7/08 9:52am

dkoelle

Jan 4-6, 2008, Scottish Lakes-High Camp

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...

1/7/08 9:20am

John Morrow

Jan 7, 2008, Red Mtn Pt. 5703 ( Salmon La Sac)

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'.

1/7/08 7:20am

Marcus