TR Replies
Ron, nice shots. That camera of yours is super.
Also, I like your "signature" quote from the Zapster. I'll break trail for you cool cats anytime!! And I'd say it's due.
Missed you at Paradise yesterday, but appreciate the cruiser in you that needs to explore new territory. Nice work.
Also, I like your "signature" quote from the Zapster. I'll break trail for you cool cats anytime!! And I'd say it's due.
Missed you at Paradise yesterday, but appreciate the cruiser in you that needs to explore new territory. Nice work.
The snow did get a little heavier as the day went on. Still pretty good for the pass.
The slopes off of Chair Peak looked skiable. However from past experience the snow pack might be a little low still. You might need to be prepared to hit some rocks.
The slopes off of Chair Peak looked skiable. However from past experience the snow pack might be a little low still. You might need to be prepared to hit some rocks.
We crested Hogsback around 11:00 AM on the 4th. Ran into a 6 pack of boarders and skiers. Skied Hogsback bowl and encountered the light wind crust mentioned by Robie. We then stayed to skiers right at the bench and hit the steeper glades on the backside. The snow had not picked up any of the crust from the easterly flows that were predominant earlier in the week. It was ...bliss. Face shots all the way down.
I see from Telemetry that it warmed up briefly to 34 degrees down at snoqualmie pass on Sunday--was the pow pow becoming heavy?
Monika.
I was up on the Kendall Ridge Clear Cut area yesterday. Snow in the unexpected sun did become "heavier" by mid afternoon, but still quite nice. North facing slopes and shadowed areas were noticably lighter; snow in the treed decent was tasty.
Have fun!
thanks Seth for your info.
I see from Telemetry that it warmed up briefly to 34 degrees down at snoqualmie pass on Sunday--was the pow pow becoming heavy?
I see it's been 33 degrees several hours today. Thinking of skiing over there tomorrow. any thoughts? wonder if Alpental will open their BC tomorrow. How was the coverage farther over skier's left past China bowl in the Chair peak area?
thanks!
I see from Telemetry that it warmed up briefly to 34 degrees down at snoqualmie pass on Sunday--was the pow pow becoming heavy?
I see it's been 33 degrees several hours today. Thinking of skiing over there tomorrow. any thoughts? wonder if Alpental will open their BC tomorrow. How was the coverage farther over skier's left past China bowl in the Chair peak area?
thanks!
Thanks Robie for a great tour of Hogback Mt., with perfect snow conditions!! There are a few photos HERE ;D.
My friends and I were out about Table as well, we might have even bumped into you on the way out. Great conditions all around at Table and on the Arm this weekend.
Yeah, many of us who put in the first uptrack anywhere this weekend experienced more "earn" than "turn". Even at Hyak as late as Sunday afternoon. But it was all good everywhere, so who's complaining.
I think we might have actually crossed the state line into Utah because the snow was just like there ;D.
I didn't think Ron's court mandated ankle bracelet would allow him out of state ;)
I was actually on my way to your "pow pow" when freinds called...we all ended up carpooling to Paradise and expected to see the gang.... Maybe next week.
Did anyone else see or hear any slide activity yesterday?
a late start out of olympia meant a late start out of the parking lot. skinned to Pan Face and then up climbers right in the trees. there was one track in the middle of pan face - but we did not trust the snow pack that had been in the sun.
just below pebble creek, while taking a quick break we noted a solo skier headed east towards the western edge of the Pardise Glacier. she was lucky she took the higher ground. we witnessed a release of an entire slope appox 30- 40...
just below pebble creek, while taking a quick break we noted a solo skier headed east towards the western edge of the Pardise Glacier. she was lucky she took the higher ground. we witnessed a release of an entire slope appox 30- 40...
So where was everybody?
Ron and I had a breakfast pow, pow ;) meeting at the Tall Timbers with Robie. After hearing his stories from the previous day we decided to head back to White Pass for Robie's second helping. I think we might have actually crossed the state line into Utah because the snow was just like there ;D.
I was at Bullion Basin, helping with an Avy feild trip. The snow was awesome!! Glad you got some......Jerry
So where was everybody?
When the snow is good everywhere, no need to drive so far ;-)
Slow traffic all the way to the pass due to snowy weather beginning in Bothell delayed our rendezvous with randonnee, and he kindly waited for us to show up. Fun to meet Ludwig again after a few years, had a citizen senior to him in our group.
Problem areas in the slopes north of Stevens are much fewer after 3+ ft of snow in the past two weeks. Despite large crowds Saturday, many leftovers remained Sunday and the weather was much better, no precip, hazy sun and 2.5 ft powder.
Problem areas in the slopes north of Stevens are much fewer after 3+ ft of snow in the past two weeks. Despite large crowds Saturday, many leftovers remained Sunday and the weather was much better, no precip, hazy sun and 2.5 ft powder.
Sounds (and looks) like the Snoqualmie region too - some greag skiing, some sketchy coverage in places with well-hidden obstacles. We were wallowing a bit on low angle stuff yesterday as well. And the tree wells are man eaters in that early season kind of way too. Lotsa air down there, and they're wider than they seem.
Surf's up!
:D
Surf's up!
:D
Awesome picture! I have always liked how rugged the Olympics look. Maybe with a couple more storms the conditions will be up to par.
nick
nick
You guys almost had company this am as my partner and I drove past silver fir thinking, maybe, maybe. But I feared breaking trail and wanted to take advantage of the track I broke on Friday at Hyak. Sounds like bird-in-hand this year means use the existing track or suffer.
Good work and know your karma will come your way for your good deeds. Come to think of it, we did three laps at Hyak today and honest to goodness here's how it went: we climb to the top in snow, take a run in the sp...
Good work and know your karma will come your way for your good deeds. Come to think of it, we did three laps at Hyak today and honest to goodness here's how it went: we climb to the top in snow, take a run in the sp...
(Just updating the picture links below which someone had mentioned disappeared on this thread - sorry about that, I've had some issues finding a spot to post pictures where the url doesn't change on me.)
It was an amazing day up there. ;D Thanks to those ahead who set perfect skin tracks - tough moving in that much snow!
A picture looking up First Bowl:
Andy:
It was an amazing day up there. ;D Thanks to those ahead who set perfect skin tracks - tough moving in that much snow!
A picture looking up First Bowl:
Andy:
Although I've never been an avalanche patroller, I've been told that bombs that go off in the air are more effective at starting slides than bombs that go off in the snow. Air concussion is more effective than snow concussion. That helps explain why distant bombs are better triggers than you might expect.
just reading cw's nordic pass trip report from yesterday and I can tell you there was no sign of any skin track of any kind. Anyway after skiing down Silver Fir chair line with wolfs I headed back up for another lap. I then decided to check out the nordic track over to Grand Junction. Track was groomed :). Decided to continue on towards Nordic Pass and check out the trees below the radio tour. At the junction to the overlook the grooming ended. I ended up breaking trail nearly to the radio tower...
It is the concussion; when standing at the top of Denny, you can see the concussion disturbing snow as it sweeps up the valley and back down again. On hair trigger avy days where the concussion brings down everything in the basin one would hope TAYers would not be out and about anyways...
meet three other guys in the parking lot of summit central this morning. Put a skin track up two of the steeper runs. Did laps all day. About 2.5' of light powder on a base getting consistently denser. Near the top there was a wind crust about 8" down.
I'd have to agree with Sam, most definitely the concussion. They were going OFF this morning. We began to notice some fracturing up higher on Snoqualmie Mtn. today (out of the trees and areas exposed to winds yesterday and I'm sure through the night). Word is, we're supposed to have a 3 day total by tomorrow of approx. 3 feet.
Like, do you mean the danger was so high that a slab propagated around source lake basin to the Phantom? I've seen movies of that happening before, in Colorado I think - miles of ridgeline avalanching from one little bomb. (But it would seem to me that there is too much forested/cliffy terrain in Alpental valley to transmit a slab that far).
Or do you mean concussion from the bombs was enough to trigger slides across the valley?
Or do you mean concussion from the bombs was enough to trigger slides across the valley?
I wouldn't worry about it Sky, I don't think any Alpy bombs will propegate clear down to New Mexico!
;D ;D ;D ;)
;D ;D ;D ;)
To post a pic you have to put it on a server somewhere, and then make a URL to the picture using the "Insert Image" from the message toolbax.
I have server space, so email them to me and I will put them on a server so you can link to them.
I have server space, so email them to me and I will put them on a server so you can link to them.
While what Sam and Squak say is indubitably true, I must also wonder: was that at times of HIGH avalanche danger? That would be my guess. Can anyone affirm or debunk me with their observations?
Thanks for the update WOZ and Randonee.
I don't think anybody should go to Stevens, Skyline Ridge this weekend as a result.( except me) ;)
I don't think anybody should go to Stevens, Skyline Ridge this weekend as a result.( except me) ;)
Thats me in the white room. I think the wind has been less of a factor at baker ski area and environs than the passes/south recently. However, there is still a crust under all of this new, light snow. The ski area had rain and then a freeze before any new snow was deposited. It is not shearing off yet. But just how strong the bond is, you must dig, yes?
Lots of deep slabs forming near top of Heather ridge. Pits in wind-protected areas showed 2-3 feet of recent snow on top of 2 inches of very low density snow over the crust. In exposed areas, pits showed 3-5 feet of varied density cold snow, over the same low density snow and crust. Loading on the north side of the ridge could be higher (I didn't dare go over the lip, but watched extensive wind-driven deposition during lunch). Gusty, shifting winds were eroding old slab a...
anyone know what the avy conditions are like? Winds seem to be less further north, but there is no wind telemetry on the baker station :(
Wednesday is was very stable on most aspects, with the exception of a few places where a wind slab had formed on Sunday. A few pole jabs would unmask these areas where there was a more consolidated layer over less consolidated snow.
That first picture is from Toby. It is probably a picture of Matt, but I am not sure I recognize the glove!
Here is a "tim pic" from Steve -- I came up for air!
Here is a "tim pic" from Steve -- I came up for air!
It looks as though someone got a photo of Baker's elusive Lochness Monster.
Hmm, no I don't think that's Tim.
It looks as though someone got a photo of Baker's elusive Lochness Monster.
Yea, it was unexpected. And I enjoy and envy many of the days posted around Paradise!
In regard to hazard, the snow is deep, it is too dangerous, please stay away. Really, just wait until it gets rain soaked and refrozen then it is easier to determine the hazard...
We ascended only 800+ vf above the parking lot (**please note, we were not on a ridge or anywhere that there is {much} orographic deceleration or eddying that builds a slab**) (this stuff is just so multifactorial that d...
In regard to hazard, the snow is deep, it is too dangerous, please stay away. Really, just wait until it gets rain soaked and refrozen then it is easier to determine the hazard...
We ascended only 800+ vf above the parking lot (**please note, we were not on a ridge or anywhere that there is {much} orographic deceleration or eddying that builds a slab**) (this stuff is just so multifactorial that d...
anyone know what the avy conditions are like? Winds seem to be less further north, but there is no wind telemetry on the baker station :(
I can tell you that often "bags" lit on the summit of Denny can trigger slides all the way up both sides of the basin from the Phantom on through Chair peak.
??? You're saying that control work done on Denny mtn could trigger slides on the Phantom?
Dawn patrollers:
Alpental may be off limits: but there are plenty of other options up the commonwealth (Snoqualmie, Red and Lundeen for example). Just a reminder: beware of Alpental during storm cycles. Having had the good fortune to witness control work at Alpental, I can tell you that often "bags" lit on the summit of Denny can trigger slides all the way up both sides of the basin from the Phantom on through Chair peak. Mondays can also be control days, but gener...
Alpental may be off limits: but there are plenty of other options up the commonwealth (Snoqualmie, Red and Lundeen for example). Just a reminder: beware of Alpental during storm cycles. Having had the good fortune to witness control work at Alpental, I can tell you that often "bags" lit on the summit of Denny can trigger slides all the way up both sides of the basin from the Phantom on through Chair peak. Mondays can also be control days, but gener...
Ducktherope,
I thought I saw a dog with you when you were starting up...
Must have been another party.
I thought I saw a dog with you when you were starting up...
Must have been another party.
That was us with the Bear the dog (my buddies canine ski bro.) Some of you have probably seen him around. Bear has as lot of cool summit tags under his belt. He never complains about the conditions or his lack of equipment options. He has poached my line on a few occasions though.
Yeah, we were coming up when you, Adam and Bear were heading down the face. Bear is a cool dog, saw him in Nash last Saturday too!
Did you have a dog with you? We were the party of three over by Roz's Trees... There were a lot of people up from the neighborhood (Hyak) yesterday.
Pretty sure we were right behind you and ahead of Aaron. No dog, just me and a fellow splitter. Anybody heading up that way tommorow am?
Don't know the area terribly well, would love to find something with a bit more steepness in the vicinity. Beer for anyone will to share ;)
Pretty stable conditions- set off 1 8" slab while skiing a face shot deep bowl back by the power lines, but that was it for a full day of steep pow turns.
That was us with the Bear the dog (my buddies canine ski bro.) Some of you have probably seen him around. Bear has as lot of cool summit tags under his belt. He never complains about the conditions or his lack of equipment options. He has poached my line on a few occasions though.
Did you have a dog with you? We were the party of three over by Roz's Trees... There were a lot of people up from the neighborhood (Hyak) yesterday.