TR Replies
I agree that we have all made mistakes in the past. However, I think that misses the point. My whole take on this is that there is a missing link in education that has fallen by the wayside. When I started heading out in winter (eek! over 30 years already) I did so with experienced mountaineers and backcountry traverlers. There was a formal and informal system of teaching the inexperienced and young through friendships, college clubs, and schools (Spokane and...
Tim can you give us the aspect of the slide that Don got to ride on. From your description it sounds like Ne facing just to the right of the easy runs in middle to the east. Glad that Don was unhurt and that you are back skiing!
My sympathies also go out to the lost ones and their families. However I am still asking myself that question of why were they out there in hazardous conditions.
Snowboarder_John the avalanche awareness and training for high school students is great idea but honestly do you think it will be helpful? I don't know about you but most of the kids I run into in the bc don't have no knowledge of the snowpack, current conditions, basic equipment, nor do they care. Basic equipme...
Snowboarder_John the avalanche awareness and training for high school students is great idea but honestly do you think it will be helpful? I don't know about you but most of the kids I run into in the bc don't have no knowledge of the snowpack, current conditions, basic equipment, nor do they care. Basic equipme...
Lat 47deg 27min 1sec N
Long 121deg 26min 17sec W
Elevation 3439
Corey's pictures show the location. In fact, these photos show up slope terrain within 0.1 mile of the likely burial site.
Published reports indicate victim was on Snow Lake Trail. Not so, she was following our track on the winter trail, on the other side (SW) of the S Fork Snoqualmie River drainage.
Mark, I've seen nothing regarding victim's party size. I understand that the call to 911 was by...
Long 121deg 26min 17sec W
Elevation 3439
Corey's pictures show the location. In fact, these photos show up slope terrain within 0.1 mile of the likely burial site.
Published reports indicate victim was on Snow Lake Trail. Not so, she was following our track on the winter trail, on the other side (SW) of the S Fork Snoqualmie River drainage.
Mark, I've seen nothing regarding victim's party size. I understand that the call to 911 was by...
Thanks. That is exactly the type of program I was talking about. I will contact them now to see how I can help.
First, my sympathies to the families. I would like to see some good come from this and would like to propose that we as a group could put together some sort of avalanche awareness/ training for high school students. Some high schools have ski/ snowboard &/or snowshoe clubs (or am assuming so). Could any of us get time off from work for community volunteer efforts to help educate this group? I have no idea when school clubs meet now but when I was in school it was duri...
Mark,
What I gather from the paper is that the slide happened at the switchback. Western senior out for a hike on friday with two friends. They were buried for 24 hours until one of them managed to dig his way out. She was out on her third hike this winter.
What a sad event for her family. Makes me wish that people had a better idea of what is going on out there. Just a kid out hiking with her friends.......
What I gather from the paper is that the slide happened at the switchback. Western senior out for a hike on friday with two friends. They were buried for 24 hours until one of them managed to dig his way out. She was out on her third hike this winter.
What a sad event for her family. Makes me wish that people had a better idea of what is going on out there. Just a kid out hiking with her friends.......
I'm glad to hear Don T. made it out safe. I'm equaly glad that you were spaced out so as to have only one avy poodle at risk at a time.
I ended up taking my party up to Lanham Lk by Stevens Pass on Sat, and Sun we skate-skied at Leavenworth. Our orriginal summit plans will just have to wait for the snow to consolidate.
I ended up taking my party up to Lanham Lk by Stevens Pass on Sat, and Sun we skate-skied at Leavenworth. Our orriginal summit plans will just have to wait for the snow to consolidate.
Thanks for the links Corey. Pictures are far better at describing something like this than words. My condolences to the families and friends of those who perished this weekend.
Here is a photo of Mushroom Couloir from alpental.com.
http://www.alpental.com/stokesr.htm
here is another angle:
http://www.alpental.com/stokess.htm
Of course, these photos are from 1999, it's usually not that filled in, but still easy to recognize.
My condolences to the families & loved ones of the people that died in the avalanches.
http://www.alpental.com/stokesr.htm
here is another angle:
http://www.alpental.com/stokess.htm
Of course, these photos are from 1999, it's usually not that filled in, but still easy to recognize.
My condolences to the families & loved ones of the people that died in the avalanches.
Brent: what are you refering to as Mushroom Couloir? Is this the drainage at the edge of the large open area before the trail re-enters the woods, a half mile or so before Source Lake? In early season ice sometimes forms here and several times I've seen a few ice climbers just up from the trail. The trail then re-enters the woods, crosses one large treed slide path, continues in forest, then crosses the large slide path coming down from Pineapple Pass and reaches Source L...
Greg: do you know where the slide was? The paper said "between Artist Point and Table Mountain." Blueberry Chutes? The switchback in the state highway just below Artist Point?
Brent: the news reports said that the woman who died was one of a party of nine, which contradicts our understanding at the time that she was one of the couple following us until we turned uphill towards Pineapple Basin. Do you happen to know anything more about this? ...
Brent: the news reports said that the woman who died was one of a party of nine, which contradicts our understanding at the time that she was one of the couple following us until we turned uphill towards Pineapple Basin. Do you happen to know anything more about this? ...
That is really sad. A snow shoe party was caught in a slide near Artist Point yesterday. I was up skiing in the area with my seven-year-old daughter and the conditions were ripe for avalanches; over an inch an hour of dense wind blown (southwest up to 20 mph) snow.
It is a disappointment when people without any mountain sense can wander off and get into trouble. These kinds of events are going to increase when people can walk into a shop and buy some shoes to go snow h...
It is a disappointment when people without any mountain sense can wander off and get into trouble. These kinds of events are going to increase when people can walk into a shop and buy some shoes to go snow h...
Regarding the snowfall in the greater Snoqualmie area on Saturday, we arrived to get some quick turns in-bounds at Summit Central? (Ski Acres) around 11:15 a.m. and by the time we decided to leave at 1:30 p.m. between 10 and 12 inches had accumulated on the truck and it was still snowing hard.
Having VHF radio it was frustrating to hear the SAR folks getting caught in the pass closure(s). Stay safe all!
Having VHF radio it was frustrating to hear the SAR folks getting caught in the pass closure(s). Stay safe all!
I was up there, too. Yo-yoing the slope right above the road was the best. I went up past Skyline Lake and dropped into a N-facing valley -- bad choice. It was "submarine snow" and I climbed back out sinking in to my knees -- very arduous, and I generally like breaking trail. I made a Rutschblock test on a 30 degree N-facing slope at about 5100 ft and it gave me a "1". I thereafter stuck to 20 degree slopes.
Russ: We were there last Saturday, with the broken sun. However, your skiing must have been spectacular, with the 2 or more feet that have fallen since!
What a difference a year makes. Last year at this time, there was dirt where we skiied...Greg Lange
What a difference a year makes. Last year at this time, there was dirt where we skiied...Greg Lange
I know several of the Alpy patrolers and they use the Alpental.com website- they told me about it. I have both maps and I think the complement each other- it's hard to beat a picture. :)
hmmmm -- maybe it was the patrol's bc map that was at issue? I remember reading about how someone wanted to put a password on a page or something ... maybe on the alpental geek squad website? can't recall and it doesn't really matter ...
Mark, thanks for the offer. Not essential, since it sounds like it may affect only a small percentage of the small percentage using Macs, but if you have time, I'd be interested to know the results...
I had no idea that alpental.com was Danny. I skied with him about a year and a half ago when he surpassed the known WA consecutive months record (106 at that time). Quite a coup to get that domain name! I'll have to write to him.
I had no idea that alpental.com was Danny. I skied with him about a year and a half ago when he surpassed the known WA consecutive months record (106 at that time). Quite a coup to get that domain name! I'll have to write to him.
I too have heard it called by both "The Phantom" and "Big Bertha" although I've always refered to it as The Phantom. Bill F, Jimmy O' and I skied it a couple years ago after coming out from a climb/ski of "The Slot Couloir" also known as "Enigma Gully" on the north side of Mt. Snoqualmie.
Speaking of which, I think "The Slot/Enigma" should be coming in to shape here pretty soon, if not already... ;D
Speaking of which, I think "The Slot/Enigma" should be coming in to shape here pretty soon, if not already... ;D
Corey,
Sure enough 8)...Sunday was the 7th. Not sure what I was thinking. I must have fat fingered the 6 instead of the 7. Anyway, it was good to put faces with names. See you out there!
Sure enough 8)...Sunday was the 7th. Not sure what I was thinking. I must have fat fingered the 6 instead of the 7. Anyway, it was good to put faces with names. See you out there!
That slide path could very well be called "Phantom" ; "Big Bertha" was the unofficial? name for it that I first heard from some guy on the Alpental ski patrol, as we were discussing that slide path while viewing it from the Armstrong Express lift a few years ago.
Nice TR and photo (nice old-growth tree skiing shot!). I have one question: the avalanche path you refer to as Big Bertha, is that the big one with the cliff band in the middle? If it's the one I'm thinking of (it has to be, right?) I thought it was called Phantom (or Phantom slide path or some variation), or at least that's what I've heard it referred to around here. Not to say something can't have two names, I'm just always really interested to hear about the names of t...
I hope I'm not revealing any *secret* information, but as I understand it, alpental.com was put together by year-round skier (and longtime Alpental regular) Danny Miller. I think he just jumped on the name before Alpental thought to get it for themselves.
As far as the patrol being mad at alpental.com they have their own map of the BC available on their website, it's a more of a drawing than photos, but still certainly quite useful.
http://www.avsp.org/BC_Map.html...
As far as the patrol being mad at alpental.com they have their own map of the BC available on their website, it's a more of a drawing than photos, but still certainly quite useful.
http://www.avsp.org/BC_Map.html...
At least MY skin bag didn't blow off Mt. St. Helen's like someone else's I know. I just put it somewhere where I wouldn't forget where it was. You know how those senior moments are. ;D ;D Thanks for keeping an eye out for it Darryl. 8) Yeah, all Jerry has to do is get that flip going a little faster, and he'll be sticking that landing no problem!!
I dunno, Darryl.
Every time I looked up your skiing looked pretty good to me.
It did get kinda old hearing about that skin bag, tho, didn't it ;)
Every time I looked up your skiing looked pretty good to me.
It did get kinda old hearing about that skin bag, tho, didn't it ;)
Hank,
I doubt you're the target of Alpental patrol's ire (but they can speak for themselves) as the aware and cautious, like I presume you are, are not going into the BC without shovels, beacon probe etc and know-how. I think the patrol has legitamate concerns because they invariably are the ones who have to clean up the "mess" when dingbats make mistakes. (ah, but if we let the cops make all the rules...)
About the web site - buyer beware, but an educated population...
I doubt you're the target of Alpental patrol's ire (but they can speak for themselves) as the aware and cautious, like I presume you are, are not going into the BC without shovels, beacon probe etc and know-how. I think the patrol has legitamate concerns because they invariably are the ones who have to clean up the "mess" when dingbats make mistakes. (ah, but if we let the cops make all the rules...)
About the web site - buyer beware, but an educated population...
Gregg neglected to mention that the steep, bad visibility entry from the summit of Mt. Anne was also wind-scoured to bulletproof raincrust. Coincidentally, I just happened to have stopped a hundred feet below to adjust my bindings; I don't recollect what Jim's excuse was.
This is the second time I've returned from that tour after dark in December. Last time, however, there was no boot to knee-deep powder involved, and no climbing back up for second helpings.
This is the second time I've returned from that tour after dark in December. Last time, however, there was no boot to knee-deep powder involved, and no climbing back up for second helpings.
Great skiing and pictures from Jerry, Ron and Steffan. I didn't fall on any of my runs. I did have to abruptly interrupt serveral of my runs to dig in the snow looking for the skins bag that Jeanette lost. I didn't find it. I'm open to tips for weighting the rear ski and keeping my weight down hill.
Ha! I think I've also been had by the drop-off that claimed you...
Where was this crust that you speek of? I noticed nothing ;D ;) That realy was a good time.Thanks for the info Robie. And you know Jerry is quite the freestyler, while falling down was the theme of the day. Jerrys tricks had the most style and precision. I don't think any of us besides MAD-DOG made a sinle run without falling.thank goodness for soft snow.
Charles, the links work for my Mac (10.2.8, Safari). If it'd help, I'll fire up my backup (9.x, IE) and give it a try. I'm mainly just hanging around trying not to accomplish anything worthy, so let me know.
MW88888888, I am on a Mac, but since I'm using IE and the pages were made with Microsoft FrontPage (according to the page source), you'd think that shouldn't be a problem. When I got to the maps by looking up the file names from the pages sources and typing them in manually, I found that the links there did work for me. I can imagine that the ski area is not too thrilled about the site, but at least the entrance page to the maps section starts out with a BIG disclaimer and warning (the file for...
Isn't alpental.com the subject of some controversy? I think the Alpe. patrol is not happy with it since its descriptions and directions makes the backcountry seem too friendly to novices and fools. Being one of the later I'm headed up there right now ...
That's the difference between being a lightweight and a heavyweight--one finds wonderful powder everywhere, the other finds whatever breakable crust that exists! ;D ;D
Charles - weird. The history links are just text when I view them (the links work fine), but the real thrill are the maps - these take a few secs to open up through the "virtual tour" link, but even on my home dial up they aren't too slow. Working with the usual Microsoft suite, maybe it's your software to view this site that's messing things up?
Sounds like an exemplary ski day, Lady!
Thanks for the great report! :)
Thanks for the great report! :)
I had never heard about alpental.com before. When I go to the site, the pages behave really strangely. There appear to be links on the front page (History of Snoqualmie Pass, Virtual Mountain Tour, etc), but they are not really links for me - there's nothing to click. I looked at the page source to see what files the links point to, and I can view those pages by typing in their addresses, but then the links on those pages aren't really links either. Does this happen for anyone else? The site loo...
Nice, Ron! A good "mood" shot that really conveys the feeling of bc skiing, even if there wasn't much "fluff".
Thank you, Mad_Dog and snoslut, your info has been very helpful. I haven't quite figured out what to start copying yet (so far the only document I have to copy is the original ticket), but I'm sure I will do so along the way. I talked to my auto insurance agent today, and got some reassuring news. Since I'm a "preferred" client, having been with them...
Thank you, Mad_Dog and snoslut, your info has been very helpful. I haven't quite figured out what to start copying yet (so far the only document I have to copy is the original ticket), but I'm sure I will do so along the way. I talked to my auto insurance agent today, and got some reassuring news. Since I'm a "preferred" client, having been with them...
yeah, it was a great day up there...Alpy is always a good time before the lifts start up and the crowds arrive (although the ski patrol had the edelweiss chair running sunday afternoon and were taking the easy way up).
It was a kick running into so many folks I had read trip reports from but never met in person.
International was about as good as it gets...I shoulda spent the day studying, but I'm sure glad I got out.
It was a kick running into so many folks I had read trip reports from but never met in person.
International was about as good as it gets...I shoulda spent the day studying, but I'm sure glad I got out.
Thanks for the kind words and recognition, Silas. :)
congrats Ron, you made us locals proud with your photo on telemark tips today! 8)
Yeh, thanks Robie for the info and photo compliment. Good shots Ron,Stefan. thanks for putting them up Ron.
Robie's "beta" from his Saturday tour gave us better insights as to where to go for the goods on Sunday. Thanks Robie.
While we didn't get great photo light until late in the day, there's a bunch of additional photos from this tour at:
http://groups.msn.com/WildHeartsSkiing/paradise12703.msnw
While we didn't get great photo light until late in the day, there's a bunch of additional photos from this tour at:
http://groups.msn.com/WildHeartsSkiing/paradise12703.msnw
Nice shots JW as always. Wish I coulda been there, looks like much better conditions than Sat.