TR Replies
Good snow found in sheltered terrain below 5000' in Commonwealth Basin today. There is some sun effect on due S open glades, but only where steep and completely unshaded. Poking into more easterly terrain yielded better snow at the end of the day.
Cool trip! I realize they are out of vogue now, but it seems like an old-school white gas stove might have some advantages for this kind of trip. Would you consider a different stove if you had to do it over, or would you just pack more canisters?
Wow a cool plan but foiled by equipment failure.
Out of curiosity - how did you get to Crystal Lakes now that uphilling in Silver Basin is not allowed?
Out of curiosity - how did you get to Crystal Lakes now that uphilling in Silver Basin is not allowed?
I'm impressed !
Bummer about the cold meals. And no coffee!
Remind me to buy you a cup when we meet.
Bummer about the cold meals. And no coffee!
Remind me to buy you a cup when we meet.
Great summary of conditions and your groups thought process in planning for the day. Thanks for sharing!
Tabski: Thanks so much for the insight into your thinking and the evolution of your plans. I think this kind of discussion among the TAY readership is very valuable for those of us with less accomplishment and knowledge.
Well played, and thanks for sharing!
Pits are only as valid as the conditions they represent and therefore one would ideally dig a pit at least as deep as any known weak layers on all aspects you plan to travel or ski in. With storm snow related weaknesses, hasty pits serve this purpose well.
We noted (today Jan 3) significant wind slab on exposed N-ish slopes above tree line, YMMV
author=Marcus link=topic=37458.msg151889#msg151889 date=1483486769]
So true. My wife described to me the decision making that she and her crew went through on Sunday, touring up to Bryant Col. A track was in, but they just didn't like the feel of the terrain, so they pulled the plugged, bailed around Pineapple and continued on the circumnav, adding a good chunk of climbing and distance to the tour. I was pretty impressed to hear it and I always wonder...
author=cumulus link=topic=37458.msg151872#msg151872 date=1483476240]I will also add: A skin track does not equate safety.
So true. My wife described to me the decision making that she and her crew went through on Sunday, touring up to Bryant Col. A track was in, but they just didn't like the feel of the terrain, so they pulled the plugged, bailed around Pineapple and continued on the circumnav, adding a good chunk of climbin...
Wow, thanks for this report! I've always wondered about these hills when I pass by them in the summer time.
In the winter time, I've seen them several times while flying directly over them, and they always look like the coverage is decent, but wind effected.
Have fun and be safe up there!
In the winter time, I've seen them several times while flying directly over them, and they always look like the coverage is decent, but wind effected.
Have fun and be safe up there!
Nice photo - reminds me of some of my favorite moments on winter tours, arriving in high forests and onto sub-alpine ridges while the snow still clings to the trees.
Also curious, when snow is so localized like it was based on wind transport, how good is pit digging really? Wouldn't it just skew your perception if you're skiing all different aspects?
This is a bit scary to read. Sounds like a good idea we backed out. http://www.nwac.us/observations/pk/560/
Very nice. We actually backed out of this tour on our drive up just because of all the changing aspects and uncertainty of stability in the Bryant Couloir.
We did have an excellent day out the commonwealth basin though. Wind loading in areas was very localized and sketchy on some aspects. It was changing the whole way up and down during out tour. We avoid areas with heavy wind loading as much as possible.
https://flic.kr/s/aHskRVKPQc
https://vimeo.com/197879053
We did have an excellent day out the commonwealth basin though. Wind loading in areas was very localized and sketchy on some aspects. It was changing the whole way up and down during out tour. We avoid areas with heavy wind loading as much as possible.
https://flic.kr/s/aHskRVKPQc
https://vimeo.com/197879053
It sounds like Charlie revised his earlier answer to include most of the ridge... I agree.
Trap is a good term for it. We can easily be lulled by the relative safety and goodness of the Kendall glades. But lurking right above that is the Kendall ridge-line, both steeper and more convoluted (attractive!) in terms of terrain and subject to much more radical weather events, i.e. the formation of slicker running surfaces paired with exponential wind loading. Much like Charlie described.
Trap is a good term for it. We can easily be lulled by the relative safety and goodness of the Kendall glades. But lurking right above that is the Kendall ridge-line, both steeper and more convoluted (attractive!) in terms of terrain and subject to much more radical weather events, i.e. the formation of slicker running surfaces paired with exponential wind loading. Much like Charlie described.
I think it's very important for folks to know where Monty was found, well into one of those upper tree bands. Whether he was skinning up above or the slide hit him while he was in the trees, we'll never know, but the Kendall terrain can push slides well into "protected" terrain that people use to skin up the slopes.
I felt echoes of that same feeling of safety in Bullion last week, touring through the thick trees where, 9 years ago,
I felt echoes of that same feeling of safety in Bullion last week, touring through the thick trees where, 9 years ago,
Regarding the trees on the upper west slopes of Kendall: they may offer less protection than one might expect. Many of them are flagged from slide activity. The trees may offer some protection, but they also amplify the consequence of any slide that manages to reach a skier.
My perspective on the slide-resistance of the Kendall Trees as a storm-skiing venue in general changed substantially when I learned that the "main slide path" was formed in the mid-nineties. Most of us a...
My perspective on the slide-resistance of the Kendall Trees as a storm-skiing venue in general changed substantially when I learned that the "main slide path" was formed in the mid-nineties. Most of us a...
+1 on the longer form bit. Would also love to see a diagram/map along with it, as I'm not very familiar with that area.
Natefred's got it -- the nature of Kendall's terrain is that protected terrain moves smoothly to wind-affected and more-alpine terrain.
On Kendall, it is easy to convince yourself of snow quality and stability in one spot and use that information to justify moving into more-aggressive terrain without noting that snowpack is subject to completely different influences, especially wind and wind-loading. The distance over which the snowpack can make a profound change can be as...
On Kendall, it is easy to convince yourself of snow quality and stability in one spot and use that information to justify moving into more-aggressive terrain without noting that snowpack is subject to completely different influences, especially wind and wind-loading. The distance over which the snowpack can make a profound change can be as...
Gotcha, we never go over there, that part scares me.
I think he meant as things get tracked the action gradually shifts skier's right into and below more hazardous terrain.
to each their own i suppose. my buddy was saying how much he appreciated someone finally setting a decent skin track through there. although the switchbacks weren't slick on NYE which probably made it easier.
great shredding regardless.
happy new year powder posse!
-mc
great shredding regardless.
happy new year powder posse!
-mc
Kendall trap being the thin stand of trees lookers right of the open slope below Kendall where Monty was found? I can't tell you how many times I've been up in those and figured it was fairly safe. Granted we are usually first up there so nobody is above but still, it shows how slides can happen down to the top part of those trees.
Yes!! My skin track survives!!! Our crowning achievement for the year.
author=silaswild link=topic=37460.msg151828#msg151828 date=1483403249]
The skin track up phantom trees had more kick turns than I've ever seen before, and I was too lazy to set an easier one.
That sums it up well--going on a month now.
Can't complain about December's storms... but what we need apparently is a *really* big snowstorm for the re-set.
Breaking would be a joy.
Was twenty your entourage? I'll bet the skiing was good! We were in the storm cycle all day, snowed close to a foot of cold smoke, and you could see the sun shining through in places.
Suffice it to say no amount of strikes was gonna do anything to that snow pack.
When did your column tests fail? WWE? After the 30 total hits? (is this a wrestling joke that I don't get?)
Did you do an ECT?
If I understood those above details, it would be good info ... otherwise I am confused ...
thanks for the post ...
Did you do an ECT?
If I understood those above details, it would be good info ... otherwise I am confused ...
thanks for the post ...
To add to Charlie's TR:
We don't go to Stevens too often, in large part because of evening traffic. We got a lazier start than usual (leaving Seattle at 7 a.m.), and the traffic in the morning on the way *to* Stevens was mind-boggling. The stop-and-go traffic started right out of Monroe. After a 20-minute stop in Monroe, it took us about 2.5 hours to get from Monroe to the Smith Brook TH. The whole experience had me vowing to never be lazy ag...
We don't go to Stevens too often, in large part because of evening traffic. We got a lazier start than usual (leaving Seattle at 7 a.m.), and the traffic in the morning on the way *to* Stevens was mind-boggling. The stop-and-go traffic started right out of Monroe. After a 20-minute stop in Monroe, it took us about 2.5 hours to get from Monroe to the Smith Brook TH. The whole experience had me vowing to never be lazy ag...
I never could figure-out why Stevens migrated to Yodelin after the summit lots filed. Seems to me it would make more sense to start parking folks at the Nordic Center to give yourself more time to get the shuttles ready and then by the time you have folks parking in Yodelin you're mostly done shuttling folks all the way up from the bottom of Mill Valley and you only need to run a few more trips to Yodelin.
Then again, there are lots of things that don't make sense up there....
Then again, there are lots of things that don't make sense up there....
Beautiful. We skied that zone the day before in similar bluebird conditions. Felt like an early Christmas present.
I'm curious about the aspect of the slope you triggered the small slide on? We couldn't get slabs to move cutting steeper test slopes, but still didn't put too much trust in that layer. We noticed a sizable skier triggered slide in the blueberry chutes on our way out.
I'm curious about the aspect of the slope you triggered the small slide on? We couldn't get slabs to move cutting steeper test slopes, but still didn't put too much trust in that layer. We noticed a sizable skier triggered slide in the blueberry chutes on our way out.
Thanks for the stoke Disco Stew! I couldn't get enough...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_sY2rjxq6M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_sY2rjxq6M
East-NE slope. We climbed the north ridge, which was wind-scoured with lots of exposed rock up high, the west face also had lots of exposed rock, the East face appeared to be filled in, hopefully it will be in better shape soon.
Quickly, Great report, Silas. Merry Christmas:-)
Good times out there.
I was with a group who skied ridge runs in Silver Basin (away from the now permanently closed to touring area). We found building wind slabs (4-12") at ridge top which became sensitive as the day progressed. Overall good quality powder when not wind-affected.
I was with a group who skied ridge runs in Silver Basin (away from the now permanently closed to touring area). We found building wind slabs (4-12") at ridge top which became sensitive as the day progressed. Overall good quality powder when not wind-affected.