Colorado: Buffalo Mountain - Silver Couloir Beta

[Danno]

3000' seems pretty generous. Couloir tops at 12500 and the creek below it is 10k, and you don't ski to the creek.

Buffalo is 12,777 and you climb to the top to hit the Silver. The trailhead is at 9,774 from what I see, and the climb out sure seems like it is more up than down. So I don't think 3000 is generous. This agrees. :shrug:

[RonMexico]

I've been hoping that the big wind event we had a few weeks ago in addition new snow would stabilize things.

If you haven't taken an avy 1 class, you need to. If you have taken avy 1, you need to take it again and actually pay attention this time. Wind event + new snow = decreased avalanche risk? You seriously need to study or take some classes before heading out into bigger lines like this.

Also, booting up the couloir in January after just mentioning a wind event and new snow? Why would you actually consider leaving yourself exposed to slide risk for hours when there's a perfectly safe skin track up the other side of the mountain?

Am I being trolled?

[Soups]

Am I being trolled?

I feel like there is so much trolling going on in here I am confused myself

[skiracer88_00]

yeah, this thread is ridiculous

[brutah]

Buffalo is 12,777 and you climb to the top to hit the Silver. The trailhead is at 9,774 from what I see, and the climb out sure seems like it is more up than down. So I don't think 3000 is generous. This agrees. :shrug:

I won't argue with ya as it doesn't really matter that much and its close enough. I think that powder project is total vert though including the hike out after the ski.

[mcf735]

If you haven't taken an avy 1 class, you need to. If you have taken avy 1, you need to take it again and actually pay attention this time. Wind event + new snow = decreased avalanche risk? You seriously need to study or take some classes before heading out into bigger lines like this.

Also, booting up the couloir in January after just mentioning a wind event and new snow? Why would you actually consider leaving yourself exposed to slide risk for hours when there's a perfectly safe skin track up the other side of the mountain?

Am I being trolled?

Sorry should have been more clear. The "wind event" we had was pretty crazy...in some places blew off all the snow down to bare ground. I'm sure this made for more troublesome conditions on certain aspects but in many places this actually reduced the avy danger considerably because the pwl was destroyed. That's what I was referring to and why I'm seeking out more info on this line in particular.

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[RonMexico]

Sorry should have been more clear. The "wind event" we had was pretty crazy...in some places blew off all the snow down to bare ground. I'm sure this made for more troublesome conditions on certain aspects but in many places this actually reduced the avy danger considerably because the pwl was destroyed. That's what I was referring to and why I'm seeking out more info on this line in particular.

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Fair enough, but in a classic couloir like Silver any wind is going to create loading (except for maybe a straight NE wind which we rarely get). Sure you could ski the far edge where maybe the cover is really thin and there's not a persistent slab, but the majority of the line is going to be loaded and you'll at least have to go across/under that at some point.

This is where the feedback loop with backcountry skiing is so troublesome. Could you ski it? Yes. Would you probably make it out without triggering a slide? Yes. Would you be making a 'good' decision to do it though? Probably not.

Wait until the snowpack become more consolidated. There's plenty of other fun lines around (even within 30 minutes of Silver) that are way less dangerous mid-winter. Plenty of guidebooks and websites to at least generally point you in their direction.

[mcf735]

Fair enough, but in a classic couloir like Silver any wind is going to create loading (except for maybe a straight NE wind which we rarely get). Sure you could ski the far edge where maybe the cover is really thin and there's not a persistent slab, but the majority of the line is going to be loaded and you'll at least have to go across/under that at some point.

This is where the feedback loop with backcountry skiing is so troublesome. Could you ski it? Yes. Would you probably make it out without triggering a slide? Yes. Would you be making a 'good' decision to do it though? Probably not.

Wait until the snowpack become more consolidated. There's plenty of other fun lines around (even within 30 minutes of Silver) that are way less dangerous mid-winter. Plenty of guidebooks and websites to at least generally point you in their direction.

Good call...will be saving this one for spring....and I appreciate your candid response!

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[I've seen black diamonds!]

Good call...will be saving this one for spring....and I appreciate your candid response!

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I appreciate that you're listening and not getting defensive in the face of criticism. I'll go for a tour with you if you can do a weekday.

[fastfred]

I was thinking about a recon tomorrow morning I'll be at the trailhead ready to roll at 5:45 be there ready not dicking around stuffing your pack at 545
just ask to make sure its me
"say, man. you got a joint?"

[MakersTeleMark]

Big Bad Wolf is ready for the howling.

[mcf735]

I was thinking about a recon tomorrow morning I'll be at the trailhead ready to roll at 5:45 be there ready not dicking around stuffing your pack at 545
just ask to make sure its me
"say, man. you got a joint?"

Hey man thanks for the invite but I decided to ski elsewhere today instead. Interested to hear what you learn!!

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[mcf735]

I appreciate that you're listening and not getting defensive in the face of criticism. I'll go for a tour with you if you can do a weekday.

Hey I'm just one dude and I'm new to the region so just looking to learn from others and meet people who want to ski would definitely like to tour together if I can swing a weekday. I'll PM ya.

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[turbomike15]

I was thinking about a recon tomorrow morning I'll be at the trailhead ready to roll at 5:45 be there ready not dicking around stuffing your pack at 545
just ask to make sure its me
"say, man. you got a joint?"

fastfred what's the beta on silver? gtg?

[MakersTeleMark]

fastfred what's the beta on silver? gtg?

Do you mind if I give you the biggest dopeslap in the world?