Back online...

Between going to Vermont and the computer crashing, I've been suffering some major internet withdrawals. But I just got a new (refurbished) Dell up and running. Makes me think about getting back into computer work...

Gawd, I got schooled on the east coast. Woods, woods, and more woods. My brain isn't fast enough. I'm trying to ski more trees here, but it just ain't the same.

All is well, except that we have no snow and there's none coming. :( I'm going to drive one of the trucks in the Ullr parade at Breck this Thursday. A bunch of white rabbits, doing what rabbits do. ;) Hopefully it will be pleasing to Ullr and the whiteness will proliferate. If anybody wants to meet up for drinks afterwards, let's do it... Drinks, I mean.

I'm in the middle of the level 2 avy class. Really amazing and so much meatier than level 1, which I had already learned pretty much on my own. Dale Atkins (CAIC) gave an awesome presentation that included some interesting new work out of SLC. A "lemon" system for determining snowpack stability.

Doing a ton of beacon searches too. I'm really fast now, but I have a bad habit of keeping my eyes on my readout rather than doing a good job scoping out the snow surface as I go. I could step right on top of a hand sticking out of the ground. :rolleyes:

Hope everybody else is skiing sweet powder. I'm still getting untracked turns, but the sun is working the snow and it's getting a little strange. Alternating between AT and racing boots makes it even stranger.

I went for a solo run on Loveland Pass the other day. Sunrise with the full moon over the horizon and the mountains pink all around me. Wonderful.

Great to see you back online Mir! Let's hook up for some turns soon. Lot's of catching up needed to be done. Tell Duph to send me an email sometime.

Sunrise over the turquoise mountains
Messenger birds in sight
....
taboot taboot ;)

Good to see you back, girl.

Which reminds me... I need some waiver forms from you!!!

driving a truck for who in the parade?

Thanks for the welcome, guys. It's good to have the support system back in place, especially with the grim conditions. I feel so guilty for enjoying the sunshine and warm temps.

Dave, I'm guessing Duph will see this tonight. But I'll let him know. Definitely ready to ski and catch up on everything. But my level two class runs both days this coming weekend, so it'll have to be a weekday or later on.

Uber, I'll try to get the printer hooked up next. Print out, sign, and then what? Mail to you?

mr_gyptian, It'll be for Tonti. Look for the rabbits in the back. It should be freaking hilarious.

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Originally posted by SheRa
doing what rabbits do. ;)

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Making babies in a truck while in a parade, have fun.:p

Edit: OOPS! Never mind...

Thanks, SheRa!

Welcome back! Wishing you lots of snow very soon.
Sprite

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Originally posted by snowsprite
Welcome back! Wishing you lots of snow very soon.
Sprite

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Thanks, sprite. We need it. I sure picked my year to take off and ski. :rolleyes: It's not really that bad I guess, but I'm having to travel and scramble when I wanted to ski out my front door.

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Originally posted by Billow
Making babies in a truck while in a parade, have fun.:p

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Billow! We could maybe scrounge up another rabbit suit. Join the fun and get us some snow. :D

Where are you? How is your knee? I'm so sorry I missed you at MRG. Send an email, or better yet, give us a call...

edit - I'm heading over to Loveland now. If anybody wants to make some turns, I'll be on chair one by 2:45. Navy blue TGR hoodie and blue boeri helmet (with stickers). cya

I might bother to get up and be in the Ullr Parade since *someone* signed up SCWRT.

Dale Atkins rules, but the lemons presentation is much better when Ian McCammon gives it.... then again... everything is better if Ian is the presenter. Did you get the whole lecture on Strenght/Strain, Structure, Energy as a whole system or was the lemons method just on its own? You can read detailed papers on Ian's site, www.snopit.com

Did they show you the max runout avvy calculations /w topo maps and those little paper rulers they hadned out?

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Originally posted by SummitCo 1776
I might bother to get up and be in the Ullr Parade since *someone* signed up SCWRT.

Dale Atkins rules, but the lemons presentation is much better when Ian McCammon gives it.... then again... everything is better if Ian is the presenter. Did you get the whole lecture on Strenght/Strain, Structure, Energy as a whole system or was the lemons method just on its own? You can read detailed papers on Ian's site, www.snopit.com

Did they show you the max runout avvy calculations /w topo maps and those little paper rulers they hadned out?

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Unfortunately I did not get the whole lecture. Or any paper rulers. Dale mostly talked about snow metamorphosis, which was very good. Thanks for the link - I'll have a look asap.

What is SCWRT?

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Originally posted by SheRa
I'm so sorry I missed you at MRG.

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So what'd you think of that scene? Where else did you ski?

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Originally posted by Aldo
So what'd you think of that scene? Where else did you ski?

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I skied/hiked at Smuggs and Mt Mansfield (a place called teardrop) and at MRG. I got led around by locals and shown the very best of the woods. But it was pretty tight for me, especially at Smuggs. I think I'd have to live there to really charge it. I have an even greater respect for east coast skiers. I think the woods are very beautiful. The single chair is tres cool. MRG is a special place, the people and the children's program, the coop idea, the list goes on. I was treated to lift tickets and a tour by a very special and well known MRG personality (green plaid pants - say no more). Really wonderful. Kinda reminds me of Loveland as far as being a local family mountain with multiple generations skiing together.

edit - the single chair beer is tasty too

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Originally posted by SheRa
Unfortunately I did not get the whole lecture. Or any paper rulers. Dale mostly talked about snow metamorphosis, which was very good. Thanks for the link - I'll have a look asap.

What is SCWRT?

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[B]CORRECTED LINK[B]
www.snowpit.com

It's too bad you didn't get the whole lecture... did they talk about quality factors as a function of available energy to propogate fractures at least?

Meet anyone else from CAIC? I think its cool when I read the CAIC reports and know who wrote them.

SCWRT is the dive rescue team.

When are you headed to Silverton?

Who did you take the L2 through?

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Originally posted by SummitCo 1776
It's too bad you didn't get the whole lecture... did they talk about quality factors as a function of available energy to propogate fractures at least?

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Nope, but tonight I got a copy of the original paper that has the data for the lemon system. Still need to look it over, but we did us it to help us assess snowpack in a scenario we looked at.

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Originally posted by SummitCo 1776
Meet anyone else from CAIC? I think its cool when I read the CAIC reports and know who wrote them.

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Yeah, I didn't really meet Dale - just listened to his talk. I was too beat by the time class was over so I didn't hang around to chat. I count Halsted Morris as a buddy though. Loveland and CAIC have a long running, actually incestuous relationship, IMO, so I figure I'll meet everybody sooner or later.

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Originally posted by powstash
When are you headed to Silverton?

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Um, I'm not really sure yet. I earned a day bootpacking, but can't use it until April. I'll definitely be down there before that...

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Originally posted by Mountain Junkie
Who did you take the L2 through?

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Through Loveland patrol. The price was right and we're required to have it. There's a shitload of slidey spots inbounds there. Plus the possiblity of rescue work over on the pass. We are spending a lot of time learning how to run a rescue operation. The downside of that is not focusing as much on issues more relevant to bc skiing, which I'm obviously interested in. And I'm in there with a bunch of patrollers, my friends of course, that are not really interested in the backcountry. There's one liftie that I worked with on the hill last weekend and he's got the right frame of mind - I'll prolly get out of bounds with him at some point. Oh, and STD (from Berthoud) is in the class, which is pretty cool.

Did you see Rudy the dog at Loveland today?`

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Originally posted by SheRa I count Halsted Morris as a buddy though. Loveland and CAIC have a long running, actually incestuous relationship, IMO, so I figure I'll meet everybody sooner or later. [/B]

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Ah gee, your going to make me blush:rolleyes: And gee, you spelled my name right, too.... :D

"..incestuous relationship..."? What???

Hey, we all had to start our avalanche carrers somewhere. Loveland has a lot of avalanche terrain. And everyone starts somewhere.... I'm just glad I survived to this point.

You asked on Sunday night, how we (IE: avalanche pros) look at snow and know so much about what's going on. Well, it takes years and year of in the field "study" (yea, about a 1,000+ snowpits later). BUT.....

Here is a book you should check out ( or buy. Actually, buy it you'll look at it a lot, in the future) that gives a lot of information about looking at snow, and understanding what's going on with the snowpack. Read it several times, and you'll be well ahead of the game.

SECRETS of the SNOW: Visual Clues to Avalanche and Ski Conditions. By: Edward R. LaChapelle. From University of Washington. Published & PressCopyright 2001

Cheers,
Halsted "Hacksaw" Morris
:cool:

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Originally posted by Hacksaw

"..incestuous relationship..."? What???

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You've got to admit than when EJ comes around things get a little kinky. ;) :D It was so good to see him again - I just followed him around like a puppy last weekend. It was great to see you too.

Thanks for the book recommendation. I'll check it out. I just borrowed a copy of Snowy Torrents -1979. When I took OEC, I wanted to read about as many real life injuries as I could, just to get some kind of grounding. Hoping for the same by reading some avalanche history.