Wasatch Conditions 09-10

2 separate slides:
NW aspect of Alexander one caught, party of 3, 3rd one down got caught when the slope broke above him. He yelled for his partners to get out of the way. He got hung up in the trees and sustained multiple lower leg injuries. Victim and partners are friends with Bruce Tremper and been skiing in the Wasatch forever. Debris pile was ~30 feet deep. Partners said if he had been buried he wouldn't have survived. Deep slab that broke in the old snow.

2nd slide on Gobblers, one caught with shoulder injuries, self evacuated.

Skied Silver/Days. Nothing exciting noted - just some great turns on knee deep powder - Pit on 30 degree slope/ west-northwest Days failed at the old snow/new snow interface @ CT27.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Boissal

I was skiing down Millcreek with the dogs and almost got killed by a snowmobile carrying what looked like patrollers. Ran into 2 more on the way, raging up the canyon. Two helis were circling the upper canyon. Got to the parking lot to find the sheriff blocking the road and not answering any questions and 5 TV cameras lined up. I talked to a guy from ABC who didn't know much but had heard about a slide in Alexander and possible injury/burial. He wanted to interview me about the current avi conditions, I declined, packed the dogs and left. Vibes to all involved, hopefully it's not more than a broken bones and the vultures won't get to rant about irresponsible backcountry skiers putting themselves in harm's way.

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http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=9609713

That you in the blue coat and three dogs about half way through the clip?

Compound fractures... Ouch.

Still lots of scary stuff going on.

I'm sticking with the 40mm skinny sticks, fruit boots, and long carbon poles for the time being. Seems I have lost all my risk tolerance with this winter.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery to those involved in the recent slides.

^^ hard to call on seriousness, but didn't you sketch down the phife couloir semi recently?

i obviously hate to see accidents like this, and checking the avi report recently, may have gotten a bit more brazen myself if i was still there,

it also validates in a way the uncertainty of the snowpack, glad to hear you are getting good workouts in and skiing..

i was not psyched in a way my last 10 days out there, felt like a trapped animal, but getting older, kept myself caged. i have less tolerance as well these days

sorry we did not meet up, in town next month, trundling through the p-keg, drinking, being social, skiing, etc..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by byates1

^^ hard to call on seriousness, but didn't you sketch down the phife couloir semi recently?

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That kind of stuff you have some control over risk, but these conditions seem pretty random. Years past I would have shrugged it off, but I know too many people that are smart, cautious, and still going for rides.

I'm staying away for the time being, both in part to lack of interest in the meadows, and the current twitch to get in nordic shape for a Uinta traverse this spring.

There's an update on T-tips about the Gobbler's slide. Glad you're ok Bob.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TeleThor

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=9609713

That you in the blue coat and three dogs about half way through the clip?

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Haha, good to see boissal reppin' the tips forward carry with the pack of labs. BTW, that yellow lab puppy needs a good home.....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Trackhead

That kind of stuff you have some control over risk, but these conditions seem pretty random. Years past I would have shrugged it off, but I know too many people that are smart, cautious, and still going for rides.

I'm staying away for the time being, both in part to lack of interest in the meadows, and the current twitch to get in nordic shape for a Uinta traverse this spring.

There's an update on T-tips about the Gobbler's slide. Glad you're ok Bob.

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I pretty much said what you said word for word to a mutual buddy of ours tonight. Well, minus the part about the nordic skiing, and Uinta traverses.

Best wishes to the injured. Heal up quick, and glad everyone is OK.

Positive healing vibes sent to the wizzard and skier with multiple compound leg fractures from Alexander Basin Wilson slide.
Yo Th my crew ran into a nordi on top of SF Eastbowl last week Dat U?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skifishbum

Positive healing vibes sent to the wizzard and skier with multiple compound leg fractures from Alexander Basin Wilson slide.
Yo Th my crew ran into a nordi on top of SF Eastbowl last week Dat U?

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No. But if this high pressure/temp gradient continues, there might be some good crust action in the Uintas next week.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TeleThor

That you in the blue coat and three dogs about half way through the clip?

Compound fractures... Ouch.

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It was. Glad to hear everyone is (somewhat) OK, based on the amount of chaos going on during the rescue I was fearing the worst.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Boissal

I was skiing down Millcreek with the dogs and almost got killed by a snowmobile carrying what looked like patrollers.

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Just to clarify things since this post makes it sound like I'm bitching about the 'trollers going up the canyon on snowmobiles.

I heard them coming and got out of the way along with a couple of the dogs I was skiing with. The puppy was on his first day out and kinda froze there being curious, I think the driver thought he'd get out the way and didn't stir or slow down much. The pups finally jumped away and came within maybe a foot of the sled, I thought she was toast for a second since things were moving really fast. No harm done however, she'll know better next time and maybe will start listening when I call her... She got away from the 3rd sled pretty fast.

As always many thanks and props to the people involved in the rescue, it must be hairy for them to go up that canyon under serious time constraints when it's packed full of people falling all over themselves and dogs running every which way.
Thanks to sfotex for following up and apologies if I made you guys look bad, it was not my intention.

Another day in the sheeps pen
headed up fantasy
Skied Davenport for the umpteenth time
and up the trade route to check on some sharks
Mandatory big air into a suspect snow pack probably not wise
rapped in
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y19...bum/sfb324.jpg
a few sharkheads poking through left some ptex but never been disapointed here
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y19...bum/sfb325.jpg

Somebody yesterday was pretty blessed to ski out of this
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y19...bum/sfb327.jpg
Headed back up past a cool old guy
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y19...bum/sfb328.jpg
To end with the smokem if ya got em B&H Coli
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y19...bum/sfb331.jpg
Good stablity in all pits will try and do a full tr with stoke and pit data

Stay safe Dibs, that looks on the steep side. I know you said the pits were good but they aren't calming my nerves right now.

Is that a fixed line?

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y19...bum/sfb324.jpg

Another trip down south to see what a real winter looks like.
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/h...8/P2080014.jpg

Dug some pits on east aspect at 10k. First one, 6 feet deep, failed to ground on isolation. Next one went through full CT with no failures. Weird. With our nerves being so shot from the Wasatch we opted out of the big lines we planned on.

However we found this path already slid so we indulged.
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/h...8/P2080019.jpg

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/h...228/zshred.jpg

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh71/mdh_228/z.jpg

The scenery alone is worth the trip. Stunning.
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/h...8/P2080020.jpg

The Mexican food alone is also worth the trip. Stunning.
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/h...8/P2080022.jpg

Havent been on here in a while and my old username somehow got disabled. Anyway another great day in the Wasatch to get after it with the blue skys. My buddy Liam and I started at the Pole Line Trail where we found mild temps and no wind to speak of at all, even on the higher ridgelines. The plan was to go and ski of the back of black knob into Cadriff since it was skiing so well Sunday.
http://www.tgrmedia.com/i.ashx?w=400...ap_730X550.jpg


Dident see any lines up of the top of Cardiac bowl from the top of superior so we altered our plans...Liam startin up the booter...

http://www.tgrmedia.com/i.ashx?w=400...ap_730X550.jpg

Almost there....
http://www.tgrmedia.com/i.ashx?w=400...ap_730X550.jpg

The views arn't bad...room of doom...
http://www.tgrmedia.com/i.ashx?w=400...ap_730X550.jpg

Monte Cristo...
http://www.tgrmedia.com/i.ashx?w=400...ap_730X550.jpg

We decided to ski the skiers right shot into Cardiff off the top due to less wind loading up high and a more moderate pitch...it skied well, boot deep cream...Liam starting down...
http://www.tgrmedia.com/i.ashx?w=400...ap_730X550.jpg

Good snow and made it to work on time.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wra

Is that a fixed line?

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y19...bum/sfb324.jpg

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no my bro said the rope was new;)
I'm a climbing jong but it was fixed or attached to a tree but, rope left with us. Wouldn't want to make it too easy for other sheep to get in there and it came in handy for pit work in the Benson & Hedges

I've got to slap up some mud and honeydo up my spancer but will try and edit up some viddy and post a full tr.
Can't find Trackheads Tr psa where he states these are irrational people doing irrational things don't try this shit in your pen;)
Dtm I hear ya but it was encouraging to be getting ct +30's on compression tests and ground facets are starting to rounding and consolidating.
Doesn't mean there isn't still a lot of instabilities and hitting one of those not so sweet spots couldn't have shitty consequences, but your computor screens only gonna give ya so much info.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skifishbum

but your computor screens only gonna give ya so much info.

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Hmmmm, that would be a good signature. I like it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skifishbum

I've got to slap up some mud and honeydo up my spancer but will try and edit up some viddy and post a full tr.

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how exactly does one get a honeydew up their spancer? does the mud help?

A beautiful early morning out there today as the sun came up. N and NE shots skied very well. Anything SE-S had a crust - duh. Surface hoar is growing. 2+ cm in spots.

If you guys havn't already seen this, here's the full accident report from Kessler with my personal photos...

http://utahavalanchecenter.org/accident_argenta_262010

http://utahavalanchecenter.org/files...0Slide%201.jpg

http://utahavalanchecenter.org/files...0Slide%202.jpg

That's some interesting layering there. Glad you're ok.

Damn Zach, glad you didn't go for a ride over the cliffs into Mineral.

any idea of the pitch of the slope...dident see it in the report? around 38?

It was 37-38

Thanks for reporting and linking that Z damn glad your okay.
Going for a ride over this would be shitty
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y19...um/kes030a.jpg
Where's the Stoke;)
My helmet cam footy from that day was worthless
and my camera and photog skills=suck
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y19...bum/sfb318.jpg
forgot your partners name
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y19...bum/sfb320.jpg
that S utah stuff looked sweet.
Yesterdays el cheapo diablo goatfuck pisspoor edited helmefooty
Not sure how many days I've skied this season but this one will stand out as a damn good one
NO TR No interweb @ the crib
quest blows


I drew the stay above on belay card in benson & hedges but pit results relayed to me
7' depth failing no less than ct 30 20" off ground on facets/ rounding to large grains above a slight crust only detectable on shear
ground facets 4 finger and appear to be sintering and rounding.

SFB, nice stuff. Just curious, what camera are you shooting with and what are you editing with. If it's a VIO, there are a probably some easy things you can do to conserve video quality and make editing easier.

Regardless, keep the stoke and obs coming. It's highly appreciated.

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/h...8/P2080020.jpg

Wow, some cool lines and photos to be had in that amphitheatre scenery shot. Somebody should go hit that zone and post a full TR.

It's a $80 oregon scientfic so I don't expect much all I have for editing is windows movie maker and obviously I suck at it. 'It is what it is" but like I said this was a damn good day of skiing in what hasn't exactly been a steller season having some viddy is nice.
I picked up a camera and a total recall hemet cam from Iscariot but wiring on it seems to be jacked shot some video with but haven't downloaded yet.
I'm not a cut & paster but there is a good personal account of the alexander basin incident by Dakota kid on the ttips obs thread if you haven't read it

^^^
That looked like such a sick day SFB! Probably way more fun than getting shut down in the desert and skinning many many miles for nothin, getting 4 turns and driving home haha. Not to worry, photos from the first successful mission down there are coming soon. Good work though man! Looks like my roommate Topher was there too.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tone capone

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/h...8/P2080020.jpg

Wow, some cool lines and photos to be had in that amphitheatre scenery shot. Somebody should go hit that zone and post a full TR.

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When were you guys down there. Thinking of heading down again. I was down that way a few weeks back and it was unreal. How were the avi conditions when you were there?

nicely done on the vid, sfb.
A fitting tribute to Jimi Huega.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by otter

When were you guys down there. Thinking of heading down again. I was down that way a few weeks back and it was unreal. How were the avi conditions when you were there?

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Yo Steve, remember when you almost bought a Subaru from some punk? That's me.

We (Zach Clanton and I) were down there yesterday. The snow seemed reasonably stable. No recent naturals sighted. Got one random wind pillow to collapse. Although our first pit failed to the ground on isolation (may have been a fluke or error on my part), the second pit had no CT failure. The 6 foot column we examined had no questionable layers except for depth hoar at the bottom. The depth hoar was definately in the sintering process.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mark H

Yo Steve, remember when you almost bought a Subaru from some punk? That's me.

We (Zach Clanton and I) were down there yesterday. The snow seemed reasonably stable. No recent naturals sighted. Got one random wind pillow to collapse. Although our first pit failed to the ground on isolation (may have been a fluke or error on my part), the second pit had no CT failure. The 6 foot column we examined had no questionable layers except for depth hoar at the bottom. The depth hoar was definately in the sintering process.

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Not a punk, just trying to get the most for his car. To funny! Good to know on the snow conditions. Were you guys on the south end of cedar breaks or the north end? BTW you guys have been killing it on getting out.

alright, thats about enough CB exposure for now. (shhhhhhhhh!:biggrin:)



Back to the wasatch:

Steep skiing on exposed northerly aspects with no instabilities noted. Photos were takin between feb 7th-9th


http://ianprovo.smugmug.com/photos/7...19_S2A35-L.jpg
^up...

http://ianprovo.smugmug.com/photos/7...77_UbzX6-L.jpg
^ down

http://ianprovo.smugmug.com/photos/7...3_j9gvE-XL.jpg
^ rider: Forrest Shearer

http://ianprovo.smugmug.com/photos/7...4_7pW5x-XL.jpg
^ rider: Neil Provo (top left, off the cornice)


Snowpack observations: Pick the right spot and its excellent, pick the wrong one and you break all the bones in your legs or death

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PROVO

http://ianprovo.smugmug.com/photos/7...4_7pW5x-XL.jpg
^ rider: Neil Provo (top left, off the cornice)

Snowpack observations: Pick the right spot and its excellent, pick the wrong one and you break all the bones in your legs or death

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^^^Have most of these lines filled in or are there sharks, everywhere?

Provo, as usual, very nice.

http://ianprovo.smugmug.com/photos/7...3_j9gvE-XL.jpg


full on, holy bajezus nice shot

@RTR : Sharks everywhere. It adds to the gnar factor though I suppose. Some people aren't phased by rocks though, so you might just love it.

thanks for the comments