Spring avy danger Qs

[shera]

Hey, I hope one of the senior maggots steps up and offers to take you out and teach you something. Duph did it for me and Brett's doing it for SC1776. It's really the best way.

Just read this on Colorado's Avy site, thought you might like it:

If you're planning late-spring adventures into the high-country, we hope you continue to think “avalanche.” At this time there is still plenty of snow for skiing, snowboarding, climbing and snowmobiling that will last into June at some of the high elevation sites.

This spring significant weak sugar-like snow still lurks on the high elevation Northerly aspects and has been responsible for a number of serious accidents in the N&C mtns since mid March. This weakness snow can lead to avalanches in both cold and dry snow and in warm and wet snow. Don’t let you guard down and think that because it is spring that all slopes and gullies are safe. If you are planning to tackle steep slopes you should be looking for this weak layer (and other weak layers, too) and doing stability tests to determine how well the snow layers are adhering.

Remember that virtually all avalanches release on slopes of 30 degrees and steeper. You can effectively avoid avalanche terrain by staying on slopes of less than 30 degrees. But if you are planning to tackle steeper terrain, here are a few safety reminders.

First, carry and know how to use avalanche rescue gear. You should not be skiing or climbing potential avalanche slopes without having beacons, shovels, and probes.

Second, only one person in a group should be exposed to potential avalanche danger at a time.

Third, climbing, skiing, and riding down the edge of slopes is safer than being in the center.

Fourth, snow stability changes from day to day and hour to hour. For example a large spring storm, or a sustained period of hot weather can increase the avalanche danger. During a storm, or immediately after, new snow may not bond well to the icy old snow surface. Also, soon after a storm, several hours of bright sun can warm the surface snow enough to become unstable. Though, after a couple of days, the new snow will strengthen and ease the danger.

Fifth, watch temperatures closely and monitor the snowpack for free water. When you can begin to wring water out of a fist full of snow, it is time to move to more gentle terrain, less than 30 degrees in steepness. Beware of overnight temperatures that do not get below the freezing level, or barely get below freezing for just a short time. When this happens the danger for wet snow avalanches increases earlier the following day. Usually you have little risk when you ski early in the morning when the snow surface is crusty, or just beginning to soften. The danger begins to rise with thaw conditions late in the morning through the afternoon.

And sixth, big cornices may last well into the summer. To be safe, avoid traveling under cornices when the snow turns wet or when water starts to drip from the cornices.


http://www.geosurvey.state.co.us/ava...rea=1&nav=last

[ak_powder_monkey]

Originally posted by SheRa
Hey, I hope one of the senior maggots steps up and offers to take you out and teach you something. Duph did it for me and Brett's doing it for SC1776. It's really the best way.

Just read this on Colorado's Avy site, thought you might like it:

If you're planning late-spring adventures into the high-country, we hope you continue to think “avalanche.” At this time there is still plenty of snow for skiing, snowboarding, climbing and snowmobiling that will last into June at some of the high elevation sites.

This spring significant weak sugar-like snow still lurks on the high elevation Northerly aspects and has been responsible for a number of serious accidents in the N&C mtns since mid March. This weakness snow can lead to avalanches in both cold and dry snow and in warm and wet snow. Don’t let you guard down and think that because it is spring that all slopes and gullies are safe. If you are planning to tackle steep slopes you should be looking for this weak layer (and other weak layers, too) and doing stability tests to determine how well the snow layers are adhering.

Remember that virtually all avalanches release on slopes of 30 degrees and steeper. You can effectively avoid avalanche terrain by staying on slopes of less than 30 degrees. But if you are planning to tackle steeper terrain, here are a few safety reminders.

First, carry and know how to use avalanche rescue gear. You should not be skiing or climbing potential avalanche slopes without having beacons, shovels, and probes.

Second, only one person in a group should be exposed to potential avalanche danger at a time.

Third, climbing, skiing, and riding down the edge of slopes is safer than being in the center.

Fourth, snow stability changes from day to day and hour to hour. For example a large spring storm, or a sustained period of hot weather can increase the avalanche danger. During a storm, or immediately after, new snow may not bond well to the icy old snow surface. Also, soon after a storm, several hours of bright sun can warm the surface snow enough to become unstable. Though, after a couple of days, the new snow will strengthen and ease the danger.

Fifth, watch temperatures closely and monitor the snowpack for free water. When you can begin to wring water out of a fist full of snow, it is time to move to more gentle terrain, less than 30 degrees in steepness. Beware of overnight temperatures that do not get below the freezing level, or barely get below freezing for just a short time. When this happens the danger for wet snow avalanches increases earlier the following day. Usually you have little risk when you ski early in the morning when the snow surface is crusty, or just beginning to soften. The danger begins to rise with thaw conditions late in the morning through the afternoon.

And sixth, big cornices may last well into the summer. To be safe, avoid traveling under cornices when the snow turns wet or when water starts to drip from the cornices.


http://www.geosurvey.state.co.us/ava...rea=1&nav=last

thanks shera



I don't htink I'll be able to do much BC skiing untill July this year cause I'll be fishing in a flat spot wit the closest moutnains only accesable by heli (once again ONS you are a lucky bastard, look for me on the Tal )

[tywhy]

Originally posted by Blurred Elevens
Simple. Until you learn to dig a pit and examine the layers, stay out of the backcountry.

Go read some avalanche books, take a class, and go dig a pit and learn yourself with Ingrid and Lhea.

so you going out to dig snowpits in the late spring snow pack? brilliant. might be a little firm.