Wasatch 08-09 Conditions

[wra]

Having a hard time trying to figure why the pc ridges have been avalanching.



Any ideas?

[tone capone]

That sounds like the typical shit they say right before storms fizzle and split around us.

That happens in Utah? I thought it only happened here in MT.

Happens every time we get a "winter storm warning". It's for sure it's fizzling and splitting when they give the warning. Hopefully when this one splits around you guys we get some here!

[skifishbum]

Having a hard time trying to figure why the pc ridges have been avalanching.



Any ideas?

The dancing cloud sheep thingies blew all the snow over the ridge?
nice Jinx

[schindlerpiste]

Well, it certainly can't be the perfect pitch, or the 40+ mile per hour winds, or the rain crust, or all that beautiful fluffy snow that has fallen (or been blown) on top of that crust...
Have you seen SquareTop lately? Huge natural slide Thursday night. (900' wide 1500' vert)

[truth]

Better it happen in PC than anywhere with anything worth skiing.

[zion zig zag]

Huge natural in MB cirque at the Basin the other day.

We skied the N. Lomond powder circuit today, winds were going nuclear above treeline. Stiff slabs forming on east thru north facing slopes below ridge-lines. Lots of whomping with whole slopes collapsing. The low angle stuff is still skiing well in sheltered areas.

In other news I really like the extended column test, it gives a good feel for the weak layer and the propagation potential.

[wra]

Well, it certainly can't be the perfect pitch, or the 40+ mile per hour winds, or the rain crust, or all that beautiful fluffy snow that has fallen (or been blown) on top of that crust...
Have you seen SquareTop lately? Huge natural slide Thursday night. (900' wide 1500' vert)

Hell, I thought maybe the snake oil man wuz up on 10420 filming more vids for the medicine show.
Didn't see Squaretop. Did manage to find a few slides. One about 600' wide?



No ects were done.

[truth]

The light in that photo is awesome. Nice work wra.

[alto]

Better it happen in PC than anywhere with anything worth skiing.

This is either ignorant or clever.

[otter]

The light in that photo is awesome. Nice work wra.

I have to second that quote. Did you adjust the photo, or was it just shot that way. Either way it looks cool!

[truth]

This is either ignorant or clever.

I was going for sarcasm.

[skifishbum]

Hell, I thought maybe the snake oil man wuz up on 10420 filming more vids for the medicine show.

Bwah maybe a little over the top there but reading responses to threads like this one
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...d.php?t=144530
you would think the entire wasatch was above treeline and steeper than
30 degrees. Not saying shit aint dicey, but if you do get out there is some great snow science edumacation conditions.
Somebody should make a safe skiing in the wasatch book only it wouldn't sell cause gnar and sex sells.
Sweet pic Wow

[ski_adk]

Somebody should make a safe skiing in the wasatch book only it wouldn't sell cause gnar and sex sells.

I'd buy that book. I was thinking last night how I don't know of any meadow skipping stashes in the SLC, PC area.

[sfotex]

I'd buy that book. I was thinking last night how I don't know of any meadow skipping stashes in the SLC, PC area.

Wasatch tours Volume 2

[Ermine]

I was going for sarcasm.

'Figured you were just jealous. Dumped in Orem today, I hope Provo Canyon stays open or I'm heading to the liquor store for some warm beer and sleeping at the office. Great day to drive into work...saw a gnarly wreck this morning.

[SPREAD EAGLE]

No PICS because wind and white out conditions today

Skinned up Mill-D 10:30am from the Spruces, took a run on short swing then headed up to Dog Lake and then up the ridge to Reynolds Pk.(Southwest summit from Dog Lake). Anyhoo, once I hit the ridge the wind was nuking and viz went to -O- Zero. I took a run NE then skinned back up to the summit then back out the skinner as to see my way back into the Mill-D home loop.

Still low snow on the North Side of BCC but some stashes were located with a little extra skinning. There is a prominent skinner all the way to the summit

[TeleThor]

Sunday column test from the top of Short Swing if anyone's interested. Soft slab forming up there from the recent wind. At least the columns didn't fail before isolation....

[clarnitty]

so where is the prediction located that says it's going to snow 6 feet before New Years? Someone posted that on Facebook and I am hoping...well I won't tell you what I'm hoping, but put it this way: I leave and it starts DUMPING. Of course, but that happens to everyone right?

[wra]

Info that may actually be of some use.



link to observation

[zion zig zag]

Info that may actually be of some use.

Cause everyone else's info is just shit, right?

[wra]

I learned from Spread Eagle's post. I learned absolutely nothing from the video showing shovel taps in an area that had no snow prior to last week.
You don't have to look ya know, especially since I'm not an ecter, nor do I pay much attention to fluff and facade.

[beaterdit]

Top collins station shows .65" inches of H20 so far. Still Nuking when I got down at 5ish, should see some more by morning but I still don't know if the weight will be there for a mojor cycle. Till then I guess conitions will remain hair-trigger. I do know it was at least 3" an hour up there all afternoon. Seemed like this could be the storm of the season so far. We'll see if round 2 hits tonight or it peters out. So far it was pretty light and sloughy in spite of the high winds most of the day.

Good skiing though.

[skifishbum]

I observed the IceGrom had grown like 12 inches over the summer and isn't scorin face shots as easy.

Didn't learn all that much for these shots but they bring a hudge smile to my face similar to the one on this young lads face as he breaks in his season on a new pair of 164 bros

[JakeCast]

[Droopy]

I'm not a snow nerd like you guys, so I don't know much about this stuff. Have some questions:
I don't understand the long term implications of a rain crust layer, once the faceted snow rounds out and bonds, the rain crust isnnt really an issue is it? Or will that rain crust keep a higher temperature gradient in the snow pack, making it take longer for the snow to bond?

kthnxbye