Wasatch Conditions 09-10

[Alexander1310]

Shut





the




fuck




up

Couldn't of said it better

[LittleYellowFriend]

Trackhead, I thought you had given up turd gurgling for good. You disappoint me so.

[Zero7]

Approximately 70" in 8 days, WOW!
I have just arrived last week and I will finally discover a classic powder day in Snowbird.
Fingers crossed, I can't wait to see this famous powder.

[Mark H]

East facing tree runs in Mineral recieved significant wind damage yesterday. Monday was great skiing in there and today was windboard top to bottom. Very suprising for a usually wind sheltered location.

[salida]

East facing tree runs in Mineral recieved significant wind damage yesterday. Monday was great skiing in there and today was windboard top to bottom. Very suprising for a usually wind sheltered location.

Seconded for Porter's fork. The friction auto groomer seems to have gotten to most everything.

[ZachClanton]

January 3 10















East facing instabilities consisted of a soft slab on top of very sugary grains. After 3 turns at the top of the couloir, a foot deep slab popped out, caught and carried me for about 30 feet before I was able to traverse out and watch it run the length of the chute.

For more photos and full trip report, go to
http://www.zachclantonphotography.co...super-epic-day

[Jong Slaughter's Mom]

East facing instabilities consisted of a soft slab on top of very sugary grains. After 3 turns at the top of the couloir, a foot deep slab popped out, caught and carried me for about 30 feet before I was able to traverse out and watch it run the length of the chute.

For more photos and full trip report, go to
http://www.zachclantonphotography.co...super-epic-day

Hmmm...

I'll be the douchebag here and tell you that I hope your buddy Alecs who is "slaying it," this year put on his beacon and that he knows how to use said beacon.



Then again, if he's one of those weirdos that keeps it in the pocket of his pants, and you actually know what you're doing, then way to get after it.

On an unrelated note, maybe I should buy a DSLR, get a fisheye lens, and become a photographer, too. I mean, websites aren't that expensive, are they?

[Adski]

^^^^^^^
Really? No beacon? Looks like it's slung over his shoulder to me. Prolly not the best location on January 3rd to tickle the dragon, but then again not a whole ton of snow to entrain either. I like the look down the gut, thanks for psoting the obs. My complaint: A little late.

[Chalkdust]

Which Hanson brother is slaying it?

[Long Duck Dong]

Great pictures, awesome line, thanks for posting.

Am I the only one that doesn't give a shit about who uses a beacon as long as they aren't skiing with me? If someone posted a TR about soloing a beautiful prow of rock, would anyone give them shit about not having a rope? Its the same thing. Safety decisions that affect only the user and the members of their party are non of my business.

[SPREAD EAGLE]

Sometimes solo tours do not leave enough space for a second track.
NW facing Dayz Fork - Rotten on the rocks, solid in the troughs.

[AltaPowderDaze]

Am I the only one that doesn't give a shit about who uses a beacon as long as they aren't skiing with me? If someone posted a TR about soloing a beautiful prow of rock, would anyone give them shit about not having a rope? Its the same thing. Safety decisions that affect only the user and the members of their party are non of my business.

it does look like the guy has a beacon but that's besides the point. i don't know anyone personally that wouldn't try to lend a hand if they happened upon a slide where someone was looking for their partner. if that guy doesn't have a beacon, he has done a disservice to him/herself and anyone that may put their life at risk to rescue/recover them.

[Mark H]

Ok I know this is a thread about current conditions but I figure those who come here would be the most interested is this video. It's a review of the past two seasons in the Wasatch. Mainly it's about my friends and I dinking around on some of the bigger lines around here but a variety of topics are covered. If nothing else, the music is enjoyable I think. I sure had a blast putting this thing together.

part 1: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gDLMe-7NOE"]YouTube- Unreasonably Early - part 1[/ame]

part 2: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7ZeJpxri-o"]YouTube- Unreasonably Early - part 2[/ame]

part 3: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Da5y2S_IQic"]YouTube- Unreasonably Early - part 3[/ame]



*Note*: Two of the photos in these videos were not taken by myself or my friends. One is a Jay Beyer shot of a skier getting caught in a slide on Cardiac Ridge. I was standing nearby when it happened but didn't pull my camera out in time. It was one of the most spectacular slides I've seen so I just had to include it for the memory. The other is a Andrew McLean reference shot of the Pfiefferhorn. I accidentally deleted my own so I mooched his off his website.

Enjoy?

[Long Duck Dong]

it does look like the guy has a beacon but that's besides the point. i don't know anyone personally that wouldn't try to lend a hand if they happened upon a slide where someone was looking for their partner. if that guy doesn't have a beacon, he has done a disservice to him/herself and anyone that may put their life at risk to rescue/recover them.

Of course, I agree. But I would find it extremely hard to believe that the backcountry sanctimony dished out on this board has much to do with the lack of ability to help out another party in an emergency. The guys posts a bunch of awesome pictures in what is a stoke/conditions thread and all people do is jump to (likely incorrect anyway) assumptions about how safe he was being. Is every solo climber being inconsiderate because he isn't bringing gear to help out someone else in an emergency? Is every solo backcountry skier really being irresponsible to anyone but himself?

[AltaPowderDaze]

Of course, I agree. But I would find it extremely hard to believe that the backcountry sanctimony dished out on this board has much to do with the lack of ability to help out another party in an emergency. The guys posts a bunch of awesome pictures in what is a stoke/conditions thread and all people do is jump to (likely incorrect anyway) assumptions about how safe he was being. Is every solo climber being inconsiderate because he isn't bringing gear to help out someone else in an emergency? Is every solo backcountry skier really being irresponsible to anyone but himself?

i think you missed my point or my wording was incorrect. if victim "A" doesn't have a beacon on then he places anyone that comes to his/her aid in more hazard than if victim "A" had been wearing one.


it doesn't matter how much ability you, as a rescuer, have. if someone is buried it will take longer to locate them without a beacon if they are completely buried. that could place you in danger for a longer period. again, i don't think you have a responsibility to help anyone else out but i'd hope you'd weigh the consequences and make an informed decision, rather than write the other party off as an irresponsible group and continue on your way.

the climbing references don't work very well for me, as i don't climb.

[Long Duck Dong]

it doesn't matter how much ability you, as a rescuer, have. if someone is buried it will take longer to locate them without a beacon if they are completely buried. that could place you in danger for a longer period. again, i don't think you have a responsibility to help anyone else out but i'd hope you'd weigh the consequences and make an informed decision, rather than write the other party off as an irresponsible group and continue on your way.

Yes, I understood your comment that there are consequences to, possibly, other parties than your own for not bringing avy gear into the backcountry. I was just conveying dismay at what seems to me to be a strange fascination and growing trend that people on this board have with tearing other people down for personal decisions they might make concerning snow safety. It is the same thing that fuels calling people "gapers" or "jongs." It feels good, especially behind the veil of anonymity that the internet offers, for people to sanctimoniously judge, and subsequently vigorously condemn, the choices of others. The guy posted sweet pictures of a cool tour he did.

[LittleYellowFriend]

Welcome to the Wasatch.

The Sanctimony capitol of the world.

Skiing, Biking, Driving,
Snow hut making...

It doesn't matter..

Whatever you do there is always someone to point out other peoples faults, and how much better they are than other people as a result of pointing out other people's faults.

They make the Mormons seem like really mellow cool dudes.

If you want to live near the Wasatch, turd gurglers are just something you have to live with man.

[criscam]

soooo.....anyone else besides spread eagle get out today?
hopin s facing softens up tomorrow.

[TeleThor]

soooo.....anyone else besides spread eagle get out today?
hopin s facing softens up tomorrow.

Too much bullshit in here lately. Obs:

Yup. In White Pine conditions were... variable. Some dry recrystallized on shady N aspects made for some nice turns. But that was mixed in with some nice crusts. W aspects had a stout 1.5-2 inch crust. There were windboard surfaces in susceptible areas on various aspects. The SW facing stuff we were close to looked like it could ski well with some more softening. Might be the ticket until the next storm... In summary, skiing kind of sucked, but it was worth the workout.

[Trackhead]

Easy to move about today with the fast travel crust.


The snow was ok, but the food was good.


Due south had nice creamy snow.


North was fun neve and stable wind drifts.




Bony over yonder.


Granite moguls.


Tip toe, it's a go.


Hasn't snowed for a while, but that's no reason not to ski.

[The Gnarwhale]

Trackhead and NoHow punch the booter in

Looking for the fattest way down

[nieveparasiempre]

thats about how I imagine that exit right now.

[Trackhead]

thats about how I imagine that exit right now.

It's never much better, so no reason not to go.

[nieveparasiempre]

It's never much better, so no reason not to go.

oh trust me. i'd take an exit like that over the deluge we've been having up here in the PNW any day.

[Jer]

This is really pissing me off.