Wasatch Conditions 09-10

**TeleThor** · 11-15-2009, 09:29 PM

Digging that last photo.

**whapworth** · 11-15-2009, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted by JTrue

Can we institute a no responding policy, if you aren't posting stoke or observations?

All that reading is making me tired.

Upon realizing each other's identity, Jtrue and TeleThor fought to the death in Main Chute, but were interrupted by the fast moving slough and forced to postpone the grudge match to a later date.

On another note, enjoy a sunset tour this afternoon from the top of collins through the west/northwesternly aspects through Spruces and Sunspot. areas of new snow had settled and condensed significantly since first fall early saturday morning. surface hoar was pervasive on all aspects i skied, going to be an interesting early season...

Granular picture, but the valley looked like a giant ocean littered with peaks sticking through at around 5:15, pretty inspiring

**JTrue** · 11-15-2009, 10:08 PM

Originally Posted by whapworth

Upon realizing each other's identity, Jtrue and TeleThor fought to the death in Main Chute, but were interrupted by the fast moving slough and forced to postpone the grudge match to a later date.

I used the

at least

**BigMountainBoy** · 11-15-2009, 11:51 PM

Myself and two others are headed up to the Alta area tomorrow morning. I'll drive through the LCC lower parking area at about 6:45 in a red Passat wagon if anyone waves me down and has their gear out they are welcome to come. I am down for some major Wasatch backcountry exploring this winter and worked it to have every morning open until about 1pm. I hardly ever say no to a touring adventure when it is safe out. Just PM me and we could team up for future trips.

**ectreeskier11** · 11-16-2009, 12:09 AM

i'm in no shape to get out that early tomorrow, but if you're interested i may be up for it on tues/weds/thurs.

**skifishbum** · 11-16-2009, 08:25 AM

Bump cause this is not the who wants to ski with me thread please quit cunting this thread up. Oh and for what it's worth bootpacking speed is not one of the criteria I look for in a bc partner

**Trackhead** · 11-16-2009, 08:26 AM

Originally Posted by skifishbum

Bump cause this is not the who wants to ski with me thread please quit cunting this thread up. Oh and for what it's worth bootpacking speed is not one of the criteria I look for in a bc partner

Hey Skifishbum, I'm going out in 10 minutes, give me a call if you want to go.

**skifishbum** · 11-16-2009, 08:32 AM

[post padding blabber]I've got to meet some guy on the provo to fish and talk about guide employment.
My kind of job interview any how. Jordanelle dam red durango stickers on the rocket box WHO WANTS TO FISH WITH ME? TH you skin to fast

[/post padding blabber]

**SPREAD EAGLE** · 11-16-2009, 10:50 AM

Headed up the bcc to see what coverage looked like, get a little exercise, and test the strength of my marriage. Pretty thin on coverage. Good exercise trying to skin and then bootering up Jim Clem. Marrige survived
and even though she wouldn't go to the top of evergreen I love her and the fact she can cuss like a sailor.

Bwah, hah, hah, HA!!! SFB you are the man and working it with the lady is always a challenge but worth the time invested. Nice work and way to keep it in the BCC - That's loyalty

**Trackhead** · 11-16-2009, 12:10 PM

10,600ft North Facing. Good skiing in areas, but novelty everywhere else. Back to the desert until it snows a bit more.

**Buzzworthy** · 11-16-2009, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by skifishbum

Marrige survived
and even though she wouldn't go to the top of evergreen I love her and the fact she can cuss like a sailor.

Yeah, she did not look too happy with you during our brief encounter yesterday.

**MultiVerse** · 11-16-2009, 03:27 PM

There are already many-many killer photos in this thread.

I too joined the crüe and played shark-fin-soup over a couple of laps with the zombie mob at Alta, today.

The (MTB) riding prior to this last storm was so unf#ckingbelievably good that—yeah—right now, skiing is more about the novelty and getting out “there,” so… lots moar snow please (pray for snow). [/representin' a firm grasp of the obvious, while chewing the scenery:]

(Also, I missed a few PMs during the summertime/fall somnolence, apologies, I owe y'all a drink & I hope to tour with you many times this winter.)

**yemntftb** · 11-16-2009, 03:58 PM

two good days of skiing at alta. Got to the top of baldy shoulder by 830am yesterday morning, first tracks down the shoulder. blower pow and really good coverage the whole way down. back in time for work.

today went up to greeleys, the skin track is getting some serious sun, had to boot up the ridge. the skiing was solid though, did gunsight first run and then a few laps on the bowl. Getting a bit skied out but still plently of blower pow and good coverage up high.
-T

**ectreeskier11** · 11-16-2009, 04:02 PM

Haven't been able to afford a touring set up yet, planning to buy trekkers and skins on Friday for my JJ's which are still flat (maybe I should buy some bindings to go on them as well...). Bootpacking is better than nothing for the time being, sorry if it isn't up to your standards but I'm not going for 6 hours tours this time of year anyway. Anyone who wants to bestow any avalanche knowledge on me, I'm sure I could find a worthy token of my appreciation, and do own B/S/P. Now onto the conditions part... went up and skied the meadow above the Snowpine at Alta, it was fairly enjoyable. Noticed some little sluffs releasing as the sun was hitting, but didn't ski anything steep enough to release anything myself. South facing's already pretty much bare, hopefully the system moving in for the weekend changes that for good.

**truth** · 11-16-2009, 04:28 PM

Originally Posted by skifishbum

Oh and for what it's worth bootpacking speed is not one of the criteria I look for in a bc partner

You're looking for a cuddler aren't you?

**Jong Slaughter's Mom** · 11-16-2009, 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by ectreeskier11

Haven't been able to afford a touring set up yet, planning to buy trekkers and skins on Friday for my JJ's which are still flat (maybe I should buy some bindings to go on them as well...). Bootpacking is better than nothing for the time being, sorry if it isn't up to your standards but I'm not going for 6 hours tours this time of year anyway. Anyone who wants to bestow any avalanche knowledge on me, I'm sure I could find a worthy token of my appreciation, and do own B/S/P. Now onto the conditions part... went up and skied the meadow above the Snowpine at Alta, it was fairly enjoyable. Noticed some little sluffs releasing as the sun was hitting, but didn't ski anything steep enough to release anything myself. South facing's already pretty much bare, hopefully the system moving in for the weekend changes that for good.

Wow. Thanks so much for your observations. And I'm sure that someone will gladly "bestow any avalanche knowledge on [you]."

Now GTFO. Please.

**ectreeskier11** · 11-16-2009, 04:48 PM

shit i love people that hide behind the internet. excuse me for legitimately trying to act responsibly. seriously, i don't have half a grand to spend on an avalanche course. i just don't want to kill myself or someone else. i'm not an idiot, i know how fucking dangerous that shit is. i also want to go skiing, so the responsible thing to do is learn how to mitigate the risk, but sorry i guess this "isn't the right thread for it". i could go ahead and start a new one, but this is related so shit, why not just post it here? then maybe, sometime down the road, i will be posting accurate and helpful observations. i could also use capital letters, but i don't really feel like it.

**sfotex** · 11-16-2009, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by ectreeskier11

shit i love people that hide behind the internet. excuse me for legitimately trying to act responsibly. seriously, i don't have half a grand to spend on an avalanche course. i just don't want to kill myself or someone else. i'm not an idiot, i know how fucking dangerous that shit is. i also want to go skiing, so the responsible thing to do is learn how to mitigate the risk,

How much are the new JJ's and trekkers? Probably more then the $225 then an avy 1 class is. Idiot.

**ectreeskier11** · 11-16-2009, 04:57 PM

http://utahavalanchecenter.org/level_1_12222009_600pm
maybe i'll do it, good call. thought they were usually a bunch more, i guess the ones back east on Mt Washington are a rip off.

edit: http://utahavalanchecenter.org/basic...12112009_700pm - worth it?

**powdherb** · 11-16-2009, 05:05 PM

Hey why don't you guys bring your bullshit out of this useful thread? KTHX

**Christopher3000** · 11-16-2009, 06:26 PM

went up and skied the meadow above the Snowpine at Alta

You should take an avi 1, and link up with people you meet in your class to go skiing. There is an interesting social dynamic involved in making BC skiing partnerships; much trust is implicit between long-term touring partners, which makes decision making very easy, and often unspoken. People who've been skiing together for a while know how well their partners keep track of snowpack development, recent avalanche incidents, and they often take a similar approach to terrain. I generally take a more conservative approach to my turns in the backcountry, because I see no reason to rush powder skiing, and because I know there are hightened risks associated with skiing away from resorts. My primary ski touring partners have a similar MO, and I enjoy skiing with them so much because I know what they're comfortable with, and that they aren't out there to practice for their next ski movie segment. They know the same things about me. If you are able to find people here on TGR who will take you out touring, you're very lucky, but I'd suggest that you make friends in LCC/SLC first and then find touring partners within your social circle.

Until you have a firm handle on what constitutes appropriate terrain choices in certain snowpack conditions, stay out of larger backcountry terrain until there is a good base and a strong lower snowpack. Also, consider taking a big step back from what you consider fun skiing; a lot of bread and butter Wasatch BC terrain looks very boring to a lot of young, strong resort skiers who just moved here, but going straight to wolverine cirque once you figure out your new alpine trekkers (and before you snap them in half) because you saw it in a ski movie would be very stupid. And you will be tempted to do so when the Supreme lift opens. Obviously, 15 degree grassy slopes with ten inches of old snow are safe nearly all the time, but once there's enough snow to get into more complex terrain around here, we'll probably see a significant avalanche cycle thanks to the junk resident in places where there's currently more snow.

Skied North Baldy and the Main Chute for my first outing of the winter today. Nice snow, nice rocks. surface hoar still growing in the shade above 10K after 2PM.

**TeleThor** · 11-16-2009, 07:19 PM

Originally Posted by Christopher3000

...

Phew!! At least there was an obs in there!

Just kidding. Completely second everything you just said. A wise one he is.

No obs other than the ride into work today was cold. Oops wrong forum/website... zing.