1st backcountry TR

[MOHSHSIHd]

My first BC was just a month ago tommorow. Pretty cool stuff, hard work, satifaction and ohhhh, the burn, the feels good burn. You have some very good teachers!

Nice B!!!!

word. one of my favorite parts about hiking a bootpack (im too cheap to buy a rando setup yet) is getting to "that" point in the hike....the first 15 minutes are like hell...then the next 30+ feel fucking great....love the extra workout most skiers dont get...


anyone think we will get any snow tomorow night?

[divegirl]

Well done, Crinkle!! It's good to hear you did so much testing of the snow before heading down. Reminds me that I need to sign up for a class. Excellent TR and photos!!

[Blurred]

Way to get out there you guys. Hope to get up with you cats soon.



Also, it's much easier to mount your skis on your pack diagonally as opposed to the A-frame. A-frame is the gaper way because your legs (calfs) get hit by your tails and the tails also catch on things. Just trying to help.

[Yossarian]

yah, I can't remember for sure, but I think the pack he had didn't have a diagonal carry. To tell you the truth, I don't love my diagonal carry that much - I agree, better than skis-to-calf carnage, but its fuggin annoying when you're climbing up a slope that falls away to your left, and the tails of the skis can't clear the slope to your right. I think the best system I ever saw was the centered vertical ski carry on an Osprey pack??? Can't remember how the shovel blade fit in though...

Annnnnnnnnnyway, jibij, anytime. I'm waaaaaaay far from being an expert of any sort, but I am a nerd, and I like to dig around in the snow like a pig in shit, so I'll happily spend a day out in the beautiful CO mountains geeking out about what little bits I do know about snow safety. No buffet required. Trust me, you don't really want to see the aftermath of me and a buffet anyway.

All you CO mags, sometime we gotta git together and hang out. Trying to ski with a massive group all at once is generally a custerfuck and I don't personally care for it, but throwing a party with a lot of skiers...well...that's another story. I do have a couple skis to burn...it might be time to invoke the winter snows for real...

[meatdrink9]

Nice report man.

Given the current depth of our snowpack in CO I can;t think of a better way to spend the day. Awesome knowledge from senior cletus. I felt like I had a lot of info to chew on at the end of the day. It was really cool seeing the different layers in the snow and just how they react to various stimuli. It was also sweet to finally have a go at skinning. I can see why so many people do it.

Thanks for waiting for my BC jong self and imparting so much good info. I can't wait to do it again.

The A-frame worked just fine. Never hit my legs or the snow once.

[Crinkle]

yeah blurred as stated, my pack can't carry diagonal, in that long hike it really didn't bother me as long as my pack was centered. Go ahead and call me gaper then.

good call Yos, a big CO get together is in order sometime soon. Probably after the new year would probably be best, once we get some snow.

[Kya]

Due to my low post count my suggestion might go overlooked, but a sweet CO backcountry get together could be at old Geneva Basin. There is a sweet little hut at the top (first come first serve, but the F.S. is trying to take it over and put it on the rental system, so don't trash it or they will) with a woodburning stove, room enough to sleep 10-20 people, pleny of tent space outside, and killer powder buy February. A part of me is like don't tell overbody where this stash is, but most probably know already.
Just a thought.

[homerjay]

I prefer A-frame, never hit my calves.

What are these 'tests' and 'pits' you speak of?

Nice pics...

Crinkle - what about that probe, eh?

[Foggy_Goggles]

Yoos guyses could of called me but then it wouldn't have been as fun 'cause you'd have had to ski with me.

that was only one data set, from one day, from one person's perspective, and one person's background.

Very true. I dug a bunch of pits on a slightly more easterly aspect (4th meadow) and found the pack fairly unstable. The top 30cms (four finger faceted) was failing on a thin crust right above the depth hoar layer (fist). Consistant shears ranging from "5 at the wrist" to "1 from the elbow".

Hopefully we get some consolidation before any major loading else it might get scary. From the describtion sounds like you were in The Bite on northfacing terrain. How much depth hoar were you looking at?

[bad_roo]

Annnnnnnnnnyway, jibij, anytime. I'm waaaaaaay far from being an expert of any sort...

Holy fuck. Thought an 'anyhoo' was coming there.

Phew. I need a sit down, a cup of tea and a biscuit now.