Berthoud Photo/Conditions Thread (2010-2011)

[MikeFrom Maine]

38 year old single white male East Coaster headed West (figures, it just dumped 27 inches in VT). Staying in Evergreen and hoping to get into the BC at BP or elsewhere, conditions permitting. Lots of time skinning and turning but limited Avi skills. Will ski off a lift on Friday. Will rent beacon and probe for the weekend. Hoping to find partners for a Sat or Sun outing (3/12 or 3/13). Strong skier but not a hucker or a straightliner. Decent condition but I live at sea level...have Rx for Diamox...i feel like I am writing a personal...I like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain...

[Pinner]

http://www.avalanche.org/research/guidelines/pdf/

It's good to see people practicing snow pits, but please make sure you're keeping your methods and observation technique consistent. Here's the recognized industry standard for your reference. (see 2.7, pg. 39)

Be safe, have fun!

[Crinkle]

http://www.fsavalanche.org/Default.a...ParentLinkId=3

there is a solid video demonstration on this link as well

[khakis]

did the compression test (2.7.4, pg 45 in your link) expire last week or something?

edit: CT21 @ 76.2 cm if you were just looking for the proper format

[FiveLarge]

did the compression test (2.7.4, pg 45 in your link) expire last week or something?

edit: CT21 @ 76.2 cm if you were just looking for the proper format

I'm not sure what Pinner was seeing there, but what stuck out to me was "No movement on the 5 whacks from the hand, or elbow." It's 10 "whacks" or taps at each "level" - wrist (hand), elbow, shoulder. I actually caught myself only doing 5 one time last year - not sure where that came from. Definitely can get big difference in results using 5 vs. 10.

[khakis]

gotcha...neither PG nor I actually did the test, we watched a buddy of mine do it who's a total snow nerd so I would bet lots of money he did it right. All that stuck in my head was that that first layer collapsed the first time he did the "whole arm from the shoulder" tap, so that's the observation we wanted to share with the collective. When I do it I just follow the instructions on the card

gonna add a notepad and pencil to my snow science kit tonight

[Mary Jane Hottie]

Will rent beacon and probe for the weekend. Hoping to find partners for a Sat or Sun outing (3/12 or 3/13). ...

No comments?

[Crinkle]

mike, while assuming your intentions are good, but you don't have gear and you have "limited" skills, those are some red flags, regardless of your skiing level. While one might not worry about having to dig you out with your skiing experience, one might worry about your ability to use a beacon and find US if something were to happen. The parking lot is 11,307', so Diamox or not, you are going to be hurting on the skin. What you are looking for is a guide service. Contact "Powder Addictions" http://www.powderaddiction.com/ they run a great cat service around the corner from Berthoud at Jones Pass.

[PowTrout]

so fun today. Sluffing all over but nothing big that i could see.

[Poop~Ghost]

[MikeFrom Maine]

Thanks for getting back to me and your points are well taken...especially if someone were to take me out on their own. I will check into the guide but my guess is it may be out of my price range.

Guessing this forum may not be my place to find some folks to ski with (and I can respectfully understand why) but if anyone feels different, let me know.

Enjoy.

-Mike

[Crinkle]

Mike, its a good place to find people to ski with, most of my ski partners came from this place. it can be difficult to down right dangerous to randomly ski with someone you don't know in avalanche terrain.

Get some passes to Loveland, vail, winter park, that place rocks, there will be plenty of Maggots to ski with and terrain to explore, without having to worry about snow stability and bc skills. The amount it would cost to rent gear will get your a day pass at loveland.

[spankthepow]

Anyone make it up there recently? I'll be there tomorrow around 10:30 (asian guy with a Venture split) ask for change.

[Deep is Good]

Was up there Sunday this site says 7" but I was at least boot deep all day and definatley some deeper areas than that. Great day light snow for spring time. And it was snowing all day started dumping good while we were leaving. Hope this helps.

[IRideCO]

Headed up there tomorrow around 8. Green jacket and yellow pants. Ask for change.

[maloneSTAR]

MASSIVE slide in mines 1 and 2 on friday. the whole thing went, guy got out okay. scary shit. we skied the shoulder this morning and went down into the debris field. made me feel so insignificant standing at the end of that gully.

pictures to come if no one beats me to it

[maloneSTAR]

Front on view of Mines 1 and 2


Little bit of a side shot


Looking down the gully where there used to be a patch of 6-8 foot trees.


Looking back up the gully at the runout. Scary shit, made me feel very insignificant.

Be careful out there.

[stupendous man]

MASSIVE slide in mines 1 and 2 on friday. the whole thing went, guy got out okay. scary shit. we skied the shoulder this morning and went down into the debris field. made me feel so insignificant standing at the end of that gully.

pictures to come if no one beats me to it

wow. thanks for the pics. did you find out how the slide was triggered and how the skier got out?

how was the shoulder to ski, I've been meaning to try that line.

[maloneSTAR]

We talked with a few guys from CAIC who were checking it out on Saturday and they said that you could have easily missed the weak layer if you were looking for it. The CAIC report says it was a depth hoar layer, I assume its probably from January or so given the depth of the crown. There were some tracks heading into the skiers right side of the slide, and they seemed to think that's where the skier triggered it. It was shallower over on that side (1-2') and he was able to put more pressure on the weak layer. It propagated all the way across. Average crown was about 4' and I think the biggest part was pushing 9'. The CAIC guys said that the skier refused to speak to them about how it all went down, but that's what they seemed to have gathered from their observations. Others we spoke to were saying it was 40+ feet deep at parts in the gully at the bottom. Thank God the guy didn't get caught.

On the other hand, the shoulder was still really soft, even after a few warm sunny days with no new snow. However, you have to bootpack out of the gully because its near impossible to ski over the avy debris and the 7-mile trail is a little on the icy side. There were damn-near refrigerator sized chunks in the runout.

[maloneSTAR]

CAIC: http://avalanche.state.co.us/obs/obs...hp?obs_id=7608

[Franz]

good lord. thats a huge freaking slide. I bet that skier had to go change his shorts after managing to get away from that one. I know i would.

[Poop~Ghost]

good lord. thats a huge freaking slide. I bet that skier had to go change his shorts after managing to get away from that one. I know i would.

Yeah, drive directly to bar and drink till you see god. That is a dodged bullet.

[no show]

Anyone headed out to BP tomorrow...or Loveland or really anything else in the front range? PM me if you want to meet up.

[GoldenBear]

The CAIC guys said that the skier refused to speak to them about how it all went down, but that's what they seemed to have gathered from their observations.

This really gets to me. It is not illegal to trigger an avalanche. People can learn from mistakes and the report can be complete with the report from the person that triggered the slide. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE let the CAIC know when something goes down and give them details so they can utilize that information. They are not going to arrest you or spank you. They may even give you some feedback if you are willing to accept it!

[PowTrout]

Anyone up there today?