Berthoud Photo/Conditions Thread (2010-2011)

[SILENCER]

Sure looks like it. Nice shot.



Heard what sounded liked blasting around 5pm Saturday evening. Thought it was odd given the time (and the pass was open).

On another note, was that you guys in a suby yesterday morning at Jane? Saw you "park" behind that van.

HAHAHAHA! Yes, it was. That wasn't me driving, I was the longhair in the passenger seat. Luckily, all that damage to the van was prior. Phew. My buddy felt like a nimrod for that approach though. I think he's getting new tires this week.

Come say hi next time, would be cool to meet more mags.

(can understand if you were giving us space after the love tap, LOL)

[climbhoser]

My report would be almost a week old at this point...but it was good on T-Day. Silencer, we probably saw you. I was hanging with a telemarker and a gumby looking dude in a giant down puffy (who actually shreds, but yes he is as nerdy as they come). It was so cold that I am still having numbness in my left foot. Must.remember.heatpacks.

Fritz, when we gonna ski, mang? I was feeling some uber Howitzer groove last week. May have changed, but it was pure sugar at the top of Sam's. The Meadows were cold and wind affected. Below Weeble's was creamy low angle fun. We did one run there and shipped out due to cold toes. I had a "moment" in the hut while the blood came back into my feet. Actually thought about another lap until I realized I couldn't get my feet in my boots due to swelling.

Can't believe how much snow there is this early.

[SILENCER]

When we were gearing up in the hut about four dudes piled in too, were you with them?

My god, that was cold. I took my fuckin' mittens off just enough to get skins off, buckles tightened, etc and went totally numb (with the painful return right before the drop). My hands hurt the rest of the day.

[climbhoser]

Mighta been us...benches were all occupied, so we were dressing by the entrance. I brought my camera, but it no workied at all in the cold... We were done by 8:30 with actual skiing.

[ullrdrool]

Anyone that was up yesterday....did you hear rumbling (avy? whumping?) around 9AM-ish? One was louder than the other, and they were about 15 minutes apart perhaps? It didn't sound right for avy work at the Jane, nor typical Stanley blasting.

We saw the huge Current Creek bench slide on our way down to the Jane afterwards and guessed it might have been that, but eveyone here says those were earlier in the week.

Anyone have any idea what that might have been?

We were up there and heard the rumble. We just assumed they were blasting over by Loveland?

[Franz]

totally have the frostbite to prove how freakin' cold it was on my nose on t-day

[coloskier]

Come say hi next time, would be cool to meet more mags.

Next time for sure. Was just a little hesitant cause the last couple times I asked someone for change for a nickel it ended awkwardly. Guy at Jane last year actually gave me 5 pennies (I had no nickel). Few weeks before that a guy at Peter Rabbit with a TGR sticker thought I was calling him out and trying to start something when he didn't know wtf I was talking about.

[KillingCokes]

Fritz, when we gonna ski, mang? I was feeling some uber Howitzer groove last week.

Soon my friend. What you got going on this weekend? Thinking book routes.

I had the Howitzer groove thing going too. They need some wax before the next outing but they're starting to grow on me for sure. More details coming soon

[SILENCER]

Next time for sure. Was just a little hesitant cause the last couple times I asked someone for change for a nickel it ended awkwardly. Guy at Jane last year actually gave me 5 pennies (I had no nickel). Few weeks before that a guy at Peter Rabbit with a TGR sticker thought I was calling him out and trying to start something when he didn't know wtf I was talking about.

Haha, that's some funny stuff.

You ski the Jane much I take it? Will hit you up the next time we do a double. Like to get a couple 7am laps on Bert, then go crush bumps, flail, collapse, cry, drink, etc. You're Golden too, might work out.

[climbhoser]

Soon my friend. What you got going on this weekend? Thinking book routes.

I had the Howitzer groove thing going too. They need some wax before the next outing but they're starting to grow on me for sure. More details coming soon

This weekend I have kid duty. You know how it is. What're you up to 12-26/27/28?

[CG]

Heading up tomorrow, should be at the top around 8:45. Red jacket, black pants. Say hi.

[Franz]

also headed up tomm. will be wearing grayish socks, black undies and hans-a-marking some volkls. will be with a tall gentleman also known as CG and a stout gentelman also known as chairnone. say whats up!

[PowTrout]

Was super sick thursday and friday... look out for the hip we built towards the end of sentinel or north chute... whichever it is. If you like jumps has some good potential. If not i hope you see it haha.

[mfkracing]

Skied the 90's and 110s today. All very nice - a fair amount of untracked stuff as well. Surprisingly few people today. Tomorrow should be just as good.

Might not want to ski the NE side of Russel though (saw this around 9am).

Hey if someone is a bigger geek than me. The shadow is almost a negative of the crown. you can probably load the google earth data in a design program and track the path of the sun over the weeks leading up to the slide. Overlay directional wind data and temperature you might be on to something.

I might be watching too much Dexter.

[marshalolson]

MFK RACING. REPRESENT.

[mfkracing]

MFK RACING. REPRESENT.

Can't touch you on this forum! Love to hook up with you on some Berthoud and Jones pass knowledge, now that I have some sidecountry experience under my belt. Been doing some DH, big bikes are fun! A tad bit off topic.

[mt_wilson]

Hoping for some tues am laps on the pass, anyone want to meet up?

[PowTrout]

Tuesday looks like its gonna be really good but im gonna be in steamboat. Im heading up to berthoud tomorrow, probably be there close to 10. Hope the snows still as good as it was last week.

[Colorado_Freeskier]

Was up Saturday and dug a pit to the ground just above the Roll. The top 1.5 - 2 feet seemed solid, but the next 2 - 2.5 feet was sugar. Did a compression test and the snow pack didn’t start to fail until about the 5th or 6th full arm swing at the shoulder at about 18” or so. Looked like if it was going to slide it would go big. There were a couple of tracks down the side, but we elected to back off.

[Kevo]

Was up Saturday and dug a pit to the ground just above the Roll. The top 1.5 - 2 feet seemed solid, but the next 2 - 2.5 feet was sugar. Did a compression test and the snow pack didn’t start to fail until about the 5th or 6th full arm swing at the shoulder at about 18” or so. Looked like if it was going to slide it would go big. There were a couple of tracks down the side, but we elected to back off.

Sounds like typical midwinter snowpack in Northern Colorado.

Those facets are the result of a vapor barrier from a sun crust after the first snowfall and they aren't going anywhere until spring. When snowpack is like that, you rely on the bridging effect to keep slides from being triggered. Hopefully it won't go, but like you said...if it goes, it generally goes big.

Thousands of people will ski Berthoud (and other areas with similar snowpack) between now and when that layer is gone, and most likely a few will set off some slides.

[bamboocoreONLY]

Today was amazing, 10 to 12 inches of light fluffy snow. All previous tracks were covered, plenty of faceshots all day.

and hey Dane! the kicker was still alive and well.

[PowTron]

Today was amazing, 10 to 12 inches of light fluffy snow. All previous tracks were covered, plenty of faceshots all day.

and hey Dane! the kicker was still alive and well.

Soooo...what is left?

[ALTAnewbie]

today was fun...
[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzLJoZ_71s4"]YouTube - berthoud pass-second creek december 7th[/nomedia]
12+ thinkin tomorrow might be alright.

[Norbu]

I've got a feeling the snowpack will be a bit sketchy if this incoming storm dumps 8+. Pits on the Roll and Southeast Russell revealed quite a few well hidden facet layers and lots of slabs were sliding on compression tests.

Be careful out there kids.

[FrontRangeDrummer]

Slide seen Wednesday morning in Second Creek:



I don't know who the skiers were. East facing, at about 11,600". Convex wind loaded roll with multiple trigger points (little trees). The crown looked like 1.5-3'. The first skier was very lucky to be making a turn to the right and not the left.