Wasatch Conditions 10-11

[BrianH]

It didn't live up to the hype.

Can anybody quantify how much it will not suck in coming days!?!?!?

[Badekoo]

Albeit frigidly cold, I found the skiing today to be quite enjoyable. This is, until my binding ripped out of my ski.

[Trackhead]

Post apocalyptic bluebird.

Stable conditions, smiling faces. What else do you need to know?

Cell phone pics. New camera next week.

[The Gnarwhale]

cold smoke

[marauders]

Bitter cold, but beautiful this morning in Grizzly Gulch. About 6 new inches. South facing skied fantastic, good coverage. North facing was inverted and skied slow. Stayed away from loaded terrain and everything was rosey.

A quick note on everything that froze during this morning's tour: my goggles, then my glasses, then my eye lashes, primary camera battery, then the secondary battery, frozen water bottle lids, frozen PBJ sandwiches, rime crystals growing on any skin exposed within seconds. Yoah! It was cold!

[icelanticskier]

as harsh as the weather/temps can be while touring all over the presidential range of nh all winter long, i've NEVER been as cold to the bone as i have been when i lived and toured in the wasatch. early mornings, but post dawn at the wp trailhead or btf in bcc for example, i can remember feeling nauseated for the 1st mile or so of quite a few tours. craig and i would call it, "puke cold". brrrr, chills me just to think of it. that piercing dry cold.

been pretty warm here, kinda nice......for now.

rog

[getoutside]

esta muy frio!

[Trackhead]

-8f this morning at 8:30am.


.....mixed bag of crusts, dense wind blown, and soft powder. Some small wind slabs, but nothing to be worried about on this SE aspect.

[Mark H]

Giving thanks for friends, powder, sunshine, gravity, and the Wasatch.

[powski3]

as harsh as the weather/temps can be while touring all over the presidential range of nh all winter long, i've NEVER been as cold to the bone as i have been when i lived and toured in the wasatch.

Wasatch is tropical compared to the Tetons.

[Boissal]

Main observation from the past 2 days: 2pm is too late to start when it's this cold. 8 degrees at 4pm in the shade, felt like -10 skiing out around 6pm.

Dug a pit at roughly 10'400, NNE facing in LCC. About 180 cm deep, stout ice crust at 60 cm, facets at 90 cm and another interface about 30 cm deep (fist to 4 finger transition). Column failed at CT15, Q1, popped right out on the faceted layer. E facing aspect skied OK, mix of windblown grabby stuff and dense fast powder.
Exiting White Pine was horrendous, we had no glide whatsoever, felt like having skins on the whole time. Need to wax with purple next time. Time for this arctic stuff to go back where it belongs.

[JTrue]

Thanksgiving tour, skied N aspects 10,800 in Broads. Partners dug a pit, didn't get any results with compression test, shovel shear produced Hard Q3 shear, low energy at rime crust layer. Couple wumph's heard in a wind affected area, no other instabilities noted. Went on to ski a N facing shot into Mill B South, deep hero pow.

While exiting that drainage on the trail, one partner hit a rock with his thigh and broke his femur. Group of 6, 2 stayed with him along with the extra layers we had. Headed down to trailhead and put a call in for help. Chopper dropped off two Snowbird ski patrol with a litter. We met them on their way down and assisted when needed. Partner was then evacuated via heli. Everything turned out ok, surgery tomorrow. Wanted to say thanks to snowbird patrol(APD and partner), unified police department, and wasatch search and rescue for all your help getting our buddy out quickly and efficiently.

[TeleThor]

Good to hear you got your buddy out quickly. That exit can be super hairy, doesn't matter what time of year.

[JoshP]

Shit man, vibes going out to your friend Jtrue. That sounds like a rough one.

What a freaking sweet Thanksgiving to be out making turns. Saw lots of wind transport in upper LCC north facing areas. Man was it cold when we dropped into the deep freeze of north facing BCC drainages. No avalanche activity to speak of, just sweet turns and a really fun day. South facing off of little superior is thinner than expected, and rocky. Glad we got to the road in one piece.

Trackhead, I think we watched you ski that Southeast facing shot while we were slogging to the ridge. Looked fun.

[Trackhead]

While exiting that drainage on the trail, one partner hit a rock with his thigh and broke his femur. Group of 6, 2 stayed with him along with the extra layers we had. Headed down to trailhead and put a call in for help. Chopper dropped off two Snowbird ski patrol with a litter. We met them on their way down and assisted when needed. Partner was then evacuated via heli. Everything turned out ok, surgery tomorrow. Wanted to say thanks to snowbird patrol(APD and partner), unified police department, and wasatch search and rescue for all your help getting our buddy out quickly and efficiently.

Yikes......and good on the efficiency of the cooperative mountain resources.

[grenalds]

It's nice to start venturing off the meadows, but I'm still a little spooked from digging on N and E aspects. Have yet to run into any instability in upper LCC, but wouldn't be surprised to see a slab pull out before the next storm cycle.

[Mark H]

While exiting that drainage on the trail, one partner hit a rock with his thigh and broke his femur. .

That guy is one of the most talented bc skiers I've ever toured with. Bummed that he's going to be out for a while.

[ZachClanton]

3 Days @ The Tee Pee

[ame="http://www.vimeo.com/17222994"]http://www.vimeo.com/17222994[/ame]






Full TR @ http://www.zachclantonphotography.co...ys-the-tee-pee

[Slaag Master]

Zach - what can you tell us about your tp? - construction etc - is it up all year? i'm guessing utah county?

[TheMessenger]

That guy is one of the most talented bc skiers I've ever toured with. Bummed that he's going to be out for a while.

How does one have 'talent' at backcountry skiing? Either you are a good skier or not, in or out of bounds. Staying out of trouble is a matter of knowledge and experience. Everything else is conditioning, no?

Help me understand.

[criscam]

anyone want to get out for a bit in the morning?

[icelanticskier]

How does one have 'talent' at backcountry skiing? Either you are a good skier or not, in or out of bounds. Staying out of trouble is a matter of knowledge and experience. Everything else is conditioning, no?

Help me understand.

1st off, it is no fun hearing of a fellow bc enthusiast going down with injuries. my condolences go out to the injured skier and those that went through the ordeal. a big, good on ya, to those that helped him get out and on his path to recovery, strengthening.

how does one have talent at bc skiing? well, maybe "talent" wasn't meant the way you took it. you seemed to have taken it in a very uni-dimensional way maybe.

i think it may be safe to assume that the injured skier is probably a good skier technique wise, probably fairly snow savvy, probably a good partner, communicator, and exibits a sound approach to terrain and the snow that covers it.

i don't know the guy, but obviously others hold him in high regard and respect him as a skier/friend.

accidents happen, they happen fast and to anyone at anytime. staying out of trouble is not always a matter of knowledge and experience. it sure helps, but staying home helps too unless you get mugged or yer home burns down.

to the injured, yer gonna only come back stronger with a refreshed thirst for living.

rog

[ZachClanton]

Slaag Master...

It was made out of deadfall and canvas. Tons of nails with the orange rounds to keep from tearing the canvas and built traditional free-standing tee pee style. Definitely an awesome place to bring friends in the summer too!

[TheMessenger]

I'm not trying to be critical, it's just that saying someone is a 'talented' 'backcountry skier' is like saying someone is talented at walking, because that's pretty much the only difference between that and other forms of skiing. Its silly. Obviously there are questions of judgement in the backcountry, but saying someone has good judgment is not the same as saying someone is talented as, for example, an artist. But whatever. Hope the guy heals alright. It's not like he is dead. "vibes" :

[AltaPowderDaze]

Jtrue,

hope J is doing alright and got the meds he deserved for putting up with the long extrication. that's one rocky bobsled ride and he did a great job managing the pain. tell him best wishes and feel free to share that x-ray. it's one to be proud of.