FOBP On Snow Session

[Below Zero]

Paging the Maggot FOBP crew.....

So have you guys sent out the confirmation emails for the FOBP On Snow Session? The first session is coming up next Saturday and no email yet for me.

What other maggots will be in attendence for the On Snow Session?

[hev]

hey BZ. I just sent an email to the Jan 7th folks. Let us know if you have any questions.

[Yossarian]

hev, send me an email would you? Need to discuss the 7th...
Thanks

Cletus

[Below Zero]

Thanks to Hev, Pinner, Foggy, Yossarian, Crinkle, STD, and any others I am forgetting for putting on a great progam at Berthoud pass this past weekend.

Thanks to Cletus and Crinkle for all the great information shelled out during the earyl morning session. Thanks to Foggy for the information during the avy drill afternoon session.

I think Saturday was the point where everything has come together and I think I have a good grasp on using the beacon, snowpack analysis, and backcountry protocol. Thanks again. Can't beat free lessons!

[fondigley]

I would like to thank everyone that helped with the FOBP on the snow avalanche sessions. As a newbie/jong to the backcountry, this past weekend has opened my eyes to proper etiquette, awareness and the dangers that could happen out there. I have been pondering all of my actions and I still hear Foggy in my head, disciplinning me for my out of control steeze as we took a few turns to get to where we were going to dig a Ginormous snow pit for our snow analysis. Although I consider Foggy to be a friend, his strict tone while teaching and critique is stuck in my head. Hev was also a teacher of mine on Saturday, yet his teaching style was not as critical as Foggy. Both of them have a vast knowledge of the backcountry and were very informative.

So this was my first backcountry actual snow training. I have listened to Hacksaw twice at FOBP's in classroom session, and read many articles on the NET, but hadn't done much actual snow training. The snow pit was very informative on the snow pack and practicing with our gear was great. I think I might be too cautious right now, but that is just me not as comfortable as I would like to be with my gear I guess.

My favorite part of the session this past weekend was the scenario. We only got to do one, but man did that make me want to take a million snow/avalanche safety courses, at least more practice with scenario's. We waited to the end of the day, we all were tired, so this made it even more difficult. We started the scenario and we all got our beacons out, switched them to search. I was having trouble right from the get go. I was nervous, trying to go fast and got my zipper of my jacket caugt right off the bat, which was the start of my frustration. I couldn't access my beacon and everyone already had theirs to search. I was fumbling around and then got the zipper unstuck after what felt like 30 seconds or so. We then began to comb the mountain side after finding out they weren't sure where the point of last seen was, but that at least 2 of this guys friends were buried. 4 of us descended the slope with Hev as the leader. He was shouting out directions and the 3 of us were doing what he wanted us too. When he began the secondary search, he was yelling for a probe and 2 of us began to assemble ours. Yet my second frustration began as the probe wasn't assembling like it did hours earlier when we practiced by our pit. But seconds later it was assembled. Next he was yelling for shovel. There was my third frustration, as my hands were so cold they had little energy to even push the button to connect the handle to the blade. Man it felt like I was trying to move 50 pounds with one finger. But then seconds later I had it together. We had found one of the guys, while Foggy made sure he was okay, Hev quickly began searching for the other victim. Probes and shovels were already assembled so it was pretty quick to get to the second victim. All and all I felt it was a great drill. Something that should be practiced regularly. The second your adrenaline starts pumping, frustration can occur, cause you know that time is the key to saving someone.

I am not sure how difficult or costly it was to put on these snow sessions, but I would like to thank FOBP again for getting the job done. Since the session I have been searching the net for new gear to purchase (mainly a few missing cheap investments that could save mine or someone elses life.) I realize that a probe, beacon, and shovel are necessary, but they are not the only necessity. After hearing Foggy saying he can justify going in debt for this kind of safety gear, I concur. I am about to rack up a little more debt, becuase I would rather be alive with debt, than dead, debt free.

So once again, thanks and I can't wait to get more educated.

[lemon boy]

Foggy laying down THE LAW equals shit you'll here in your head for a long time but not meant to be mean at all...just...uncompromising. I suspect that his will forever be the voice in the back of your head that you aren't practicing enough, making the best decisions, being prepped enough and on, and on and on.

[fondigley]

Foggy laying down THE LAW equals shit you'll here in your head for a long time but not meant to be mean at all...just...uncompromising. I suspect that his will forever be the voice in the back of your head that you aren't practicing enough, making the best decisions, being prepped enough and on, and on and on.

Word. Foggy explained, he wasn't trying to be mean, but that was how he was taught and the info stuck with him.

[Foggy_Goggles]

I thought Saturday was educational for everyone. Everyone always benefits from practice and discussion. Thanks to everyone that participated.

Foggy: "Alex, your were out of control going 9-0 into a scree field"

[fondigley]

Foggy: "Alex, your were out of control going 9-0 into a scree field"

Yes I was. Maybe I shouldn't have been the first to ski the whole line, since I didn't know what was under the snow over there. The only good thing is that I have been pondering my decision for 3 days now and will remember to ask more questions to those who are more familiar with the terrain we are skiing. I asked a few like where we were trying to end up at the bottom. I believe I asked where to stay away from, but thought you all were talking about furthur over, where I could actually see rock. Hev said he was yelling at me, but I don't think I heard him, I was trying to regain control and end up at meeting point. I am really glad that you explained the backcountry ski technique. That was the first time I was told about slowing it down. I am going to practice slow, controled turns, instead of the hauling ass, on the edge resort style I have grown accustomed too.

I appreciate all the criticism and am appearantly lucky to have not hurt myself on that run.