One tip to meeting Maggots for ski touring

**ptavv** · 01-22-2007, 03:52 PM

I'm pretty sure the reason girlski continues to pester me to go touring with her was that the first time I met up with her to go touring (I had met her once before) I showed up reeking of alcohol and was a complete and total shit show. Like wasn't sure I had remembered my boots shit show.

It worked for me, it can work for you too.

**girlski0912** · 01-22-2007, 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by ptavv

I'm pretty sure the reason girlski continues to pester me to go touring with her was that the first time I met up with her to go touring (I had met her once before) I showed up reeking of alcohol and was a complete and total shit show. Like wasn't sure I had remembered my boots shit show.

It worked for me, it can work for you too.

When you lack touring partners, you will take what you can get.

Thank god for alpine pronghorn moving to portland...

**ptavv** · 01-22-2007, 04:16 PM

You know your life would be a lot more boring without me.

**rideit** · 01-22-2007, 04:52 PM

'touring', hunh?

Is that what the kewl kids are calling it these days?

**Trackhead** · 01-22-2007, 06:13 PM

Originally Posted by rideit

'touring', hunh?

Is that what the kewl kids are calling it these days?

Well, it's easier than sidecountry, backcountry, frontcountry, ski mountaineering, ski alpinism, glisse alpinism.....................on and on.

**Cyber Cop** · 01-22-2007, 06:25 PM

I bet Fritz would just be happy I brought my bacon. He wouldn't be bitchin if I didn't know how to use it.

**shera** · 01-22-2007, 06:30 PM

Cool thread - tell us what prompted it, TH!!!

I'll just toss in one thing on trailbreaking. It is as beautiful an experience as getting the first line skiing down. Do it!!!

**rideit** · 01-22-2007, 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by Trackhead

Well, it's easier than sidecountry, backcountry, frontcountry, ski mountaineering, ski alpinism, glisse alpinism.....................on and on.

Originally Posted by girlski0912

When you lack touring partners, you will take what you can get.

Track, it was a reference to the 'partner' comment...'touring partner'....
Get your head IN the gutter, man!

**Trackhead** · 01-22-2007, 06:55 PM

Originally Posted by SheRa

Cool thread - tell us what prompted it, TH!!!

I won't go into specifics. I just feel some level of responsibility is something I expect of my touring partners. I'm not talking about experience, just common sense. I enjoy touring with rookies, as it's fun to see the excitement they get out of it. But not even making an effort to learn the fundamentals is poor form IMHO. It's not a guided outing, this isn't Wasatch Powder Guides or Exum mountain guides.

I would expect an 18 year old jibber hitting Chad's gap to have a beacon and not know how to use it. But I wouldn't expect another demographic to do the same.

**rideit** · 01-22-2007, 07:07 PM

How about a fundamentalist, who believes that god will protect him from any mishap?

I actually ran into a guy spouting this shit. It was actually NOT funny, at the time. He believed in 'the manifestation of god's will, and not technology.'

Scary as fuck, at least I met him in a bar, go figure.

**Danno** · 01-22-2007, 07:19 PM

Beer IS the manifestation of god's will.

**dk_alaskan** · 01-22-2007, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by hemas

That's really harsh for the doggies... Luckily we here on the other side of the pond have started to use a more humane (Ok, animal friendly) approach... Instead of avy poodles, we use swedes... They also come in handy to fill those nasty crevasses when we still have thin snowbridges

.

FINALLY, someone has developed something good to do with a swede, they can FINALLY contribute in a positive manner...

**divegirl** · 01-22-2007, 08:04 PM

Originally Posted by SheRa

Cool thread - tell us what prompted it, TH!!!

I'll just toss in one thing on trailbreaking. It is as beautiful an experience as getting the first line skiing down. Do it!!!

If we could only break some true trail out here in Cali right now.......

PS good reminder, TH. A probe is essential.

**Danno** · 01-22-2007, 08:31 PM

Originally Posted by divegirl

PS good reminder, TH. A probe is essential.

I have seen it argued that in medium to large groups, a probe is not essential for all members of the party (so long as the party acts appropriately with that knowledge). Not saying it is my argument, but I can see the merits.

**pechelman** · 01-22-2007, 08:34 PM

having just taken and finished an Avy 1 course, like 5 hours ago, Ill make a couple comments.

First, TH and everyone has made valid points and are all true. However, as a knowledgable person, it is YOUR responsibilty to select your partners.
There are risks with finding partners over the internet as there are risks with traveling in avy terrain. Quite simply, you just dont know the person no matter how much you may chat on the internet.

Having said that, I do agree with this threads intention. If you are going to approach someone else to go out on a tour, at BARE minimum, have the right gear and know how to use and have practiced with it at least a few times in recent time.

Its funny, in the course we discussed choosing partners a lot. TGR actually came up, and Im glad to see that this discussion has been started and gotten so much attention.

anyway, thats that

**Lani** · 01-22-2007, 08:39 PM

Beacons: so overrated.
Big shovels: too damn heavy.

But you own't catch me with a plastic shovel blade, either.

**Trackhead** · 01-22-2007, 08:39 PM

The root of the issue isn't necessarily partners, it's common sense.

You buy a beacon, why don't you make an effort to learn how to use it before you head out?

When you join the military, they teach you how to load and shoot your weapon. Without those skills, what good are you?

**pechelman** · 01-22-2007, 08:42 PM

Originally Posted by Danno

I have seen it argued that in medium to large groups, a probe is not essential for all members of the party (so long as the party acts appropriately with that knowledge). Not saying it is my argument, but I can see the merits.

this has been discussed a good bit, but I just cant fully rationalize not carrying the gear. It costs nearly nothing in weight or space.

what happens ive the group gets seperated in a slide or something due to weather? What happens if during the frenzy of the search the wrong person is searching with their beacon rather than getting out the probe. Granted it only takes 20seconds max to get your probe out and assembled, but every second counts.

Doing some multiple burial practice today, I cannot stress how AWESOME it was to have 1 partner ready with a probe after you pinpointed with your beacon. He also had his shovel ready to go so after he found the location, he could start digging. It was clockwork and really impressive.

After that I got my probe out and found the next one.

Anyway, more gear can never hurt, especially if you were to lose it or break it. Redundancy is a good thing.

**Orange Julius** · 01-22-2007, 08:45 PM

yes you should carry two shovels

**pechelman** · 01-22-2007, 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by Trackhead

The root of the issue isn't necessarily partners, it's common sense.

before i head out

common sense isnt so common (unfortunately)

and then recognizing that, just like with making the decision to go one place or the other or to turn around, its also a fair decision to not go on a tour with a partner you may not trust due to common sense or whatever.

i see and agree with your point, im just sayin', like most things in life, it works both ways.

**Cono Este** · 01-22-2007, 08:49 PM

Originally Posted by Trackhead

When you join the military, they teach you how to load and shoot your weapon. Without those skills, what good are you?

And in the Army they are allowed to yell at you and sometimes beat you at night with their boot's.

**Trackhead** · 01-22-2007, 08:53 PM

Originally Posted by Cono Este

And in the Army they are allowed to yell at you and sometimes beat you at night with their boot's.

Yeah, a Scarpa Matrix to the head would hurt alot more than some leather military boot.

**Danno** · 01-22-2007, 09:09 PM

Originally Posted by pechelman

this has been discussed a good bit, but I just cant fully rationalize not carrying the gear. It costs nearly nothing in weight or space.

what happens ive the group gets seperated in a slide or something due to weather? What happens if during the frenzy of the search the wrong person is searching with their beacon rather than getting out the probe. Granted it only takes 20seconds max to get your probe out and assembled, but every second counts.

Doing some multiple burial practice today, I cannot stress how AWESOME it was to have 1 partner ready with a probe after you pinpointed with your beacon. He also had his shovel ready to go so after he found the location, he could start digging. It was clockwork and really impressive.

After that I got my probe out and found the next one.

I always carry it, but I did find the argument interesting for a group looking to go fast and light. It's not even something I think about, all 3 are with me.

**JTrue** · 01-22-2007, 09:46 PM

Originally Posted by InspectorGadget

Me too.

Knowing they were relocating it, I just called The Canyons to confirm where their beacon practice range is this year. It's now up the mountain near Red Pine lodge. In hopes that I can use my AT gear for some AT skiing, I'm taking my avy tools out for some practice.

Went up today and did some touring, found some good snow after about an hour of skinning. Only took one lap and decided to practice with my beacon. The training site is not working, but there was a note saying it should be up by this weekend...

**Rideski** · 01-22-2007, 09:46 PM

Originally Posted by Conundrum

humbleness (is this a word?)

show you the ropes on a non p day

I think it might be humility, but also to agree that non pow day is the whole key. A few people have invited me out to show me the ropes and even offered to loan me gear (thanks G) and if I take them up, it's going to be an early morning, or a non pow day.