Berthoud Photo/Conditions Thread (2010-2011)

**FiveLarge** · 12-09-2010, 01:12 PM

^^^
wow. looks like he managed to ski out of it. lucky indeed, that could have been VERY bad.
things are definitely touchy out there. and yeah, could get much more sketch if this big storm pans out.

**Rontele** · 12-09-2010, 01:12 PM

Can definitely see why that slope would slide. Thanks for sharing that picture.

**Franz** · 12-09-2010, 01:22 PM

having skied that a few times thats a freakin' ballsy as hell/dumber than fuck line selection for the current conditions, its freaking steep at the top and the rolls in it are primo trigger points that are right above a gully, perfect terrain trap....

fun as hell when its safe tho :0

**skiingalot1234** · 12-09-2010, 01:28 PM

Come on mother nature, bring the snow!

**bngofast** · 12-09-2010, 02:16 PM

That slide was my partner and I. Hands down one of the worst skiing experiences I've ever been a part of and would be perfectly content with never being a part of again.

I'm filing a full report with my photos and thoughts from the incident with the CAIC and SAR tonight, now that I've collected myself a little bit. SAR and WP Patrol were notified immediately after the incident.

For those those sitting in their arm chairs, our friends and us had been skiing that zone for 3 days with no whoomphing, cracking or even minor reactions in the snow pack on shallower pitches (the tracks to lookers right and in corner pocket were ours). Compression tests had yielded fairly positive results with the exception of a reactive layer about 24 inches below the top of the snow pack and 10 or so inches under the now storm snow. This layer failed at CT 22 on a 35 degree slope. With the combination of knowing what the snow pack held, positive indicators from actually skiing the terrain, and some blue bird sky that allowed us to see, we stepped into some larger terrain. One small oversight bit my partner in the ass (literally since it ripped above him) and all I can say is that our route selection had been carefully planned in the event that something like this did happen and my partner is fortunate enough to have lost only his poles

I'm happy to post a full report and photos on here as well, but honestly, if it's going to be the typical TGR flame show, I'm not going to bother.

FRD, thanks for the photo. That's an angle I didn't have from the event. Did you send that to CAIC?

Oh, and can we push to have a CAIC report published earlier than 7:36 for the front range zone? I checked the report before we left the house and nothing was up. An avalanche report published after 7:00 seems useless for a lot of BC travelers who are out the door and on snow by or before that time.

**Edgnar** · 12-09-2010, 02:24 PM

Oh, and can we push to have a CAIC report published earlier than 7:36 for the front range zone? I checked the report before we left the house and nothing was up. An avalanche report published after 7:00 seems useless for a lot of BC travelers who are out the door and on snow by or before that time.

I Agree with this 100%. That or maybe a text messaging service?

**North** · 12-09-2010, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by bngofast

Oh, and can we push to have a CAIC report published earlier than 7:36 for the front range zone? I checked the report before we left the house and nothing was up. An avalanche report published after 7:00 seems useless for a lot of BC travelers who are out the door and on snow by or before that time.

CAIC has a hotline that reads the reports as soon as they go up. I call it when on my way up. I'd imagine that you'd also be able to get it at/near your BC zone since lots of spots have some cell service (LOTS of service at BP).

**grskier** · 12-09-2010, 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by bngofast

That slide was my partner and I. Hands down one of the worst skiing experiences I've ever been a part of and would be perfectly content with never being a part of again.

I'm filing a full report with my photos and thoughts from the incident with the CAIC and SAR tonight, now that I've collected myself a little bit. SAR and WP Patrol were notified immediately after the incident.

For those those sitting in their arm chairs, our friends and us had been skiing that zone for 3 days with no whoomphing, cracking or even minor reactions in the snow pack on shallower pitches (the tracks to lookers left and in corner pocket were ours). Compression tests had yielded fairly positive results with the exception of a reactive layer about 24 inches below the top of the snow pack and 10 or so inches under the now storm snow. This layer failed at CT 22 on a 35 degree slope. With the combination of knowing what the snow pack held, positive indicators from actually skiing the terrain, and some blue bird sky that allowed us to see, we stepped into some larger terrain. One small oversight bit my partner in the ass (literally since it ripped above him) and all I can say is that our route selection had been carefully planned in the event that something like this did happen and my partner is fortunate enough to have lost only his poles

I'm happy to post a full report and photos on here as well, but honestly, if it's going to be the typical TGR flame show, I'm not going to bother.

FRD, thanks for the photo. That's an angle I didn't have from the event. Did you send that to CAIC?

Oh, and can we push to have a CAIC report published earlier than 7:36 for the front range zone? I checked the report before we left the house and nothing was up. An avalanche report published after 7:00 seems useless for a lot of BC travelers who are out the door and on snow by or before that time.

Thanks for owning up and glad you guys are OK. I think this would make a great thread in the slide forum.

**Powder to the People** · 12-09-2010, 02:48 PM

bngofast, I'm glad youins are o.k.! Now, did ye ride that thang switch to the car? Look at my baller post count! Glad your safe and your partner!

**Tube Sag** · 12-09-2010, 02:49 PM

Hey B,

Glad you two were ok. I talked to Sauce later that day and he was still kinda buzzing in surreal-land. Definitely post up a full deal on this, especially if you have any more pics. I am thinking it went on that deeper second fracture layer we saw but it may have even been getting down into the stronger mid pack by the looks of that pic.

Don't worry about the flame show possibility. You guys made a call and are lucky enough to learn from it. Retrospective awesomeness is not really a skill set.

**coloskier** · 12-09-2010, 02:51 PM

+1
Really glad you guys came out okay. Would like to see a full report in the slide zone.

Originally Posted by bngofast

I'm happy to post a full report and photos on here as well, but honestly, if it's going to be the typical TGR flame show, I'm not going to bother.

**Rontele** · 12-09-2010, 02:57 PM

bngofast,

Thanks for sharing your experiences. It goes to show that even when you do everything right, something can go wrong. Glad you and your partner are safe.

**bngofast** · 12-09-2010, 03:00 PM

Originally Posted by Tube Sag

Hey B,

Glad you two were ok. I talked to Sauce later that day and he was still kinda buzzing in surreal-land. Definitely post up a full deal on this, especially if you have any more pics. I am thinking it went on that deeper second fracture layer we saw but it may have even been getting down into the stronger mid pack by the looks of that pic.

It went on that layer we saw Tuesday. CAIC talks about that exact layer in today's report, "Weak layers that formed back in October and early November still exist in many locations on northerly through easterly aspects. While unlikely, you can still trigger these deep slabs on isolated terrain features steeper than 35 degrees on north through southeast aspects near and just above treeline." Dishrag and I saw that layer a couple weeks ago when we dug a pit and skied The Big Roll on the 17th which produced very similar results then to what we saw on Tuesday (Failed after 20 hits, skied great at low angle). Judging buy the way it still hasn't healed after a number of warm days, it's likely a surface hoar layer. We knew it was there, we pushed the limits and got lucky.

**XtrPickels** · 12-09-2010, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by Rontele

bngofast,

Thanks for sharing your experiences. It goes to show that even when you do everything right, something can go wrong. Glad you and your partner are safe.

yeah dude. Post up in the slidezone, keep the full report out of ski-snowboard

**JoeStrummer** · 12-09-2010, 03:02 PM

+1 on this discussion, thanks for posting. Don't worry about douchebags flaming you, we are all just trying not to get killed out there. My wife says my life insurance is too shitty for that.

**bngofast** · 12-09-2010, 03:08 PM

Originally Posted by North

CAIC has a hotline that reads the reports as soon as they go up. I call it when on my way up. I'd imagine that you'd also be able to get it at/near your BC zone since lots of spots have some cell service (LOTS of service at BP).

Yeah, I know about the Hotline but AT&T just sucks so much balls in this area. Why is that hotline number so hard to find on the CAIC website? Seems like that should be info that's included on the homepage IMO.

And by the way, I'm certainly not using the late report as an excuse. We had all the information we needed to have based on our own observations and they really actually aligned well with what the reports said. The CAIC note was really just a hindsight thing since the report that did get published contained professional information supporting our concerns and would have certainly factored in. Today's was up nice and early! That was cool.

**HuckSolo** · 12-09-2010, 03:16 PM

I agree hotline numbers shouldn't be so tough to find.
Glad everyone is O.K.
Maybe you should visit Vail with my bro. Tell NewStiffy

to come to. Get away from WP for a bit eh?

**FrontRangeDrummer** · 12-09-2010, 03:50 PM

Originally Posted by bngofast

FRD, thanks for the photo. That's an angle I didn't have from the event. Did you send that to CAIC?

I haven't yet. Feel free to submit it and repost it along with other info though. Glad you guys made it out safe. Your friend who didn't get up early to ski with you was next to us when I took that.

**coloskier** · 12-09-2010, 04:18 PM

FYI:

Friends of Berthoud Pass is hosting an igloo building demo with Igloo Ed who created the ICEBOX http://www.grandshelters.com/
Starting around 9am Saturday morning.
We'll be in the trees near the skin track on the west side of the pass. Stop by in between laps.

The device works well, albeit time consuming if you're a newb like us. Built one in the San Juans last year for a multi-night ski trip.
Would be sweet to get a few built up high in the BP area.

**bngofast** · 12-09-2010, 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by HuckSolo

I agree hotline numbers shouldn't be so tough to find.
Glad everyone is O.K.
Maybe you should visit Vail with my bro. Tell NewStiffy

to come to. Get away from WP for a bit eh?

Vail doesn't like to play the Real Deal game with the rest of us so swallowing a $100 lift ticket plus parking probably won't happen. However, I do ski free at A-basin, LL and most of the rest of the resorts including CB and Aspen if you're interested! I'll hit you up.

**FiveLarge** · 12-09-2010, 05:29 PM

Thanks, bngofast. I know the odds of your reporting turning into the typical TGR dumbshit show are pretty good, so really appreciate you sharing what you did. Would definitely appreciate any additional details - slide zone would probably be better to minimize flame risk. There is always much to learn/be reminded of from these experiences for everyone. If you opt to not do that, would greatly appreciate it if you PMd me the full report (or PM me for my email). Thanks!

**Rontele** · 12-09-2010, 06:04 PM

Is anyone planning on heading up there on Saturday? Kind of undecided about what to do/ski, etc. and if the weather would allow me to go to Vail, etc...

PM me, por favor.

**HuckSolo** · 12-09-2010, 06:23 PM

Originally Posted by bngofast

Vail doesn't like to play the Real Deal game with the rest of us so swallowing a $100 lift ticket plus parking probably won't happen. However, I do ski free at A-basin, LL and most of the rest of the resorts including CB and Aspen if you're interested! I'll hit you up.

I forgot about that shit!!

I'll hit you up when I go to the Boat to ride with Lofy!