Tahoe Weather, Conditions, Stoke, and What's Up Thread...

**MrSmith** · 12-23-2012, 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by kidwoo

What is that about one per year for the last decade now for inbounds releases on open terrain during operating hours?

West Face went last year, right? I no longer question the prudence of wearing my beacon inbounds under these conditions.

**powpig** · 12-23-2012, 07:00 PM

Originally Posted by slobmonster

Stupefied nonchalance notwithstanding, are you telling me that an avalanche HIT THE CHAIR????!!!

I got 2 glorious KT runs and was past the scanner and about to load when they closed it.

I saw nothing but heard and was told that the powder cloud hit on of the lift towers and caused the lift to stop & reverse and that was what ejected the guy. I heard he was partially buried after falling but was OK.

I stuck around til almost noon not knowing quite the whole story so hoping KT would open again. I was told they were still digging and got the feeling they were concerned there was still somebody unaccounted for. Hope I'm wrong there.

I didn't see it but an eyewitness said 5' crown, and allegedly it was set off by a boarder who cut across above the Fingers.

And what a fucking junk show on 80!
Staying up in Serene tonight, it took me exactly an hour from DLI to the Norden exit. Big semis stuck left, right & center, it was like an obstacle course, albeit at a snail's pace.

**kidwoo** · 12-23-2012, 07:02 PM

West Face went last year, right? I no longer question the prudence of wearing my beacon inbounds under these conditions.

There's the poulsen gully slide years ago that killed a kid (who was a more than capable skier), the west face slide that somehow washed no one, another slide off KT that their PR department was intent on calling something stupid like and 'unscheduled' release or something, then the patroller death a few years ago (admittedly not 'operating hours')........ Just seems like those guys would chill out a bit more when conditions are like this. I don't really care if someone getting on the lift is well informed of the dangers but this time of year, there are thousands of people in town who have no idea that avalanches exist in ski areas.

Really glad that dude is okay. That must have been a fucking huge slide to yank him off the damn chair.

**Ottime** · 12-23-2012, 07:24 PM

Originally Posted by kidwoo

What is that about one per year for the last decade now for inbounds releases on open terrain during operating hours?

Well, KW had two last year. That I know of. One cold, one wet. Evetually had to close the entire hill down for both so they could dedicate all available staff to the search.

I know resorts are itching to open terrain, and we are all itching to ski it, but this sounds like a scary one. As in, could have been much worse.

As for the unwary tourista, if you want to have a filter, check for beacon at the scanner. Or just keep the lift closed.

**livefreeordie** · 12-23-2012, 07:39 PM

was on the chair just under the fingers when it happened. the whole face above the fingers released... the crown was easily 3 feet and maybe 80 feet wide??? as i could tell. it was huge. couldnt see much but heard it and shook the chairs hard.. good work on patrol, they were there in a minute or two, full probe line organized
heres unofficial

http://unofficialnetworks.com/avalan...-today-114002/

**4matic** · 12-23-2012, 08:00 PM

Props to Caltrans for keeping 88 pretty much open all weekend.

**dvlr** · 12-23-2012, 08:01 PM

Originally Posted by kidwoo

There's the poulsen gully slide years ago that killed a kid (who was a more than capable skier), the west face slide that somehow washed no one, another slide off KT that their PR department was intent on calling something stupid like and 'unscheduled' release or something, then the patroller death a few years ago (admittedly not 'operating hours')........ Just seems like those guys would chill out a bit more when conditions are like this. I don't really care if someone getting on the lift is well informed of the dangers but this time of year, there are thousands of people in town who have no idea that avalanches exist in ski areas.

snip.....

You do NOT want to go there.

**kidwoo** · 12-23-2012, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by dvlr

You do NOT want to go there.

............can't...........help.........self..... ....

Just to be clear I'm not in any way shape or form bagging on patrol at the foot level. But the obviously high motivation to get steep terrain open during weird snowpacks and right after big dumps seems....I don't know, maybe a little too consistent regardless of snow pack history? Wouldn't you agree?

**powdork** · 12-23-2012, 08:22 PM

i always kind of thought one of the goals of control work is to shape the snowpack's history.

**The Dad** · 12-23-2012, 08:22 PM

Originally Posted by snowsnake

Guy who fell off is apparently ok but kt is done for the day. Basically what happened is Avy came in hot off the fingers and hit my chair and the one behind it. Felt like more than the powder cloud. It bounced both chairs harder than shit...

Word from patrol is no one else was caught.

That must've been scary as fuck. Glad you're safe, mang.

**kidwoo** · 12-23-2012, 08:23 PM

Originally Posted by powdork

i always kind of thought one of the goals of control work is to shape the snowpack's history.

Hopefully with flowery language and embellished metaphors.

**Sierra Cement** · 12-23-2012, 08:54 PM

Originally Posted by kidwoo

Really glad that dude is okay. That must have been a fucking huge slide to yank him off the damn chair.

What I was told by a first hand witness was that the wind blast from the slide is what rocked the chair and caused the fall. Which indeed makes it a big ass slide. He said the slide was near the ice fall line where the chair is at its lowest point. Also said the crown was 4' x 200'. All second hand info, but from a reliable source.

**powdork** · 12-23-2012, 09:12 PM

Originally Posted by kidwoo

Hopefully with flowery language and embellished metaphors.

two guests today were lifted from their chair and given a preview of Squaw Valley International Mega Resort's new mountain coaster adventure...

**livefreeordie** · 12-23-2012, 09:24 PM

they def got the whole marketing scheme... "beyond ordinary" experience.

**Driver** · 12-23-2012, 09:50 PM

Originally Posted by MrSmith

West Face went last year, right? I no longer question the prudence of wearing my beacon inbounds under these conditions.

Always wear it.... Good habits are better than bad ones ( or something like that).... Glad everyone was ok. Lot of triggers on the fingers. Snowpack is loaded.

**snowsnake** · 12-23-2012, 11:00 PM

Originally Posted by slobmonster

Stupefied nonchalance notwithstanding, are you telling me that an avalanche HIT THE CHAIR????!!!

Yeah so again basically what happened is the KT chairs are hung so low near the fingers is the Avy debris extended horizontally when going off the fingers (which are vertical) and hit the chairs. I was covered in snow from the Avy when all settled. I'm pretty sure it was not just the windblast / powder cloud. The force of the debris had my chair and the one behind me staring at the trail when it pushed both back and down. Together with the compensating snap reaction back up...was easy to get shaken from the chair. Think everyone in my chair was holding on thankfully. Have an interesting POV video I hit play on after the initial carnage..will try to edit and post up.

I think ski patrol reacted very well. I however did not see the "snowboarders" that unofficial is saying set of the slide. Only saw 2 patrollers at the start zone when the chair resumed and we moved forward. They asked us if we saw anyone get buried.

**gone2alpine** · 12-23-2012, 11:20 PM

There's a photo of the location and crown at Susan McCormacks site, Skiing-Blog.com.

**SchralphMacchio** · 12-23-2012, 11:36 PM

KW roll call for tomorrow?

**I Am Mr. Ed** · 12-23-2012, 11:47 PM

Whooooaaaa wilbur

**snuttypants** · 12-24-2012, 12:16 AM

Originally Posted by SchralphMacchio

KW roll call for tomorrow?

Look for my avatar there

**Ottime** · 12-24-2012, 12:43 AM

And he has a question for you anyway.

**Nuthon** · 12-24-2012, 01:44 AM

Echo!!!

Sent from my DROID4 using TGR Forums

**Arty50** · 12-24-2012, 02:29 AM

It's been said a bunch around here (I think there are several threads on it), but inbounds avys can and do happen. I got caught in one at Kirkwood several years ago, and ever since then I beep anytime there's fresh snow on the ground. A friend got caught in one in the exact same spot a few years later. I set off another one in Lower Cirque that almost took out a woman and would have sent her over some not so nice rocks if she hadn't reacted quickly when I yelled at her to get out of the way. There was the huge one at Mammoth a few years back when all of Climax slid. Heather Gross died in one on Baldy at Snowbird a couple of years ago.

Don't get me wrong here. Patrollers do a kickass job all across this world, but it's impossible for them to control everything all of the time.