EAST COAST ROLL CALL #8 14/15 A NEW HOPE

[thin cover]

Nice viddy TC! Looks like the snowpack is settling in.

Thanks Rob! yeah the deep skiing is gone. Still putting trenches in but not blinding snow of the last couple weeks.

[JerseyDave]

Thanks Rob! yeah the deep skiing is gone. Still putting trenches in but not blinding snow of the last couple weeks.

Nice Garden. Lower angles working good now, steeps still skiing great, even in the hemlocks. Snow has consolidated with minimal wind fuck at lower elevations. Still very consistent, buttery snow. We are so far off the ground, even down low, skiing is fast and aggressive! More on the way.... http://madriverglenweather.blogspot.com/

[strawjack]

That looks like a fun zone!

Tunes

[JerseyDave]

Of the many thoughtful remarks, this one is both stern and considerate. I am somewhat less considerate and in this case, Columbo-like " I just ask myself a question, what about the motivation?"

It may turn out to be nothing more than extreme hubris, but there other things far less straightforward. Recalling Waterman, at least he left no doubt of his intentions.

Into the Garden....we all end up there.
"Ms. Waterman said that she and her husband tried not to preach, but instead emphasized ''the spirit of how people should come to the mountains.'' He expressed great disappointment to his wife in his failure to persuade others to leave the mountains unspoiled. "
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...ing_the_Garden

[chriscarleton]

I found that climbing on the fish scales on previously tracked paths works really well for my Charger BCs. Following both snowshoers or snowmobile tracks increases the pitch that they can handle going up.

My Vector BCs are quickly becoming my favorite skis. So many great adventures on them. Around the neighborhood to the whites, they are a super fun an versatile ski (that you can actually ski on. Would be interested to see if there is a difference in grip between the Charger and Vector. It would seem the Chargers would grip better since the surface area the fish scale area is bigger.

[therudeness]

what are the thoughts on a simple voile 3-pin binding on a vector BC?

used to have a copy of this book years ago. somehow lost it, but just ordered one used on amazon

[neufox47]

Dave Lottman defended her and her tactics in a blog. The guy knows a hell of a lot more about climbing washington in -80 windchill than I. Basically if the winds were out of the SW as forecasted she may have been ok.

[strawjack]

Dave Lottman defended her and her tactics in a blog. The guy knows a hell of a lot more about climbing washington in -80 windchill than I. Basically if the winds were out of the SW as forecasted she may have been ok.

I didn't read it that way, but I certainly agree with what he's saying.

It's similar to what I was told about taking a boat out to sea by my friends dad. Head straight out for a bit and then turn around and see what it's like heading back in. That applies to a lot of outdoor adventures when wind is involved.

[Peruvian]

For you free-heeling freaks that like to go fast, just a reminder that this Sunday is the 30th annual tele fest at Bromley.

The morning starts out with a very friendly and fun tele race. Gates, a jump, and a reipeløkke. In the afternoon there are lessons, clinics, and posses buzzing all over the mountain.

http://www.bromley.com/upload/photos...efest_2015.pdf

Oh and the raffle is usually quite good! We've won skis, bindings, shirts, hats, etc. over the years.

[robrox]

Having walked off Odel's across the Garden in staeady 80-85 mph winds, I'll say that a broken trecking pole would be a serious problem for a slender person carrying a large pack. A 120 mph gust knocked me flat below windy corner...then pushed me along for a bit, just for good measure. At 190 pounds and wearing a 40L pack I was thrashed by the wind. We were two hours between Odels and the trees on the LH winter route. Crampons sparking and having breath sucked out of us. We seriously considered roping up.

Attempting that sort of crossing solo with a 65-80L pack is nuts...said the nut.

[Bottleman]

The Bottlewoman proving she knows from brambles.

[BassBone]

The Bottlewoman proving she knows from brambles.

...sure hope the foreground is part of that running joke.

[MyNameIsAugustWest]

Stupid question - did the mountain and/or volunteers clear out the woods skier's left on Sorcerer? It's much more open than I remember it being in previous years (Sunday was my first time up there this season).

Yes...........

And many other areas. Come on up any weekend in the summer or fall and you, too can be a part of the solution. What a great mountain that not only allows it but encourages it. We don't cut down trees, but will remove saplings and low branches that are in the way. Given this year's snowpack, we need to get longer loppers for the branches.

[Vt-Freeheel]

Getting mine, this is going to be an awesome spring season and no one does it better than the BEAST. Who else is in?

Will also be heading East during the migration, feeling great this year.

Sorry to learn of the hiker - condolences to family and friends!

Passing along some info from Killington:
Unlimited Turns, Unlimited Spring
Best Price Through February 28, 2015

Yeah, the party scene is great, but so is the skiing and riding. Get your NOR'BEASTER Spring Season Pass for unlimited access to the slopes starting March 14, 2015 through the very last day of the season, which with any luck could be into June! Plus, your Spring Pass is also valid at Pico Mountain from March 14 - 29, 2015.
Through February 28, 2015 $179
March 1, 2015 and Later $199
Killington Pass/Card Holder Upgrade

For current Killington Express Card Holders, Killington Midweek Season Pass Holders and Pico Season Pass Holders purchase the NOR'BEASTER Spring Pass for $179 any time. Upgrade available at any ticket window.

More Information

Guests may apply up to TWO unused K-Tickets to the purchase of a NOR'BEASTER Spring Pass beginning March 1, 2015.
Free K-tickets are not eligible to be applied for this offer.
Unused K-Tickets may not be applied towards a Spring Pass prior to March 1, 2015.
As of March 14, guests are invited to upgrade their 1-day ticket to a NOR'BEASTER Spring Pass by paying the difference. Tickets are eligible for this upgrade only on the date they have been purchased.
The Spring Pass is non-refundable.
The Spring Pass is not valid prior to March 14, 2015; pass is valid at lifts from March 14 until closing, hopefully into June, conditions/weather permitting.
Price does not include 7% Vermont State and local sales tax.

Save 20% on Lodging

With your NOR'BEASTER Spring Pass, it's not just about getting the most spring turns - you also enjoy a 20% discount on select lodging at Killington Resort managed lodging properties. We have so many events planned that you'll definitely want to stay over.

Call 800-621-MTNS or killington.com

You know you want one

[Bottleman]

"running joke"

Perhaps you did not get the memo - SKIING IS SERIOUS BIDNESS!!!!!

[AmmergauerTele]

Should be a blast - what boots are you driving the skis with?

[t-the-east]

what are the thoughts on a simple voile 3-pin binding on a vector BC?

used to have a copy of this book years ago. somehow lost it, but just ordered one used on amazon

I thought about this too. I have dynafits on my vector bcs, and half the time i'm out messing around in the woods, I don't lock down the heel on the downhill, unless its really steep. The one thing I wish I had is some resistance on the heel. Like sidestepping up a short steep section, I end up doing a weird ski lunge type manuever, but it works...

Overall, they get me out so much more than my other setup with just skins. they are so fun. I dont have a fancy gobro, and my old shitty iphone is stuck on fisheye somehow, but, this is one of the high peaks behind my house 2 days ago

on a side note, went to gore today for the first time in 2 years, man I forgot how fun that place is! Parked at the ski bowl with 20 other cars, about 50 ft from the lift. skied glades all day, and 2 groomers. so fun. with all that said, I got zero pics except for my 9 year old dropping into the half pipe on our last run

[avitas]

anyone else getting hammered with snow ?
I just expect that you're getting hammered, so I'm not asking that.

Probably at 5-6 inches in the last 3 hours here. First hour was about 3".
It's nice gettin snow.

Lookin forward to the morning!

[therudeness]

i've got some Monashees lace-ups as well as some old Scarpa T2's that I use. I gave the Madshus Epoch 185's to my GF and bought some 189 Fischer S-Bounds 98 last year. Really similar as far as I can tell.

It would be nice to have something that floats a bit more but i'll keep using these unless I get a sweet deal on some Vector BC's. Got a hut-to-hut trip in the monts Valin comin up and this video got me thinking about it. I did 80km on my dynafits a few years ago on the Logan hut-to-hut, and was glad to have them for the skiing, but I think i'll go with the T2's and the Fischers for this one

Should be a blast - what boots are you driving the skis with?

[Jonathan S.]

Dave Lottman defended her and her tactics in a blog. The guy knows a hell of a lot more about climbing washington in -80 windchill than I. Basically if the winds were out of the SW as forecasted she may have been ok.

So she may have been okay ... with her plan to ... start at the App parking lot ... then summit Madison, Adams, Jefferson, Washington ... and meet her husband at the Cog only thirteen hours later ... with that kind of forecast for the weather to deteriorate throughout the day ... so much that according to Rick Wilcox:

[...] even our best climbers could not get above tree line.

More here:
http://www.conwaydailysun.com/newsx/...offers-lessons
http://www.unionleader.com/article/2...19179/0/SEARCH

As for her relevant skills and route-specific knowledge, her experience on Kilimanjaro has been cited, but that place's relevance to mountaineering is summed up well in this Monty Python excerpt:

Now, I ought to tell you that I have practically everyone I need for this expedition ... so what special qualifications do you have?
[...]
Well I'm a fully qualified mountaineer.
Mountaineer? Mountaineer (looks it up in the dictionary) where the devil are they, mound, mount... mountain...

As for being guided up Elbrus, sure, that's relevant for building up skills in winter travel, but not for trip planning, navigation, decision making, and other skills relevant to that trip plan.
Plus the trip plan reveals a lack of route-specific knowledge, as it was pretty much humanly impossible that day, especially in only thirteen hours (lacking even snowshoes), and apparently w/o anything for any emergency bivy.

[Jonathan S.]

Crazy given the conditions. I guess I mean to say that it seems like this was her trip to the Whites and she planned to complete the hike regardless of the weather. It's like those that only get the one week per year vacation and force activities that just don't work right then.
Unfortunate.

Yes, "Vacation Alpinism" -- underlying cause of the December 2006 Mt Hood triple fatality (as well as many others of course).
I've definitely succumbed to that mistake on PNW spring & summer trips.
(My partner out there and I just call it "VA" when we start questioning ourselves.)

[the Cock]

As for being guided up Elbrus, sure, that's relevant for building up skills in winter travel, but not for trip planning, navigation, decision making, and other skills relevant to that trip

Fuck it. I officially quit the internet. Have fun arm chairing quarterbacks.

[masaraksh]

anyone else getting hammered with snow ?
I just expect that you're getting hammered, so I'm not asking that.

Probably at 5-6 inches in the last 3 hours here. First hour was about 3".
It's nice gettin snow.

Lookin forward to the morning!

Where?

[RMacSki]

Is this considered east coast?

Nashville state Capitol Building "Hill". about an inch of ice

[JayPowHound]

Took my 4 year old to Frozen on Ice today. It was her first time in the Garden so I made sure we got there early enough to wander around for a little while...