MAKE TAHOE DEEP AGAIN ~ 2016/17 OFISHUL SNOW/FOOD/WHINE & STOKE THREAD

[spnce]

just heard squaw isn't opening today. vague & scary details. hope everybody is alright

[markcjr]

Why is Squaw Valley closed today? At least the app says so?

[Jack Burton]

mark see above

[Ottime]

Shit that suck. Condolences.

[neufox47]

Shit. That sucks. Deepest condolences to his family and friends.

[kidwoo]

Shit. That sucks. Deepest condolences to his family and friends.

You get ahold of your brother?

[brown9]

Condolences for the whole community.

[markcjr]

Ughhhh....bummer

[neufox47]

You get ahold of your brother?

Talked to his wife, hes fine. As a volunteer, they are much safer than the pros. Thanks for asking though.

Sorry for the incorrect post on details, thats what I get for copying something without checking it out.

[TahoeJ]

http://www.sierrasun.com/news/fatal-...aves-one-dead/
http://squawalpine.com/explore/blog/...anuary-24-2017

[Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer]

Ah, that is really a bummer. Sad news. Vibes.

[snapt]

http://www.sierrasun.com/news/fatal-...aves-one-dead/
http://squawalpine.com/explore/blog/...anuary-24-2017

Ugh, got some friends to account for. Condolences.

[TheK12]

terrible news out of squaw. very sobering and highlights the real dangers that are faced by patrollers when trying to get a mountain "open'. hopefully that puts our wants -lifts opening on time- into perspective.

[gnarbro365]

Heard possible explosives incident, not avy. Also heard patroller involved was a female. Most resorts are on an explosive's hold currently.

Vibes to the Squalpine team. There is a ton of pressure on patrollers from management and public to get terrain open...hopefully that sense of urgency was not a main contributing factor.

[TahoeJ]

Hearing explosive in hand went off up on Mainline, then triggered a slide. Male, not female. Heard the name but not posting it for obvious reasons. So sad.

They can't finish control work - not that they want to anyway - as they have to investigate the entire batch of explosives.

[AKbruin]

Oh man, that's terrible news. My heart goes out to the patroller's family and the Squaw community.

I'm not a snowpack/avy expert, but here's what I've noticed over the past three days: (1) Sat: light, blower snow on top of medium-density pow; (2) Sun: Heavy, dense snow on top of the light stuff and a lot of wind loading; (3) Mon: Light, unconsolidated snow on top of the denser snow. On most aspects, the snow felt bomber on the lower-angle, avy-safe terrain we skied. But there was a denser, wind slab on top of the ridge from which we rode. I got this little wind slab to break on a 45-50 degree south-facing slope:



While we were up there, a cornice along the ridge broke off pretty big. Interestingly, it didn't trigger a further avy on the slope below it. The cornice break is in the middle background.

[AKbruin]

Hearing explosive in hand went off up on Mainline, then triggered a slide. Male, not female. Heard the name but not posting it for obvious reasons. So sad.

They can't finish control work - not that they want to anyway - as they have to investigate the entire batch of explosives.

Holy crap. If I understood you correctly, it exploded in the person's hand and then set off an avalanche?

[TahoeJ]

Either in-hand or far too close once out of hand. But... considering the common use of the term "hand charge" there's a chance that specific detail could have been lost in translation. Don't want to spread any false information. Not that those specific details matter, it's horrible either way.

[mandudebro]

Tragic end to a legendary storm cycle. Condolences and +++vibes to family/friends/community. It's a serious f'ing business those men and women on patrol are in.

[TahoeJ]

Since it's being put out there now, the patroller was Joe Zuiches. RIP. Sounds like there was no slide triggered and it was just explosive related. Easy to take for granted the dangers patrol takes on on a daily basis for our little hobby.

http://www.skimag.com/ski-resort-lif...-dies-at-squaw

[wolfelot]

I'm so sorry to hear this horrible news.

[stanmarsh]

Thank you, Joe. SIP.

[FormerKnuckleDragger]

Gofundme set up to help with funeral costs. https://www.gofundme.com/squaw-patrol-funeral-fund

[emcee]

Patrolling is a dangerous job which when done right, nobody notices or worse, everybody complains about the lift safety holds. My lift ticket is purchasing snow safety, which is why it's almost impossible to be upset when a lift is closed for avy control (I want to get what I pay for!).

That said, a huge shoutout to Kirkwood ski patrol getting the mountain open yesterday despite all the snow. I distinctly remember 5 red jackets on the back of a snowcat like soldiers as it trundled up sentinel ridge and disappeared into the blowing snow, only to hear the sounds of bombs minutes later.

Thank your patrollers when you see them on the mountain, they're fighting for us.

[TheK12]

Wow. The target goal has been easily reached and surpassed. Community stepping up.