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

[TurxSki]

Line for Keyhole

[grubbers]

Conditions at Alpine were fantastic today. Big thanks to the patrollers and everyone else who work to make sure we can safely enjoy these mountains.

[mcski]

Alpine was great today, even with pulling double duty due to the onslaught of squaw refugees. That line for keyhole was much thicker when I took a look and high traverse wasn't even open! Pow town!

[gnarbro365]

Anyone look at the long range forecast?

[mcski]

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

Looks like the goal was revised. Good. I hope they exceed it too.

[TahoeBC]

3 runs to the Valley floor today to top off this storm cycle







2nd hitch back up I got to ride with two huskys on my lap, my buddy got the 3rd, beatiful dogs but I was covered with fur head to toe when I got out

[neufox47]

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

Donated.

"Survived by his wife and infant". Ughhhh. Hard to get sadder than that.

[Powcruzer]

3 runs to the Valley floor today to top off this storm cycle







2nd hitch back up I got to ride with two huskys on my lap, my buddy got the 3rd, beatiful dogs but I was covered with fur head to toe when I got out

Absolutely awesome. That lap is the gold standard in my book and in my back yard. Thought I'd be crying FOMO when we booked it for UT. But the Wasatch has been all-time. So say the locals. I can't dispute the claim. Thanks for pix Tahoebc.

[gimpy]

all time conditions on east side carson range
as good as the snow is on the lake side, the east side is even better
to steal sfb's line, lifestyle validation season continues

[powdork]

vibes to the squaw family. keeping the link fresh - https://www.gofundme.com/squaw-patrol-funeral-fund



thought i was gonna take the dogs for a tour on a well worn track somewhere on hwy 88 but that wasn't meant to be so we took a walk up the spur. the inhabitants were not pleased. anywho we're not gonna see a repeat of 2011 at this point since they're taking down the wall on the downhill side of the hwy with a dozer.

6er's pic from 2011


and from today in roughly the same spot


then we followed it up with an awesome but too deep for doggies run on powderhouse. if anyone wants to go for a long walk for a short run, little round top is looking filled in

[hutash]

Heard the news while standing in line waiting for chair 5 to pop at Mammoth. As usual people were complaining that it was taking to long to open. This gave me a good chance to bitch slap some of those complainers. Vibes to patrol for doing they best they can in difficult circumstances.

People just don't realize how difficult it is to get the mountain reasonably safe, and it is especially difficult with these intense storm cycles.

[mmmm...pow!]

vibes to the squaw family. keeping the link fresh - https://www.gofundme.com/squaw-patrol-funeral-fund



thought i was gonna take the dogs for a tour on a well worn track somewhere on hwy 88 but that wasn't meant to be so we took a walk up the spur. the inhabitants were not pleased. anywho we're not gonna see a repeat of 2011 at this point since they're taking down the wall on the downhill side of the hwy with a dozer.

6er's pic from 2011


and from today in roughly the same spot


then we followed it up with an awesome but too deep for doggies run on powderhouse. if anyone wants to go for a long walk for a short run, little round top is looking filled in

Hmmm, looks like road gap potential.

[hutash]

Hmmm, looks like road gap potential.

Just don't come up short

[powdork]

there's actually a great one on the pass side. really great. fantastic.

[bobz]

S@T was pretty fantastic today, mostly did no-liftline laps in West Bowl. Apparently the place didn't have a lot open yesterday, which might explain the quantity of not-so-tracked-up today.

[iwoody808]

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.

Nice to se some love for the crossed tribe here. Too bad it takes a death, but it brings avy control into perspective. Next time u feel compelled to bitch think about the underpaid person hiking to precarious places in the dark and wind...with a bunch of explosives strapped to their back.

Look being a ski patroller changed my life, my closest friends are/were patrollers, and I'd still be doing it if I did not live in the middle of the Pacific Ocean so I am biased.

It's a pretty impressive skill set for the paltry pay, a special provision in California labor law doesn't pay overtime until after 54 hours a week, and yer lucky if you can do it five months a year.

Loads of folks have said areas are cutting back on operations, which is likely true, but I also wonder what effect the post 9/11 regulation that says (I think) all route leaders have to have a blasting license? Is this correct?

Back when I was doing it we only needed one license on the whole hill I think. And that was to maintain the magazine if memory serves.

If these areas r getting enough patrollers to earn a blasting license for every single route (with their near poverty wages)it just shows what special people patrollers are. But I bet they don't and that might explain at least of some of why it takes longer to get the mountain open than in the good ol days. Also might explain why squaw spent $ on gassex...but what do I know?

Any pros out there like Mikeyb care to illuminate us? Still no overtime til u get to 55 hrs? All rote leaders need a blasting license? What's the requirements for license?

[TahoeJ]

I think most informed skiers rarely bitch about patrol - or at least around here most of the complaints tend to be reserved for management.

https://www.gofundme.com/squaw-patrol-funeral-fund

Go Fund Me is up to 99k this morning and likely to hit the revised goal of 100k within the hour. Money can't wash over a tragedy but that's going to make a huge difference in the life of his window and baby left behind. Really nice to see so much support. Sounds like there are some even larger donations being sent in directly as well.

I wish resorts would pay them more. I can't think of another job with such an out of whack balance between risk and financial reward (obviously there are other rewards, but still).

[old goat]

I think most informed skiers rarely bitch about patrol - or at least around here most of the complaints tend to be reserved for management.

This^^^^^. I've never heard anyone complain that patrol wasn't doing their job--(except when someone gets their pass pulled). The issue is whether there are enough patrol being hired and whether enough are being called in on snow safety mornings. Also whether management is relying on consolidation over a few days rather than bombing. I don't have any facts to back this up, just my impression, based on seeing few red jackets on powder mornings and not hearing bombs going off in the closed areas.

Re license--when my kid did patrol at SV, which was about 7 years ago, there had to be a licensed blaster in each 2 man team, if I recall correctly.

This is not a new issue. Many years and several owners ago Powder did a story on snow safety at AM and Alta. At one point in the article the mountain manager looked at the routes planned for the day and told the patrol director to cut the number of bombs, due to expense.

Today it's Funi and Lakeview on maintenance hold. Seems like there's a busted lift just about every day all season. I spent 45 minutes on ABC earlier this season. It's not just patrol that seems to be short staffed.

[gnarbro365]

Any pros out there like Mikeyb care to illuminate us? Still no overtime til u get to 55 hrs? All rote leaders need a blasting license? What's the requirements for license?

I don't think the 55hr rule applies anymore. On a normal AC day, everyone is pretty stoked about the OT accrued. I think it is after 8 in a day or after 40 in a week. I don't fuck with payroll, I just receive the check. There was a lawsuit at Heavenly a few years ago...

All route LEADERS must have a Cal OSHA blaster's license. Obviously, all route's have at least two patrollers, sometimes a third if the route requires a mule (lots of explosives). One licensed blaster must be posted as a "guard" if there are any charges laced.

The Cal OSHA blaster's exam is fairly easy, but includes a lot of questions/info about rock blasting, mining, etc. I think as per their regulations, in order to take the blaster's exam, you must be an "apprentice" for three years (read Seasons for patrol).

In the previous 5 years, there hasn't been enough snow to warrant a bunch of AC work at most resorts in the basin, so that route leading knowledge and training fell to the wayside. Not to mention, patrol on the hole has been getting younger. Lots of turnover at years 2/3 (fire, nursing, etc.), old timers retiring, and not many experienced patrollers to lead/teach routes in between.

Lot's of training to be had this year though.

[4matic]

I don't think the 55hr rule applies anymore. On a normal AC day, everyone is pretty stoked about the OT accrued. I think it is after 8 in a day or after 40 in a week. I don't fuck with payroll, I just receive the check. There was a lawsuit at Heavenly a few years ago...

California law unless there is exemption. You can work 10 hour shifts but it has to be by election if it is not designated on hire:



1. One and one-half times the employee's regular rate of pay for all hours worked in excess of eight hours up to and including 12 hours in any workday, and for the first eight hours worked on the seventh consecutive day of work in a workweek; and

2. Double the employee's regular rate of pay for all hours worked in excess of 12 hours in any workday and for all hours worked in excess of eight on the seventh consecutive day of work in a workweek.


I wonder how it works for Heavenly? A Colorado employer with staff working the same business in two states.

[TahoeJ]

I'm curious: do you have to have a blasters to throw charges or just to lead a route with others in the group throwing charges as well under their direction? I assume the latter for efficiency purposes...

[Wobby]

Seems like squaw has had some real bad luck with ops this season. Real bad luck. This is just the latest in a long string, and it saddens me that this time it was actually an accident/loss of life and not just poor management.

Much respect to squaw ski patrol, and I know they must put in an enormous effort to open the mountain after a storm. Its awesome that we get to reap the rewards of their hard work. That being said, they sure could be a lot nicer sometimes. Not that most of them aren't amazing great guys.

Anyway, this thread was getting too somber. Heres some stoke (yes that is a dragonfruit btw)









Went out someplace new today. A little bit of sage poking through still, but actually very filled in and good snow!

[4matic]

4 not firing at KW today? Easy drive for tomorrow if it doesn't

[P-ville Madman]

4 not firing at KW today? Easy drive for tomorrow if it doesn't

sounds like 3 & 4 go tomorrow. I already feel a little too ill to work tomorrow but well enough to shred

[gnarbro365]

I'm curious: do you have to have a blasters to throw charges or just to lead a route with others in the group throwing charges as well under their direction? I assume the latter for efficiency purposes...

Not sure about OSHA regs on that. As far as I know, a licensed blaster is responsible for all charges, but can observe an apprentice. That's how most patrols roll.