PNW 2022/2023 Season - It's Triple Dip La Niña Time!

[Buster Highmen]

Hi PNW Mags. I’m visiting Seattle for work this week and taking the day off Thursday to ski Crystal. Would have been fun to make opening day at Alpental but looks like I will miss that by one day. Still, it will be fun to try a new mountain as I’ve not skied Crystal before (last time in the PNW was like 2010).

PM me if you’re interested in having a tagalong for some laps this Thursday. I am looking forward to exploring Crystal.

I'm honored by the friend request; normally fellow idiots just fire off a PM.
I'm old and picky and if I go Thursday, I think I'll be with my wife for her first day so we will be slow.

Between the 2 of us, we have over 100 years of Crustalizing, so we know the place reasonably well.

[DanKo]

Nice! It’s my first day out this year as well and I’ve got a big Alaska trip in March so I need to avoid injury. You have my digits in the PM so hit me if you’re on the slopes.

Question for you and the “Crustals”…

I have my BC gear. Is there anything currently skiable that makes it worth it for me to carry it? From what I can tell there is a lot of inbounds/OB gear-restricted terrain…

[altasnob]

I have my BC gear. Is there anything currently skiable that makes it worth it for me to carry it? From what I can tell there is a lot of inbounds/OB gear-restricted terrain…

There is loads of good sidecountry from Crystal. But if you are only there for one day, I would leave the skins in the car and just hike the Throne, Silver King, or Three-Way Peak for an in bounds, avy controlled, backcountry-like experience. No skins required. Just hiking, side stepping, and traversing.

[Fishskisurf]

Crystal doesn’t require probe/shovel/beacon to go out the gates to the lift accessed side country. It’s mostly traversing and boot packing anyways. If you wanted to stay OOB and skin up the next couple peaks beyond the side country to what’s more truer backcountry, bring a pack.

[Norseman]

Crystal doesn’t require probe/shovel/beacon to go out the gates to the lift accessed side country.

But they should.

I cringe at seeing race kids and colorwayed tech-moms and Ikonic gapers all getting out there into consequential avy country without packs. Same with the traverses at Alpental.

Just wear your stuff.

[Fishskisurf]

But they should.

I'd be in favor of that as well. Beacon checkpoint at the first gate. Even just as a means to tame the traffic out there, not withstanding the safety aspect. The one that gets me is people standing on the cornices at the beach/boxcar.

[Chugachjed]

Is bobby still in lot 4 at Alpy? Might be there next week would love to get some turns in with the Alpy squad.

[Buster Highmen]

Nice! It’s my first day out this year as well and I’ve got a big Alaska trip in March so I need to avoid injury. You have my digits in the PM so hit me if you’re on the slopes.

You sent me a friend request, but I didn't see any cell #, so I sent you a PM with my digits.

Question for you and the “Crustals”…

I have my BC gear. Is there anything currently skiable that makes it worth it for me to carry it? From what I can tell there is a lot of inbounds/OB gear-restricted terrain…

There is worthy stuff out there, you might have to work a little for it. THings did get warm Sunday, so some of the sun exposed stuff is a little set up. As others have covered, there are no gear requirements, though there should be,

[Norseman]

Is bobby still in lot 4 at Alpy? Might be there next week would love to get some turns in with the Alpy squad.

He's there, or eating sushi in the Ch2 topshack.

[altasnob]

But they should.

I cringe at seeing race kids and colorwayed tech-moms and Ikonic gapers all getting out there into consequential avy country without packs. Same with the traverses at Alpental.

Just wear your stuff.

Fuck no. We live in enough of a nanny country as it is. This is in bounds, avy controlled terrain. Sure, you could still die in a slide or tree well. But that's true of the entire mountain. The main reason I buy a pass to Crystal is to ski this area without any pack, which I prefer. And since I am mostly skiing out there solo, avy gear is worthless. If I am wearing a pack, I want to be skinning somewhere. I don't care if others want to wear a pack, and most my friends wear packs everywhere. But don't force a pack on everyone.

[thefortrees]

^^^ Bro, you are so hardcore.

The gear in the pack isn’t for helping yourself, it’s for helping out somebody else


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[phatty]

^^^ Bro, you are so hardcore.

The gear in the pack isn’t for helping yourself, it’s for helping out somebody else


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

I had typed something a couple of times, but deleted it. I skied Alpental backcountry for years without a pack. 2 seasons ago, I was with thefortrees and Sir Vic when SVS was caught in a slide, carried over a cliff and fully buried. Luckily we were able to spot his skis without a beacon and probe, but because thefortrees and SVS were carrying packs, we were able to get him unburied quickly. I felt like I let them down not having a shovel. I also could really have used some extra layers to help SVS while we waited the 2 hours for ski patrol.

I still hate skiing with a pack, but I view it very differently after that experience. It had nothing to do with me being rescued. It's all about helping someone else with any personal benefit being a side benefit.

[Norseman]

Fuck no. We live in enough of a nanny country as it is. This is in bounds, avy controlled terrain. Sure, you could still die in a slide or tree well. But that's true of the entire mountain. The main reason I buy a pass to Crystal is to ski this area without any pack, which I prefer. And since I am mostly skiing out there solo, avy gear is worthless. If I am wearing a pack, I want to be skinning somewhere. I don't care if others want to wear a pack, and most my friends wear packs everywhere. But don't force a pack on everyone.

Now we know who lost their mind at the BBowl ticket window upon learning the beacon requirement for ch9

I've been involved in inbounds avalanches, too. And no, not all inbounds terrain carries the same risk.

If freedom fighters like yourself would just carry the appropriate gear when they're entering more serious terrain instead of treating it all the same, I'd be more comfortable. But that's just, like, my opinion, man.

[altasnob]

I've never skied Bridger Bowl (only been there in the summer). But Southback is not the same as the ridge. Unlike the ridge that has exclusively steep, rocky terrain, Southback is mostly mellow, wide open, bowls.

I don't think ever in the history of Crystal has there been an avy that buried, or even partially buried someone while Southback was open and being patrolled. The biggest risk out there is accidentally falling off a rock or crashing into a tree or tree well. Neither of which a pack would do jack shit.

I normally am on a solid snowboard out there. Unless you have skins, and touring bindings, having avy gear is almost worthless if there is a slide as it will be a wallow fest to get anywhere to assist.

What do you want Crystal to do, put a patroller at the start of the hike turning people away that don't look like TGR bro brahs? Are Crystal's lift tickets and passes not already expensive enough for you? Those racer kids and Ikon tech moms should be able to ski out in Southback too. There's blue square bowls out there that are a perfect way to introduce a kid to bigish mountain powder skiing. And you don't need your 10 year old decked out like he's a little Seth Morrison wannabe.

Alpental Back Bowls are not a good comparison to Crystal Southback. It's way easier to accidentally get yourself in harry terrain, and more difficult to get around the harry terrain if you find yourself somewhere you don't want to be, at Alpental. It's also just more convoluted, cliffy, and densely treed than Southback (and shittier snow). Your risk of avalanche or tree well death at Alpental Back Bowls is way, way, higher than Crystal Southback. Plus, you don't have to worry as much about solid snowboarders out there as it is such a pain in the ass to get there on a snowboard. If you Karens want start your virtuous petition to require gear to ski Alpental Back Bowls, go for it. I don't ski there much. But stay away from Crystal with these ideas.

[thefortrees]

For as much hating as you do on tgr bro brahs, you sure do act like one.

I see nothing wrong with slowing people down and forcing them to think twice.

What’s the problem with teaching 10 yr old kids a bit more respect for snow and big terrain?

It might even save their lives when they get older and visit places like Alta, your apparent namesake.

[MagnificentUnicorn]

Who is this harry that frequents the Alpental back bowls.

Hey altaslob, you’re not the final arbiter of anything, people can talk about anything they want to.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[The AD]

I cringe at seeing race kids and colorwayed tech-moms

Colorwayed? That's a new one to me. What do you mean in this context?

[altasnob]

I see nothing wrong with slowing people down and forcing them to think twice.

What’s the problem with teaching 10 yr old kids a bit more respect for snow and big terrain?

Because I am a firm believer that any laws or rules, whether they are at a ski area, or any other place in society, should be the least restrictive as necessary to accomplish the goals.

If Alterra took up Norseman on his idea to require a pack to ski Southback, it would be dumb as fuck. Most of the days, Southback is packed powder with even some moguls forming. But Alterra, with their army of risk averse attorneys, would love to put a person up there daily making sure everyone is "safe." And they would gladly charge you for this service. Maybe they will start making you buy an extra pass to ski Southback. How about a mandatory orientation video?

This idea that solo snowboarding Altasnob needs a pack to help others is just plain silly as well. On an typical run at Southback, I don't have anyone around me within a thousand feet. I am listening to music and pretty stoned. And the run takes about 2 minutes. Even if someone did get caught in a slide around me or stuck in a tree well, I wouldn't know it.

You don't need to worry about everyone else on Earth. Worry about yourself. Let people make up their own mind on what risks they are willing to take, so long as their choices aren't harming anyone else.

[Norseman]

What do you want Crystal to do, put a patroller at the start of the hike turning people away that don't look like TGR bro brahs?

Beacon beep to load Campbell chair. No beep, ski down to Foreskin Queen where you can let your jacket flap freely.

With a sign at the loading ramp that says, "Are you prepared to dig out Little Johnny when you sluff him into the flats? At least we can find his beeping corpse. Wear your shit."

I dunno man, maybe it's not feasible at a place like Mt Dweebus due to layout and moron quotient. But it works elsewhere.

I don't like to wear a fat pack, either. Black Vest Club!

[2FUNKY]

Riff and power sauce killing it on the previous page.
This page has the flappage.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[Norseman]

Colorwayed? That's a new one to me. What do you mean in this context?

I made it up.

You know, matching kit from an expensive brand in this year's trending colors. Perfect fit. Nice ass evident even through the goretex. One hairsprayed lock stylishly "escaping" the hat/helmet.

[2FUNKY]

Mmmmmm, colorwayed milfs…


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[::: :::]

FWIW, i see more beacons worn at xtal than anywhere in OR despite AS’s “youcanttellmewhattodo” whinnying




(why is it always the “personal responsibility” crowd that rejects acting responsibly, especially when someone suggests that everyone improve their own safety & worse the safety of others?)

[altasnob]

Beacon beep to load Campbell chair.

Jesus Christ. A beacon to ride a chairlift? Only an American could think of something so stupid.

Go ski in far left, socialist republic that is Europe where they let you ski anywhere you want, and do anything you want. That's the way it should be. Not the nanny state that is American skiing.

[Norseman]

Jesus Christ. A beacon to ride a chairlift? Only an American could think of something so stupid.

Not my idea, Freedom Fighter. That's how it works at Silverton and Bridger, maybe elsewhere.