PNW- Stay alert: Yesterday 8' crown in Alpy BC (natural) and Avy death near Baker

**Squirrel99** · 01-02-2008, 04:39 PM

Not really much for cut/paste but figured this cycle might warrent it's own post

Numerous natural or triggered avalanches have occurred
Sunday through Monday. Some large natural avalanches were
reported in the Alpental Valley during this time with
closer investigation determining one slide exceeding 8 ft
at the crown face with several other slides with 4 ft
crowns. It appears these slides released down to a lower
density snow layer above the crust that formed just
before Christmas.

See today's forecast for more info from nwac.us

In a separate occurrence, Avy death confirmed from yesterday and 1 still missing
on Excelsior Pass / Church Mtn near Baker. Topic already posted in Slide Forum.
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...d.php?t=107360

**Buster Highmen** · 01-02-2008, 04:49 PM

Here's an unrelated image that nonetheless provides food for thought:

**Gunder** · 01-02-2008, 04:54 PM

This snow pack is fucking weird. Period.

There was a VERY Large Natural slide on the White salmon glacier sometime Sunday.

Yesterday, Mt. Baker ski patrol used a helicopter to drop eight 50lb bags of explosives on the Shuskan arm and on Hemispheres with no releases. Despite the gut feeling of everyone involved thinking that it was going to go large.

Even after the control work I still dont trust this snowpack.

We NEED a rain event.

**FrankZappa** · 01-02-2008, 04:54 PM

heh. I actually said "Holy shit!" out loud on eyeing that.

I think "Stay alert" applies in more than just the PNW these days too. Got myself into a spot I didn't like in Monarch's side country way too easily the other day...

**Zeedashbo** · 01-02-2008, 04:56 PM

yeah, the hanging snowfield on the rooster went huge three days ago sometime during the blizzard.

**Mofro261** · 01-02-2008, 04:59 PM

We saw a couple of patrollers checking out that 8' fracture out about 1 pm yesterday just above knoll 1 about , inside Sharon bowl. It didn't appear to run very far but it was a hudge face, maybe 50ft wide release off a rock promontory.

They're are a few other promontories along the high T traverse line that haven't gone yet- thus the concern and why the low gate remains closed.

youkneebonger · 01-02-2008, 05:06 PM

jay w. the new patrol director at alpy , mofro?

is the Phantom hangin in there?

plz be safe down there ! thanks in advance

ykb

**RootSkier** · 01-02-2008, 05:07 PM

Buster, where is that pic from?

**Squirrel99** · 01-02-2008, 05:08 PM

Originally Posted by RootSkier

Buster, where is that pic from?

oops- my bad. I could have swore that was Blackcomb Glacier for a minute. Even looks like the TBar terminal in top right corner.

**Buster Highmen** · 01-02-2008, 05:09 PM

Originally Posted by RootSkier

Buster, where is that pic from?

http://www.camptocamp.org/uploads/im...2075005028.jpg

(OK...I think it's Yurp....but pretty stunning how skied the slope was and how BIG the fracture was...)

Edit: I think it's Italy. I got it off the HorsPiste thread in SlideZone and followed a link there to this:
http://www.camptocamp.org/images/110094/it

**scarlet begonias** · 01-02-2008, 05:16 PM

Originally Posted by Squirrel99

oops- my bad. I could have swore that was Blackcomb Glacier for a minute. Even looks like the TBar terminal in top right corner.

I too am interested to see what mtn. it is...I don't think it's Blackcomb Glacier...you can't see the Showcase T bar from the glacier. I think it looks like Europe...but what the hell do I know? I am stuck on the east coast.

Edit, because Squirrel99 edited his post, so now it makes no sense quoting him...and someone answered the question. I did have the Euro call right.

**ptavv** · 01-02-2008, 05:26 PM

Here's an early December picture from A-zone on Mt Hood.

Crown height was from 6 to 10'

**Northway** · 01-02-2008, 05:33 PM

Reports around Crystal are patrol ski cut released slides after bombs release nothing. This is second hand info for me though, but I do know a northway chute slid skier triggered w/ about an 18" crown, resulting in a partial burial, during operating hours sunday.

Also heard about patrol dropping a 50lb charge from a heli in silver basin that didn't release a slide, but a 2.5 lb hand charge next to it the following day that released about a 4' crown. This was prior to initial opening of southback for the year before christmas.

Stay safe, all.

**Yonder_River** · 01-02-2008, 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by Squirrel99

In a separate occurrence, Avy death confirmed from yesterday and 1 still missing
on Excelsior Pass / Church Mtn near Baker. Topic already posted in Slide Forum.
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...d.php?t=107360

Add Whistler area to that list:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/...che_death.html

**Squirrel99** · 01-02-2008, 06:02 PM

Originally Posted by Yonder_River

Add Whistler area to that list:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/...che_death.html

Loose slab released in Hanging Bowl, closed area above West Bowl. Died from internal injuries from being sent off a cliff.

more info here:
http://www.canada.com/theprovince/ne...9-2ce2c9ce5115

**LeeLau** · 01-02-2008, 06:06 PM

Anecdotally, a party released a sz 2 up Duffy on NW slopes on Dec 29th. One person involved. No fatalities or injuries. I didn't see it so don't have any further information.

Size 3s were reported on Cowboy Ridge mid December but this is now old news

**snoboy** · 01-02-2008, 06:38 PM

Rossland area is seeing stuff go up to size 2 as Skier accidental and Skier remote(80ft) as well as some naturals. I know at least one guy who got suprised recently by a 1.5 while ski cutting a small feature. I experienced settlements below tree line this morning.

I expect there are plenty of pockets left to find, and as a result I'm playing things really close to the chest right now. Sad, because there's lots of sweet snow out there finally.

**pollard** · 01-02-2008, 07:48 PM

talking to patrol at alpy today they were not too sure about elevators stability despite it being open. carefull carefull out there

on a side note if anyone in seattle is heading up tomorrow or friday I'm w/o a ride and would split gas and such. PM me

**grrrr** · 01-02-2008, 07:54 PM

They have found both snowmobilers now at Excelsior. It sounds like the second one had no beacon, as it took many hours to find him.

**dk_alaskan** · 01-02-2008, 09:24 PM

It is pretty damned sketchy in the Olympics right now also. Traversing through the trees on Hurricane Hill last week, Jong? and I were causing some pretty nice and deep fractures, especially in the wind loaded stuff. When I was skinning along ridge lines, I to had a few nice mini slabs release--they didn't go very far if at all, but damn, if that shit goes on a larger scale, sadly, most likely someone will get burried and not make it out. Bigger guys like me are going to be the most likely to trigger shit IMO--when you out weight the guy setting track by at least 50 lbs....

Stay safe all, and PLEASE follow your gut!!!! When you get that 'feelin', go with it!!!

**leroy jenkins** · 01-02-2008, 09:38 PM

Originally Posted by FrankZappa

heh. I actually said "Holy shit!" out loud on eyeing that

Exact same words that came out of my mouth.

It is also very frightening how tracked out the snow is in the pic Buster posted. Were those the previous days tracks with wind overnight or something? I sure hope so.

**powdherb** · 01-02-2008, 09:41 PM

Fuck this shit. I'm extending my Utah trip another few days. I ain't touching that shit.

**Zeedashbo** · 01-02-2008, 10:29 PM

FREAK OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

even though buster's pic is from a land far away, the snowpack is quite the same right now. there's a weird layer that even a rain event might not fix. stay off open rollover's and such. it's not terrible, but it's weird for the pnw.