2012 Montana Conditions, Stoke and Whatev Thread

**yeahman** · 02-15-2021, 07:26 PM

Originally Posted by Yonder_River

Looked reasonable mid-afternoon when I saw it. What was the wait time? I'm not a good judge anymore since I don't know covid capacity. Snowing nicley currently near the corral.

30 minutes. With covid capacity limits and employee/patrol cars every half hour, you are unlikely to find a wait time shorter than that this year. Who knows what it will be tomorrow, but poor viz helps. PM me if it's socked in tomorrow and you want to take your kid up there, if you're not familiar with it. Maybe you are.

**Gnar_Shralp406** · 02-15-2021, 08:54 PM

Originally Posted by Whiteroom_Guardian

So happy that HW is open. Three Forks this AM = fuck yessssss.

Go fast. Throw em sideways. Repeat.

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**idahospud** · 02-15-2021, 08:59 PM

Originally Posted by East2West

Avalanche yes, backcountry skiing/snowboarding no. There was a woman who fell on the great on in Nov and passed.

A guy died a week or two ago on his sled up in the Swan Valley from a slide, no?

**jeremiahyawnson** · 02-16-2021, 12:01 AM

This is super shitty. My wife works at Whittier and was on the hiring committee when they selected Craig as the Principal for the school. He would take the time to check in with each class at the beginning of the week (pre-covid times), take teachers out for drinks when times were tough, and was, in general, a friendly and kind man that students and colleagues were lucky to have as a leader. He asked me about backcountry skiing a couple of years ago at a Christmas party. I think I told him to get strong riding the ridge and take some avy courses.

His partner had some avy training but I don't think either was familiar with the terrain or its history, and I don't believe Craig ever took a course (could be wrong here).

Perhaps this belongs elsewhere, but I miss the old GNFAC dual danger ratings for regions.... (i.e. On wind-loaded slopes and slopes steeper than 35, the danger is CONSIDERABLE, on all other slopes the danger is MODERATE., etc.) It's impossible to say if it would've changed anything but it's what I grew up with and I don't see it much anymore (sometimes a 'wind-loaded terrain' will show up in an advisory but it seems rare). Given this year's regular and seemingly constant acknowledgments that the forecasters recommending steep slopes be avoided due to the risk of deep hard-slab avalanches, I just wish the ratings would reflect those recommendations more accurately considering the way those ratings are disseminated to all of the public, educated and uneducated alike.

**swimmy** · 02-16-2021, 07:39 AM

Originally Posted by total_immortal

That accident really woke my group up as we regularly skied those trees

I'm guilty but it has been a couple of years since I've been in there. You never know who is on top of you and that aspect/terrain has always felt sketch to me. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever seen a pit on that side either.

Vibes to his friends and family. I can't imagine what they are going through.

**total_immortal** · 02-16-2021, 08:42 AM

I haven't been back there in close to a decade so my memory is a little hazy, but I remember it always seemed like the snowpack would be more rotten the closer you got to the wind scoured scree. I don't think we ever skinned up there.

Vibes to those affected, shitty situation

**Whiteroom_Guardian** · 02-16-2021, 09:11 AM

11% at BB. Wasn't expecting that.

0g · 02-16-2021, 09:24 AM

Busting out the full reverse boards. Epic day for nose butters!

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**I Skied Bandini Mountain** · 02-16-2021, 09:36 AM

Does this berm make my sprinter van look big?

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**East2West** · 02-16-2021, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by idahospud

A guy died a week or two ago on his sled up in the Swan Valley from a slide, no?

Yup, that was the first. I missed that one.

**Whiteroom_Guardian** · 02-16-2021, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by I Skied Bandini Mountain

Does this berm make my sprinter van look big?

Pfft, it's not a Revel. Must be some plebeian low-level systems admin.

**Gnar_Shralp406** · 02-16-2021, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by I Skied Bandini Mountain

Does this berm make my sprinter van look big?

Blending in to avoid being harassed by big hoss in the fancy white SUV. You know the guy.

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**Whiteroom_Guardian** · 02-16-2021, 03:06 PM

Ummm Bridger was just stupid good today.

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**whipski** · 02-16-2021, 03:18 PM

Holy fudgsicles, is there a guy doing cpr in the stokes stretcher hanging from that chopper?

**whipski** · 02-16-2021, 03:20 PM

Is there a person doing cpr in that stokes stretcher hanging from that chopper?

**total_immortal** · 02-16-2021, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by Whiteroom_Guardian

Ummm Bridger was just stupid good today.

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It was really good yesterday, I bet today was amazing with another foot

**I Skied Bandini Mountain** · 02-16-2021, 04:24 PM

Was at BB yesterday and today AM, can confirm conditions.

**yeahman** · 02-16-2021, 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by Bunion 2020

Big Sky was OK. Not nearly as much new snow as I would have liked and poor visibility and lots of tourists. Stuck to Andesite and the trees were good.

I know you don't have a tram pass this year but up top it was waaaay deeper. Never seen snow that deep on Otter Slide, sluff city. Eventually they closed the gullies because it was piling up in there so much. Couple great laps through there though.

The first hour on Andesite was very nice too. Though I'm not sure why they had Snake Pit closed, it was open yesterday.

**Whiteroom_Guardian** · 02-16-2021, 05:37 PM

Speaking of the Covid Box, think anyone has actually hiked up the Liberty Boot Pack this year? I feel like I should do it one day just because.

**swimmy** · 02-16-2021, 05:43 PM

Originally Posted by Whiteroom_Guardian

Ummm Bridger was just stupid good today.

**Bunion 2020** · 02-16-2021, 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by yeahman

I know you don't have a tram pass this year but up top it was waaaay deeper. Never seen snow that deep on Otter Slide, sluff city. Eventually they closed the gullies because it was piling up in there so much. Couple great laps through there though.

The first hour on Andesite was very nice too. Though I'm not sure why they had Snake Pit closed, it was open yesterday.

Snake Pit was open when we got to it, Blue Room gate was closed although the Wardance gate was open. It think its some sort of a test.

I am sure with the wind that it was deep up top. Good you got ya some.

**yeahman** · 02-16-2021, 05:47 PM

Originally Posted by Whiteroom_Guardian

Speaking of the Covid Box, think anyone has actually hiked up the Liberty Boot Pack this year? I feel like I should do it one day just because.

I want to do it too. Talked to a guy today who did it and he made it sound like quite the slog. I guess the bootpack had drifted over so he was breaking trail some.