WASATCH STOKE, CONDITIONS, OBSERVATIONS and ASSORTED DRIVAL 20-21

[dfinn]

but there was an explosive triggered slide on SW Patsy this morning to the ground, 4+ feet.

well, shit! That's not awesome to hear.

[jtran10]

thanks for posting about those S facing slides today.

Was in line to be 10th through the backside gate but not luck today. Honestly not surprised as the wind came up and seemed to be loading yellow trail around 10:30. Tomorrow AM?

Luckily only waited around for 15 minutes before moving on and skiing.

[mall walker]

w porter went w2w for 2k apparently

ski ya next season

[jtran10]

Some stoke from the day

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[Dshack89]

Was in line to be 10th through the backside gate but not luck today. Honestly not surprised as the wind came up and seemed to be loading yellow trail around 10:30. Tomorrow AM?

Luckily only waited around for 15 minutes before moving on and skiing.

LOL, I was the dummy 1st in line waiting for backside...oh well, win some and lose some!

[jtran10]

LOL, I was the dummy 1st in line waiting for backside...oh well, win some and lose some!

Thought that might be you based on your profile picture lol

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[happytimefunbox]

The bird was empty for a pow afternoon. Can we permanently blackout Ikon?

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[wra]

w porter went w2w for 2k apparently

ski ya next season

Can't believe people are still in there, short memories?
Had shoulder replacement surgery on Friday. Done with it till April so...

[mall walker]

Can't believe people are still in there, short memories?

seems crazy to me too

[Dantheman]

w porter went w2w for 2k apparently

ski ya next season

Scary as hell. Took out dozens of tracks from yesterday and part of the skinner. 12" trees in the debris.

https://utahavalanchecenter.org/avalanche/59519

[mall walker]

even if it’s your first time there it’s obviously an historical slide path, and I have been wary of it over a pwl... that’s my favorite spot to ski probably and I understand the temptation, but still being up there right now seems not so bright to me anyway. still, this season is something else eh?

[Dantheman]

Listen, Dustin, now is not the time time to be snowshoeing around Stewart Falls.

https://utahavalanchecenter.org/avalanche/59466

[jtran10]

Anyone wanna make some turns at alta tomorrow? PM me

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[MitchPee]

Been saying S facing for the win.
Munching a little humble pie tonight.
The slides on Flag and Toledo were new snow that got jumped on a little quick and predictable, but there was an explosive triggered slide on SW Patsy this morning to the ground, 4+ feet.
A NW wind that is moving snow on W Patsy (a huge fetch) deposits it on this slope, and it's 40 degrees, but still...
Having a hard time picturing much old rotten snow on the ground there compared to other exposures. Obviously enough.
Not the only one surprised around here.
Usually don't need to, but this is prolly a good time to be digging pits on S facing.
Seeing what is actually on the ground, not what some geezer is guessing is there.
Here comes another storm with how much water by Friday?
Watch your topknots...

Same, here’s what I was trying to say on Friday.

https://utahavalanchecenter.org/avalanche/59391

[powdork]

I'm wondering if we are going to see some long-time scrubby approaches and annoyingly weedy run-outs cleared to the ground from huge avies next week with the predicted heavy snowfall coming.

fingers crossed! argenta, west porter, north’s below the memorials...

1 down, although it doesn't look from the pics like it went to the ground.

[Phall]

Anyone wanna make some turns at alta tomorrow? PM me

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I’ll be home soon snookums


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[jtran10]

I’ll be home soon snookums


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[9922]

The bird was empty for a pow afternoon. Can we permanently blackout Ikon?

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I'd cast yes on that ballot.

[altacoup]

Porter fork going wall to wall seems totally predictable. SW Patsy to the ground. That kind of changes everything I was thinking. My thought was that with the cold night tonight and 24 hours of waiting (this or the biggest rule that has been completely abandoned ) that south facing terrain would be money in the morning. The slide pictured here earlier on flag are just evidence of people getting on it to fast. Let that sit until tomorrow and it’s good. And while I stick by this forecast ( doubt patsy would slide like that if let you sit and shot tomorrow) I’m totally changing plans for tomorrow. There’ll be lots of slope testers tomorrow morning on the south faces. I bet they have a great run. I’ll be first to admit I’m still to scared

[oldskibum]

Two more deaths in Colorado today; solo snowboarder who deployed an airbag; snowmobiler buried under his sled. RIP

[telefreewasatch]

wra, hope the shoulder replacement went well. Did this snowpack help your timing of it?

jtran10, thanks for the change.

Was glad that we ran backside routes yesterday, good time to hunt the beast.
Try and strike when the iron is hot and all.
More gladder that we left it closed after beating it up with no significant results.
I've long felt in snowpacks like this that the day we go hunting deep slab is not necessarily the day to open the slopes we were hunting them on.
Those are the days we sometimes experience in area post control releases.
I use the "we" proverbially. I mean all class A avalanche ski areas.
If there is no further wind or weather, just pop the gate open next day.
Too bad today isn't that next day...

I feel that explosive use can actually weaken the snowpack initially.
Waiting a day for explosive work to freeze back up and heal is a smart tactic.
Places where slopes are shot with artillery or hand charges actually become small areas of strength.
And make it harder for a slope to slide, differently than skier compacted bridging of weak layers.
Pete Caravelli, who began the carpet bombing of weak zones in Highland's Bowl, exaggerated this.
Thinking these blast "cones" are what's holding the snow on Baldy Shoulder from sliding.
Sometimes these cones of strength are the only snow remaining in full depth slides.

[skifishbum]

mur valintines day stoke




less snow
less people
did run into a og yostmark super noodles and purple skins cat i aint seen in a while
god managed to git paw cut
needs tfw mentoring
if ya all need pt advice or physical terrorist help
the better 1/2's can help
oh yeah and skiing

#seriousbusiness

[schindlerpiste]

Some furkind looks happy!

[muted]

24 hours of waiting (this or the biggest rule that has been completely abandoned )

This is what really blows me away skiing here, and also people skiing terrain that UAC clearly asks people to not ski. Reading the observation/avie page lately of UAC makes me think that maybe, maybe the wasatch has some of the largest amount of highly experienced gaper-tourers across America, and I'm no expert out there myself. They are certainly the least friendly group you will ever encounter in any backcountry zone already, and I've toured in plenty of different places to know.

Anyone who skied West porter or similar terrain should have their skins taken away for the season by their friends and really think about the simple concept of what overhead hazard is.

God damn am I turning into another GladeM??? Sorry.

[jtran10]

thx for the summary TFW. enlightening for sure.

Guess I didn't expect the snow to move back in so quickly today!