Snowcat rides an avalanche

**Core Shot** · 03-02-2021, 09:17 AM

https://unofficialnetworks.com/2021/...ps-on-working/

**SkiBall** · 03-02-2021, 09:35 AM

Not his first rodeo.

**GoldMember** · 03-02-2021, 10:48 AM

We met a driver at Chatter Creek (I think, don't remember for sure) that was building cat roads at night. He's out by himself, about 1:00 a.m. driving up the road he's cutting in when he gets blasted from the side by an avalanche. Next thing, he's stuck, sitting by himself in a t-shirt and shorts buried to his armpits in snow, inside the cab. I don't remember how long he sat there until he could get someone on the radio but was freezing his ass off waiting for the snowmobiles to come up and get him out. They got the cat unstuck the next day. What a way to spend a night.

**easyrdr** · 03-02-2021, 05:19 PM

Back in the day when I drove cats at Alta, driving in the big storms was awesome, especially if a slope was totally wind loaded. We used to trigger shit all the time. The key is lining up at the top before dropping in, if you are off on your line things could go south quickly. It was always sketch balls being the first to set it loose, then you go for a ride, steering isn't really a thing until track speed matches snow speed, though blade and bar help a little. Good times.

**whipski** · 03-03-2021, 08:51 AM

are those bomb shots in the snow above at the end of the sequence?

**NateDude** · 03-19-2021, 07:52 AM

I'm sure triggering stuff with groomers is key to reducing inbounds avy danger

**Idris** · 04-08-2021, 04:12 AM

That is being done intentionaly, to show off or not I don't know.

In Mikuni Japan on a "too deep to ski" day. I was plowing down one of the runs with the cat and the slope started to slide - not full on as in the video but I wasn't stopping. My biggest fear was my winshield giving way. My way of trying to avoid either the front going under or even worse forward rolling the cat was to rasise the blade to max and pin the throttle - when you are on a 30+ degree slope you normaly don't want to go faster - a bit un nerving as the snow comes over the top of the blade and is above the side windows as you put your left foot on the base of the windshield to avoid falling trough it yourself!

2 days later in my tracks we managed to buy a sled vertically - the skis were below the surface, thus proving how deep our snowpack was!

**skisurfmirth** · 04-08-2021, 06:38 AM

Originally Posted by GoldMember

We met a driver at Chatter Creek (I think, don't remember for sure) that was building cat roads at night. He's out by himself, about 1:00 a.m. driving up the road he's cutting in when he gets blasted from the side by an avalanche. Next thing, he's stuck, sitting by himself in a t-shirt and shorts buried to his armpits in snow, inside the cab. I don't remember how long he sat there until he could get someone on the radio but was freezing his ass off waiting for the snowmobiles to come up and get him out. They got the cat unstuck the next day. What a way to spend a night.

Sounds like you met the old owner

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using TGR Forums mobile app

**GoldMember** · 04-08-2021, 09:17 AM

Originally Posted by skisurfmirth

Sounds like you met the old owner

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using TGR Forums mobile app

Yeah, it was one of the partners (can't remember either's name, now..). Good guys. I've been there a couple of times but it's been a few years.

ETA: Just reading this and remembered the one guy's name is Dan. He wasn't the guy who got buried whose name I still don't remember.

**summit** · 04-13-2021, 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by Idris

That is being done intentionaly, to show off or not I don't know.

In Mikuni Japan on a "too deep to ski" day. I was plowing down one of the runs with the cat and the slope started to slide - not full on as in the video but I wasn't stopping. My biggest fear was my winshield giving way. My way of trying to avoid either the front going under or even worse forward rolling the cat was to rasise the blade to max and pin the throttle - when you are on a 30+ degree slope you normaly don't want to go faster - a bit un nerving as the snow comes over the top of the blade and is above the side windows as you put your left foot on the base of the windshield to avoid falling trough it yourself!

2 days later in my tracks we managed to buy a sled vertically - the skis were below the surface, thus proving how deep our snowpack was!

Wow!