Profanity Trail - avy prone?

[yuckster]

With all this pow I'm thinking of hitting Profanity. That's the steep chute just S of The Chin, right? I think I've seen some photos on the intarweb

This is an unprecedented amount of powder but I don't think Mount Mansfield allows for as much wind transport as Mount Washington. Does anyone have opinions on:

1) When to time the trip - I have the whole week off starting on Saturday
2) Can I hope it'll only be cross loaded? Does slab typically form on just one side?
3) I'll be bringing beacon/shovel probe; I've said time and again that I'm skeptical of pits, any suggestions on snow tests?

Snow pits for me are the biggest uncertainty area. I don't think you can get an accurate test unless you dig in the probable start zone, and sometimes not even then (reference pits that were dug on the April Bowl incident described in AIAIRE Avy I course)

Maybe bring a rope for a belayed ski cut??

[yuckster]

Grr! Arg! I guess Profanity is OUT.

SNOW ALERT!

AVALANCHE WARNING! Stowe Mountain Rescue has issued an advisory that EXTREMELY HIGH AVALANCHE DANGER exists in the backcountry, due to the recent heavy snowfall. With continued cold temperatures forecasted, these conditions will continue into next week!

[footlong]

Grr! Arg! I guess Profanity is OUT.

I was out in the notch yesterday, on the Smuggs side, skiing throuigh the trees and found some areas of non-windblown but mostly windblown slab on top of several feet of loose powder....I would be pretty concerned about skiing anything in the open right now, especially up high on the ridge, as well as some of the gladed stuff....the forecast is, I believe, for additional accumulations of snow this coming week which will only add to the situation.

While most people wouldn't think it is often a concern aroun Mt. Mansfield, every year I hear about Groups up in the notch experiencing avalanches, smoetimes significant. The Army National Guard 10th Mountain Division does alot of winter training up there and they have had some situations where soldiers have been caught up in these....

It sounds like you have some knowledge, experience, and resources available to make some smart choices....trust your instincts and live to ski next week...

[172Recon]

The Army National Guard 10th Mountain Division does alot of winter training up there and they have had some situations where soldiers have been caught up in these....
172nd Infantry (Mountain) ;)

Most of their climbing lanes are in the state park. And you're right, there have been a couple minor instances of soldiers getting caught in some slides.Though these lines are skiable, they are prone to gathering significant ice bulges.

As far as Profanity is concerned, I have only hiked it. When I do ski Mansfield, it's usually the Teardrop, Bruce, or Hellbrook trails. I would stay clear of the chin (i.e. Hourglass) and beyond, and possibly even areas around the Nose until the avalanche concern stablizes. To my knowledge Profanity only becomes Profanity below the ridge.