Today's Ranger Report

[boardman]

From today's (3/31) USFS Avy Report:

Yesterday afternoon two climbers were avalanched in North Gully. The leader had just clipped the anchor at the top of the first pitch when the avalanche hit them. The avalanche was triggered by a party at the top of the gully who had recently unroped for the relatively easier top section. Luckily no one was seriously injured but the end result could have easily been different. I'm including this in today's advisory because it is a good heads up for all of us. North Gully was posted at Moderate due to recent wind loading that had deposited new slabs in there on Saturday. The party that triggered the slide was not carried by the avalanche because they were off to the side of the suspect snow slope. The party that was climbing below them knew that people were above them but thought that they had topped out. The slide was relatively small, but as small people in big terrain, it doesn't take a big avalanche to result in serious consequences. Soloing in avalanche terrain adds a new variable to the potential consequences of an avalanche as there is no rope to stop you from going all the way to the bottom. Climbing below other people in avalanche terrain puts you at greater risk of being avalanched. We are happy we can report this as a good learning experience without a big price.

[PWDR8S]

Glad you posted this B-man... anxious and eager many are to get up into TUX, we still have to remember this is still March and obviously slides are very much still in the playbook.

So watch out people and play it safe! :cool:

[Cliff]

Yeah I heard about that slide on the mountain yesterday from 3 other people that were climbing in Huntington as well. I am very glad to hear that nobody was seriously hurt.

anxious and eager many are to get up into TUX, we still have to remember this is still March and obviously slides are very much still in the playbook. Well said! There were a lot of people on the mountain yesterday and I saw a few less than wise decisions made. Everybody needs to remember there is still a very good chance for avalanches many places up there. This is a above average year for avalanches, a bunch of us witnessed avi run outs in a few very unusual places yesterday including the area to the extreme right side of the East Snowfield's. Most people I talked to said they haven't seen that in the past 50 years. Everyone keep a eye out and play it safe!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v728/sorochak333/Washington032.jpg

[PWDR8S]

East snowfield slid? Woah! Now that's worthy of noting. Thanks for posting that. I truly hope enough stays up there so that I may slack via Otto Rhode on me b-day at the end of May! :cool:

[pulverschwein]

East snowfield slid? Woah! Now that's worthy of noting.

That right thar's some crazy :crap: Anybody know the angle on that? Can't be more than 35, and I'da guessed 30 at most. Scary stuff. Huge, volatile snowpack, with many weak layers it seems. Be careful everybody - don't let your enthusiasm overcome common sense.

[boardman]

yep, cool pic, Cliffy -- thanks for sharing!

PWDR8S, me b-day is also at the end of May, but I'll be soaking up rays, diving world-class reefs, and drinking way too many Sol Cervezas in Cozumel! Enjoy Tux! :)

[PWDR8S]

yep, cool pic, Cliffy -- thanks for sharing!

PWDR8S, me b-day is also at the end of May, but I'll be soaking up rays, diving world-class reefs, and drinking way too many Sol Cervezas in Cozumel! Enjoy Tux! :)


Who said anythin about TUX? I wus gonna hit the East Snowfields for a day or so on the white beach. Hawaiian shirt and all! Just like a couple years ago. :cool: You have fun but don't catch la turistas!

Hey Pulver.... the incline for better part of the E snowfields is 32... I tried to search for pics I posted a cpl yrs back in a TR I wrote and had a pic showing my inclinometer on the slope. I cannot seem to find any of them pics on this end! :eek: Off they disappeared, into the digital ethers I fear! :eek:

[NtrentT]

4//2/08

After a day off yesterday, winter has returned to the mountains, rested and full of energy. Summit temperatures have dropped 36 degrees F from yesterday's high temperature of 40 F (5 C) and are expected to hover around 0 F (-18 C) for the rest of today. Winds will add to the excitement with forecasted speeds of 90 to 110 mph (144 to 177 kph) out of the west. This is a far cry from the wet and warm day we experienced yesterday. We ended up getting a fair amount of moisture over the past 24 hours, most of it falling after dark. The summit recorded 1" (2.54 cm) of liquid with a good soaking associated with a passing thunderstorm. We can't see too much this morning but I can tell that a relatively small avalanche came out of Dodge's Drop and the Little Headwall has blown out again. :doh: Since temperatures have fallen below freezing, we have had snow showers that have deposited a trace amount of new snow. These are expected to dry up later today. Cold temperatures have begun freezing the snowpack into a concrete like substance which is good for overall stability. The stability issues you need to focus on today are related to new pockets of snow that develop from recent snow showers and wind loading. I suspect the largest of these will be found in the Lip and Headwall. The forecast is calling for under an inch of new snow today. The more snow that falls, the larger these pockets will be. Keep an eye on the accumulation and adjust you plans if we end up squeezing more snow out of this air mass than forecasted as avalanche concerns will be greater.


Sounds quite FIRM today...

I'm not sure how little headwall will be this weekend....... With this season's snowfall, what's the posibility of staying to the far right of the blow out?

[DMC]

East snowfield slid? Woah! Now that's worthy of noting. Thanks for posting that. I truly hope enough stays up there so that I may slack via Otto Rhode on me b-day at the end of May! :cool:

I'm turning 45 on 5/25...
Which I could be on the mountain top...

[PWDR8S]

I'm turning 45 on 5/25...
Which I could be on the mountain top...

It's on the 28th for me...ol' # 47..... give or take a day or three, I plan on being on 'top of the world' then.... well in the north east anyways. :p
I did my 45th on top.... perfect mellow day of sunshine bliss. :sunshine:

[boardman]

It's on the 28th for me...ol' # 47..... give or take a day or three, I plan on being on 'top of the world' then.... well in the north east anyways. :p
I did my 45th on top.... perfect mellow day of sunshine bliss. :sunshine:


Well, I'll be, we share the same b-day, PWDR8S! Only I'm gonna be a few years younger than you that day (43) !!

[PWDR8S]

Well, I'll be, we share the same b-day, PWDR8S! Only I'm gonna be a few years younger than you that day (43) !!

Oh sheesh! I thought I had the corner on being crazy because of that birfdate! http://www.techsourceconsultants.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10020/beatsilly.gif This explains a lot! :p With you, that makes 8 people I know with our birfday!

[tig]

You could have shared it with Saddam!!!
:D:D

[RR]

youngsters :D

[PWDR8S]

youngsters :D

Eh.... it's only a human construct of the passage of moment to moment. Annualized markings depicting birthdays are meaningless... unless you make them mean something. As for me, it's an excuse to celebrate the beginning of summer season where the ladies are scantily clad! :topless: http://www.techsourceconsultants.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10020/dirtysmile.gif


I live by the adage... You're only as old as you feel. Some days, I'm ancient and weary, other days, I'm young and vigorous and full of spit n vinegar! :p

I've been told by sages in the high mountains that I have tread upon this dustball for aeons already. :cool:

[Luddite]

Eh.... it's only a human construct of the passage of moment to moment. Annualized markings depicting birthdays are meaningless... unless you make them mean something. As for me, it's an excuse to celebrate the beginning of summer season where the ladies are scantily clad! :topless: http://www.techsourceconsultants.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10020/dirtysmile.gif


I live by the adage... You're only as old as you feel. Some days, I'm ancient and weary, other days, I'm young and vigorous and full of spit n vinegar! :p

I've been told by sages in the high mountains that I have tread upon this dustball for aeons already. :cool:

Yeah, I thought that when I was under 50 too...
:D
Happy B-day in advance!

[Affix Snow]

I plan on Being on the Rock Pile form May 23-26......DMC B-day???? Maybe a little ealry celebration fro P'8's?

[PWDR8S]

I plan on Being on the Rock Pile form May 23-26......DMC B-day???? Maybe a little ealry celebration fro P'8's?

Sure! Any excuse to celebrate life is fine by me! Only as long as you DON'T earn another purple butt! http://www.techsourceconsultants.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10020/butt.gif :p

[Affix Snow]

Sure! Any excuse to celebrate life is fine by me! Only as long as you DON'T earn another purple butt! http://www.techsourceconsultants.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10020/butt.gif :p

DEAL!:)