[bdub]

i am uncertain what the slope was, i misplaced my inclinometer (maybe lost it in valdez on t-day??). the visibility was ok, but the wind had picked up when we got on the ridge, could see the drift patterns, but didn't read them correctly (obviously).
funhog, as you approach the upper mountain there is a flat section that leads up to a ridge that heads to hikers left (N?). we were approximately 3/4 the way up that ridge and started onto the face. the more i think about the whole thing the more boneheaded i feel!

[telemikey]

Good post bdub!

Thanks for sharing. I can see how the mistake was made which puts me one up from leo probably... looks like he didn't read your post properly; that or he's a troll.
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White room,
pillow lines,
I rule

[xkyzero]

Trying to visualize the area - ie find a picture.

Any of these come close?

www.fs.fed.us/r10/chugach/glacier/avyphoto.html

http://www.alaskacolorado.com/tincan_ridge_-_web_version.jpg

[funhog]

Thanks bdub...I got you.


the long flat you describe would be behind you in this photo, and you were on the left. That would be the last upclimb before the "summit" ridge. Correct? So you'd be heading north on your uptrack. did you head down skiers left (hikers right) or skiers right (hikers left) of the uptrack.

Hikers left, skiers right of the last uptrack there were 2 human caused events on the steeper portions of the face. On the gully or bowl hikers left or skiers right of the face, somebody cut right below the cornice and undercut enough of cornice to drop rubble.

Thanks for sharing your experience and looks like you are growing from it.
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It's all about fun....

[bdub]

funhog, i am having a hard time getting a bering on the phot you posted, i am guessing that what is in that photo is the south/east side? i headed into the south/west side (hikers left)

this photo looks to be just below where i entered, the view is looking at the direction i skied in. cornices would be high up right out of view (i wasn't under them)

[funhog]

ok I got you, I think. Thanks for perservering. The skin track is behind you. This picture is taken from what I am calling the "summit ridge". If you rotate 90 degrees to your left you'd be looking at the snowmachine side (sunnyside).

I'll see if I have any pictures of this when I get home tonight. I should be able to reproduce a topo.
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It's all about fun....

[AKDOG]

bdub
Thanks for the report, glad your ok. Have to agree with Leo on one point, if your looking to get away from other skiers, then Tincan is the last place to go. There are lots of other places to ski in Turnagain Pass.

[wstdeep]

Good new is you got away with a mistake, learned from it and most likely will be safer for it.

I also happen to think your willingness to share and "bare your soul" on the issue is admirable....so others can learn from your experience with out the risk you encountered.

The only bad outcome I can see is somebody else felt so superior that they had to rip you for trying to help others learn from your mistake........not really YOUR problem I guess.

[wfinley]

Just FYI... you can check the turnagain ave forcast online at http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/chugach/glacier/advisory.html or by phone at (907) 754-2369. I skied Tincan on Sat as well and also witnessed two human triggered sluffs. Likewise on the way up there are a number of rocks (off trail left) where you can test snowpack quickly and safely. Just ski over to them and jump up and down. On saturday I was able to make the top layer fail on one of these slopes with little effort (didn't even need to dig below it). This sluff was obvious from the trail yet I'd estimate 25 people still skied off the summiut later in the day. With Tincan starting to look like Alyeska on a sunny day it's a wonder we don't see more accidents!

[Missing Link]

Well yea, Leo is kinda troll like, but hes actually a friendly troll unless he gets fired up! That happens in old age!

ML

[leo]

frank wrote
[So, people shouldn't use the report as an extra piece of info?] I think reports are great. However the only place in Alaska that issues any type of Avalanche report that I am aware of is Turnagain Pass. I think VT also posts something about Thompson Pass but not sure how current or in depth he makes it. If you want to ski BC in Alaska you should be able to make your own decisions.I think this person tried to come across in their post as an experienced BC skier. I saw nothing there to indicate that was so. Just my opinion oh well if nobody else shares it. I'm not skiing with this guy anyway. As far as the 1988 avie. These guys were all good skiers and as avie savvy as most at the time, however skiing got pretty competitive sometimes and sometimes good practices were not always practiced. Missing Link I guess we have skied together I can't distinguish you by name from several of my old ski partners.
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Pittsburgh, it's in Pensylvania

[mountainvert]

[bdub]

hey everyone, thanks for the responses. just to answer some quick questions. yes i'm older than 22. in my 30's. yes i ski regularly in the bc, no i don't notch how many days but i do have a running list of what the snowpack has been doing since i started out this year. yes i read avy snow pack reports online (when i know they are available) i will use everything i can to get an idea of what the snowpack is doing.
as far as the conditions sunday, they started out w/snow and low clouds. when we go to the summit ridge the wind picked up, and the clouds parted a bit. by the end of the day it was sunny. there were no natural slides observed at any time of the day by us (but we didn't go back to the upper slopes). after the slide at least 3 people skied the slope.

as a side note: i didn't post this to be bragging (maybe not the correct term), as i feel some have that impression? this situation was caused simply by operator error, the more we know about errors the more likely we can avoid them in the future. that's why they print "accidents in north american mountaineering". if this online community would like to see other people post similar accounts to be learned from i would strongly discourage personal(ish) attacks, they are unproductive and distract from the reason for this forum...mainly finding ways to keep folks out of avys. cheers.

[jw]

[gopher]

Thanks for sharing, bdub.

PS: I didn't read any bragging into it, either.