Millcreek Avalanches

cesare · Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 4:13 pm Post subject:

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that sounds like a sure-fire way to get bitch-slapped by devil's club -- dschane

frail1 · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 613

Thanks for posting your experiences.

margo · Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Posts: 35

I'm pretty much out of it regarding UT BC. It wasn't always so. In a past life I skied a day or two with MC and wow. I never experienced an imprudent decision from either. Would still follow them anywhere on skis, if they'd wait up for me. These are two of the best, and wisest, skiers around.

Just want to say I'm glad you both are here to ski another day. Take care.

dakotakid · Joined: 08 Dec 2004 Posts: 707 Location: Thalt Lake Thity

Matt is in a skilled nursing facility for a couple of weeks and recovering nicely. Some of us will be returning to the site throughout the spring melt off and summer looking for one ski and one pole. If you find a white Voile' Insane with old, blue and red Dynafits and/or an BD Flint-lock pole, please PM me. I'll pass on to you his contact information.
Thanks.

dakotakid · Joined: 08 Dec 2004 Posts: 707 Location: Thalt Lake Thity

Had a fairly good view of Alexander Basin on a run of the Steeple Chase course with Mrs. DK last night after work. The slope is a mix of snow and ground, but couldn't quite see the avy deposit zone. Plan to get up there to look for the ski and pole the weekend after next. If you find one or both, please PM me and I'll get them to Matt. He's doing very well, sans wheelchair completely. In my humble yet accurate opinion, he'll be skiing in the fall.
Thanks.

wow · Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2010 11:58 pm Post subject:

Appears to me that a person could take

the Alexander Basin cutoff from the Bowman trail and only cross a few patches of snow to the runout.

In my little world, after surgery on a massive rotator cuff tear and dislocated bicep, a month and a half of PT leaves only two more months of the same for a questionable recovery?
May hafta take a walk.
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dakotakid · Joined: 08 Dec 2004 Posts: 707 Location: Thalt Lake Thity

Thanks for the pics and information Bob. We mountain biked Fruita last weekend and will plan to do the ski search this weekend. I wish you the very best in your recovery and hope to see you in the fall snooping around and enjoying our mountains.

powderpond · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Posts: 2014 Location: Salt lake City

DK, That is great news about Matt and good luck to you too Bob!

wow · Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2010 2:26 am Post subject:

Uh, I took my own advice and went into upper Alexander Basin from Bowman.

Didn't know the exact location so I walked the runout below the northwest chutes. Most of the paths had melted out. I didn't scramble up any cuz I'm in a sling, no falls allowed.

There had been a late season slide cycle which deposited lumber and a good deal of snow in the flats below the chutes.
Didn't find any gear and hopin' it didn't end up reburied.
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dakotakid · Joined: 08 Dec 2004 Posts: 707 Location: Thalt Lake Thity

Wow WOW, way to get after it, and THANKS! The deposition zone where the stuff is likely covered is in a line directly below the "peak" on the left. Based on your report and pics, I may wait another week or so to go up. Thanks again.

keithermadness · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 24806

X2 for the speedy recoveries!!!!
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~km

"Everyday is a potential avalanche day."
-Missiongravity

dakotakid · Joined: 08 Dec 2004 Posts: 707 Location: Thalt Lake Thity

Changed our minds and ran the Bowman, Alexander B and road to car loop with Mrs. DK after work last night. First time there since the big day. No drama. No trauma. Just gratitude for the three of us having survived that day. No ski. No pole. Yet.

stevesliva · Joined: 11 Dec 2004 Posts: 10286 Location: SEA

Is the road open all the way now? I want to do that loop hike, too. I'll have to keep an eye out if I do.

dakotakid · Joined: 08 Dec 2004 Posts: 707 Location: Thalt Lake Thity

The gate is still closed. It normally opens July 1st, but not sure about this year. It's about 3 miles from the Alex. Basin TH down to the gate. Wonderful jog under the moonlight, all to ourselves.

dakotakid · Joined: 08 Dec 2004 Posts: 707 Location: Thalt Lake Thity

Clay and I made our first visit to the avalanche site last night after work. It was a beautiful evening with stunning amounts of blue bells. There are several small (garage) sized patches of snow remaining. They aren't just snowpack but hard as ice avy debris. We thought another trip was likely required after these melt in the next few weeks in order to find the ski. Clay found Matt's Dynafit toe piece near the snow.

We then hiked up to the trees where we spent so many hard hours waiting for help and found a syringe wrapper and a blue rubber band used to set up the IV.

We climbed to the top of the run to "analyze" what happened and where. We didn't find the white ski climbing up the gully either. We have thought that like Matt, it was swept to the skier's left instead of the gully. It wasn't hung up in the trees that saved Matt from be swept off the cliff below, so we figured it might be below the cliff. Sure enough, Clay found a white Voile Insane ski in perfect shape. No luck finding the pole in the mass of brush and trees.

Emotions and reflective thoughts ran high, but no epic breakdowns or revelations. We obviously just shouldn't have been there and the three of us are extremely lucky to be alive. Insanes will be given to Matt tonight over dinner and brew. Thanks Bob for your trips looking for the stuff. We really appreciate the help and wish you a full recovery before the snow flies. Matt will be skiing, perhaps with the Insanes, if they don't get retired to a hall of fame.