CO question -- the professor

TeleBear · Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2004 4:34 pm Post subject: CO question -- the professor

hey there gang,

was skiing A-Basin sunday and saw tracks in the professor. tracks were in skier's right, and look like they entered from the shoulder, a hundred yards or so below the summit.

with the recent storm and weak lower layers, i would have expected this to be quite a sketchy call.

in the resort, similar aspects had slid, but i don't know if they were triggered (assume yes). other similar aspects in b/c did not appear to have released naturally.

any thoughts?
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TeleDrew · Joined: 12 Dec 2004 Posts: 58 Location: Col O Rae Doe

professor is south facing, warm temps heat up the snow pack to help bond with weaker layers, blue skies help melt through deeper layers. still a sketchy call, they got lucky
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Drew

volda · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 17 Location: Denver, CO

I don't know that run. Everything I saw in the backcountry this weekend, that had run naturally, was North to East facing. I saw some large ones. I agree with TeleDrew, South facing is probably much better due to the sun, however the CAIC has ALL aspects rated the same right now. What is the slope angle on "The Professor"? Does it traditional run? Above 35 and a history of running......I'd stay off!!!

skibum · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2369 Location: Colorado

Not sure it is a good idea, but I have heard folks reason that the slide path exposes the highway and A-Basin. In fact, I got to the Basin one morning years back and the whole bottom of the ski area was buried including one shack. So the arguement is CDOT and A-Basin do control work on the slide path. Plus of course the lure of having tons of folks at the area watching your turns ...

I just find there are quieter turns to be had on other runs.

TeleDrew · Joined: 12 Dec 2004 Posts: 58 Location: Col O Rae Doe

smitchell333 · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 281 Location: Colorado

That line is notorious as a primed and frequently loaded gun - and people frequently ski anyways.

It is convex, wind loaded, and despite being SE facing it is high enough that I wouldnt think it gets significantly consolidated by the weak December sun to call it anything close to safe.

If I were to be THAT aggressive and risk taking with that type of line with that type of exposure with the high/considerable danger we've had I would personally find something more enticing than a road shot - such as a 14er, Grizzly, Sniktau, Hagar, Citadel, etc , but hey...to each his own.

It IS classic boaster's line - 'Dude - look what we skiied'.

Patnode · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 122 Location: Golden, CO

Saw the Prof from the Basin yesterday, tracks all over it, and looked good. Two weeks ago, there wasn't any snow on it, so I would assume the snow was deposited during last weeks event. It is very much south facing, the basin faces north, so consolidation is probably key, and that CDOT bombs it.

The top of the slope is at least 35 degrees, but mellows quickly. Would definitely dig a pit and pick a conservative line, but looks very skiable right now.

Harmonious G · Joined: 16 Dec 2004 Posts: 31 Location: Northern Mtns, CO

TeleBear- A-basin doesnt really have any aspects inbounds that are similar to the Prof. with the exception of some out of area slopes that drop towards the hwy to Montezuma, I cant recall any true SE aspects.

Colorado recieves alot of NW flow, which puts direct load on the Prof's SE aspect. The top roll-over is concave, though the mountain in full is not. Control work is somewhat frequent, and compared to other major alpine lines in the same general area, this line can most definitely be safely decended mid-winter under the right circumstances. Consolidation comes early to this slope in the spring, and cornice buildup usually is smaller. A guess of mine would be 40 degrees at the rollover, and an average of 30 or so for most of the slope (guesstimate) This is a slope to make sure knowone drops in on top of you, for sometimes multiple parties are waiting to drop in and will all go at once. With the intense winds and cold temps, I'd rethink where to ski if your planning on it this weekend, but go for it in the spring, its a good ski. If you plan on trying to dig a representative pit at the top, I'd rethink, unless you have a rope. Though very little anchors or safety spots, their is more conservative lines than others across the bowl.

Summit · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 152 Location: 9,300ft ASL

They blast the professor fairly often IIRC
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TeleBear · Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2004 6:36 pm Post subject:

Harmonious,

thanks for the thoughtful reply. (everone else, too).

the in-bounds releases i saw at the basin were below the cornice on the way to the west wall. agree that little in the area has the same exposure, but what appeared to be close, from an eyeball perspective, had slid, and i assume was triggered by basin patrol.

i've skied the professor a dozen-odd times, mostly late winter and spring. it's a nice front-country outing on a mellow day.

as usual, i remain conservative in early and mid-winter. thanks for the read, everyone.
_________________
Please don't dominate the rap, Jack,
if you've got nothing new to say.
-Jerry