[trackhead]

Gargle and spit.

Is it impossible for anything constructive to come out of this, or are some too busy stroking and choking on their own egos?

Thanks for the recount, Wow.

[Baaahb]

glad yer ok!

(relative to the alternative)
_________________
Other vegetables have a hard time competing with potatoes.

[skifishbum]

[powderdave]

It's humbling and instructive when folks like OAG and Wow talk about their mistakes. Makes me take a step back when guys like that can get caught.

SFB, narrow concave coolies probably provide compressive support, but it's not a theory I've been too game to test in questionable conditions. Strapping those monster fatties on your feet probably keeps you from tickling buried weak layers, maybe that's your secret. However, good results in snowpits can steer you wrong sometime. Several years ago, McCammon and Sharaf wrote an article on the importance of assessing structure when making decisions. They saw avalanches occurring despite good results showing a strong snowpack, thus providing the impetus for their studies.

On Sunday, we were standing atop Wilson when DK and crew dropped into Alexander. A pit in Solider revealed terrible structure so we pulled the plug, I didn't do a single test. In my book, bad structure trumps tests showing strength. At some point you may make decisions Colorado-style and figure the upper snowpack is bridging the bad stuff. I'm not smart enough to know when that happens. Chris with UDOT once told me that people get into trouble when they try to outsmart the snowpack. And, as Homemadesalsa says, if you're gonna break the rules, you better have science on your side.

[powderpond]

What aobut the 3rd slide? Judging from where those guys were, and the fact they didn't tell us about it when we saw them at three, I am guessing it went off at about 3:30. Maybe some heat contributing ?

[skifishbum]

^^^ strong post PD thanks. Slightly of topic as it isn't millcreek
my feelings on Sat. incident on Kessler. We had planned on summiting Kessler and checking conditions on the E ramp.
Had one partner on time constraints. The minute we got off the argenta headwall ridge onto that w SW aspect instabilities were imediately felt collapsing and shearing q1 at ground facets on the shallow 2' snowpack of ridge. Avvy hairs on the back of our necks stood up and trail breakers tried hard to stay on ridge minimalizing exposure.
The pit digger had hoped to possibly ski that W aspect so digging a pit in that location seemed logical. Where as our party wanted off that aspect as quickly and safely as possible. I cant say if me being 70' above him on the skin track was the trigger but I felt the collapse and saw the slide break 50' below me. Luckily he was near a stand of trees and didn't go for a ride into mineral or get burried/ trapped against a tree any deeper.
Definately some group dynamics involved.
After the slide we debated our further actions. No one in the group liked the snowpack in the argenta headwall so the descision to press on and check out the East ramp or possibly decent down shoulder of GLM/Argenta.
Pit results in he east ramp were decent and no further colapsing or
instablities were felt so we skied down with a spotter on the subridge behind trees.
Just an idiots $.02 on that incident take it for fwiw.

[powderpond]

No SFB I am talking about tom d report of the third slide on or about gobs that day. My thoughts were maybe not enough sun to melt but maybe enough heat to expand some and erode stability,

No time of avalanche given.
http://utahavalanchecenter.org/avalanche_gobblers_knob_272010

[hawkeye1980]

Approximately what angle are the skied slopes in the panoramic picture? I have no avy knowledge but trying to learn.

Glad you're ok.

[peteMimmack]

[dakotakid]

[Danno]

Reading wastach-related threads sometimes feels like a much more mean-spirited version of the Clinton Jah Brethren thread. Equally as incomprehensible, but people are clearly not friendly to each other.
_________________
"anecdotes are fine assbaggery is not"
"But of course to Telemark is just one function of ski gear, but to have fun is the other. If I so much want to make Parallel turns all day long, I shall do this as well"

[keithermadness]

[cesare]

Good to hear you are ok, Bob. Since I am still recovering from my latest dalliance with narcotics, I am just going to say take care of that shoulder now. You don't want to end up like me.
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that sounds like a sure-fire way to get bitch-slapped by devil's club -- dschane

[icelanticskier]

[keithermadness]