Kicking Off 2011

2011. Wow time flies, well we are making the big move. Sold the house and Weez and I are down scaling. We didn't get the Colorado trips in December like the years past. Priorities for sure.

The big picture is more freedom to pursue the adventures. I'm still staying on top of the weather reports and  receive 4 avalanche reports a day. From Montana, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado. I'm chomping on the bit, the snow has been awesome in all the areas we seek out, Buff Pass, in Colorado has been receiving storm after storm and the Snowies are incredible right now. Up in Montana the snow pack is deep and the storms keep rolling through.

 

A few of my snow tools.

 I've got the Ski Patrol season up and running. Got out on the snowboard New Years Eve and did the long Ski Patrol shift till midnight. It was a very good night to snowboard, the weather was brisk, single digit temps and a blustery wind out of the north. Thins the herd, the slopes were uncrowded with just a couple of accidents. It was great to get back on the board!! There is still alot of winter left and many adventures ahead. Keep your head up and board on the snow...later.

Bacon Rind ECTP Zero - 21 Dec 2010

It's a good idea to keep track of the snow conditions and how it is evolving in the areas that we will be into later this season.

Buck Ridge 19 Dec 2010

This is from southern Montana. A good photo of a shooting crack in the snowpack.

Saddle Peak Snowpit-30 Nov 2010

Cherry Hill Avalanche

This is an avalanche incident that happened in Utah(CLICK ON) over the week-end.

A couple of notes, the aspect/direction of the slope is very important. When you look at the report, notice that the rider entered the bowl at a low angle east facing slope and traveled around into a northerly facing aspect. The snowpack was wind loaded and weaker on the north facing slope. The slope also became slightly steeper. The slope broke several hundred feet above the rider and engulfed him. He was buried about 2 feet below the surface.

The second note relative to this incident was the fact that these 2 riders failed to equip themselves with their  beacons. That was a fatal mistake.

I try and learn by reading and being aware of these reports.

I send my condolences to the rider that died and his family. Knowing also that this is a tough situation for this riders buddy to live with. Keep your head up out there.

High Winds in Beehive

CLICK ON VIDEO TO ENLARGE!!
The snow has been falling in and around the Bozeman, Montana area. The winds kicked up to 60-80 MPH yesterday, moving alot of snow around. There were several avalanches triggered. Nobody was caught but ya gotta keep your heads-up...

This is the Bozeman, Montana avy site http://mtavalanche.com/current

Shak 1 Gang Wyoming Pow.wmv

I threw this video together while I'm thinking of the snow falling out in the mountains. This is the gang I travel out to Wyoming with every year. we seem to hit the powder every year...GOOD TIMES!!

CLICK ON THE VIDEO TO ENLARGE!!

Colorado Mountain Snow

The weather map below on the previous post keeps updating and this is turning out to be a good early season storm. The area is located east of Steamboat, Colorado. North of "Rabbit Ears Pass".


CHECK POST BELOW!!