Just find the teliskiers hiking and follow them - they know where all the good sh!t is. I spent 2 years in Utah and they showed me the back country. The back country in Colorado is seriously dangerous and would avoid it - Colorado gets wet snow then dry snow so its susceptible to avalanches. the snow in Utah is very consistently dry and good for hiking.
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*** Official Snow Surfing Thread ***
- Thread starter 92122
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Try the Sierras, we used to call it peanutbutter on top of jelly warm storm on top of hard pack or recent cold storm. Guaranteed slides
Me too. I don't understand why people expose themselves to such a risk. Shouldn't be that hard to avoid getting smoked while out skiing.
Its actually fairly safe - the guys I rode with - we all took avalanche classes at the U - we had beacons and probes - practiced - tested the snow and checked reports before we ventured out - we took safety very seriously - one of my friends is still in Utah and works avalanche control - tosses explosive devices for living. I was only apart of one slide where we had to dig someone out - it was a fricken panic until we got him out. We laugh about it now. Compared to surfing sunset beach - its a walk in the park.
I would say bigger surf is scarier, while Avalanches are much deadlier,
You're in the Rockies, right? The continental snowpack you have can be very spooky relative to instability. Great dry pow but deep weak layers come with that.
I've been throwin bombs at Alpental in WA state since '95 so I've seen my fair share of sliding snow. The marine snowpack of coastal BC, the Cascades and Sierras are generally easier to predict for avalanches IMO.
I've never been to wolf creek but I've spent a fair amount of time at Crested Butte as well as ski touring surrounding peaks which is probably pretty similar. While the dry snow is super fun and when it is deep it is truly dreamy. But the lingering instability of the snow pack is definitely a constant concern when in the back country. You're probably right comparing the San Juans to areas north.
By contrast the western snowpacks generally stabilize within days (if not hours) and the snow sticks to really steep terrain. The drawback is that it sometimes rains here. On balance I like the predictability of a moist maritime snowpack.
Not to mention it is much closer to surf too.
I believe I heard the snowpack around here described as notoriously unstable and that it’s not a bad idea to just wait until spring.
Yeah, that's definitely true.
In very general terms, continental snow packs develop deep weak layers due to the following - relatively shallow snow pack, low density snow, longer breaks between significant snow storms and colder temperatures. In the San Juan's the air temps are generally well below freezing for most of the winter. The temperature at the ground is right around 32F. This means that there is a temperature gradient (TG) between the snow surface and ground running through the snow pack. Remember, the snow pack is relatively shallow. And there are big gaps between storms which means that the snow pack gets different layers of density snow at these storm interfaces. You've probably heard the term "high TG snowpack" or TG weakness. At these storm layers due to the high thermal gradient, hoar frost (weak snow crystals) grow usually right under the denser storm interfaces and sometimes right at the ground. You can see hoar frost grow right on the snow surface after a few cold clear nights with no wind too. Same TG crystals grow at low density transitions within the layers of snow too. This TG snow or hoar frost is the "weak layer" that skiers/snowboarders can trigger to slide causing soft and hard slab avalanches that we all fear.
My limited experience with touring and back country riding in the middle of winter near Crested Butte was scary AF. Especially coming from a PNW background. Relatively low angle moderate slopes with convex rollers were easy to trigger and sometimes down to deep month old layers! No Thanks!
You are right about spring. In continental snowpack as the days get longer and warmer the ground temp and surface temp are closer to 32F, thus less thermal gradient (TG) crystal formation going on at the ground and the different storm layers. And also, as the snowpack deepens and time goes on, those weaker layers get crushed (or healed) leading to better stability and safer traveling.
In contrast, marine snow packs are generally deeper and heavier. The temperature at the surface is closer to 32F so there is usually not a thermal gradient through the snowpack, thus no hoar frost (weak crystal) growth at interfaces within the snowpack. Also, the heavier snow and rain we sometimes get tends to crush/heal deeper unstable layers within the snowpack. Thus it is more rare for coastal areas to have long term avalanche concerns/hazards.
That is not to say, coastal mountains are not dangerous - they are! During and just after a big storm, it is common to get soft slab avalanches in the west. Many folks out here get fooled by past stable slopes and don't account for very recent snowloading or wind transport when seeking out powder. It is usually within 24 hours of a big snowfall that we get our skier triggered events.
Dang, that turned into a bit of TLDR, but hope a few of you may be interested....
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Always been fascinated by snow and avalanche science. I had a parking lot bro who was always headed out the gates last season but Im staying in bounds. I can find enough trouble, pow and solitude riding the magic flying sofa.
Here snow events seem to be accompanied by very heavy winds and WC has been described as a catchers mitt in terms of how its oriented relative to storms.
Forecast is looking good for a lot of snow over new year’s And beyond. Like a wicked lot.
Train of Atmospheric Rivers to Bury the West in the Next Week
Summary A series of strong atmospheric rivers (AR) is poised to bury the western US over the course of the next seven to ten days. The jet stream will sag south and direct a series of storms towards the west coast. It will be far enough south to deliver ample moisture to the Sierra and the...
powderchasers.com
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I finished my Christmas project, a new snowskate 
Just need some wax on the bottom.
Here it is. The deck is 110cm long, 30cm wide. The ski is 110cm long, 15cm at the tip and 12,5cm at the middle. It has 1 layer of 4oz on the bottom. The ski is 3mm plywood. The deck is 12mm. I soaked the plywood and bent it into shape with clamps.
Having given it some thought, I might just flatten the end of the ski and add another block of wood under. Probably will not be doing chop hops on this one
Just need some wax on the bottom.Here it is. The deck is 110cm long, 30cm wide. The ski is 110cm long, 15cm at the tip and 12,5cm at the middle. It has 1 layer of 4oz on the bottom. The ski is 3mm plywood. The deck is 12mm. I soaked the plywood and bent it into shape with clamps.
Having given it some thought, I might just flatten the end of the ski and add another block of wood under. Probably will not be doing chop hops on this one
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So basically nobody is skiing Sun Valley unless they already have an Ikon pass.
Keeps out the riff-raff day-riders I guess.
Very interesting. Thanks. I know a guy that got buried but saved, the gal he was with wasn't found for a year iirc. This was Telluride several years ago, both very experienced back country boarders.
WC has a reputation for the best snowfall in Colorado and has a good reputation in El Nino/Pineapple Express situations.
I like the combo of flying sofa + in bounds hike-to.
Mother of God.I finished my Christmas project, a new snowskate
Here it is. The deck is 110cm long, 30cm wide. The ski is 110cm long, 15cm at the tip and 12,5cm at the middle. It has 1 layer of 4oz on the bottom. The ski is 3mm plywood. The deck is 12mm. I soaked the plywood and bent it into shape with clamps.
Having given it some thought, I might just flatten the end of the ski and add another block of wood under. Probably will not be doing chop hops on this one
View attachment 144578
View attachment 144579View attachment 144580
1. Two Scott Pilgrim books. Graphic Novels? TOPKEK. The literature equivalent of povertyball, aka soccer. The only human sport where only one out of 11 participants may use their opposable thumbs.
2. Epic paintings. Left to Right, Top to Bottom:
- "Blurry Buffalo Bunny"
- "Blue Man Poop"
- "I'm Blue and Belgrade Just Got Bombed NATO dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di"
- "Headless Redshirt Gets Ignored"
- "Poor Polska Plumber Pines Para Poznan"
- "Yuppy Butthead Loves Straws and Eli Manning's Hairstyle; Hates Sea Turtles"
Lot going on in those pics beyond the epic snow skate.WC has a reputation for the best snowfall in Colorado and has a good reputation in El Nino/Pineapple Express situations.
I like the combo of flying sofa + in bounds hike-to.
Mother of God.
1. Two Scott Pilgrim books. Graphic Novels? TOPKEK. The literature equivalent of povertyball, aka soccer. The only human sport where only one out of 11 participants may use their opposable thumbs.
2. Epic paintings. Left to Right, Top to Bottom:
Let us know when you break the snowskate speed record based on the GPS data.
- "Blurry Buffalo Bunny"
- "Blue Man Poop"
- "I'm Blue and Belgrade Just Got Bombed NATO dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di"
- "Headless Redshirt Gets Ignored"
- "Poor Polska Plumber Pines Para Poznan"
- "Yuppy Butthead Loves Straws and Eli Manning's Hairstyle; Hates Sea Turtles"
Got out for 3 solid hours td. 4-6” of ok snow to start, kept snowing and quality improved. Pretty crowded pretty early but as always no lift lines to speak of on the one side.
Reasonably confident I found where I cracked my dome on the log buried in the snow last time out. Along with everything else what WC really has IMO/in my experience is ridiculously fun terrain to ride and a shitload of it the majority of which is accessed via the Alberta lift.
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