Holy doom and gloom batman. This thread has turned into quite the downer, man.
I do have to pile on with the snowpack discussion, though. Yesterday we felt and heard widespread collapsing and whoomphing. Down in the trees and up above treeline, too. We didn't consider venturing into avalanche terrain.
However, deep light snow (albeit on low-angle slopes and trees) provided ear-to-ear grin conditions. Your results may vary.
Evidence:
_________________ A wise man once said "There are only two types of snow: good snow and bad attitude."
Joined: 08 Jan 2007
Posts: 144
Location: Fort Collins, CO
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 12:08 pm Post subject:
nice vid Dino, your tracks were barely visible yesterday(monday). Not gonna say too much about fellow's and myself trip. Just that the turns were great, wonderful weather and Ptarmigans a plenty!
snow buds
Distant gettin it
farmed out
sorry bout the size of last three _________________ work it.....work it......
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 5:45 pm Post subject: Holly Crap....
d-rock wrote:
Trees were great yesterday at CP, around 6 inches. The GF and I did 2 laps, late start was up there 1:30pm to 4pm. Overcast and lil windy.
Driving to the lot, got to see 3 naturals(?) on the peak north of N. Diamond. Visabilty was not the greatest didn't see tracks going in or coming out. I would guess 50 feet to 150 feet wide. Crowns ranging 1 to 5 feet.
wide shot
I was there on Saturday (1/2/2010) in the morning skiing in the trees. Was to scared to get on the bench, but stopped just short. On my last lap, I saw no slides on the Diamond and I looked. Visibility was not great.. but I could see the face.. I would I was near the bench around noon... so those slides occurred around noon!!! I was the only skier I saw when I got there.. but there were snow shoers every where... I turned some back that were heading up to walk along the bench.. they had never been there before and had no avi experience.... Glad I did now!
Those slides occured on the E aspect of point 11,588 north of N. Diamond Pk. Not on Diamond Peaks. The pics D-Rock and myself posted above are of S. Diamond/N. Diamond yesterday, the 4th.
Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 10:39 am Post subject: My bad
distantfellow wrote:
Those slides occured on the E aspect of point 11,588 north of N. Diamond Pk. Not on Diamond Peaks. The pics D-Rock and myself posted above are of S. Diamond/N. Diamond yesterday, the 4th.
I realized that after I posted.... old age = more brain farts
The D-Rock and myself went on a little recon mission yesterday. We checked out Longest Run and some glades up the American Lakes Road. Although we didn't observe any new natural activity, the snowpack was very tender and reactive. Temperatures remained in the low 20s, but with little wind. Aspects below treeline exposed to sun were especially worrisome and by the end of our day shooting cracks and settling were non-stop. We ended up retreating from both our planned descents.
Here's a quote Ethan Greene of the CAIC posted today for the Zone
- "We are issuing at Special Advisory Statement for the Northern Mountains and the Sawatch range. Dangerous avalanche conditions currently exist in backcountry areas. A very weak snowpack and weather earlier this season have created conditions where natural avalanches are unlikely, but human triggered avalanches are probable."
Be safe and make good terrain choices.
Skinning up the lower pitches of Longest Run.
Nokhu Crags viewed from glades N/NW glades above American Lakes Rd.
The crown of an obvious slab that settled but didn't slide. N/NW Aspect below treeline.
These shooting cracks propigated about seventy five feet upslope.
Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2010 5:22 pm Post subject: S. Diamond
South Diamond slid big around 12:30ish today. From the edge of pap all the way across most of the main face. There were folks on the ridge above it, hopefully no one was in or near it. Saw it as I got down to the lot.
Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2010 7:43 pm Post subject: South Diamond Slide
I don't have pictures, and am hoping others will post some tonight. The slide from where I was on the Bench looks to have a 3-10 foot crown.. based on the trees that on part of the crown sheer. The slide did breach the bench nad get into some of the upper glades.
Also from my position the slide looks like it left most of the ice layer behind so that problem still remains
The slide (actually 2 I think) starts very high and slightly left of South Diamond summit and traveres at a downward angle left. So looker's left has a massive hang fire still in place. If my believe about the hard layer is true then if/when that hang fire lets loose it is going to have serious energy.
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Was to scared to get on the bench, but stopped just short. On my last lap, I saw no slides on the Diamond and I looked. Visibility was not great.. but I could see the face.. I would I was near the bench around noon... so those slides occurred around noon!!! I was the only skier I saw when I got there.. but there were snow shoers every where... I turned some back that were heading up to walk along the bench.. they had never been there before and had no avi experience.... Glad I did now!
