CP Conditions

[mtnmayheim]

Anyone been up to the pass in the last couple days? Thinking of hitting S. Diamond tomorrow, if there are any takers. Would love some beta of how its been? (I know huge weather change over the last 24 hours)...

[Michigander]

South Diamond looked good from the road, but I didn't check out the snow. We ventured over to the crags and hammered out Grand Central, the Nokhuloir, and whatever the next one over is. Snow on east to southeast facing slopes warmed up mighty fast this morning, but clouds rolled in after noon with a few little dumps of graupel to cool things back down. While on the Nokhu ridgeline we saw a wet slide release naturally in the American Lakes basin on a ~30 degree southeast facing slope.

[d-rock]

Seeing all the spring stoke(Shantyman and G) posted lately got me itching to get out. Pick a great day to get high! Distantfellow and myself completed a 6 hour tour that included the "Z" couloir and a Mt. Mahler couloir. Great weather and great snow. Had first tracks down the"Z" and sloppy seconds on Mt. Mahler. Colder, softer snow was had on Mahler with a couple face shots up high, so not really all that sloppy!! Observed one natural slide on 7 Utes. Hell Yeah!! What a day!








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work it.....work it......

[distantfellow]

Yep, a great day for sure! The snow up there is definately in transition mode: corn down low, some recycled pow up high, and mashpotato crud in between. Derek and I missed the good soft conditions you guys got over the weekend, but your tracks still looked sexy!



First step, tour up No Name.



Spring = Steep Skin-tracks



Derek cruising down the Z.



Next we took a stroll up Mahler. It starting snowing on and off. We were both ready to high-tail it down if lighting threatened.



From the top we enjoyed excellent views of RMNP. That's the W. Face of Longs Peak way out there.



Here I'm staring out at the Silver Creek Drainage. I think it's finally time I sack up and slog back there.



This fun line of Mahler offered up the best turns of the day.



I know D-Rock was psyched.



Spring Skiing Kicks Ass!

[shantyman]

nice job rock and fellow. sweet photos.

[pilotmurph]

To those that skied Z, could you tell if the Pencil was in?

[d-rock]

Ya, I do believe the pencil is "in". This pic was taken on Teusday, I think this is what your talking about. Looks fun. p.s.-- ground is gettin white as I type this in Winter Park!!

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work it.....work it......

[pilotmurph]

I think it is actually to the looker's left of the obvious line in that picture, but I could be wrong. Thanks for the beta though.

[EricB]

Anyone up skiing today (Saturday)? I'm wondering if the snow was getting heavy and settling later in the day, or if the powder will still be good Sunday.

[distantfellow]

Made it up to the pass with my buddy Ryan today. Wow! Lots of new snow, at least twenty inches. Skinning up to the base of S. Diamond we noted the obvious wind-affect on exposed slopes above treeline.



Ryan skinning up Ptarmigan Run. We dug a pit low down on this N, NE facing line and were surprised by easy compression tests and quality two shears. If slab was present it was going to be soft and isolated, so we decided to ski supported slopes devoid of roll-overs and terrain traps.



Not too shabby for late April.



Ryan shredding.



Skiier triggered slab avalanche. I dropped my camera in the snow, but it kind of looks cool. Crown looked to be around two feet, propogated about 50+ feet. Debris could easily have been over four feet in depth.

Touring up for our third lap on Ptarmigan the visability improved and we noted a large pile of debris at the base of the big center gully (Labia, Dildo Couloir, Pabst, Coors Light - whatever it's called). We skied down to investigate, saw a lone track above the slide leading into the slide zone and tracks leading out of the debris. We switched to search function and grid-searched the debris pile. Thankfully we didn't find anyone.



We then hiked back up and skied N. Diamond just as the storm broke.



Be safe out there.

[distantfellow]

Enjoyed a fantastic tour up Mt. Richthofen with Derek today. A cold roaring roaring wind kept the snow cool up high and we enjoyed stellar recycled pow and styrofoam on Richthofen's west ridge and in Agnes Bowl. Lower down towards the lake things were getting a bit "creamy" and down towards the Michigan River basin things were down right sweltering. We noted the crown of a fairly large slab avalanche on Mt. Mahler, but most slide activity was appeared to be of the wet variety.



Derek skinning up Agnes Bowl.



Note the snow being blown off the ridges. A sign of things to come.



Towards the rim of Agnes Bowl we began to feel the gusts.



Tepee Mountain. The views a top Agnes Bowl are amazing!



And upwards we go!



Good boot packing conditions... though a tad bit windy.



More incredible views of RMNP from our summit (actually a false summit W. of the true summit).



Yeah!!!



D-Rock coming up.



I got some massive wind burn.



Heading down.



Derek killing the slightly technical descent from the summit.



and then hucking off the cornice into the bowl.



So psyched!

[distantfellow]

D-Rock having fun.

[d-rock]

Hell yeah, we were having fun!! Great pics Kevin. I am going to be bummed next Tuesday when I am sitting in a classroom!! The last two Tuesdays were epic trips back into that area!
Slab avalanche on Mt. Mahler that Kevin mentioned
Going up west ridge
Getting a bit knife....y
Kevin is crazy!......he skiied from the false summit, super exposed, super technical, super duper! He is having fun!
Still descending the west ridge, with a beautiful backround
In da bowl
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work it.....work it......

[pilotmurph]

Nice work guys, great TR!

[ianeloski]

[quote="distantfellow
D-Rock having fun.[/quote]
That boy nows how to have fun. Thanks for the stoke guys....