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Avalanches can happen anywhere, stay safe

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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,273
Recent slide in the woods at Stowe with a 12" crown. Don't think that because you're on the east or in trees that you are automatically immune to slides. It is an incredibly rare occurrence in this area but definitely something to always be wary about whenever there is new snow. All it takes is some heavy snow on top of a crust and some hoar frost and you're fucked.

Images pulled off this thread (http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=180643) read more for the full TR and more pics

Click for larger image

Click for larger image

Not saying you should ski inbounds on the east with a beacon, but be aware of your surroundings, ski with a buddy, and know how to interpret the signs. If you are in a more exposed area make sure you're totally aware of the conditions that day and the snowpack. Also consider what lines are more dangerous than others and find the balance between putting yourself in danger vs skiing a sick line

From what I've seen on my time on NS, i feel as though in general we are somewhat careless when out of bounds in more exposed areas. Thank god there aren't more avalanche encounters on NS, but being carefree and having a fuck it attitude is great for the park and in patrolled areas, but be safe when you go in the BC.

If going into the backcountry, imo it is imperative that you have a beacon, shovel, probe, and an Avy 1 course. Learn to dig a snow pit, and read up about avy reports in your area before heading out. They're small investments that could save your ass Also, the number 1 rule, always, always, always ski with a friend when you leave a ski area. You're rarely gonna dig yourself out of a slide, you need a friend there to do it

So, to reiterate, several precautions you can take when putting yourself out there:
-SKI WITH AT LEAST ONE OTHER PERSON
-Beacon (i recommend the Mammut Pulse or BCA Tracker 2) and make sure you put it as close to your body as possible
-Metal shovel
-Long probe
-Avalung or ABS packs are your decision
-Avy training course
-dig a snow pit
-consider not putting on pole straps and not doing up your backpack straps for the descent

I'm sure this has been discussed many times before, but just a reminder that avalanches are really fucking scary and intense, and I hope nobody on NS ever has to experience one
Jan 4 2010 10:04PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
after watching your latest edit alex, youu seem to fail at your own rule of skiing with a buddy ;)
Jan 4 2010 10:07PM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,273
hmm...inbounds at mount snow...good call

the whole time i was about 10 yards from a groomer
Jan 4 2010 10:07PM
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1337
Posts: 31054 - Karma: 29,248
this was bound to happen on the EC. Here we had rain that froze everywhere, then a huge dump of powder on top of it, that should automatically send off red lights. I definitely triggered some small ones, and it was definitely setting up to be bad if we had more open terrain where im at (sugarloaf)
Jan 4 2010 10:08PM
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Justo8484
Posts: 3905 - Karma: 205
out of curiosity, why no pole or pack straps for descent? i know you can try to use a pole to self-arrest easier if your hand isnt in the strap, but how much would that even help in an avy?
Jan 4 2010 10:27PM
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MHW
Posts: 476 - Karma: 10
great thread. great advice. thanks.
Jan 4 2010 10:33PM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,273
a lot of times you just want to let go of your poles and not have them drag your arms around. if your pole hooks a rock or something it can fuck up your shoulder or break your arm which won't help your situation

as for backpacks it's more of an opinion thing but you can get pulled around a lot by your pack as well so sometimes you just want to get rid of it
Jan 4 2010 10:33PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
10 yards can mean the difference between life and death when attempting freestyle stunts outside of the designated freestyle stunt attempting zone
Jan 4 2010 10:34PM
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GotamaBCshredder
Posts: 5062 - Karma: 424
First response just needs to STFU.

Straps arent a huge deal on your pack, I can tell you first hand you will never shed that shit, if you get ride of your skiis you are lucky.  I always use poles with the things that go around your hands not straps.  I mean you are literally ripping and then you will just be like thats wierd wtf? fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck. think to look way ahead. Boom times up  Like read that and thats how fast your fucked.  We had 2 people get take out today alone in our area, its super gnar right now.
Jan 4 2010 10:36PM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,273
i was in the freestyle stunt zone, i had not exited the ski area boundary marked by red flags in the woods. i was just hucking gnar cliffs within the confines of the mount snow ski area
Jan 4 2010 10:41PM
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thegreyarea
Posts: 3265 - Karma: 34
Within the last 10 years, the topic of chucking your pack has changed from ditch it to keep it. If you're skiing with a pack that gets you pulled around a lot during a slide, then you're most likely skiing with a pack that has been overpacked and is not the right bag for the trip.

Only with extreme luck is ditching a bag possible. The guides and instructors I know always recommend to keep your pack on. Keeping your pack on increases your surface area and hence, increases your chances of a positive probe strike.
Jan 5 2010 12:38AM
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Leafman
Posts: 2178 - Karma: 251
haha nice one from sunday, i got caught in a small class 2 on saturday inbounds, such a weird feeling getting pulled in
Jan 5 2010 1:18AM
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selkirks
Posts: 1978 - Karma: 59
This is a good thread. Avalanche danger is ridiculously high right now in areas of the West as well; specifically areas if Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Oregon. +k for a necessary topic.
Jan 5 2010 1:20AM
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Roy
Posts: 1982 - Karma: 1,240
Crazy an avy happend there must of been like the perfect storm of snow pack for that to happen there
Jan 5 2010 1:32AM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
ive actually heard the opposite advice on the backpack, the added size can help you stay on top. hence things like those inflateable avvy wing packs. but pole straps and everything else so true.

more than anything, know what you are doing!!!!

all the equipment in the world can only do so much, and it cant save your life when a slide drags you over a cliff, or through trees and kills you.
Jan 5 2010 2:04AM
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-Tristan-
Posts: 915 - Karma: 19
The Tracker 2 would be a nice suggestion if it were on the market.
Jan 5 2010 2:07AM
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readiculous
Posts: 880 - Karma: 28
sticky

Jan 5 2010 2:09AM
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-Tristan-
Posts: 915 - Karma: 19
Or is it? Site says its available at select retailers, everyone I've talked to recently (in Canada) has said they just keep hearing later and later dates. Anybody know for certain if its out there yet?
Jan 5 2010 2:10AM
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123ski
Posts: 7374 - Karma: 1,415
I have heard that it comes out this month..we will see
Jan 5 2010 2:46AM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,273
i brought it up so people consider it before the tracker 1, which is cheap, but i'm not a fan of it

as for the backpack, as i said, it's a personal preference. some people swear by it, others keep straps on...i'm kinda torn
Jan 5 2010 8:16AM
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Jwenz
Posts: 8893 - Karma: 7,633
love this thread. good to read for sure. went well with my coffee. now time to sign up for that avy class
Jan 5 2010 9:25AM
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304NordMan
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 525

awsome thread, yah i will watch out for that stuff here in west virginia.

haha seriously though, we have a shit load of snow, and a solid, yet not crusty base. we are in deep!

Jan 5 2010 10:15AM
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Deletedtoday
Posts: 4060 - Karma: 398
thomas speaks. NS listens.
Jan 5 2010 10:54AM
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teleak
Posts: 2251 - Karma: 105
keep you backpack straps on. You want your pack to stay on because it can make you more "floaty" in the snow since the bigger particles in a slide rise to the top and it can also protect your back. 
Jan 5 2010 11:29AM
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InfernoHits
Posts: 4755 - Karma: 192
i didnt read all of the responses so I dont know if this has been said. But it is no believed that you should keep you pack on. If you hit a rock, tree, anything back first in a slide you are probably going to be severely injured, the backpack will absorb and take some of that impact so your back will now
Jan 5 2010 12:06PM
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DAPSKI
Posts: 414 - Karma: 141

one how you would get your pack off in an avalanche idk but why you would want to  it gives you more mass which will help you stay on top and if you are barried from the waste down it could be possible to get your pack off and get your shovel and dig yourself out.

Jan 5 2010 12:22PM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,273
as i said with the pack thing earlier, it is being debated right now, there is no right or wrong

i was skiing in chile with a guide friend whose a certified avalanche forecaster (highest you can be) and he swears by the no backpack strap thing, personally i ski with my straps on because otherwise my pack falls off and i want my avalung, but some people are pretty adamant about keeping the straps undone. it's personal preference
Jan 5 2010 1:39PM
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teleTay
Posts: 2320 - Karma: 186
word avalanches are way scary this season i got caught in a little sluff and i was super scared the rest of the week
Jan 5 2010 2:25PM
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wunderskier
Posts: 418 - Karma: 9
Last year some lady died at Snowbird because an avalanch came down off of Baldy.  I am terrified of avalanches and I give you props for warning others of the extreme danger they bring.
Jan 5 2010 4:15PM
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-Tristan-
Posts: 915 - Karma: 19
Yup, if you take any basic avy course or talk to your local forecaster/guide/professional they will tell you this. I've never head of anyone wanting to keep their pack on. I guess I can see some peoples logic though.
Jan 5 2010 8:43PM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,273
pole straps are generally considered to be a liability in slides though. when i'm in the bc i don't ski with my straps on...haven't gone as far as removing them but i definitely don't use them in the backcountry
Jan 5 2010 9:26PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
this its pretty agreed upon is good. they dont provide float just drag you down/you get tangled. or break a wrist/thumb/whatever.
Jan 6 2010 4:22AM
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zammo
Posts: 15 - Karma: 10

When: Boxing Day

Where: Chamonix

A British guy's friends reported him missing at 7pm

He was found the next morning by the piste basher. He was in a small triangle of ungroomed snow between two easy groomers. He had a 6ft slab of snow on top of him. He was dead.

Mountains are sweet, but they can bite your ass. OP has the right idea.

Jan 6 2010 5:59AM
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.frenchy
Posts: 18221 - Karma: 12,323
thats pretty scary. i bet it will NEVER happen in connecticut though haha
Jan 6 2010 6:39AM
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Deletedtoday
Posts: 4060 - Karma: 398
never say never
Jan 6 2010 4:22PM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,273
this was to prove it can happen anywhere

that is not a steep pitch and it's in trees which are natural anchors, but with a rain crust, hoar frost, and some heavy new snow anything can slide, even if it's in connecticut. incredibly rare and probably won't ever happen, but it could
Jan 6 2010 7:06PM
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YoungJah
Posts: 1106 - Karma: 66
The conditions have been sketchy in scotland in recent weeks and still are. [IMG]prog99.com/PC300456.JPG[/IMG]
Jan 6 2010 7:42PM
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ashamedkrew
Posts: 1194 - Karma: 424
i know, for a fact, that i will always be safe and avalanche free, seeing that 4 inches of snow is a pow day.  Yay MN
Jan 6 2010 7:44PM
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Literature
Posts: 13673 - Karma: 3,085
Pack and pole straps are pretty far down the list as far as avie concerns go. Making sure that you have functioning gear, that your partners are competent, and reading snowpack and terrain are all far more important.

Stay safe out there, NS. Things are crazy all over.
Jan 6 2010 8:32PM
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TimmyK
Posts: 779 - Karma: 15
I remember hearing that years ago an avalanche happened at Roundtop outside of harrisburg, pa, vertical is around 600 feet, so yes it can happen anywhere.
Jan 6 2010 9:07PM
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GotamaBCshredder
Posts: 5062 - Karma: 424
We had avalanches everywhere yesterday.  Multiple people got caught no one killed.  There were some really big ones like 5 ft deep and a couple thousand vertical.  Im going crazy waitin to get out.
Jan 7 2010 12:00PM
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luc
Posts: 1000 - Karma: 607

just an add: when an avalanche went down...and some poeple are under it..be carefull with the search...

these days in switzerland it happend..that some touring guys came into an avalanche...and while searching them a second avalanched went down and even more pople went udner it...and they all had the tracker on SEARCHING (of course) which means no signal to find them immediately!

the thing i wanna say..don't get panic when an avalanche happens...and look for more danger to come!

have fun in bc anyway!

(sry my english, hope u get it)

Jan 7 2010 12:23PM
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