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Snow to height ratio for cliff dropping

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_69
Posts: 1772 - Karma: 4,979
So I'm lining up a massive ski trip with a ton of dudes, and since we are all Minnesotan, we don't get to experience any backcountry-esque skiing. We're heading west, over to Colorado and I thought that before going in and blatantly dropping cliffs, I should probably get a bit of info as to what amount of snow you guys prefer with the height of the cliff. I only have 1 day's experience with cliffs, on top of that little amount, it was in vail, so I was dropping a 20 footer for a few hours. There was about 8 inches worth of expired pow, and I felt like I could throw anything off the edge and land safe because of how the snow felt. But then again, a ton of free riding edits seem to have guys dropping 20-30 footers with almost no pow underfoot. Help some Midwesterners out and input your opinion/preference on how much snow you want for any given height. Thanks all!
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Jul 12 2015 12:25AM
34 3
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veng_m
Posts: 1267 - Karma: 2,720
you gotta go to vail man, theres just so much terrain and its so open that you cant see everything in one day. they have a good amount of cliffs too. definitely head to abay as well, the bowls and trees are great as well. if you wanna hit the park keystone and breck are the best. sorry this is kind of irrelevant and regards mostly to the poll, i just thought it might help you plan. have a great trip man!
Jul 12 2015 12:46AM
6 1
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GayWolf420
Posts: 37511 - Karma: 121,334
just find something nice and hammer it, you'll figure it out.
Jul 12 2015 2:01AM
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50Kal
Posts: 2828 - Karma: 5,373
Colorado is good but don't limit yourself to just that. Montana and Western Wyoming are just as far but less crowds which equals more powder. Amtrak goes right through ski country of Montana

Plan for a couple places, when the snow hits an area, go there.
I will also recommend Aspen but thats cause I've been there the last couple winters.

Next winter is looking like a heavy el nino pattern. Chances are looking good for west lower 48 for lots of snow.
Jul 12 2015 3:32AM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51737 - Karma: 163,427
Depends on the slope, and even the type of snow. That said the more the merrier most of the time.

If you look at is and think you can roll out of it without eating shit send it.
Jul 12 2015 3:49AM
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N.L.
Posts: 2420 - Karma: 2,744
a solid base takes several good storms to be established every year, no matter the mountain range. in colorado you watch huge rocks get buried after each storm and you can see what is under them, then when there is a pow storm you can charge off cliffs safely. therefore you should be following locals tracks... generally, after there is a base (2 feet), and a pow storm (1 feet) you can send a 30 foot cliff, but there could be rocks hidden in the shallow snow...anything bigger, needs to be seriously scouted, and have deep base.
at the end of the year, there is spring slush pack, and you can drop cliffs on to steep landings all day long.
Jul 12 2015 1:20PM
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Brocka_Flocka
Posts: 1215 - Karma: 8,742
Why are you going to Summit County to "Drop Cliffs"?

Your best bet is ABay. Yes, vail has rocks and features, but that shit is scary flat and over-hyped. I've seen a bunch of knees, ankles and sternums fall victim to Vail's flats.
Jul 12 2015 3:57PM
6 1
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Brocka_Flocka
Posts: 1215 - Karma: 8,742
Why are you going to Summit County to "Drop Cliffs"?

Your best bet is ABay. Yes, vail has rocks and features, but that shit is scary flat and over-hyped. I've seen a bunch of knees, ankles and sternums fall victim to Vail's flats.
Jul 12 2015 3:57PM
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Brocka_Flocka
Posts: 1215 - Karma: 8,742
it's really about how steep the landing is really.
Jul 12 2015 3:58PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51737 - Karma: 163,427
I think the most ridiculous thing I ever saw was last summer. People sending giant cliffs on "pow days" aka it hadn't snowed for a bit and we got a few inches. There was a decent size one right up from the park. Watching people huck themselves off it when it was solid other than a dusting of snow. I was like WUTTTTTTTTT.

Some people are crazy though.

I guess it's the same as in the spring. If the snow is compacted to where you aren't going to blast through to anything under, and you got a little somethin somethin on top, plus a steep landing area go for it. But it still kind of sketched me out watching.
Jul 12 2015 4:12PM
4 0
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GayWolf420
Posts: 37511 - Karma: 121,334
theabortionatorI think the most ridiculous thing I ever saw was last summer. People sending giant cliffs on "pow days" aka it hadn't snowed for a bit and we got a few inches. There was a decent size one right up from the park. Watching people huck themselves off it when it was solid other than a dusting of snow. I was like WUTTTTTTTTT.

Some people are crazy though.

I guess it's the same as in the spring. If the snow is compacted to where you aren't going to blast through to anything under, and you got a little somethin somethin on top, plus a steep landing area go for it. But it still kind of sketched me out watching.


Thats how utah was last year, every storm has hammer time, soo much fun watching everyone get sendy
Jul 12 2015 5:32PM
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Z-Juice
Posts: 3151 - Karma: 1,504
The areas you listed are terrific and I am fortunate enough to have skied them my entire life, with that being said, if you are planning a trip to primarily drop cliffs then Vail/Summit is not the best option. I would look into Wyoming, Montana, BC, Utah, and even other areas further south in Colorado.

Vail is your best call of the resorts you listed. Best cliffs are off Northwoods chair, the Teacup Bowl, and Blue Sky. However, Vail is pretty flat in most places. Breck and A-Bay have some nice drops as well.

In my experience, a couple inches of pow can go a long way and with 6+ inches I feel confident with most cliffs in the 20 feet range. Still, new snow is not as big as a factor as steepness and preexisting conditions. For example, if you were sending a 15 ft cliff into a relatively flat landing that had icy moguls 12 hours ago then that's a problem, even with 6 inches of pow.

Hope your crew has a great trip wherever you end up!
Jul 12 2015 5:55PM
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kung_powpow
Posts: 1990 - Karma: 3,671
Abay or vail for sure if you're tryna drop cliffs in summit. Breck is dope but isn't rocky enough and key is just flat out shit
Jul 12 2015 8:24PM
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jca
Posts: 4172 - Karma: 6,310
if youre boosting with speed to some sort of tranny, you can get away with very little soft snow as long as it isnt straight ice. Typically the more horizontal velocity you have when landing will make the landing feel a lot softer.

Just dropping straight down to an average landing, id want about 5 or 6 inches of pow or chop for up to around 25ft.

hitting stuff with speed to find trannies is super fun in less than ideal snow though, so try hitting stuff with speed.
Jul 12 2015 9:55PM
1 0
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_69
Posts: 1772 - Karma: 4,979
Brocka_FlockaWhy are you going to Summit County to "Drop Cliffs"?

Your best bet is ABay. Yes, vail has rocks and features, but that shit is scary flat and over-hyped. I've seen a bunch of knees, ankles and sternums fall victim to Vail's flats.


I've only dropped chair four cliffs if you're familiar with the area, there was enough snow to frontflip, so it's not like I'm flying blind when it comes to knowledge of that sort of stuff, if that's what you were implying.
Jul 12 2015 10:52PM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627
It's not just height and depth, sooooo many other factors come into play. The steepness of the takeoff and landing are probably most important, and ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS SCOUT THE LANDING!!! Make sure you have enough runout too. Cliffs and steep trees are kind of my thing so I spend a lot of time studying my go-to lines. Familiarity is key to building confidence so learn one and crush it until it's your bitch and apply that to the rest of your skiing.
Jul 13 2015 7:42PM
3 0
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matlk14
Posts: 43 - Karma: 180
depends how steep the terrain is! steep the better
Jul 14 2015 2:23PM
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snowpocalypse
Posts: 1036 - Karma: 3,525
A bunch of dudes on vacation with no backcountry experience dropping into big cliffs. What could be the problem? Please get educated!
Jul 14 2015 4:08PM
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iH8pow
Posts: 1824 - Karma: 7,816
Seeing that this is a thread about backcountry and dropping cliffs, I'm profounded that most people are suggesting Breck. Have these people even been to Colorado? Breck is a big name and has great park and some steep sidecountry/backcountry, but cliffs?

Go to Vail. People getting hurt jumping off rocks to flat? Probably because they're doing the wrong ones... sucks to suck, my friend
Jul 16 2015 7:45AM
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FreeStylah
Posts: 49 - Karma: 788
If you want deep snow, breck. They get huge dumps of powder.
Jul 16 2015 9:06AM
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_69
Posts: 1772 - Karma: 4,979
SVmikeA bunch of dudes on vacation with no backcountry experience dropping into big cliffs. What could be the problem? Please get educated!


Fucking read the whole thread.
Jul 16 2015 7:12PM
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_69
Posts: 1772 - Karma: 4,979
Vail it is!
Jul 16 2015 7:14PM
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snowpocalypse
Posts: 1036 - Karma: 3,525
AnGaperFucking read the whole thread.


I did read the whole thread. You stated that you are from Minnesota, don't get a lot of backcountry days and have about only one day of cliff dropping. Am I off base? You also stated that you and some buddies (backcountry does not equal safety in numbers) were going to find cliffs? Am I still on track? Just because there is snow, does not mean the conditions are safe. If you think that's the case you're a dumb ass. I don't give a shit what you do. Claiming your some tuff shit cliff jumper with only one day under your belt is ignorant. By all means have at it. What do I care. Just stay the hell away from me.
Jul 17 2015 11:27AM
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N.L.
Posts: 2420 - Karma: 2,744
the best in bounds terrain in summit county is: Beaver Creek.
dont matter where you are from, go send that shit, check out A basin and take their backcounrty class, cat skiing.
Jul 17 2015 6:52PM
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jynx81
Posts: 359 - Karma: 479
Just make sure its not like 5 feet so it dosent completely stop u.
Jul 17 2015 8:54PM
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