tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6168620747792092240.post6650274712727337167..comments2024-03-27T15:09:59.039-06:00Comments on Wasatch Weather Weenies: Perspectives on Outlier ConditionsJim Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15799757451626876963noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6168620747792092240.post-60152732832668400852018-04-10T16:19:32.963-06:002018-04-10T16:19:32.963-06:00Thanks for the report. I think I saw you guys jus...Thanks for the report. I think I saw you guys just above Alta as I exited Sunday. I think I skinned about to the same point as you in the Toledo drainage. I started down that side but because of the ice decided spontaneously after 2 or 3 turns to veer right and ski the right side of the pucker trees. I reported what happened to me there, it was very scary and being alone I can't help but wonder what might have happened if I had skied the original line I had intended? Thankful for good luck for us all that day! Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09482605787238000275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6168620747792092240.post-62265375223456747462018-04-10T08:20:21.018-06:002018-04-10T08:20:21.018-06:00You are correct that it appears that yesterday'...You are correct that it appears that yesterday's slide was initiated farther up the hill in steeper terrain than ours on Sunday. Photos suggest it ultimately ran down the same bed surface, which may have been covered by graupel that fell and was perhaps wind distributed after our exit. <br /><br />JimJim Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15799757451626876963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6168620747792092240.post-87385831034088083162018-04-10T08:13:32.968-06:002018-04-10T08:13:32.968-06:00Oopsi, different avalanche. Two avalanches in two...Oopsi, different avalanche. Two avalanches in two days same area in Toledo. Who would think?<br /><br />Very strange weatherPeter Donnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07658400081780668829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6168620747792092240.post-1477991701480753452018-04-10T08:10:22.044-06:002018-04-10T08:10:22.044-06:00You saw UAC is reporting your avalanche started on...You saw UAC is reporting your avalanche started on a 27 degree slope.<br /><br />My experience that day was it was kind of pointless to get on slopes steeper than about 20 degrees because both skiing and skinning were difficult due to the slick bed surface.Peter Donnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07658400081780668829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6168620747792092240.post-91401218545172636652018-04-09T12:39:24.691-06:002018-04-09T12:39:24.691-06:0015˚ is the new low angle.
Bad luck happens when i...15˚ is the new low angle.<br /><br />Bad luck happens when imperfect knowledge and decision making meet a merciless mother nature. Sadly, humans are imperfect, but we can strive to do the best we can.<br /><br />JimJim Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15799757451626876963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6168620747792092240.post-75559192997533797582018-04-09T10:17:33.829-06:002018-04-09T10:17:33.829-06:00Strange weather makes strange avalanches, really s...Strange weather makes strange avalanches, really strange weather makes really strange avalanches.<br /><br />Glad you are OK, thanks for sharing the lesson.<br /><br />And thanks for the posts the past few days. Just to confirm the validity of "Saturday soaker" I skinned the Porter Fork trail to the toe of the old avalanche path at 8,000 feet Saturday morning. Light drizzle at 10 am increasing to hard but not drenching rain. Turned around at that point because the weather was miserable, I had a plumbing project to do, the skiing wouldn't be good, and I was concerned about entering an avalanche path in pouring rain.<br /><br />Went to Porter Pass Sunday, 9400 feet (actually stopped in copse of pines flat area below pass). Apparently less snow than at Alta, maybe 3 or 4 inches of graupel on top of firm crust. Fun skiing on low, below 20 degree, angle. Noted graupel piles on all slopes above 30 degrees. Did two runs and noted an avalanche in the usual path in the Sox lines on the second run; pretty sure it came down Saturday but not positive. Another reason to stay low angle.<br /><br />Not convinced your decision-making was worse than mine. Once entering avalanche terrain, which you did quickly and I did slowly, you probably had slightly steeper terrain w slightly firmer bed surface and slightly more graupel. Where your terrain was about 20 degrees for sustained lengths, mine was mostly 10 degrees and getting steeper would have required effort which I wasn't in the mood to expend. Maybe there are advantages to 3 mile approaches?<br /><br />Lot of the lower road will be showing w 70 degrees in Salt Lake Tuesday, though Thursday's storm will likely see me back there.<br /><br />A month or so ago Drew Hardesty and I had an e-mail exchange where he said this year reminded him of 09/10 and that it was best to "tip-toe" around. Advice I've taken to heart.<br /><br />Curious what these repeated thaw, rain, freeze, snow cycles are doing to the pack. Should have some fascinating deep wet slab avalanches once Spring arrives in earnest.<br />Peter Donnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07658400081780668829noreply@blogger.com