January 2011 - Conditions

[Flygirl21]

Yep - getting into town a bit late and just two of us so we will likely go to Bell Friday.
There won't be any snow there, but that is life...lol....

Actually there is a lot of snow up Belle so you should have fun up there, Its supposed to be nice weather on Sat and Sun so hopefully you will have a great weekend!

See you on the hills!

 

[pwdrhnd]

Lots of powder on Renshaw today. Over the bars every where. The trail is good but pretty much single track due to the huge amount of snow. Easily 4 feet deep on the flat.

 

[rknight111]

Were getting close. Just past Jasper. Highways start getting worse from Jasper West. See you in mcbride for the next few days.

 

[2manykids]

Got some pictures from yeaterday .. Renshaw Came with this title " HAHA this is what your missing"

 

[steveo10]

shaping up nice fellas. thx for the pics.

socked in days is what we need to keep the boys off the hills with avy conditions so high

 

[CTWilly]

shaping up nice fellas. thx for the pics.

socked in days is what we need to keep the boys off the hills with avy conditions so high

You would think the trail groomers and money collectors would have the same attitude. Those encouraging people to go to the mountains during these avalanche warnings should be held responsible if there is any deaths involved. That little waiver on the back of the trail pass means chit in a court of law.

 

[glengine]

Special Public Avalanche Warning
Widespread Weak Layers Cause for Concern for Recreational Backcountry Users

January 20, 2011, Revelstoke, BC: The Canadian Avalanche Centre (CAC) is issuing a special avalanche warning for most of the mountainous regions of south and central BC. The warning is in effect immediately, through the weekend to end of day Monday, January 24.

The warning applies to the South Coast Mountains east of Pemberton (Duffy Lake region); the South Chilcotin Mountains (Bridge River, Carpenter Lake, Anderson Lake area); the Columbia Mountains from the US border to Prince George; the North Rockies, north and east of Prince George (including areas around Mackenzie, Chetwynd, Pine Pass, Tumbler Ridge, and Kakwa Provincial Park); the Southern Rockies forecast region; the Mountain National Parks (Rogers Pass, Banff, Yoho, Kootenay, Jasper and Waterton Lakes); and Alberta’s Kananaskis Country. For a map of the warning area, go here: avalanche.ca/spaw/2011-01-21.

CAC Public Avalanche Warning Services Manager Karl Klassen says the main concern is weak layers deeply buried in the snowpack. “The nature of these layers is a bit of a mixed bag,” he explains. “Different regions have different problems but the fundamental concern applies across the board—there’s up to two metres of new snow sitting on some kind of fragile layer. That new snow is starting to settle so natural avalanche activity is slowing down. Without natural avalanches as a warning sign, and with the settled snow offering easier traveling conditions, backcountry users may be tempted to push into more aggressive terrain, which could be a deadly choice.”

The CAC is urging all recreational backcountry users to stay away from large, steep and complex slopes. When triggered, avalanches are expected to be large, often running much farther than expected. Avoid avalanche terrain in the alpine. If you do go into the backcountry, stick to small, simple terrain below treeline and stay out of avalanche runout zones. Everyone in the party needs an avalanche beacon, probe and shovel and at least basic avalanche training. Group leaders need advanced training and everyone should check the current conditions at avalanche.ca before heading out.

For an introduction to avalanche training, take the CAC’s online avalanche course: avalanche.ca/cac/training/online-course.


CAC Forecast Regions
Karl Klassen
CAC Public Avalanche Warning Services Manager
250.837.2141 (230)
kklassen@avalanche.ca

 

[Depsnolvr]

You would think the trail groomers and money collectors would have the same attitude. Those encouraging people to go to the mountains during these avalanche warnings should be held responsible if there is any deaths involved. That little waiver on the back of the trail pass means chit in a court of law.

WHAT ????? Lots of safe places to ride out there, no matter what the conditions are. Its the personal choices made throughout the day that will make a safe and successful trip.

 

[steveo10]

true... a little common sense and proper training goes a long ways.

there are still great ways to enjoy the backcountry when avy conditions are through the roof.

 

[Shredder]

WHAT ????? Lots of safe places to ride out there, no matter what the conditions are. Its the personal choices made throughout the day that will make a safe and successful trip.

Can't be put any clearer than that. You don't have to be highmarking to have a great day of mountain riding.

 

[pwdrhnd]

Good snow again today. Talked to Ron and quagmire today. Hope some sun tomorrow. Over the bars still with lots of fresh still falling.

 

[stormtrooper]

true... a little common sense and proper training goes a long ways.

there are still great ways to enjoy the backcountry when avy conditions are through the roof.

I agree, a trained and experienced backcountry traveler will find safe places to play and have fun. Unforntunately there is no such thing as common sense. Avy training and sound judgement based on backcountry experience will prevail. Unfortunatly not everyone has grown up in the mountains and don`t know any better. It would be an interesting court battle ....stay tuned it will happen sooner than later IMO.

Anyways back to conditions .... Thanks for the pics. Is the snow starting to settle at all ... can`t wait for hero conditions!

 

[glengine]

Well the guys just in from renshaw said it was crazy up there today SO SO much snow.. They said that there was a guy(not sure if it was ron) with a turbo yammy that spent all day tryin to get into the blackwater thru the trail at 27km and even after spending all day tryin couldn't actually make it into the blackwater. And they said it was snowin really hard when they were comin off the hill.. Hopin ron will post some pics up here tonight.

 

[Flygirl21]

You would think the trail groomers and money collectors would have the same attitude. Those encouraging people to go to the mountains during these avalanche warnings should be held responsible if there is any deaths involved. That little waiver on the back of the trail pass means chit in a court of law.

There are lots of places to play that are not as dangerous, providing the rider uses common sense. Which we point out to every rider, we tell them when the avalanche is high and when there are special warnings to stay off of the complex and steep slopes and we remind them to have their safety gear and we even have beacon checkers now, so we are not encouraging unsafe practices, however it is not our fault if some guy wants to go into unsafe territory, or perhaps be drinking all day on the hills, most guys I know are quite capable of making there own decisions as to when they feel it is safe to ride. I imagine your also one of those people who blame McDonalds for the worlds obesity problems!

 

[Flygirl21]

It was really nice to meet more fellow Snow and Mud members today, always a pleasure!

Renshaw Trail is being groomed tonight for Saturday Morning, there is so much snow It should look pretty!

See you on the hills!

 

[glengine]

It was really nice to meet more fellow Snow and Mud members today, always a pleasure!

Renshaw Trail is being groomed tonight for Saturday Morning, there is so much snow It should look pretty!

See you on the hills!

There will probably be so much fresh pow on the trail in the mornin that the only way you will be able to tell it was groomed is because it'll be super smooth. Cause holy crap it's been snowin hard for most of the day today and no signs of it lettin up. SWEEEET!!!

 

[BrownEyes420]

Finally here!! The roads are crazy but we made it, there is soooooo much snow, can't wait to get riding

 

[rknight111]

We were at Renshaw yesterday. Quagmire did hit a tree good, hit a deer on the mountain view road. No damage to truck, sled lost the hoop on the left ski. The snow was EPIC yes CR500, It was EPIC:d. Got off the sled a few times it was 4' powder on a base and there was other times it was chest deep. Used a lot of fuel yesterday. Trail was good right from parking lot to cabin, rough on the way down though. Visibility was not good, we played in meadows and tree's all day. It was awesome. It was snowing heavy and in town at least 3" so wondering what were up for on the hills today. The sled shops here looked quite busy. Here's a few pics.

 

[Sled Den]

Looks like fun times Ron!! Thanks for the pics and the updates

 

[glengine]

You bet it was a good day. Was workin till just after 7pm then back again at 8:30pm to help more guys out. And back at 7am to open up shop this mornin. The best part of all was knowing that all the guys will be ridin today.