Spring riding....

[ferniesnow]

In the olden days, we used to spring ride early in the morning and return early afternoon. The reason being was solar radiation. Maybe people are forgetting this simple safety measure.

The last few avalanche accidents have happened late afternoon; like after 4:00 pm (Eagles Pass, Pemberton skiers, and the Bugaboo's). The solar radiation is immense and loading is fast and furious.

We were on a slope on the weekend and by 12:00 (noon) it was sluggish, wet, and heavy. We popped out through the trees and were dropping down to a clearing. We left in a heart beat and were constantly looking behind.

The sunny slopes should be scenery and left alone after noon and maybe some of them even before noon. Please get into the trees and be careful there. Ride safe and enjoy.....

 

[pano-dude]

we had crazy winds again around here on the weekend, mix with fresh snow, warm temps in the afternoon and a crappy snow pack and you have a recipe for disaster.

 

[retiredpop]

Good advice!

 

[ss_badaz]

Thanks good advice, just got back from the West Kootenays been riding the past few days around the Salmo/Creston area lot’s of fresh snow and the wind has blown some large cornices up top, when the sun was out she warmed up very quick. Conditions were changing fast lots of small storm systems moving through and a real mix of snow type had dry fluff to hail/ sleet Grapple I think it's called (small round snow beads) lots of layers going down. However the riding was some of the best we had yet played her safe not much for climbing but had a blast in the trees, powder over the hood fun!