what is appealing about highmarking?

[jaredszakacs]

really wonder what people think is so appealing about sitting at the bottom of a hill and going up and down the same line a bunch of times in extreme avalanche conditions with cornices hanging above them? isnt it more fun to go line for line with a buddy in some nice trees that adds some challenge?

 

[fatguy1]

really wonder what people think is so appealing about sitting at the bottom of a hill and going up and down the same line a bunch of times in extreme avalanche conditions with cornices hanging above them? isnt it more fun to go line for line with a buddy in some nice trees that adds some challenge?

I guess????? what's so appealing about hanging out on the internet asking people about their viewpoint on something you really don't care about?

 

[sicamoose]

 

[v10rider]

Different strokes for different folks. Personally not my thing but if it makes someone happy then more power to them. If everyone likes the same thing then the world would be a very boring place.

That being said, taking the necessary precaution is probably not a bad thing. I saw first hand on saturday where people highmarking and there were 3 on the same slope one behind the other.

 

[jaredszakacs]

cause i do care about it!!!! ever seen my other posts about people who highmark on really dumb questionable slopes? I just dont understand why people do it?

 

[ferniesnow]

and the whole key here is "really dumb questionable slopes".....it gets my goat also Jarred. I used to stop and have a little chat but now I don't care and I go ride somewhere far away where it is safe and I won't hear the avalanche. I can see the thrill in the spring when the snow is set up (even tho' it's not my cup of tea) but chit still happens and I want to enjoy quite a few more years with my family before going for the big ride in the sky!

 

[jaredszakacs]

myself as well doug I used to stop and say hey man not a good idea but the amount of times you get lipped off by those guys is amazing! so now i carry on my way and like you say far enough to not hear the slide! I just wonder at yamafest how many people were sitting at the bottoms of the chutes watching! i know I wanna ride quite a few more seasons before I die. then seeing guys go 3 at a time you really wonder how many people do have proper training or are they just out there hoping that nothing is gonna happen to them.

 

[jaredszakacs]

I actually had a guy about 3-4 weeks back in castle that was eyeing up a slope and I nicely told him that the slope usually comes down quite a few times in a year and is quite destructive he got very offensive and was telling me how he has been riding there for over 20 years and has never seen the slope side or even heard of it! So I nicely asked were he was from he said the medicine hat area So I responded nicely and said " yeah dont listen to the guy who lives in beaver mines and rides castle on a weekly basis those trees that are bent over and have missing branches must have just been from the chinook winds" I left after that and amazingly did not see a track on that slope after and i was surprised needless to say that hill came down last week and came down big!

 

[CUSO]

To answer your first question, there hasn't been an extreme avalanche warning for at least a couple of years. With training you woe know this. Because the cac hasn't issued that level in a long time. As with picking the same lines, that's track poaching. Lol
most of the people at yamafest climb chutes that have slidden or would, or amount to much of a runout, being the narrowness and steepness.

There is a place and time to highmark. Not saying its safe, but let's just say "not as dangerous"

The reason it's popular is that it gets the adrenaline pumping.

 

[NM]

myself as well doug I used to stop and say hey man not a good idea but the amount of times you get lipped off by those guys is amazing! so now i carry on my way and like you say far enough to not hear the slide! I just wonder at yamafest how many people were sitting at the bottoms of the chutes watching! i know I wanna ride quite a few more seasons before I die. then seeing guys go 3 at a time you really wonder how many people do have proper training or are they just out there hoping that nothing is gonna happen to them.

So what was dangerous about sitting at the bottom of those chutes at Yamafest? Have you ever seen those chutes in person? Do you know they slide on ther own often?
There is a huge difference between sitting at the bottom of a big open hill with a terrain trap and sitting at the bottom of a chute that slides on its own all of the time and the snow never even reaches the bottom.

So you are basically saying that everyone that was sitting at the bottom was a ________?

Sounds to me like you need some education.

 

[OOC ZigZag]

So what was dangerous about sitting at the bottom of those chutes at Yamafest? Have you ever seen those chutes in person? Do you know they slide on ther own often?
There is a huge difference between sitting at the bottom of a big open hill with a terrain trap and sitting at the bottom of a chute that slides on its own all of the time and the snow never even reaches the bottom.

So you are basically saying that everyone that was sitting at the bottom was a ________?

Sounds to me like you need some education.

There's no educating needed Jared's not talking about hero snow climbing he's talking about people making poor risk managment choice's with the present levels. Bringing attention to that never a dumb thing.Riding under big cornices right now not the best choice all things considered.

 

[maxwell]

This weekend was disgusting. Every dangerous slope that has gone a couple times a year, or killed someone in the past, or given some very close calls were blown right over the top. Just made me sick to my stomach looking at it from a distance. Terrain traps, gigantic open faces, avalanche chutes. You name it. Hillclimb hill in clemina had marks going right over the top, the hill where cody maves was killed had marks right to the highest rock, the avy chutes down to the trail were tracked right out. When the sun comes out this is what happens. There is a difference between highmarking safely and irresponsibly. Lots of safe hills to climb, but the ones with avalanche debris, runout clear cuts, small leaning treees, terrain traps, cornices, windloaded ledges, shaded areas are not to be messed with regardless of snowpack stability. Especially the ones with repeat history of death or injury!! Just plain stupid. Some sledders are like dumb animals. Just follow eachother to the biggest most dangerous slopes and climb them one after another. It was very evident this weekend you could ride a ridge up to a highpoint safely and do a 360 look. Wow look at that dummy! Turn another 50 degrees. Wow look at that dummy! Annnnd repeat. Just gross. I just about got my ass kicked 2 years ago for trying to save some dummys life so now I just sit back and watch mothernature take its toll on our sport from idiotic moves.

Again I will reiterate....there are safe chutes and hills to climb. The difference is very few this past weekend knew how to choose them. A sunny day, fresh snow, high hp sleds, lack of training and common sense is a recipe for disaster.

My group will be the one sitting back watching our sport fail.

Enjoy your highmarks.

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[JaySimon]

To answer your first question, there hasn't been an extreme avalanche warning for at least a couple of years. With training you woe know this. Because the cac hasn't issued that level in a long time.

I could have sworn I saw some time at extreme last year. I could recall incorrectly though.

 

[powderhoundbrr]

High Marking is fun when you and all your buddies are on Bravo 250's trying to get to the top of something and it takes some riding skill. These days all you have to do is add money and everyone is as good as their wallet. I have no interest in watching some flat lander newbie to the back country out climbing everyone because he is running 300 HP.

Fernie Snow I leave areas all the time when I am watching people do dumb things. Digging out bodies sucks...........

 

[thunder44]

High Marking is fun when you and all your buddies are on Bravo 250's trying to get to the top of something and it takes some riding skill. These days all you have to do is add money and everyone is as good as their wallet. I have no interest in watching some flat lander newbie to the back country out climbing everyone because he is running 300 HP.

I agree. There use to be a lot of talent to hill climbing, now it just takes a lot of money. It's the rocket scietists out there that play follow the leader up those slopes that I really shake my head at.

I also don't want to dig out a body, so ya we just go play elsewhere.

 

[jaredszakacs]

yes i must need education ok bud! I never called anyone any names and yes i have been to the bottom of those chutes before and actually felt quite uncomfortable under them! just because the snow when you have been riding there has never reached the bottom doesnt mean it wont! I think we all know of a tragic event that the same was said about! hence the reason why CAC last year was saying we may see slopes slide that we havent seen let go in very long times! different years different snow different snowpacks everyday is different out there! when CAC is posting avalanche dangers at HIGH and putting out special warnings it is usually a good indication that they might just know something about the cycle that is coming! it doesnt have to be high for a slide to happen just takes a bad judgement call thats it thats all!

 

[maxwell]

Even when avy danger is marked at low climbing big slopes is not necessary.

The cac does a good job but low doesn't mean go nuts.

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[jaredszakacs]

To answer your first question, there hasn't been an extreme avalanche warning for at least a couple of years. With training you woe know this. Because the cac hasn't issued that level in a long time. As with picking the same lines, that's track poaching. Lol
most of the people at yamafest climb chutes that have slidden or would, or amount to much of a runout, being the narrowness and steepness.

There is a place and time to highmark. Not saying its safe, but let's just say "not as dangerous"

The reason it's popular is that it gets the adrenaline pumping.

High with red all over is good enough and close enough to an extreme warning when they are warning of very likely and quite large destructive slides! Yes the old track poaching lol very true. yes i'm sure the conditins were good for yamafest I know the big chute climbers usually go up them at certain times and that is cool to watch from a distance forsure! but even hills you dont think will slide will release and surprise you it is mother nature you have no control over her! look at that before and after shot from CAC theres a prime example of a slope that hasnt run that big in a long long time then destroyed a huge section of mature forest! and i do have training and ride with trained guys and yes i have seen slides and they scare the chit out of me to the point that i want nothing to do with that kind of terrain!

 

[retiredpop]

really wonder what people think is so appealing about sitting at the bottom of a hill and going up and down the same line a bunch of times in extreme avalanche conditions with cornices hanging above them? isnt it more fun to go line for line with a buddy in some nice trees that adds some challenge?

Take your pick of the following reasons:

1. It's a real test of your manhood

2. You put less miles on your sled

3. It's not very hard to pick where you want to go

4. You don't have to think too much.

5. All the girls think you're great. (Oh wait, most girls think it's stupid.)

6. Everyone is watching YOU

7. The trails are too rough to ride.

8. You can't get lost.

9. I really don't know.

 

[plio7]

really wonder what people think is so appealing about sitting at the bottom of a hill and going up and down the same line a bunch of times in extreme avalanche conditions with cornices hanging above them? isnt it more fun to go line for line with a buddy in some nice trees that adds some challenge?

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