3/19 EV early report
Hey all,
Got an early Friday morning report from EV, nine new of the fluff and the sun has all the heavy hitters out early on big Fri. Seemed to be more snow west as this weird ass sw storm dumped rain then a late burst of snow Thurs night. Full on pow frenzy this Friday morning. I’m sure the two dozen early hitters represented Summit County and the Front Range well. Good to hear that Vail was also represented out there with the usual suspects teeing it up and some EV royalty imparting their special wisdom on others, go team!
We have never been closer to the moon, but the tides of EV seem to be well within normal ranges. Heading out at one today, skiing right of everyone else just to let you all know.
Oh if you didn’t already get the memo, Troy’s is the best shop around, EVI supports all our locals, but Troy’s is the official shop of EVI and for anyone that knows anything about pow.
Weather trip post 3/16
Happy Saint Paddy’s Day all,
Took a trip to EV yesterday in the building lenticular clouds and freshening SW breeze. It’s been downright hot the last few days as temps have been reaching into the fifties and sixties with S through E aspects fully corning up and lower elevations melting out completely. Had to check my calendar to see if it’s March or April 15th, the snow and temps are saying one thing and the calendar another. The skin track played out into S facing warm soft wind slab on the approach, reminding me of silky soft days on Alaska windblown pow. The winds had sculpted the clouds into various surreal shapes over the Gore and I enjoyed a lonely skin to the top of Benchie.
West Marvins ‘ showed signs of wet slab activity due to heating while the north facingr aspects were still shaded enough for wind smoothed pow. Went down to Old Mans and was pleasantly surprised to see the right middle to the right side of Old Mans was untracked probably due to the fact the cornice has built significantly over the last week or so and the entrance is overhung and burly. Took some time to stop some cornice and send a piece to the flats knocking loose some windslab on the upper scarp, built up from the prevailing winds on the harder surface from the days of warm weather and settlement.
It seemed a good opportunity to break out the G3 bone saw and cut out a section of the cornice a bit deeper to make a usable ramp for the drop in. Kinda nice being up there on a blustery day sawing some cornice without a soul in sight, a true labor of love.
I dropped and sent it towards the middle , as I made the first right turn that shaded a hair toward the NE into the gut, the snow instantly changed to glazed slush, an indicator of just how a slight aspect change in emerging spring sun can alter snow conditions drastically. Headed into the middle and stayed due north all the way down the bowl.
The MVP tres were another story. Thoroughly warmed, the snow skied like two feet of mashed potatoes, making skiing out a clinic in mank survival skiing. Had to ski carefully and slowly as the 207’s like to hang up in the deepest of crud. Overall a good run but with lower elevations warming on all aspects, the lowers are at times arduous.
The CAIC is calling wet slides, and the Gore and EV are no exceptions with natural activity on the south and east aspects visible. A new SW system is now north of us and we’re waiting to see if it dips to us this evening. Cooler temps will at least stop the melt for now and hopefully we’ll pick some snow tonight out of another temperamental SW storm. Cross your fingers.
Carl’s Cabin Trip Report
I gathered with my group at the Yeoman Park trailhead around 8:30 on Monday, March 7th for our hut trip to Carl’s Cabin. It is a beautiful wood hut six miles up in a great area below New York Mountain, near the Polar Star Inn. It may not offer the sweeping big mountain views of some of the other 10th Mtn Huts but it has this warm , tucked in Whitman and Thoreau transcedental glow to the snow loaded heathy pine and spruce forest that just whispers wilderness wonder.
The group casually gathered packs, food, and beer under a bright blue Colorado sky with chuckles and high fives of anticipation. We threw all the big packs, food, beer, and whiskey in the sleds and enjoyed a nice sunny skin up. It was just a short couple miles before the sleds returned from dropping the bounty and half the group right at the hut. With a quick tow we were all styling on that first sip of beer well before noon. I often have mixed feelings on snowmobiles (mainly cause I don’t have one) but it is a great feeling to ski some fresh up hill at over 30mph and Apres is so much better supplied by the 2 stroke.
The weather clouded over as we headed out for the afternoon tour. (Another advantage of the sleds – a fresh feeling afternoon tour.) We climbed through some big old growth up to the ridge above treeline. We could see the storms building to the west as we searched around the cornices to recon for any big routes for Tuesday.
Nothing looked too clear or appetizing enough even after traversing up and around more southwest, especially as new snow clouded visibility. Saw more big rock and overhanging cornice, but it did offer some cool views above the town of Fulford. A whole winter locked up in a cabin there I could become a mad backcountry skier or maybe just a crazy mad man. As evening approached we picked our way through the scree collecting the occasional scratch and core shot through the fresh few inches from Sunday night. As we hit treeline we began to sample some good north facing softness and tree shots as we skied back to the cabin. The snow picked up and dumped super hard for the last hour of the day, before parting for a nice show by Orion and the bottom crescent moon.
After a great dinner and all night apres we woke casually late to more snow and multiple imititations of my sleep apnea. (Which did upgrade me to an upstairs private suite for night 2). After coffee, pancakes, and fine bacon our group was off and breaking fresh trail up through the woods and above treeline. The snow was falling straight down with little wind in that serenity now pattern. The skiing was fabulous as we saw no ther groups that day as we skied lap after lap of big open north facing trees with a foot of deep fluffy face shot snow that you can taste the sweetnes of when you lick your lips. Took a late 4:20 lunch of Newcastles, salami, and Buffalo Pastrami sandwiches before setting out for a twilight rally of goodness. The last lap was in the early edge of darkness where your throwing white powder at the dark shadows, hitting the hole and just touching the deep soul of what moves you in these mountains. I can’t say enough how nice it is to get away from work and the resort grind to be in a great place with good friiends, good snow and good vibes.
We ended the day with our fourth pork product and the last of all the bourbon and scotch. The morning was filled with hasty cleaning and a final fast lap for one more fix of that fluff. Another great run down through more of an open zone, ending at a couple empty yurts. We gathered the last of our stuff, shouldered our heavy packs (as the haul sled had already left) and had a nice sunny 6+ mile ski down. What a great trip. There is something about a hut with snow rising up the windows, wood stove cranking, and all your buddies laughing in delight. Go out and get some!
March 10 post
Hey all,
It’s been a great few days in the zone. A southwesterly storm predicted to hit monday and tues was a bit of a swing an a miss, with it tracking south providing us with a few inches of blessed pow, but not nearly the amount that NOAA called for, typical for storms from the Southwest. DJ and I met up on Monday morning and skied a Benchmark, with the upper tracks not quite filled in but surprisingly deep in the middle section in medium density knee deep snow. The storm came in very warm but got colder between Monday and Tuesday with 10 F temps up top and significant wind from the west southwest. My second run was solo timber falls, always a nice tour solo to get away from it all. Snow was good again, and is one of my favorite places on a powder day.
Tuesday the on off snow continued and it stayed cold to keep the snow fresh and the moderate winds from the west southwest filled iln EV very nicely. Skied a Benchie left of mushroom rock in the choke. No longer madatory air, since the amount of snow this year has rendered even the mighty mushroom rock to a manageable height. It is truly amazing the amount of snow that has fallen and loaded in EV, the most I’ve ever seen in 14 years.
Wed was a great day with an unexpected cell dropping 7 or so inches of light wind fluffiness. Of course more fell in EV than expected and DJ took advantage of the thigh deep conditions to hit the gun barrel for the first time for the year.
Watching him drop and disappear into the white room was awesome as he was truly enveloped in a pow cloud all the way down. I skied my typical line in left side of the mushroom in choker conditions. However I was inspired by the gun barrel run and returned to do a late afternoon lap solo. I caught the last poma and enjoyed a lonely skin in beautiful afternoon light.
Up top, I moved to the right center of Benchmark, a line known as the ice fall skier right of the gun barrel. An area that is notorious for slides off all sizes due to the wind load and very little traffic. It has no safe area, and a slab ripping below the cornice is expected. You have to get and stay out in front and hit and stick the air to be safe, no stopping no pause, truly a big mountain training run.
I was able to get a spot from Brenden and Reef who were farther skiers right.
A deep breath and a push off the cornice sent me in to the white room immediately. As expected the wind load cracked in typical soft slab fashion. I had time to see the snow crack around me as I punched as fast as I could in the deepness. Able to keep my wits about me and hit the cliff with speed, luckily landing right of a buried, pillowed stump. The landing was over the head and was able to stick it and ski away. Looking back, I could see the shallow slab had ripped third of the upper bowl. The adrenaline factor and snow conditions made it the best run of the year.
After a howl into the wind. I finished the run with a traverse over to the forgotten trees. Trackless and fresh, it was perfect way to end a pow day. That’s all for now.
Bighhorn report
Hey people,
Just want to report on our excursion to bighorn on Tuesday. Big J and I went up up the bighorn ridge to tree line on a perfect blue sky early spring day.
We passed all the skin tracks and went to the top of the ridge and were rewarded with an awesome view of the gore and found ourselves on top of a large avie path.
After taking in the view, we decided to dig a representative pit on a due W aspect at 35degrees. We had time so I decided to dig a 180 cm pit. We found a 245 cm deep snow pack at 11,900.
Examining the pack we found no obvious lenses or crusts, with the density going from fist density to four finger all the way down, changing from 2mm stellars to 2mm rounds at 155 cm. On our compression test we found ctm 22 with a Q1 shear at 155 cm. The new fluff was reactive on the old storm snow, making sluff a concern.
Continuing our pit we found a CT25 with a Q2 shear at 100cm. Uneven shearing and little pop made us wonder if our column was at fault, so we tested it again and found similar results. Moderate stability and a right side up snow pack gave us confidence to keep exploring.
For the final test, we did an AK block, a reuchblock with out the back cut. This is a test created an promoted by Bill Glude an renowned avalanche forecaster, heliguide and avalanche guru from Juneau AK. After testing the block, and getting a RB 7, basically a no failure result, we decided to drop in.
The skiing was phenomenal up top. John and I leapfrogged each other staying closed to the treed edge, skiing to the choke. A traverse around the choke led us to some route finding and we ended skiing out farther skiers right, up the valley.
The terrain we were able to see and scout was alpine, rocky and steep, with the possibilities endless for exploration. Check out the photos. The Gore is the real deal, steep exposed and isolated. It deserves respect and caution. A great day all around.
EV report 3/4 Old Mans and team traverse
Howdy all,
Just skied an Old Mans this afternoon and was pleasantly surprised at the snow conditions. A nice seven or so inches back in the zone made the skiing pretty damn good. East aspects showed signs of small naturals, expected since the strengthening sun and the days of warm weather created a firm crust for the new snow to sit on. nothing too significant, just a reminder that spring is here and the days to ski the west wall are numbered. Old mans skied fresh and except for small sluffing, the new snow seemed to hold pretty well.
A special shout out to the wolfpack in old mans before me.
I have no idea what people are thinking when the drop in to Old mans, not make one turn and traverse the entire face west to the trees by CDC on a 45 degree angle. I mean thanks for putting yourself out there to check snow stability with the worst ski cut ever, but I hope you have major medical and no kids. Good God. Anyway, another sweet day in EV, looking forward to the next series of storms coming, fingers crossed. Big Saturday tomorrow, watch above you. See ya
Mushroom rock
Good snow year!
Report from 2/25
Howdy EV schralpers,
Snow keeps coming and so do the reports of instability in our favorite areas. Big J an DJ hit up Benchie first thing on Friday in the seven turned twenty one inches in EV. DJ dropped in and set off a slide in the upper rollover that ran about fifty feet wide and into the first bench. New snow only with no step down into the previous layers and stopped before the cliff band.
As spring approaches, I have a wary eye on the snowpack as temps and snow densities are changing. As alway our main concern is emerging deep slab instability, things that go big and run to the flats. The new storm that rolled in from Cal has much warmer temperatures and denser snow. Interested to see if the stability is better with a day of settling and new on top with the warmer temps.
Skied a tweeners to the ridge yesterday, enjoyed great deep snow in the bonus pockets and beyond.
It’s big kooky Saturday in the zone. Watch above you and stay classy east vail
Moving snow reports 2/20-2/24
Well it has been an active week for the EVI crew. Seven inches Sunday night with high winds loaded EV with probably triple that amount of low density but wind whipped snow. The cornice sizes above old mans and benchmark were indicators or just how the prevailing winds were favoring loading of north through west aspects. Monday was especially active, as our morning run in Old Mans saw Big J set off small slab underneath the cornice on the scarp. A small soft slab about 20 meters across and foot deep broke on his second turn and carried him toward the right side of the run. Down below I was able to see him get white roomed and pop out unscathed, but undeniable indicator that the new and old snow interface wasn’t on the same page. The windslab was active and old mans was grumpy. The snow was splashy and deep faceshots and thigh deep fresh.
Second run I went back solo to benchmark and teed it up left side of mushroom rock, through the choke. Upper left of Benchie had ran abut a third of the width of the upper run about 50 yards down on the new soft slab. Able to run it fast and got through the left side slot with no problems and skied the rest of the run in glorious pow, cutting over to the ridge and ended up skiing the trees on the north ridge down.
Third run I hooked up with Paul from EVI and went back to Old Man’s for another go at the right side. Although John had set off a small wind slab our first run, the right side had skied very well and with the cornice kicking we had done the first run, I figured we could safely enter and hug the right side by the trees and enjoy the goods. I had Paul go first and directed him to stay right on the ridge after the entrance and not test the first gully left in to the skier’s left of old mans, a convex, roll over into a gully that steepens in excess of 35 degrees with a small cliff crowning the skier’s left. It acts as a thin spot in the slab and if you ski by it can act as a trigger.
In my time I have seen Old Man’s rip in various spots and with varying results. From small sluffs to the entire bowl, old mans is as active a part of EV as any. It demands respect and knowledge to test it, especially in the middle and the far skiers left known as CDC. This area in particular is responsible for a number of close calls, injuries and fatalities in the years I have skied in EV. Protocol, decision making and big mountain skiing skills are required to get in and out fast, in the right area and at the right time anywhere in EV but especially in Old Mans on a black flag day.
Paul dropped in and followed the ridge to first bench without incident. However instead of hugging the right side, Paul ventured into first gully skier’s left by the rock and triggered a soft slab that pushed him down and took his ski. At about 3 feet deep although it was only fifty feet across, it packed a punch and ran to the flats. Video of the slide from Paul’s perspective was posted a few days ago, and it’s worth a look.
Being on top and watching the toe of the slide emerge with no sign of Paul was a tense moment. I took a deep breath and reached for my beacon. I had a decision to make. If Paul was buried, of course he needed my immediate assistance. If he was just wallowing, my dropping in would put him at risk for a second slide and put us both in danger. Two people in the zone at the same time was a last option. I hollered and waited, giving myself ten seconds to either let him get his shit together or drop. Just as I was about to hit receive on my tracker, I saw his pole wave up behind the roll over, signaling he was still above the surface. His ski was 300 feet below sticking straight out of the snow. Lucky on all accounts, a thigh deep day on one ski would take hours to get out.
Paul was lucky, he made a mistake and got off easy. If the slab was big or would have ripped above him, things would have been much worse. In my experience in guiding formally or informally, the human factor is the hardest variable to control. Powder frenzy, nerves overconfidence are things which are impossible to control. If you point out hazards to people, inevitably someone will ski into or wherever or whatever you have specifically pointed out not to ski into or towards. Human nature. Paul is ok, that’s all that matters really.
Tuesday I was worked and managed only a single but amazing run on King Aurthurs. The weather was dramatically better, with calm winds, blue skies and moderate temps. It was nice to take a solo run and tour into the old growth pines up to the crown. A fair number of tracks, but stability was much improved in the sheltered tree chute, and snow was still amazing. Thoughts from the day before had me close to the right side trees and wary of the superhighway size slide path that is the King A’s run. The snow warranted a second and even a third run, but I was crushed from the day before and had to take it easy.
Got a surprise message Thursday from our EVI slednecker Tdiz from Vail pass reporting a sled triggered slide under the main cornice up on ptarmigan ridge. North facing and wind loaded the two foot crown spanned about 100 feet across, triggered when Tdiz was sidehilling underneath the cornice. Notice a pattern in instability? Windloaded areas under cornices touchy. Be careful out there all and with new snow coming this week watch for more activity to come.
Also we will have videos and pictures uploaded in the next couple days of these recent EV runs. Check back and see for yourself what’s going on out East.
Saturday 2/19
Saturday was the beginning of the southwesterly storm and provided 4 inches of fresh on the mountain and as always doubled that total in EV. My run was a good one, hit the right side of the west wall in the tee line. It was a decent run, landing off the middle cliff was soft and skiing was improving rapidly, with no observed naturals and little sluffing and amazing light. Check the video of the run coming up, it’s a good one.
Friends…
East Vail Institute 
