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Berthoud was pretty sweet yesterday, got 5 quick laps: Floral Meadows/Park, Hoop Creek, Hell's Half Acre/Highway to Hell, Meadow 1/2 to 80's/90's, and finally Highway to Hell/Hightrail 7 mile run to bottom. Wanted to head back up today but with the snow and wind just didn't seem smart. The conditions yesterday were prime, but still hit bottom in a couple places in Floral Park and Meadows and had some really small labs to bottom break when stopping on steeper stuff in trees to wait for partners. Only problem was that I didn't bring the split as I was with 2 others booting it. Bootpack wasn't bad, just spend too much energy getting up, but getting to ride my DIY fish was worth it, perfect snow for the lil shred. Here are some pic.


this little drop was just after the long flats on 7 mile before entering the more fun flats aka snake run


believe this was around the 80's/90's gate


the setup for the day, hiking isn't the best mode for getting up but the lil diy fish (older Lib Tech MC Kink 153, full banana with a jigsawed batail to be about a ~148 and bindings setback at 22.5" with +20 and +3) was perfect for the amount of snow and some tight trees.

found this nice old trail map since i'm not too familiar with berthoud and was relying on my 2 buddies/guides
http://btjdesign.com/berthoud/TrailMap2.jpg

I finally got back up to the hills after a rather long hiatus and rode Bert yesterday. Overall it was a great day with perfect weather and no wind, it felt like spring out there. The pass is filling in finally and many of the better lines are ride-able. Snowpack was good and we experienced very little instability. The storm/wind slabs were touchy on steep 35+ degree slopes but no whoomphing or major fracturing occurred. We did stay out of the high alpine due to this year's sketchy snowpack. Slough was very manageable but moving none the less. I think March may be a good month for us front rangers, but only if the snow keeps coming. We had 10"-20" of powder all day. The sun exposed terrain will have developed a crust after the warm weather yesterday, but the shaded lines should still be good and soft.

Looking forward to getting back into the swing of things after a depressing early season. Stay safe out there people, there is still a lot of hidden danger up high in our mountains.

Wolf Creek was awesome yesterday!!!!!
WC & the Pass should be good for the next couple days also...

Wolf Creek must have been awesome! Nice score Pedro.

We got out for a tour up Battleship to Paradise in the San Juans. Surprisingly more people then I thought would be out there. Lots (aka 4) of tracks on the line we chose, and then completely untouched for the second. About a foot of blower on top of a melt freeze layer from last weekend. Probably best run of the year. I'll see what I have for pictures later but it was one of those "its too good to take out the camera" days.

Pit tests revealed a CT12Q2 around 12 inches down on the new snow and ETCX (no results). On the CT did get a failure about 5ft down as well with a Q3, so the deep slab instability is certainly there, although I think it is tough to trigger. And no propagation from the ECT. Kept it to manageable terrain but was able to get into some the steeper trees finally and it felt good! Shaping up nicely!

Did a hut trip last weekend to Geneva Basin with some buddies. Not much splitting since we had 2 sleds, but really not much riding in general. Spent most of the time on the hill digging out the sleds and or struggling along in the quicksand low angle snow. The snowpack is just too sketchy to be on steeper, exposed stuff (not that there is much there). But Sunday morning was deeeeep and got a couple great turns in. Best part was riding the new DIY, really starting to get a feel for the ride. Geneva might be good for a while as long as we keep getting these upslope storms, it's starting to fill in and you can still drive all the way to the base if you have 4wd/awd and some good clearance.

Saturday storm riding, knicker knocker



had to keep it warm


sunday


very very wind blown, lots of side loading, check out bierstadt


deep, but unfortunately lots of flat (did find some decent steep stuff though)

summersgone-- hows the snow down there stackin up vs last year? just curious- thinking about splitfest since its only a month away!

CT, as for snow depths its the same depth for the red mountain snotel as last year. All Snow Water Equiv is the same as well. That's not a great thing but not horrible. This month will be the real test. Last year's march was horrible. 2 minimal snowstorms (we got like 6 inches total) really set us up poor for April. Hopefully we continue to get some snowfall this month and keep the base at least where it is, and hopefully increase it. I think right now the silver lining is that avalanche conditions seem to be stabilizing a bit with the warmer weather, saw all Moderate in the Northern San Juan forecast for the first time in months it seems. So if this base get stabilized and a few storms pile on top, that could make for good conditions. I'm staying optimistic.

For comparison, last year snow depths sat at 40" or so at splitfest time at Red Mountain Snotel. Right now they are at 57". Normally they sit at the 70"-80" range now into the first week of April. So a few storms and we are right on track.

SOUNDS GREAT!!! well not great but its all relative.... I've been having so much fun on the split touring new places and seeing just a hint of how much terrain is really out there, I cant even imagine when we have a banger super snow year... I'll have to quit my job! There's so many places and so little time. GO GET IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Avalanche Baldy 3-18-13. Gore range



Baldy 3-18-13 by travis young 424, on Flickr

Vail called 11" as of this morning. i would guess 15" up there. Lets see what comes down today? getting warm out at the moment.

6-11" in the northern san juans CAIC reported this morning. Hopefully it keeps up for the next few weeks prior to splitfest!

Conditions are pretty freaking good at the moment on the Front Range. In James Peak Wilderness yesterday, didn't see any avy activity on any aspects, and encountered no instabilities, which is nice for a change. Video from yesterday, https://vimeo.com/62588392

4am skin into Pitkin area this morning, Gore's. Rode a west facing steep line. no instabilities noticed. 15" in the last week at least, about 4" last night just in that area and cold enough to make it very sweet! Best conditions i have seen in a very long time. Pretty rad tour concidering the quality of snow and the fact that i made it to work by 8:30am. Got to love the ability to be able to tour early and still make it to work for a full day. We are finally above last years snow pack levels and things are looking great! Keep it coming!

makes me a little happier being stuck in CO while my crew is in AK killing it.

Cheers

PS. no pics because it its to much of a pain. & I need a better camera

I am suprised how dead this thread is? 30" since Thursday night and the conditions are better now than they have been in a long time. Sunday was DEEP and it snowed even harder yesterday. Avy danger in the red today, but hoping for a freeze tonight.

Last week, 7am skin into the goods.


photo by travis young 424, on Flickr