matosan

Great TR, I'm totally inspired! I have a 3.5 month old daughter and I can hardly wait to take her on a mountain trip (though I realize it'll be a while) Sorry the ratings seemed off, it's hard to get them all right. Cheers, Matt

The Canadian Avalanche Centre, in conjunction with Simon Fraser University, is seeking survey participants for a study on out-of-bounds avalanche decision making. Findings from the study will be used to develop tools for communicating avalanche risk and assisting out-of-bounds decisions making. The study includes an online survey with questions about experience and background, typical skiing/riding partners, perceptions of avalanches and ski patrol and an interactive ‘pick a run’ exercise. All participants will be entered in a prize draw for: • One Ortovox S1 avalanche transceivers • Two Black Diamond AvaLung backpacks At the conclusion of the study interested participants will be emailed a personal analysis sheet that includes a comparison of your avalanche hazard consideration to other study participants. The survey can be found at: http://www.outbounds.rem.sfu.ca Your support for study would be much appreciated. Please pass the link onto to anyone you know who would be suitable for this study.

Yep, that's the spot. Have you been through there before, Matt? Edit: I just looked on your TR page, and saw that you went around clockwise a couple of years ago. Did you have any issues skiing down that slope? Whoops, delayed reply, it's been a crazy week... I'm not 100% sure where the slide happened, but I think we crossed that slope as we descended from a col above it. I don't remember the slope being as wind affected, the snow was reasonable for a few turns. Is this the slope that slid on you? (our descent is marked with by the red line). I can't tell from you photos if this is the slope that slid, or if it was further to skiers right, which would be this slope: Thanks for posting the info about your experience, it's a great reminder for us all not to get complacent even when hazard is low or moderate. Cheers, Matt Edit: After looking at the picts of the slide more I think the slide occurred on the slope in the second picture, climbers left of where we descended.

Hey jordo, quick question for you. Did the slide happen somewhere around 305836?

Wow, crazy story! Thanks a ton for sharing it, it's a great reminder to play safe. Glad you guys are all ok. Matt

Good times in the south coast 2006-2007: Wedge Couloir Steep Creek Steep Creek Birthday Chute Area Birthday Chute

thanks a ton for the beta and photos! it looks great and I appreciate the info. cheers! matt

Nice TR and picts. How hard is the crux? how would the route be without rockshoes? matt

thanks snoboy. awesome.

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I emailed as per the post. thanks for setting this up. matt

Any one have any more specific details regarding this accident? I'd like to get in touch with someone from the injured party if possible. If anyone has any contact info please send to me a message. Thanks, Matt

Anyone know how far up the Ashlu Main road you can drive right now? I'd like to get up to Shortcut Creek area this weekend.

thanks for the info don, it sounds tricky. It's probably not a ski route for me. matt

Any guess at the slope angle of this route at the steepest? How exposed is theramp? Would it be possible to ski from the summit down to the start of the ramp? matt

The Canadian Avalanche Centre Presents Columbia Brewery Backcountry Avalanche Workshop Follow this link for details: http://www.avalanche.ca/default.aspx?DN=352,15,3,Documents Vancouver: Saturday Nov 19th, Ridge Theatre 3131 Arbutus 9:00am - 4:30pm This workshop is for you! You’re a backcountry skier, boarder, sledder or climber. Mountain adventure is important in your life and you want to enjoy your sport for many years to come. You’ve taken an avalanche course, or read some of the books, and you know that you owe it to yourself, your friends and your family to ensure your avalanche knowledge is as up to date as your mountain equipment. These events provide an early season avalanche safety primer to help you start your winter right. This is an opportunity to get together with avalanche experts who will share their insights, introduce new ideas and tools, and help active winter travelers like you learn more about snow safety. This year’s workshop theme is: Outsmart the Dragon: Avalanche Risk in a Changing World Learn from leading Canadian and US avalanche researchers and experts including: Jill Fredston: author of the new book Snowstruck: In the Grip of Avalanches and co-director of the Alaska Mountain Safety Center Ken Wylie: IFMGA Guide; Adventure Guides Program, Thompson Rivers University Grant Statham: IFMGA Guide; Avalanche Risk Specialist, Parks Canada Lori Zacaruk: owner of Zac's Tracs Snowmobile Tours & Courses Clair Israelson: Canadian Avalanche Centre John Kelly: Canadian Avalanche Centre Pascal Hägeli: project manager, Avalanche Decision Framework for Amateur Recreationists; owner Avisualanche Consulting Bruce Jamieson: NSERC Research Chair in Snow Avalanche Risk Control, University of Calgary Tickets: $40 General Admission, $20 Students; (Student ID required upon admission) * CAA & CAC Members receive a 10% discount off General Admission when they purchase tickets through www.avalanche.ca or by phoning the CAA/CAC Tickets are available at Mountain Equipment Co-op stores in Vancouver & North Vancouver; Ridge Theatre Box Office, online at www.avalanche.ca, by phone at 250.837.2435, and at the door. For more information visit www.avalanche.ca or call 250.837.2435

The Canadian Avalanche Association has a new website and one of their improved features is a discussion board. They have an area dedicated to each backcountry ski region in western canada. Please support this board by posting info on snow conditions after your trips. The more info we all put into this forum, the more useful it will be. The forums are located at: http://www.avalanche.ca/Forums/

I hear someone skied the stonecrop glacier on the north face of Slalok late last week. (Slalok is above Joffre Lakes off Duffey Highway in BC) must have been fun. i really want to ski that line this year. anyone know who it was?

i'm writing a scrambles guidebook to the coast range with aerial photos. i hired a plane and did all the photography myself. i agree with dru, i wanted to do the photography myself and wouldn't buy images. if you're ever looking for someone to help pay for flights i would be interested in going with you and taking more pictures. i'd love to get some winter shots of a bunch of areas. email me at matosan@hotmail.com

Here's a description of classes from 'Freedom of the Hills' Class 2: Involves some scrambling and likely use of hands; all but the most inexperienced and clumsy will not want a rope. Class 3: Moderate exposure may be present; simple climbing and scrambling with frequent use of hands. A rope should be available. Class 4: Intermediate climbing is involved and most climbers want a rope because of exposure. A fall could be serious or fatal. Another definition is that it begins when all beginners and most average climbers will want and should have a belay. Usually natural protection is easily found.

Lummox hit it on the head in simple terms. I have heard a FEW people say that exposure goes into rating the difficulty, or should IU say the technical rating of a route. I disagree. The difficulty, or the technical rating of a route, is what it is regardless of exposure, length, or gear placements. i just need to clarify something. it sounds like you are agreeing with lummox (how much will you hurt yourself if you fall... relates to class 3 vs. 4) but then you say the rating should only relate to technical difficulty of the climb. is that a contradiction?

i've read drew's article and the responses identify the confusion i'm curious about. it seems that some expect 3rd and 4th to be consistent, while others see it as subjective. (e.g. if i didnt use a rope it's 3rd, if i roped belay to belay with no pro it's 4th) The other confusion seems to come from move difficulty vs. exposure. it seems like some people expect 3rd and 4th to relate to the technical difficulty of the climbing, while others expect it to relate to the consequences of a fall. i'd like to hear what other's think 3rd and 4th class relates to.

It seems like there are many interpretations of the class 3 and class 4 grades. How does everyone distinguish between these two?

thanks a ton for the suggestions. does anyone else have any scrambles they think are missing? matt