sean_beanntan

Looks like great conditions. Myself and Reuben D climbed that location back in 2007. I will look for a photo to compare the difference.

I was out there yday and it was real windy. Nothing seemed in

There was a reference made to a CT 15 Q2, thought I would fwd this Doug Chabot link of a avalanche on a CT15 Q1, different conditions, like slope angle, aspect and facet layer but still a cool video.

Major Major, a few pages back, Awesome insight, well said

Steve, there are even crevasses at the base of crater rock as you turn to climb devils kitchen to the hogsback, visible after July, your assumption on the weather is wrong, wind was 55+mph, vis at times down to 5ft. Heavy Rime forming. Does this give you a better picture of conditions?

opps sorry about that water

Stay in Bozeman for a few days at least, great beer. Bozeman’s Western Heritage Inn 1200 E. Main Bozeman, MT 59715 (800) 877-1094 (406) 586-8534 http://www.bozemanicefest.com/resources/

Some other sites, anyone out there have other fav? I know my flyer friends have a few that shows wind aloft etc that are pretty cool. http://weather.unisys.com/radar/rcm_rad.php?image=rad&inv=0&t=cur&region=nw http://weather.unisys.com/satellite/sat_vis.php?image=vis&inv=0&t=cur&region=he

As a professional guide with many summits of Mt Hood and a member of the MRA for 18 years, here is what I believe happened. The slope between devils kitchen and hogsback developes a low angle break close to where the engine block is located on crater rock before steepening again. On a whiteout descent its possible to think that you have reached the top of white river when you see the second steepening so u turn right and find urself in the middle slope of crater rock instead of at the base. A look at ur altitude will tell u that u are too high. This has pulled more than a few climbers but they have either been smart enough to retrace or heard other climbers talking to their left and so again move skiers left to get back on track. So we don't get to hear from them!!! A compass would not have helped in that it would show u were on the correct heading. A altimeter would show you 200/300ft too high but that could be due to the lower barometric pressure with the new front. The best indication would be GPS, Once above Palmer, set a track up the mountain that you can follow back down. That would show the climber that they are off route. while climbing Mt Hood or any mountain, always look for geo hand rails that will help you recognize where you are. On S Hood, the Palmer lift at 8500ft, Twin Rocks at 9150ft, Upper Triangle at 9600ft, top of white river 10, 100ft. All approx Water, I appreciate you sending us your version but you may have misrepresented PMR, how PMR members feels should come from PMR not hearsay from subject, sorry. Most of us have never needed to be rescued. Its not to play it forward. I joined Mountain Rescue because I believe we should all give back to our community, either thro service or financial contributions. I have a skill set that allows me to do this thro Mountain Rescue. This is why most people join Mountain Rescue. Lastly I would ask climbers that are waiting on rescue to minimize phone usage. That phone is your connection to the outside world and may be needed by the rescue folk in the field to contact you. If that battery dies, so might you. Switch off wifi mode, tell the sheriff you will go to airplane mode and contact him at set intervals maybe every 1/2 hour or hour. In the end, you did stay calm and remained in place, both of which is not easy to do so kudos on that.

Is polk creek road open to trailhead yet? Thanks

Hmm I see discussion happening on the diff between considerable and high warning. So, I dig a pit if its high and not if its considerate? NOT!!! Remember that they are not talking about your particular ski slope, nor are they talking about the conditions that are present at the moment that you are skiing the slope. If NWAC says considerable, I would dig a snow pit and do my own analysis. I always check the NWAC site but you cannot use that and nothing else. Skiing the BC means checking all available info and then owning your ski decision by performing your own tests. What's has happened to personal responsibility as regards determining slope stability?

Snow Pits: I have not seen a report that the group dug and evaluated snow pits. Its would be interesting if they did to see what the slope slid on. I sure hope that all folks out in the BC are digging snow pits

Sorry Basecamp, must have been a tough day out there for you.

Thanks John for the TR and photos. I have never been up there later than early July so its cool to see the melt out. Also a big kudos for scheduling the climb in Sept, a time when the climbing is less complex and can take larger groups. A large group would certainly have a big impact in June.

Just wanted to post this link. I am not sure how often these guys climbed together. But I have seen a lot of examples of climbers finding partners over the internet and then having epics and injuries and even deaths. This climber abandoned his partner on the Grand Teton, taking the rope with him!!! http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/article_59fb03fa-5d8c-5708-8451-b2fbc6740929.html?mode=story

Hopefully all his friends will already have found out this information before my post http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20110925/UPDATE/110925007/Climber-killed-after-falling-North-Sister?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNews

Sorry for my post if it offended, written after a day spent watching some suspect climbing on Hood. Did not mean to target anyone but to warn the inexperienced climbers that may read these threads to take care.

Kiss of the leper is now closed til June

My information is that it was a ski patrol trigger and that it failed on a melt freeze crust and then on a rain crust and not a facet layer. ... as per Meadows " The initial slab was one cohesive unit which failed from under a more recent melt-freeze crust probably from the middle of February. As the slab moved down through Super Bowl it scoured down revealing the MLK rain crust." Water, on your question, remember that the ground surface is around 32F, so that in the PNW, snow buried deep tends to be near that temp in winter. If there is a low temp gradient then rounding and consolidation will happen even deep down in the pack. Also remember that snow is a good insulator but ice is a good conductor of heat....just to mess with your head

Hmm I would also be interested in how some folks view this, my take on your question. The slide was not a natural trigger so that the weak layer may have consolidated without external trigger. If the layer is failing on a large facet layer, it will take a long time to consolidate. The main process going on is changes to the thermal Gradient inside the pack. Warm overnight temps for the next week will eventually strenghten that deeper layer rather then a freeze cycle (imo) http://avalancheinfo.net/fixed/weather/glossaries/advanced/advdefs/metamorphism.html

You can also camp at Twin Rocks 9150ft 601670E 5023990N and save the traversing

Hmm why does the road close?

CTM 17 at 18cm Q1 SC, hmm reminds me of this you tube, similar pit results for folks who are not sure of what the data means

Just wanted to add that we started the California Ice day in the dark because our aim was to climb to the plateau, makes it it a long day. The book talks about a creek (which was covered by snow) and the approach gully is not easily seen from the trail. That thigh deep champagne snow covering tree downs and 2 boulder fields was a choice way to start the day. Fun climbing as always with the Man from Stanwood. here are some more photo Sceptor Rap California Ice Climbing higher Cleo's 2nd pitch

Jake, in climbing Rainier fitness counts for sure. On good sunny days with a lot of luck that might be all you need, esp climbing with a nice bootpack, maybe even follow behind a guided party....though guided groups may turn back for many reasons and what do you do then?. You could follow other headlamps out in front but now you are following people who you have never even met!!!...believe me folks do this and while there is nothing wrong with doing so, but it does increase your exposure So here are a few ? you should ask answer before looking for a leader Can u navigate through a crevasse field. decide on the integrity of a snow bridge? Feel comfortable navigating through a possible whiteout thro same crevasse field.? Feel that you can arrest a climber that has fallen into a crevasse, then build a system to get him out? How would you feel about giving up so much control to someone that you hardly know, how do you know that you can trust his decision making esp in bad conditions? What is your MO in case of a accident, what are your resources, first aid etc I agree that not everyone has the money to hire a guide service but you are paying for a level of security that if the shit hits the fan is worth every penny. Its kinda like car insurance that you pay every year and never use hopefully. In hiring a guide, figure some of the cost as insurance in case all of the above situations happen. Otherwise maybe you are a dentist or chiropractor, car mechanic etc and some one out there needs their teeth or car fixed....most likely a lot of climbers ha ha There are other beautiful mountains that are not as committing such as Baker, Shuksan, Shasta, Hood. Why not try one of them first as a group, maybe show up a day early and get a guide to teach you some skills that you may not have.